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0000017a-15d9-d736-a57f-17ff8d070000Race: District 1, U.S. House of RepresentativesParty: RepublicanPolitical Experience: 2010-2012 - U.S. House2006-2009 - Mayor of Manchester2001-2005 - New Hampshire HousePersonal: Married, with two children; lives in ManchesterEducation: Bachelor of Arts, Assumption College; Masters, Franklin Pierce Law CenterCandidate WebsiteIssuesGuinta wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act and enact "market-based reforms" that include allowing insurance to be purchased across state lines."[I]f we could eradicate those state line borders, just start with our region, so every carrier now has the ability to compete not just in New Hampshire but in New England as a region, you will bring more competitive market forces to this area, probably upwards of 30 carriers or more."On immigration, Guinta opposes a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants already in the country. He says the U.S. must hire more border patrol agents and construct a wall in "high traffic areas." The current crisis of immigrants fleeing Central America for the U.S., he says, is the result of President Obama's policy of "prosecutorial discretion" to allow some individuals to remain here: "But the vast majority of those individuals can be returned to their home countries with their families."Guinta says he is "disappointed in a whole host of issues" related to the Obama administration's foreign policy, accusing the president of "disengagement" and lack of leadership. While he does not support "boots on the ground" against the Islamic States of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Guinta says the militant group cannot be allowed to grow. "The president is going to have come up with a strategy that doesn’t just contain, but has to eradicate ISIS because Americans would rather, I think, finish this now than deal with it for years and years and years and allow ISIS to become the next Al Qaeda."

State GOP Chair Says Guinta Not Telling Truth

Allegra Boverman for NHPR

Support for Congressman Frank Guinta continues to fall, days after the release of two reports detailing federal investigations into his fundraising practices. New Hampshire Republican Chairwoman Jennifer Horn has now joined the chorus of prominent GOP leaders criticizing Guinta.

In a letter to the state Republican Committee today, first reported by WMUR.com, Horn told fellow committee members she is “deeply disappointed” by what she called “the obvious contradictions in the Congressman’s evolving explanation” of how $355,000 in checks written by his parents made their way into his campaign coffers in 2010.

Guinta has said he had a legal right to the money, which he claims came from deposits he made to his parents’ bank account over the years. The FEC, however, says the checks amount to illegal campaign gifts.

Numerous GOP leaders, including Sen. Kelly Ayotte, House Speaker Shawn Jasper and Senate President Chuck Morse, have called on Guinta to resign. But the state Republican Party’s executive committee declined to take action against Guinta at its most recent meeting. Horn’s letter indicates that may change.

“Regardless of where the truth lies, at least at some point, he has clearly been untruthful, and possibly, at every point,” she wrote.

While Horn said she spoke with Guinta after the release of the FEC documents, in which Guinta’s relatives contradicted his account of the disputed funds. And while Horn did not explicitly call for Guinta to step down, she wrote: “it is clear that his credibility has been irreparably damaged. I hope that Frank can recognize this and act accordingly.”

The state GOP is scheduled to meet on June 15. 

Dan is NHPR's news director.
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