Conservative tax group starts N.H. chapter

John Stephen (R-Manchester) and Grant Bosse (R-Hillsboro): Photo credit: PolitickerNH.comCONCORD- A conservative tax group has launched a chapter in New Hampshire. Americans for Prosperity announced at a press conference on Tuesday that the group's aim is to promote grassroots activism in the Granite State.

"Americans for Prosperity is here to stay," said Ted Maravelias, AFP's New Hampshire deputy state director. "We're maintaining a strong network of grassroots activists."

Maravelias said the group will be hosting a series of seminars for activists. The group will be hosting its first seminar on July 19 at the Radisson hotel in Manchester. Glenn Caroline from the National Rifle Association will be the guest speaker.

1st Congressional District candidate John Stephen (R-Manchester) and 2nd Congressional District candidate Grant Bosse (R-Hillsboro) spoke at the conference.

"Both [political] parties are responsible for this outrageous spending," Stephen argued. "We can't allow this business as usual crowd to continue."

Bosse praised the group's "fight for freedom," adding that the group "is in New Hampshire not to support candidates but ideas."

State Sen. Robert Letourneau (R-Derry), state Rep. David Welch (R-Kingston), state Rep. John Flanders (R-Kingston) and state Rep. Marilinda Garcia (R-Windham) also attended the event.

Update: "Americans for Prosperity is another conservative front group trying to undermine the growing progressive movement in New Hampshire. This is a group that doesn't believe global warming is a problem and uses high gas prices as a political tool, yet is quietly funded by big oil interests and corporate money from out of state," said Zandra Rice Hawkins, executive director of Granite State Progress.