Home » News » Politics » Granite Status
John DiStaso, the New Hampshire Union Leader's senior political writer, began writing "Granite Status" in 1982. His influential reports on behind-the-scenes politics in the first-primary state are a must read for insiders from Concord to Washington, D.C. Watch for "Granite Status" updates on UnionLeader.com whenever New Hampshire political news breaks.
Politics
-
Federal judge in N.Y. says ICE must release names of illegal immigrants it arrests
-
State, employee unions have tentative agreements
-
Pearl Street lot proposal involves student housing in Manchester
-
Drones and privacy: Debate just taking off
-
Merrimack Youth Association seeks tighter grip on its money
-
'Home grow' dropped on way to medical marijuana compromise -
NH Veterans Home budget reworked after proposed cuts
-
UPDATED: House proposes 3-year Medicaid expansion plan
-
UPDATED: House, Senate agree on capital budget, including new $38 million women's prison
-
Vet Home budget reworked after proposed cuts
Opinion
-
Sen Jeanne Shaheen and Judd Gregg: Connecticut River headwaters are for trees, not towers
-
Tax credit math: Who owns your money?
-
Sen. Sylvia Larsen: Expanding Medicaid is all benefit, no cost for New Hampshire
-
Charles Arlinghaus: Don't believe hype on Medicaid expansion
-
Hassan’s falsehoods: Does she even care about the truth?
Granite Status: What is Sen. Ayotte up to on immigration reform bill?
29REVERSING COURSE: If it wasn't such a serious issue, it would be pure entertainment. Here was Kelly Ayotte being criticized by conservatives and praised by liberals and moderates for her sudden support for the "Gang of Eight" immigration reform bill. Was this a change of heart (some might say flip-flop) for Ayotte?
John DiStaso's Granite Status: New pro-Ayotte ad on immigration reform; former NHGOP chair says she should 'stand on her own two feet'
As two pro-immigration reform groups jointly sponsor a new TV ad praising Sen. Kelly Ayotte, former state GOP Chair Jack Kimball blasts out an Granite State Patriots Liberty PAC email Friday making his views on what he called “the Amnesty Bill” clear.
Granite Status: An anti-Shaheen ad getting attention
A TV AD from 'Citizens for a Strong New Hampshire' against U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen for her support for the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) got state and national attention last week.
John DiStaso's Granite Status: Conservative NH group airs first TV ad of '14 US Senate election, hitting Shaheen for health care vote
The conservative advocacy group Citizens for a Strong New Hampshire Wednesday began airing a 30-second television ad in the state criticizing Sen. Jeanne Shaheen for voting in favor of the Affordable Care Act.
John DiStaso's Granite Status: Jim Rubens eyes '14 US Senate run; Andy Sanborn tweets 'Haggie,' apologizes
Republican Jim Rubens, fresh off of a victory in the defeat of casino gambling in the New Hampshire House, told the Granite Status Thursday he is exploring a run for the U.S. Senate. Democratic incumbent Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is already working hard on a reelection bid. Also Thursday, Republican state Sen. Andy Sanborn reiterated the apology he gave Wednesday for -- mistakenly, he said -- referring to Gov. Maggie Hassan as “Haggie” on Twitter.
John DiStaso's Granite Status: Sans dice, how will Hassan roll now?
It's unclear what Gov. Maggie Hassan has in mind to raise revenue or cut spending now that her top revenue priority, casino gambling, is dead. But there's one place she surely won't turn.
John DiStaso's Granite Status: Aide: 'Harry Reid doesn't speak for' Kelly Ayotte
Mayors Against Illegal Guns, the national gun control advocacy group co-chaired by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Tom Menino, on Monday unveiled a new television ad critical of Sen. Kelly Ayotte for her vote last month against expanded background checks for gun purchases on the Internet and at gun shows. It's the latest in an offensive by gun control advocates against Ayotte in reaction to her vote against the Manchin-Toomey bill.
John DiStaso's Granite Status: NH Dems 'welcome' back Scott Brown with 'Desperado' web ad
FRIDAY, MAY 3: The New Hampshire Democratic Party is turning the old Eagles classic, “Desperado,” into background music for a new web ad targeting -- you guessed it -- Scott Brown.
John DiStaso's Granite Status: Equipment manufacturers hire prominent NH attorney to fight dealers 'bill of rights'
ALSO WEDNESDAY: The New Hampshire Fisher Cats baseball team came out strongly against casino gambling. There is a Granite State political connection to the Massachusetts U.S. Senate special primary. And the House continues to review legislation to re-define push polls.
John DiStaso's Granite Status: Just who is looking to build a New Hampshire casino?
As debate heats up at the State House, a major complaint about Senate Bill 152, the primary casino legalization bill, is that it's tailored to one potential bidder.
John DiStaso's Granite Status: Gabrielle Giffords' gun control advocacy group critical of Ayotte in new radio ad
The Granite Status has learned former Arizona Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and husband Mark Kelly's Americans for Responsible Solutions on Wednesday will launch a two-week radio ad buy throughout southern New Hampshire accusing the New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte of “ignoring” the will of Granite Staters by opposing a universal background checks bill last week.
Granite Status: Guinta visits Washington as he weighs 2014 options
FRANK GOES TO WASHINGTON, AGAIN. Former U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta was back in Washington last week, looking into his political options for 2014.
