Statement from NHDP Chair Raymond Buckley Regarding the New Hampshire Advantage Coalition's Defeat in Hillsborough County Superi

For Immediate Release
October 2, 2008

David Scannell
(603) 836.0930
 
Statement from New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Raymond Buckley Regarding the New Hampshire Advantage Coalition's Defeat in Hillsborough County Superior Court Today
 
New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Raymond Buckley released the following statement today regarding the Hillsborough County Superior Court ruling placing the New Hampshire Advantage Coalition's tax cap question on the November 2009 ballot.
 
"I am glad that Manchester voters will have time not only to inquire into the implications of the tax cap, but also to inquire into who is funding the New Hampshire Advantage Coalition.  It is absolutely critical to the electoral process to allow citizens to determine who is paying to support political candidates or political causes.  By hiding behind a tax exempt status that it does not deserve, the coalition prevents citizens from getting answers  to  two questions they have a right to ask of any campaign: who is paying for this and why?"
 
The New Hampshire Democratic Party filed a complaint with the New Hampshire attorney general's office earlier this year alleging that NHAC was hiding the names of its donors by incorrectly claiming tax status as a charitable organization, not as a political organization
 
The NH Advantage Coalition, according to press reports, was founded to focus on "raising money to support candidates" [Portsmouth Herald, 11/26/06]. In an op-ed authored by Mike Biundo, the organization's chairman, Biundo is described as the "Chairman of the New Hampshire Advantage Coalition, an organization... with the underlying goal of local control, no sales tax, and electing representatives of the people" [NH Insider, 2/15/08]
 
NH Advantage Coalition was formed as a political action committee, but it has not filed any required financial disclosure with the  New Hampshire secretary of state to disclose expenditures or donors. New Hampshire law requires reporting by political committees that raise or spend more than $500 in support of a political candidate or measure.

NHAC apparently claims that it did not raise or spend more than $500 as a political committee, but during the four months it existed prior to filing for non-profit status, it employed an executive director, posted a web site, and actively solicited donations.
 
After starting as a political action committee, the group quietly filed as a "nonprofit" group. Under IRS regulations, non-profits such as NHAC cannot directly or indirectly promote candidates or their campaigns.  But the group's executive director, Tammy Simmons, and chairman, Mike Biundo, are candidates for the New Hampshire House of Representatives and the group spends significant time and resources pushing their message and candidacies around the state under its nonprofit label.