ADAM: WELCOME BACK TO "CLOSE UP." WHAT BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE THE INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND THAN WITH SOME FIREWORKS?
ON THIS PROGRAM, THAT MEANS A LITTLE BACK-AND-FORTH AND YOUTH WILL BE SERVED AS WE HAVE WITH US TODAY LUCAS MEYER FROM THE NEW HAMPSHIRE YOUNG DEMOCRATS AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOE
ALEXANDER REPRESENTING THE NEW HAMPSHIRE YOUNG REPUBLICANS.
REPRESENTATIVE, THE BUDGET IMPASSE AT THE STATEHOUSE IS A BIG STORY.
WHO IS TO BLAME?
>> I’M NOT IN THE HABIT OF THROWING FINGERS AT ANYBODY.
I DO WANT TO SAY THE REASON I VOTED AGAINST THE BUDGET IS IT HAS A $93 MILLION STRUCTURAL DEFICIT.
IT INCREASES SPENDING BY 13%.
AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF REVENUE ESTIMATES THAT ARE OFF.
THE COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE RAISED THE AGE FOR TOBACCO TO 21 BUT DID NOT EVALUATE THE LOST REVENUE DUE TO DECREASED SALES.
ADAM: IS THERE A PLACE WHERE YOU FEEL SOMEONE IS MORE RESPONSIBLE THAN SOMEONE ELSE?
>> I THINK IT IS PRETTY UPSETTING THE BUDGET WAS VETOED.
I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON WHAT WAS IN THE BUDGET.
THE LARGEST INCREASE IN EDUCATION FUNDING IN TWO DECADES.
OUR STATE IS IN A CRISIS WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WE HAVE SCHOOLS IN BERLIN AND FRANKLIN STRUGGLING TO GET BY.
THIS BUDGET WOULD HAVE DONE A LOT OF GOOD FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES.
BUT THE SIMPLE INABILITY TO FIND COMPROMISE AND THE INABILITY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO NEGOTIATE AND COME TO THE TABLE IS THE REASON WE DO NOT HAVE A BUDGET TODAY.
YOU LOOK AT THE PRIORITIES.
BUDGETS ARE ABOUT PRIORITIES.
IN THE HOUSE, THE PRIORITY OF THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX WAS PULLED OUT.
IN THE SENATE, PAID FAMILY LEAVE WAS PULLED OUT.
WE CAME TO THE GOVERNOR TO NEGOTIATE.
BUSINESS TAXES WOULD NOT COME OUT.
WE HAVE HAD DECREASES IN BUSINESS TAXES TO OUT OF THE PAST THREE YEARS.
WE NOW HAVE THE MOST FRIENDLY BUSINESS TAX CLIMATE IN NEW ENGLAND.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE INABILITY TO NEGOTIATE AND COMPROMISE, I THINK JOE WOULD AGREE WITH ME THAT 90% OF WHAT IS IN THE BUDGET EVERYONE AGREES ON.
I THINK IT IS PARTICULARLY RECKLESS AT THIS TIME IN OUR STATE’S HISTORY WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH DCYF, OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WITH ACCESS TO WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE.
LET’S NOT FORGET, IN THE BUDGET, THERE WAS MONEY TO COVER THE GAG RULE FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.
THERE WAS A LOT OF GOOD IN THE BUDGET.
THE INABILITY TO NEGOTIATE AND SINK THE BUDGET BECAUSE OF TAX BREAKS TO OUT-OF-STATE COMPANIES IS DISAPPOINTING.
I THINK THE PEOPLE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE ARE DISAPPOINTED.
ADAM: DID THE GOVERNOR NOT COMPROMISE ENOUGH?
>> THE TAX BREAKS FOR THE OUT-OF-STATE COMPANIES IS A GREAT TALKING POINT FOR THE OTHER SIDE.
THIS NEW BUDGET, WE DID GIVE UP SOME THINGS.
WE GAVE UP $63 MILLION IN SCHOOL BUILDING A TARGETED TO SCHOOL PROPERTIES IN POOR DISTRICTS.
WE GAVE UP MILLIONS IN STUDENT DEBT RELIEF.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THE GOVERNOR GAVE UP IN THE BUDGET.
I DO WANT THE RECORD TO REFLECT 100% OF HOUSE REPUBLICANS AND SENATE REPUBLICANS VOTED AGAINST THE BUDGET AND DEMOCRATS VOTED AGAINST THE BUDGET AS WELL.
THERE WAS BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION TO THE BUDGET.
I WOULD ARGUE NOT ONLY WAS IT A BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION TO THE BUDGET, BUT NOT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN WAS ASKED TO BE PART OF THE COMMITTEE.
