Shea-Porter tells Laconia Rotarians of dysfunctional Congress

LACONIA — Speaking to the Laconia Rotary Club yesterday, 1st District Congresswomen Carol Shea-Porter, a Democrat from Rochester, remarked that the stalemate in Congress reminded her of a sign her grandfather kept on his wall that read "Let's Compromise and Do It My Way."

Shea Porter, the first woman from New Hampshire elected to national office, won the 1st District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006 and held it in 2008 before losing it to Republican Frank Guinta, the former mayor of Manchester, in 2010. In 2012, she ousted Guinta and this year the two are vying for the seat for the third time.

"Congress can't get its act together," Shea-Porter told the Rotarians. A member of the Armed Services and Natural Resources committees, she said that while the first has worked effectively in a bipartisan manner the second is split along party lines by the issue of climate change.

Meanwhile, Shea-Porter said that although the House passed a budget, a farm bill and violence against women legislation, it has failed to tackle major issues. "We should have had a debate and a vote on the situation in the Middle East," she said, "and Congress has not addressed the economy. The economy is getting better, but, unemployment is still high and wages are flat," she continued, calling for initiatives to generate employment and improve infrastructure. Despite repeated warnings about the effects of climate, including concerns expressed and preparations begun by the military leadership, she said "there has been no environmental legislation for several years." Shea-Porter noted that Congress has also declined to ease the burden of student loan debt or reform the corporate and individual tax codes.

"There is work to be done," Shea-Porter said. "But, it's not the most attractive landscape." Noting that Congress has been working only two days a week, she said that "one of our biggest problems is that we're not there that often." At the same time, she claimed that the Republican majority passed what she called "take-it-or-leave-it" bills, or legislation with no chance of either winning a majority or opening a dialogue in the Senate.

Campaign finance reform, Shea-Porter emphasized, is required to overcome the dysfunctionality of Congress. She rejected term limits, saying "we have term limits — elections. There's a lot to learn," she added "we need experienced people in both parties." The power of money, wielded by special interests and advocacy groups, she claimed, has hamstrung Congress. "Take the money out and you'll start seeing policies that benefit all the people," she said.

In Cloising Shea-Porter urged her listeners to vote on November 4. "If you vote for me or against me, please vote," she said.