N.H. Senators Congratulate Democratic House Colleagues
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New Hampshire Union Leader
Kendra Gilbert
Boston University Washington News Service
11-8-06
WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 – Following the defeat Tuesday of New Hampshire Republican Reps. Charles Bass and Jeb Bradley, New Hampshire’s Republican senators said they will extend the olive branch across the Capitol to their new Democratic House colleagues and work together in the new Congress.
“They’ve obviously won a tremendous victory,” Sen. Judd Gregg said in a statement Wednesday congratulating Democrats Paul Hodes and Carol Shea-Porter on their respective wins over Bass and Bradley.
Sen. John Sununu echoed Gregg’s commitment to work with the new representatives. “I welcome their partnership and will work with my new colleagues in the House on behalf of the people of New Hampshire,” he said in a separate statement,
The New Hampshire delegation, which for the past four years has consisted of the same four Republican members, will be divided starting in January, with Democrats in the House and Republicans in the Senate.
“This is going to be an interesting undertaking, and I’m looking forward to it,” Gregg said. “For my part, I intend to work with my colleagues across the aisle, as I have always tried to do.”
This is the first time in nearly 95 years that the two New Hampshire House seats will be held by Democrats, and the Republican senators said they hope the freshmen will meet the opportunity head on.
“They are now responsible for governance, especially here in New Hampshire, where we have some very big issues facing us, which I believe require fiscal prudence and responsible government,” Gregg said.
After congratulating Hodes and Shea-Porter on their victories, Sununu said that “the challenge before them to provide substantive leadership rather than just rhetoric is very significant.”
The senator’s words were similar to a statement by New Hampshire Republican Committee Chairman Wayne Semprini.
“The Democrats ran on the Republican agenda of no sales tax and no income tax,” Semprini said. “Now they must lead and show results. The citizens of the Granite State will be watching.”
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