THEY WERE ADDED AT THE LAST MOMENT INSTEAD OF AHEAD OF TIME, WHICH IS CUSTOMARY OF THE OTHER SIDE.
ADAM: BUSINESS TAX CUTS HAVE GONE INTO EFFECT.
WHAT IS THE DEAL NOW?
WHY DO DEMOCRATS DRAW A LINE THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE?
THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT, IT IS STATE LAW WE HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.
WENZHOU NEGLECTED TO MENTION HIS 110 -- WHAT JOE NEGLECTED TO MENTION HIS $110 BILLION.
THEY PASSED THINGS TO ADD TO THE RAINY DAY FUND.
THIS WAS A STRUCTURALLY SOUND BUDGET.
AT A TIME WHEN THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HURTING IN THE STATE TO JUST GO INTO A CONTINUING RESOLUTION, WHICH ACTUALLY IS GOING TO HURT MORE OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, YOU WILL SEE FLASHES IN
FUNDING -- SLASHES TO FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS IN FRANKLIN.
THEY LET GO OF 10 TEACHERS.
NOW THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A BUDGET, THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WILL DO IN THE FALL.
THAT UNCERTAINTY, WHETHER IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, ACCESS TO WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE, IS UNSETTLING FOR THE STATE.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.
ADAM: WE WILL SEE WHAT KIND OF DEAL COMES OUT EVENTUALLY.
LET’S SHIFT TO 2020.
WHEN IS THE REPUBLICAN PERSPECTIVE ON HOW THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY IS GOING RIGHT NOW?
>> I LOVE SEEING IT HAPPEN.
I ENJOYED WATCHING BOTH DEBATES.
I THOUGHT THEY WERE VERY.
INTERESTING.
I THOUGHT THEY WERE VERY SHOWING OF WHAT THE ISSUES WILL BE IN 2020.
I’M CONFIDENT WITH THE RHETORIC ON THE STAGE THAT REPUBLICANS WILL DO WELL IN 2020.
JUST KEEP QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICARE FOR ALL AND FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS I FEEL LIKE REPUBLICANS ARE WINNING ON THE ISSUES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO 2020, ACTUALLY.
ADAM: ARE DEMOCRATS MOVING TOO FAR TO THE LEFT?
>> I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW YOUNG PEOPLE ARE APPROACHING THE PRIMARY.
FROM THE DEMOCRATIC POINT OF VIEW, THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY ENCOURAGING PRIMARY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
WE ARE SEEING ALL OF THE CANDIDATES TAKE THE ISSUES MOST IMPORTANT TO YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE TOP OF THEIR PLATFORMS, WHETHER THAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE, WHICH WE DO NOT HEAR ENOUGH ABOUT EVEN IN
OUR OWN DEBATES, OR VOTING RIGHTS.
WE SEE IT ACROSS THE BOARD.
YOUNG PEOPLE, WE’VE BEEN TO A LOT OF THE EVENTS.
THEY ARE FULL OF PEOPLE.
THERE IS A LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE STATE WE HAVE NOT SEEN IN A LONG TIME.
FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE YOUNG DEMOCRATS, WE ARE SEEING THIS AS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING MORE PEOPLE TO OUR ORGANIZATION AND CONTINUE TO TRAIN ACTIVISTS.
IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE HELD 250 EVENTS.
WE HAVE TRAINED AT 7000 ACTIVISTS, IN LARGE PART BECAUSE FOLKS WITH THE INCREDIBLE DIVERSITY IN OUR FIELD COMING INTO THE PARTY AND WANTING TO GETTING GAUGED AND TRYING TO
FOCUS -- ENGAGED AND TRYING TO FOCUS ON NATIONAL ISSUES AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE STATE HOUSE.
THE GREEN NEW DEAL, LET’S GET THAT AT THE STATE LEVEL.
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE VETO OF THE BILL THAT WOULD HAVE RAISED THE METERING CAP AND HELP EXPAND SOLAR NEW HAMPSHIRE.
IT IS AN EXCITING TIME TO ORGANIZE YOUNG PEOPLE MISTAKE.
ADAM: PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ENERGIZED DEMOCRATS TO TRY AND TAKE BACK THE WHITE HOUSE.
DO YOU FIND IT IS A TOUGH SELL WITH YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET THEM EXCITED ABOUT VOTING FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP?
>> I LOOK AT MYSELF.
I VOTED FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP IN 2016 TO FOSTER AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE.
IT WORKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
IT PROMOTES A FRIENDLY BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT.
IT IS PART OF THE REASON WE CAN SAY NEW HAMPSHIRE IS ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE STATES FOR OPPORTUNITY.
I SUPPORTED TRUMP FOR A LOT OF THOSE REASONS.
