Granite Staters appeal to NH Supreme Court to restore federal unemployment benefits Sununu Administration prematurely cut off; Ruling could return thousands of dollars to Granite State families facing the loss of a job or income due to the COVID-19 public health pandemic
CONCORD, NH – On Thursday, October 14th, the plaintiffs in Caron, et al, vs. The New Hampshire Department of Employment Security filed an appeal to the New Hampshire Supreme Court in their case against the Sununu Administration over the state’s premature cut-off of federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.
“We are confident we have a strong case and that the state should move swiftly to restore these benefits to families who faced a loss of income or employment during COVID-19 due to no fault of their own,” said Mike Perez of Perez Law, attorney for the plaintiffs. “These families deserve to be able to access the benefits of federal COVID relief packages that were passed by Congress and signed by the President for this very reason. This program comes at absolutely no cost to the State of New Hampshire, and even the administrative costs are covered.”
“We are hopeful that the NH Supreme Court will grant relief for our families,” said Stephanie McKay, moderator of the NH Unemployment During COVID-19 Facebook group of over 4,500 Granite Staters who experienced unemployment during COVID-19. “It was shocking to see the Sununu Administration argue that we brought this emergency on ourselves, and to watch them try to stop the lawsuit by arguing two different positions in two separate cases around this issue. Many families who lost federal unemployment benefits are struggling to afford items for their kids and pay basic bills for food and rent. We are all working hard to get back to the lives we had pre-pandemic, and it is just cruel to remove these benefits for no other reason than to score political points.”
“The state’s position makes it clear they are still leaning into the disproven theory that prematurely ending the federal unemployment benefits for struggling Granite State families would significantly impact unemployment rates in the state,” said Zandra Rice Hawkins, executive director of Granite State Progress, which is helping with the case. “Experts have proven otherwise and point to real barriers to workforce re-entry, including child care and other caregiving responsibilities, health issues, transportation, finding employment that matches your skills and training, and other such factors. There are also other issues here, including the fact that many workplaces remain unsafe for those who experience or have a family member with high-risk health conditions. The Sununu Administration could have focused on any of those instead of taking away people’s benefits.”
Background on Lawsuit
The federal CARES package established several pandemic-related unemployment insurance programs which NH Employment Security prematurely terminated nearly 3 months before the programs were set to expire, impacting tens of thousands of Granite Staters struggling with the loss of income or jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One program in particular, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), covers workers who are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits, such as self-employed people, independent contractors, gig workers, and people who started a job too recently before becoming unemployed. The sudden and early termination of this program has harmed Granite State families, even though federal and state law specify the benefits must be made available and even though the program is fully funded by the federal government, including all administrative costs. An estimated 5,000 Granite Staters are impacted by the early termination of this program alone. The law clearly indicates that the federal benefit shall be made available to Granite Staters. Moreover, prematurely cutting the benefit has added more economic insecurity for families facing challenges due to COVID-19, fueling cuts to household spending while not leading to significant job gains. Experts say the real challenge is barriers to workforce re-entry such as child and caregiving responsibilities, health issues, transportation, and other factors.
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Granite State Progress is a progressive advocacy organization that addresses issues of immediate state and local concern. Granite State Progress works as a communications hub for the progressive community to provide a strong, credible voice in advancing progressive solutions to critical community problems. Visit https://granitestateprogress.org/ to learn more.
Posted: November 9, 2021 by Granite State Progress Leave a Comment
Anti-Choice, Pro-Extremism Complicit Chris Sununu Announces Re-Election Bid
CONCORD, NH – Today, Chris Sununu announced his re-election campaign for Governor of New Hampshire. Statement from Zandra Rice Hawkins, Executive Director of Granite State Progress on Sununu’s record:
“Chris Sununu has made it clear to voters over his tenure as governor that he is anti-choice, anti-abortion, anti-healthcare, anti-public education, anti-public health, pro-COVID, pro-extremism, pro-white nationalism, and pro getting into bed with the most radical factions of his party. He has failed to lead our state toward a stronger, healthier, and more inclusive New Hampshire. From failing to take meaningful action against antisemitic elected officials in his own party to outright campaigning with secessionist militia leaders and anti-abortion extremist politicians, Chris Sununu’s administration has enabled hatred and disinformation in New Hampshire to flourish. It is clear Granite Staters reject Sununu’s divisive and cowardly agenda and we will continue to work hard to make sure constituents know about Complicit Chris Sununu’s dangerous record.”
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Granite State Progress is a progressive advocacy organization that addresses issues of immediate state and local concern. Granite State Progress works as a communications hub for the progressive community to provide a strong, credible voice in advancing progressive solutions to critical community problems. Visit https://granitestateprogress.org/ to learn more.
