Granny D and Campaign Reform
S.B. 173 Granny D. Bill
Doris Granny D. Haddock devoted the last ten years of her life to campaign finance reform. She lived to understand how her ten-year efforts unraveled before her eyes by way of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v Federal Elections Commission (January 21, 2010), which reaffirmed the position that corporations are persons under the law, and that, as such, corporations are entitled to unlimited spending in political campaigns. That ruling has had a devastating impact on our representative democracy, evidenced, in part, by Election 2010. Unless the court clarifies/repeals its ruling, corporations will wield even greater influence in Election 2012.
I provide the procedural evolution of S.B. 173 below.
Bob Perry, State Representative, District #3, (Milton, Middleton, New Durham, Farmington, Barrington, Strafford) 2006 - 2010.
Procedure:
The original bill (prime sponsor Senator Molly M. Kelly (D-Keene), as amended, would have established an annual recognition of Doris Granny D Haddock each January 24. The bill was amended a second time on the floor of the senate by Senator Jack Barnes (R-Raymond) which limited the recognition of Granny D. to one day, only, January 24, 2012, and was approved. It then moved on to the House Executive Departments and Administration Committee (ED&A) for consideration. Below is my presentation to ED&A, very similar to my earlier senate presentation. The bill awaits a final vote by ED&A, whose committee chair is Rep. Carol McGuire (R-Epsom). My presentation (as a lay person), below, chronicles the last ten years in the life of an exceptional woman.
Presentation:
S.B. 173 Tuesday, April 5, 2011
I speak today in support of S.B. 173.
I will relate to you the reason for the Doris Haddock/Granny D. bill, in large part, through the use of her own words.
Following the death of her beloved husband of 60 years, Granny D needed a reason to continue living.
"If you look at your life, you will see that your life is made in acts, and this is my last act. I'd like to make some use of the last of my life." And so she decided that she would devote the last of her life to campaign reform. She decided that to bring attention to her cause, she would walk across the country. "I really have an old body to work with, and I'm pretty trussed up like a Christmas turkey." “The question was I was 89 years old, and was I going to be able to do it. And when I found that I could walk ten miles a day, six days a week, I said why not? I'm doing this for my grandchildren and all of the children in this country who might some day want to run for office.” "I have a bad time with memory, and a very hard time with hearing loss. A lot of physical things, but not enough to say that's it ... yet."
Despite the odds and her honest assessment of her physical limitations, her age, her arthritis, inflammation and touch of emphysema, Granny D. left Pasadena, California, on January 1, 1999, with the goal of reaching Washington, D.C. in time for a campaign reform rally there. Her walk was not without incident. "You know, as you get older, you hurt here, and you hurt there, but after a good, hot shower, it's amazing how many aches and pains will go."
Her plans were set back some when she collapsed on the desert floor from breathing sand dust for weeks. Ten days later, however, she was back on the road. She continued walking through Arizona and New Mexico, finding herself in Texas in the heat of summer. Her walk took her through Arkansas, Kentucky, and Ohio. When she arrived in West Virginia, 12 inches of snow temporarily prevented her from continuing. Undeterred, and determined to reach Washington in time, she sent for her cross country skis and used them to travel 100 miles along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
After 14 months, 3200 miles, and four pairs of shoes, Granny D. arrived in Washington to a cheering crowd of supporters.
Reform, however, would be elusive and would take too long for Doris to stay in Washington, so she returned home to New Hampshire. It would be a year before congress would take up campaign reform, and Doris would be there for the beginning of the debate. Upon arrival, she was not content to sit; instead, she walked around the capital building, round and round she went, sometimes for 24 hours at a stretch, with only time for a quick rest and food.
Granny D. died at age 100 in March of last year. (Incidentally, her 75 year old son died unexpectedly just last week). We are here today to honor a centenarian whose vision twelve years ago and unselfish commitment to clean elections is recognized nationwide, resulting in two documentaries, and for which I ask that she be formally remembered in New Hampshire on January 24, 2012.
I leave you with two quotes, spoken on different occasions, but by the same admirer of Granny D.:
"My interest in her was sparked by her walk across America. I mean, it's one of the more remarkable feats in American Political History."
"Doris Haddock represents all that is good in America, and we thank her for her commitment to open and honest government that the people can be proud of."