I SUPPORTED TRUMP BECAUSE HE PROMISED TO KEEP TAXES LOW.
CUT MORE TAXES THAN ANY PRESIDENT IN RECENT HISTORY.
I SUPPORT HIM FOR ALL OF THOSE REASONS AND LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING HIM AGAIN IN 2020.
ADAM: SOME OF THE PRESIDENT’S CLOSEST ASSOCIATES NEW HAMPSHIRE FEEL HIS CHANCES ARE BETTER HERE IN 2020 IN TERMS OF WINNING THE GENERAL ELECTION AND POPULAR VOTE DUE TO NEW LAWS IN PLACE.
WHAT WILL BE THE IMPACT OF SOME OF THE CAMPUS-TARGETED VOTING MEASURES?
>> I THINK THAT IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED.
WE HAD SB THREE WHICH CHANGED SOME SAME-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION LAWS WHICH WAS STRUCK DOWN BY A SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE LAST YEAR SAYING SOME OF THE BURDENS WOULD BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
THAT WILL GO TO A FULL TRIAL IN THE SUMMER.
THAT IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED AS THE IMPACT.
THAT HAS BEEN IN EFFECT.
WE HAVE BEEN EDUCATING AND PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THOSE CHANGES, MAKING SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THEIR CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED RIGHT TO VOTE.
WE HAVE H.B. 1264 WHICH WENT INTO EFFECT ON MONDAY WHICH DEALS WITH CHANGING DEFINITIONS --NOT CHANGING DEFINITIONS -- BUT ADDING ADDITIONAL BURDENS TO A REGISTRATION PROCESS BY
REQUIRING STUDENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE A NEW HAMPSHIRE DRIVER LICENSE OR HAVE THE CAR REGISTERED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE TO PAY THE STATE A FEE AFTER THEY VOTE.
WE SEE THESE AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
WE DON’T SEE THE NEED FOR THESE.
WE SAW ALL OF THESE LAWS BORN OUT OF THE TRUCK MYTH OF RAMPANT -- TRUMP MYTH OF RAMPANT VOTER FRAUD IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
THERE IS NOT RAMPANT FRAUD IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
YOU DO NOT HEAR FROM LOCAL OFFICIALS CLAMORING FOR THESE CHANGES.
IN OUR OPINION, THEY ARE TARGETED AT STUDENT VOTERS.
YOU HAVE BILL O’BRIEN WHO WILL BE RUNNING FOR THE SENATE WHO IN 2011 SAID HE DID NOT WANT COLLEGE STUDENTS TO VOTE BECAUSE HE DID NOT LIKE HOW THEY THOUGHT OR HOW THEY THINK.
I THINK YOU SEE TIME AND AGAIN, SESSION AFTER SESSION, THESE ATTEMPTS TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX WHILE OUR FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE SENATE
AND HOUSE, WE ARE FOCUSED ON HOW WE ADD INTEGRITY TO OUR SYSTEM, HALLOWEEN COSTUMES MODERNIZE THE SYSTEM.
CAN WE DO ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION?
I THINK THESE ARE THE CONVERSATIONS WE SHOULD BE HAVING AND NOT TARGETING STUDENT VOTERS WHO WANT TO STAY IN THE STATE.
ADAM: REPUBLICANS GET TICKED OFF WHEN THIS IS REFERRED TO AS VOTER SUPPRESSION.
WHY IS THAT?
>> THE REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTING, YOU HAVE TO BE 18 OR OLDER.
NUMBER TWO, YOU HAVE TO BE A U.S. CITIZEN.
NUMBER THREE, YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN THE STATE YOUR VOTING IN.
THESE LAWS WERE PASSED TO PROTECT THE REASONS WHY YOU ARE ABLE TO VOTE.
I WOULD SAY WE HAVE ATTEMPTS THIS TERM TO REPEAL THAT LEGISLATION.
I DID NOT SUPPORT -- I DID NOT VOTE FOR THE BILLS LAST SESSION BECAUSE I WAS NOT A REPRESENTATIVE, BUT I WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED THEM.
THIS TERM, I VOTED AGAINST THOSE BILLS BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT TO REPEAL LEGISLATION -- SOUGHT TO REPEAL LEGISLATION WE ENACTED LAST TERM.
I KNOW THE GOVERNOR IS NOT IN THE HABIT OF REPEALING BILLS HE JUST SIGNED INTO LAW.
WE WILL SEE HOW THINGS GO.
AS OF NOW, IF YOU’RE 18 AND A RESIDENT OF THE STATE AND THE UNITED STATES, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE.
THERE IS NO REASON WE WILL STOP YOU FROM THAT.
ADAM: WE WOULD LOVE TO KE