Politics

President Obama is pressuring Republicans to pass an extension of a payroll tax cut.  That message was well received at a speech the president delivered at Manchester Central High School yesterday.

The president says if passed, the payroll tax cut would put 1500 dollars in the pocket of the average household.  Mr. Obama challenged Republicans to vote down an extension, even if it means raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans.

Shannon Chandley of Amherst said she supports the president and faults the GOP for refusing to compromise.

President Obama promoted his job creation plan in Manchester today.  The president focused on one specific item in that plan, the extension of a payroll tax cut.

Obama:  Hello NH.  It is good to be back

At the packed gymnasium of Manchester Central High School, a feisty Mr. Obama said next week, Republicans on Capitol Hill will get the chance to prove whose side they are on.

"Do you want to help working families get back on solid ground," he asked,  "Or do you really want to vote to raise taxes on nearly 160 million Americans during the holidays?"

A top lawmaker says New Hampshire should move quickly to support the construction of two casinos in the state. The call comes after Massachusetts has adopted a new casino gambling bill.

Senate Finance Chair Chuck Morse does not want to see an opportunity pass New Hampshire by.

In a statement the Senator said New Hampshire’s competitive advantage over Massachusetts is now threatened.

Morse urged lawmakers to pass legislation that would create two casinos in the state, adding that it would bring thousands of jobs to the economy.

Most presidential hopefuls see a strong showing in the N.H. primary as important. For republican Jon Huntsman, it is essential. The former Utah Governor has staked his whole campaign on the first in the nation primary. NHPR’s Josh Rogers reports.

 Jon Huntsman travelled to NY city this past weekend to poke fun at his New Hampshire-centric approach on Saturday Night Live.

Next week, the full House is expected to vote on Governor Lynch’s proposed education funding constitutional amendment. In advance of that, a House committee met to discuss the merits of the plan. The hearing struck some as a political ploy.

The most unusual aspect of the proceedings was who was missing.

The Republican Vice-Chair and the ranking Democrat were absent.

There was not a single senator, and most telling of all, no Governor, the man behind the plan.

It was a sign few took this hearing seriously.

But one man did.

Ron Paul is in the midst of a two day campaign swing through the Granite State.

The Texas Congressman’s town hall meeting at Keene State College was briefly interrupted by a group of protesters affiliated with Occupy Wall Street.

The protesters used their call-and-response technique to say "there is something wrong with the system" and "we are the 99 percent." When they were done, Ron Paul said "I hope you feel better," and there was laughter and applause. And then he said when it came to the power of big banks, he agreed with the protesters.

Jay Wexler's new book and blog focus on the odd Constitutional clauses we should, maybe, focus on a little less...and those we should, perhaps, turn into awesome t-shirts.

No politician will ever lose votes by coming down on the side of community banks. Unlike the mega-banks of Wall Street that helped fuel the world’s dive off an economic cliff, community banks have a better reputation. They avoid exotic financial deals and, for the most part, stick to their knitting.

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain is facing questions about why he didn’t show up for a Union Leader editorial board interview.

According to the Union Leader, an hour-long interview with Herman Cain was confirmed on Tuesday.  The newspaper agreed not to videotape the interview.

Cain spokesman J.D. Gordon says the campaign then told the Union Leader the candidate could not take a full hour.

"We wanted to do the ed board for 20 minutes.  But the Union Leader decided that wasn’t worth it so they cancelled it this morning.”