Senator John McCain.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Perry,
Strafford, New Hampshire
Doris Granny D. Haddock devoted the last ten years of her life to campaign finance reform. She lived to understand how her ten-year efforts unraveled before her eyes by way of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v Federal Elections Commission (January 21, 2010), which reaffirmed the position that corporations are persons under the law, and that, as such, corporations are entitled to unlimited spending in political campaigns. That ruling has had a devastating impact on our representative democracy, evidenced, in part, by Election 2010. Unless the court clarifies/repeals its ruling, corporations will wield even greater influence in Election 2012.
I provide the procedural evolution of S.B. 173 below.
Bob Perry, State Representative, District #3, (Milton, Middleton, New Durham, Farmington, Barrington, Strafford) 2006 - 2010.
Procedure:
The original bill (prime sponsor Senator Molly M. Kelly (D-Keene), as amended, would have established an annual recognition of Doris Granny D Haddock each January 24. The bill was amended a second time on the floor of the senate by Senator Jack Barnes (R-Raymond) which limited the recognition of Granny D. to one day, only, January 24, 2012, and was approved. It then moved on to the House Executive Departments and Administration Committee (ED&A) for consideration. Below is my presentation to ED&A, very similar to my earlier senate presentation. The bill awaits a final vote by ED&A, whose committee chair is Rep. Carol McGuire (R-Epsom). My presentation (as a lay person), below, chronicles the last ten years in the life of an exceptional woman.
Presentation:
S.B. 173 Tuesday, April 5, 2011
I speak today in support of S.B. 173.
I will relate to you the reason for the Doris Haddock/Granny D. bill, in large part, through the use of her own words.
Following the death of her beloved husband of 60 years, Granny D needed a reason to continue living.
"If you look at your life, you will see that your life is made in acts, and this is my last act. I'd like to make some use of the last of my life." And so she decided that she would devote the last of her life to campaign reform. She decided that to bring attention to her cause, she would walk across the country. "I really have an old body to work with, and I'm pretty trussed up like a Christmas turkey." “The question was I was 89 years old, and was I going to be able to do it. And when I found that I could walk ten miles a day, six days a week, I said why not? I'm doing this for my grandchildren and all of the children in this country who might some day want to run for office.” "I have a bad time with memory, and a very hard time with hearing loss. A lot of physical things, but not enough to say that's it ... yet."
Despite the odds and her honest assessment of her physical limitations, her age, her arthritis, inflammation and touch of emphysema, Granny D. left Pasadena, California, on January 1, 1999, with the goal of reaching Washington, D.C. in time for a campaign reform rally there. Her walk was not without incident. "You know, as you get older, you hurt here, and you hurt there, but after a good, hot shower, it's amazing how many aches and pains will go."
Her plans were set back some when she collapsed on the desert floor from breathing sand dust for weeks. Ten days later, however, she was back on the road. She continued walking through Arizona and New Mexico, finding herself in Texas in the heat of summer. Her walk took her through Arkansas, Kentucky, and Ohio. When she arrived in West Virginia, 12 inches of snow temporarily prevented her from continuing. Undeterred, and determined to reach Washington in time, she sent for her cross country skis and used them to travel 100 miles along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
After 14 months, 3200 miles, and four pairs of shoes, Granny D. arrived in Washington to a cheering crowd of supporters.
Reform, however, would be elusive and would take too long for Doris to stay in Washington, so she returned home to New Hampshire. It would be a year before congress would take up campaign reform, and Doris would be there for the beginning of the debate. Upon arrival, she was not content to sit; instead, she walked around the capital building, round and round she went, sometimes for 24 hours at a stretch, with only time for a quick rest and food.
Granny D. died at age 100 in March of last year. (Incidentally, her 75 year old son died unexpectedly just last week). We are here today to honor a centenarian whose vision twelve years ago and unselfish commitment to clean elections is recognized nationwide, resulting in two documentaries, and for which I ask that she be formally remembered in New Hampshire on January 24, 2012.
I leave you with two quotes, spoken on different occasions, but by the same admirer of Granny D.:
"My interest in her was sparked by her walk across America. I mean, it's one of the more remarkable feats in American Political History."
"Doris Haddock represents all that is good in America, and we thank her for her commitment to open and honest government that the people can be proud of."
Senator John McCain.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Perry,
Strafford, New Hampshire