Last Updated: October 28, 2021 by Granite State Progress Leave a Comment
New Build Back Better Plan Makes Historic Investments in Americans
Much Work Remains for Congress: Plan Leaves Out Crucial Drug Cost Reform and Paid Family Leave
CONCORD, NH – Today, Congress reached an agreement on the framework of President Biden’s Build Back Better package. In response to this new deal, Zandra Rice Hawkins, Executive Director of Granite State Progress, released the following statement:
“There is a lot to celebrate with the Build Back Better package. With this plan, we will expand access to affordable healthcare for millions of Americans by closing the Medicaid coverage gap, extending the premium tax credits for Affordable Care Act health insurance plans, and expanding Medicare coverage to include hearing. In addition to this progress in covering more Americans, this plan also takes meaningful steps to make our tax system fairer by closing tax loopholes and ending special breaks for the nation’s wealthiest families and most profitable corporations, raising $1.9 trillion in revenue in the process. The plan’s tax reforms more than recover from the rich and corporations what they were gifted by the Trump-GOP tax giveaway four years ago. By shutting down accounting maneuvers and other tax-dodging schemes of wealthy households and big corporations, the Biden reforms begin to unify into a single tax code what’s become a dual system of mandatory taxes for working people and voluntary payments by the rich. These long overdue changes to our tax code will fund tremendous investments while not adding a penny to our national debt.”
“However, we are very disappointed to see that crucial reforms such as empowering Medicare to negotiate drug costs and extend those cost savings to Granite Staters, and paid family and medical leave which would have helped so many working families, did not end up in this framework. We can’t build back better without limiting drug corporations’ monopoly power to set and keep prices high. We also can’t build back better if we leave families behind. Congress needs to stop protecting the Pharma profits and Big Business and amend this proposal to include lowering drug prices and mandatory paid family and medical leave.”
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Granite State Progress is a progressive advocacy organization that addresses issues of immediate state and local concern. Granite State Progress works as a communications hub for the progressive community to provide a strong, credible voice in advancing progressive solutions to critical community problems. Visit https://granitestateprogress.org/ to learn more.
Federal Unemployment Benefits Case Headed to NH Supreme Court
Posted: October 14, 2021 by Granite State Progress Leave a Comment
Granite Staters appeal to NH Supreme Court to restore federal unemployment benefits Sununu Administration prematurely cut off; Ruling could return thousands of dollars to Granite State families facing the loss of a job or income due to the COVID-19 public health pandemic
CONCORD, NH – On Thursday, October 14th, the plaintiffs in Caron, et al, vs. The New Hampshire Department of Employment Security filed an appeal to the New Hampshire Supreme Court in their case against the Sununu Administration over the state’s premature cut-off of federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.
“We are confident we have a strong case and that the state should move swiftly to restore these benefits to families who faced a loss of income or employment during COVID-19 due to no fault of their own,” said Mike Perez of Perez Law, attorney for the plaintiffs. “These families deserve to be able to access the benefits of federal COVID relief packages that were passed by Congress and signed by the President for this very reason. This program comes at absolutely no cost to the State of New Hampshire, and even the administrative costs are covered.”
“We are hopeful that the NH Supreme Court will grant relief for our families,” said Stephanie McKay, moderator of the NH Unemployment During COVID-19 Facebook group of over 4,500 Granite Staters who experienced unemployment during COVID-19. “It was shocking to see the Sununu Administration argue that we brought this emergency on ourselves, and to watch them try to stop the lawsuit by arguing two different positions in two separate cases around this issue. Many families who lost federal unemployment benefits are struggling to afford items for their kids and pay basic bills for food and rent. We are all working hard to get back to the lives we had pre-pandemic, and it is just cruel to remove these benefits for no other reason than to score political points.”
“The state’s position makes it clear they are still leaning into the disproven theory that prematurely ending the federal unemployment benefits for struggling Granite State families would significantly impact unemployment rates in the state,” said Zandra Rice Hawkins, executive director of Granite State Progress, which is helping with the case. “Experts have proven otherwise and point to real barriers to workforce re-entry, including child care and other caregiving responsibilities, health issues, transportation, finding employment that matches your skills and training, and other such factors. There are also other issues here, including the fact that many workplaces remain unsafe for those who experience or have a family member with high-risk health conditions. The Sununu Administration could have focused on any of those instead of taking away people’s benefits.”
Background on Lawsuit
The federal CARES package established several pandemic-related unemployment insurance programs which NH Employment Security prematurely terminated nearly 3 months before the programs were set to expire, impacting tens of thousands of Granite Staters struggling with the loss of income or jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One program in particular, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), covers workers who are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits, such as self-employed people, independent contractors, gig workers, and people who started a job too recently before becoming unemployed. The sudden and early termination of this program has harmed Granite State families, even though federal and state law specify the benefits must be made available and even though the program is fully funded by the federal government, including all administrative costs. An estimated 5,000 Granite Staters are impacted by the early termination of this program alone. The law clearly indicates that the federal benefit shall be made available to Granite Staters. Moreover, prematurely cutting the benefit has added more economic insecurity for families facing challenges due to COVID-19, fueling cuts to household spending while not leading to significant job gains. Experts say the real challenge is barriers to workforce re-entry such as child and caregiving responsibilities, health issues, transportation, and other factors.
