Paul Hodes, State Representative from the second district of New Hampshire visited PSU on Saturday, April 12. Hodes is a first term Democrat.
Hodes spoke to a handful of students and local residents in the Newfound room in Prospect Dining Hall before heading down to the Draper and Maynard Building for a high school art exhibit. It was an informal event, structured as a round table discussion where students could ask their State Representative about pressing issues. PSU senior Dustin Siggins asked Hodes about ethical and unethical special interest groups. Siggins alluded to Washington lobbyists and the affect they have on the decisions of lawmakers. Hodes responded by assuring the audience that, “The people of New Hampshire are my special interest group,” Hodes said. “I am open to listening to diverse views.” Hodes is a Democrat. “A number of people I meet with have special interests,” Hodes said. He remarked how his door was always open for constituents who wish to speak about issues affecting them in the state.
Hodes was a front-runner in limiting what lobbyists could give as gifts to senators and members of congress, “I ran during a culture of corruption,” Hodes said. “I introduced new transparency [to the way lobbyists are allowed to give gifts]” Hodes said. Under the new system, both lobbyists and politicians must report gifts over $5000. In the past, it was common practice for lobbyists to offer gifts at a much higher monetary value without having to report it.
Hodes then went on to talk about what he has done as a representative for the people of New Hampshire.
“Projects I want to invest in are projects that have important public interest,” Hodes said. A great concern of his has been letting his constituents know about the changes in television broadcast signals. He felt that his constituents would greatly benefit from learning what the future had in store for broadcast television, and it was his job to help.
“I made it a priority to let my constituents know about the changes relating to analog television,” Hodes said. Hodes mailed out information to constituency’s households. “The old bunny ears are going away,” Hodes said in reference to the analog method of using antennas to receive television signals. Starting in February of 2009, all television stations must broadcast via all digital signals.
During his time spent in the legislature, Hodes has also introduced an outside ethics panel.
“It is a bipartisan panel. They hear complaints from the outside and then report the problems to congress,” Hodes said.Paul Hodes, State Representative from the second district of New Hampshire visited PSU on Saturday, April 12. Hodes is a first term Democrat.
Hodes spoke to a handful of students and local residents in the Newfound room in Prospect Dining Hall before heading down to the Draper and Maynard Building for a high school art exhibit. It was an informal event, structured as a round table discussion where students could ask their State Representative about pressing issues. PSU senior Dustin Siggins asked Hodes about ethical and unethical special interest groups. Siggins alluded to Washington lobbyists and the affect they have on the decisions of lawmakers. Hodes responded by assuring the audience that, “The people of New Hampshire are my special interest group,” Hodes said. “I am open to listening to diverse views.” Hodes is a Democrat.
“A number of people I meet with have special interests,” Hodes said. He remarked how his door was always open for constituents who wish to speak about issues affecting them in the state.
Hodes was a front-runner in limiting what lobbyists could give as gifts to senators and members of congress, “I ran during a culture of corruption,” Hodes said. “I introduced new transparency [to the way lobbyists are allowed to give gifts]” Hodes said. Under the new system, both lobbyists and politicians must report gifts over $5000. In the past, it was common practice for lobbyists to offer gifts at a much higher monetary value without having to report it.
Hodes then went on to talk about what he has done as a representative for the people of New Hampshire.
“Projects I want to invest in are projects that have important public interest,” Hodes said. A great concern of his has been letting his constituents know about the changes in television broadcast signals. He felt that his constituents would greatly benefit from learning what the future had in store for broadcast television, and it was his job to help.
“I made it a priority to let my constituents know about the changes relating to analog television,” Hodes said. Hodes mailed out information to constituency’s households. “The old bunny ears are going away,” Hodes said in reference to the analog method of using antennas to receive television signals. Starting in February of 2009, all television stations must broadcast via all digital signals.
During his time spent in the legislature, Hodes has also introduced an outside ethics panel.
“It is a bipartisan panel. They hear complaints from the outside and then report the problems to congress,” Hodes said.