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Granite State Progress is a progressive advocacy organization that addresses issues of immediate state and local concern. Granite State Progress works as a communications hub for the progressive community to provide a strong, credible voice in advancing progressive solutions to critical community problems. Visit https://granitestateprogress.org/ to learn more.
Last Updated: October 14, 2021 by Granite State Progress Leave a Comment
Executive Council Rejects Federal Vaccine Money After Hours of Criminal Threatening from Armed Anti-Vax Protestors
CONCORD, NH – Today the NH Executive Council succumbed to the demands of armed far-right extremists and voted against accepting $27 million in federal funds to boost vaccination rates in New Hampshire.
Statement from Zandra Rice Hawkins, Executive Director of Granite State Progress:
“Governor Chris Sununu’s history of echoing far right opposition to vaccine requirements and opposing universal masking contributed to the reckless outcome of this vote. It is shameful that as our COVID cases continue to increase, Sununu and his Republican majorities are turning away opportunities to help our families and communities. It is equally disturbing that armed protestors strapped with AR-15’s showed up to the meeting, which had already been moved to the Police Academy for increased security, to threaten and intimidate our elected officials. Our decisions should be made based on public health and science, not conspiracy theories, disinformation, and fear. We thank Councilor Warmington who stood up to these intimidation tactics and supported efforts to move our community past the COVID-19 pandemic. The scene at the Executive Council and in school districts across the state is a direct result of Complicit Chris Sununu’s tacit endorsement and coddling of extremist behavior. Sununu campaigned for each and every one of the Executive Councilors who opposed these federal funds, as well as many other politicians spreading disinformation. His office has worked repeatedly with some of the same groups and individuals who are harassing and threatening elected and state officials. New Hampshire needs a leader in these dangerous and disturbing times, and Governor Sununu is failing in that job.”
Complicit Chris Sununu has a long history of coddling white nationalists, armed militias, and other extremist movements. Learn more at ComplicitChrisSununu.com.
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Granite State Progress is a progressive advocacy organization that addresses issues of immediate state and local concern. Granite State Progress works as a communications hub for the progressive community to provide a strong, credible voice in advancing progressive solutions to critical community problems. Visit https://granitestateprogress.org/ to learn more.
Before Governor Chris Sununu and Speaker Packard Demonstrate Courage to Act, Rep. Ken Weyler Resigns His Chairmanship
Posted: October 7, 2021 by Granite State Progress Leave a Comment
CONCORD, NH – Today Rep. Ken Weyler (R-Kingston) resigned as chair of the Joint Fiscal Committee and House Finance Committee, after weeks of spreading disinformation and endorsing conspiracy theories surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Statement from Zandra Rice Hawkins, Executive Director of Granite State Progress:
“This resignation is a step in the right direction but comes weeks too late. Governor Sununu and Speaker Packard should have immediately removed Weyler last month when he got into a verbal altercation with one of our state’s top public health officials and spread disinformation and conspiracy theories. Hopefully this resignation indicates that the Executive Council and Joint Fiscal Committee will now swiftly act to accept the $27 million federal grant to increase vaccination outreach. One of the top priorities of the Sununu Administration should be to get our communities vaccinated and keep Granite Staters safe from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
“It is worth noting that this resignation only comes after Sununu was forced to take a position on whether Weyler should remain in the role, which is exactly why Sununu should stop dragging his feet and start calling outright for the resignation of elected officials who spout conspiracy theories and racist, antisemitic, or violent rhetoric. Sununu and Packard should use this opportunity to make clear to their Republican colleagues that spreading conspiracy theories about COVID-19 is indefensible and dangerous.”
Background
During the past month Rep. Ken Weyler and his Republican colleagues have taken multiple anti-science and anti-public health actions. In the past three weeks alone:
Governor Sununu has historically been quick to criticize Democratic lawmakers but slow to hold accountable members of his own party. Despite statements of public condemnation, Complicit Chris Sununu has yet to call for the resignation of Rep. James Spillane or Dawn Johnson, both of whom have shared racist, antisemitic material while in office.
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Granite State Progress is a progressive advocacy organization that addresses issues of immediate state and local concern. Granite State Progress works as a communications hub for the progressive community to provide a strong, credible voice in advancing progressive solutions to critical community problems. Visit https://granitestateprogress.org/ to learn more.
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