Molly Kelly in 2018 NH Governor's race


On Civil Rights: One of the first legislators to vote for marriage equality

I was proud to be one of the first legislators in the country to vote for marriage equality nearly a decade ago. All of us have worked so hard for so long to make positive change in the lives of Granite Staters. Much of our success is now threatened. Protections at the state level will be critical, which makes this governor's race even more important to every Granite Stater who believes a person has the right to be married to the person they love.
Source: 2018 New Hampshire Governor campaign website MollyKelly.com Oct 9, 2018

On Corporations: Put an end to the tax breaks for wealthy corporations

Instead of helping make college more affordable for families, Governor Sununu gave tax breaks to wealthy corporations. The Sununu tax breaks for wealthy corporations are not responsible, fair, or smart for our state's future. As governor, I will veto an income or sales tax, but close corporate tax breaks and loopholes so that we can strengthen public education, make college more affordable and invest in job training.
Source: 2018 New Hampshire Governor campaign website MollyKelly.com Oct 9, 2018

On Drugs: Help opioid users recover & rebuild

The devastating opioid epidemic is the biggest challenge our state faces. We need to help people suffering from substance misuse disorders to recover and rebuild their lives today; support the first responders on the front lines of the epidemic,˙and do more to help people avoid this illness in the first place.
Source: 2018 New Hampshire Governor campaign website MollyKelly.com Oct 9, 2018

On Education: Veto any effort to take money away from public schools

Public education is a core tenet of our democracy. Every child should have access to a quality public school education. That's why I will veto any plan that takes money from our public schools to create a voucher program for private or religious schools. College is too expensive, and too many young graduates carry too much student loan debt. I will work to make college more affordable to decrease this burden for students and ensure education remains available to everyone.
Source: 2018 New Hampshire Governor campaign website MollyKelly.com Oct 9, 2018

On Environment: Make fishing & tourism industries safe from oil spills

I oppose the Trump Administration's plan to open up New Hampshire's coast for offshore oil and gas drilling. We've already seen the devastating environmental and economic damages an oil spill would bring. The fate of our fishing and tourism industries should not rest in the hands of oil companies. I will work with our neighboring states as part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Source: 2018 New Hampshire Governor campaign website MollyKelly.com Oct 9, 2018

On Families & Children: Supports and will sign for paid family and medical leave

As governor, I will: Sign paid family and medical leave that will allow everyone to be with their loved ones in times of need, such as new parents or when family members experience a medical crisis; Pass legislation requiring businesses to give adequate notice to employees on schedule changes so that families can plan for child care.
Source: 2018 New Hampshire Governor campaign website MollyKelly.com Oct 9, 2018

On Government Reform: Wants real campaign finance reform; no corporate donations

I'm proud to be the only candidate for governor who has refused to accept corporate contributions. In addition to getting dark money out of our politics, we must also modernize campaign finance laws to make them uniform for all candidates. I will work to: Close the LLC loophole that allows the same person to give contributions through multiple entities; Clarify the law on funding limits; Bring greater transparency to campaign funding; and end partisan gerrymandering.
Source: 2018 New Hampshire Governor campaign website MollyKelly.com Oct 9, 2018

On Gun Control: Advocates universal background checks and more gun controls

I never worried about my children when they went to school. Now, I fear for the safety of my grandchildren. I refuse to wait for NH to suffer through a tragic school shooting. I will work to: Pass universal background checks; Keep children and domestic abusers from getting guns; Keep military-style weapons off our streets; Reinstate the requirement of a permit to carry a concealed weapon; Pass a red flag law; Institute a 48-hour waiting period for all purchases.
Source: 2018 New Hampshire Governor campaign website MollyKelly.com Oct 9, 2018

On Health Care: Backed Medicaid expansion; opposes efforts to limit access

I believe health care is a right for every person. That's why I voted for Medicaid expansion that now covers 50K people in NH. I oppose efforts that make accessing care more difficult, such as the work requirement.˙Efforts in Washington to remove critical rights and protections made possible by the ACA pose a threat to the health and well-being of Granite Staters. No one should face bankruptcy due to a medical emergency or be denied health insurance because they have a pre-existing condition.
Source: 2018 New Hampshire Governor campaign website MollyKelly.com Oct 9, 2018

On Homeland Security: Take care of the veterans and meet their needs

As the daughter of a World War II veteran, I will never waver in supporting the men and women who have fought to keep our state and country safe. We must honor their sacrifices and ensure they have the care their need. As governor, I will: Fully fund New Hampshire's Veterans Home so that every veteran has access to a bed; and ensure the veterans service office is fully staffed to help New Hampshire veterans receive the benefits they've earned.
Source: 2018 New Hampshire Governor campaign website MollyKelly.com Oct 9, 2018

On Immigration: Strongly opposes Trump's immigration and border law changes

Our country and our state are stronger because of immigrants. But the Trump Administration is violating human rights and common sense by ripping children from their parents' arms at the southern border, failing to recognize legitimate asylum claims and even seeking to deport Dreamers and people with legal permanent resident status. Trump has truly created a deportation force and given enforcement agents carte blanche to treat certain people as less than human.
Source: 2018 New Hampshire Governor campaign website MollyKelly.com Oct 9, 2018

On Jobs: Recognize and value the contributions of older workers

I'm running for governor to build a New Hampshire that works for everyone by championing policies that will help ensure economic security for all. Help meet our state's workforce needs by ensuring that companies recognize and value the contributions of older workers; and reinstate net neutrality on the state level to provide a free, open internet for everyone, including our small businesses.˙
Source: 2018 New Hampshire Governor campaign website MollyKelly.com Oct 9, 2018

On Jobs: Raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour

As governor, I will: Increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour and index it to inflation so that families don't continually get left behind.
Source: 2018 New Hampshire Governor campaign website MollyKelly.com Oct 9, 2018

On Abortion: Supports abortion rights and is backed by Planned Parenthood

Kelly has repeatedly declared that "as governor I will not allow women's reproductive rights to go backwards. And I promise that all women, regardless of income, will have access to safe legal abortion." She also has highlighted that she's always stood with Planned Parenthood and in recent days has touted her endorsement by the political wing of the powerful national group that provides reproductive health care.
Source: Concord Monitor on 2018 New Hampshire Gubernatorial race Sep 3, 2018

On Corporations: Cancel business tax breaks; but against sales or income tax

Both candidates [Steve Marchand & Molly Kelly] and have called for reversing the business tax breaks. And both advocate for an increase in the state gas tax and legalizing and taxing marijuana. Marchand has called for additional revenue and rails against the long-standing anti-tax pledge. He's said he opposes any sales or income tax. Kelly argues that "I have been clear that I do not support a sales or an income tax. I have been clear about that issue and I want to continue to be clear with you."
Source: Concord Monitor on 2018 New Hampshire Gubernatorial race Sep 3, 2018

On Education: Freeze college tuition and lower it as well

Kelly declared, "Education is very, very important to me. It's one of the biggest reasons why I ran for the Senate and it will be my priority as well as governor." Kelly's repeatedly railed against Gov. Sununu's support for educational savings accounts, a voucher like program proposal championed by the governor that she argues would weaken public schools.

When it comes to the high costs of attending the state's colleges and universities, Kelly said she would "freeze tuition and lower it as well." And she's proposed increasing the state loan repayment program to give students more flexibility in paying their bills.

Steve Marchand laments that "we are one of 6 states that do not offer state funding for pre-K." Such state funding is one part of the plan on public school reforms that he's proposed.

And taking a shot at Kelly, he's argued that freezing in-state tuition is not enough, as he's called for "debt-free college for in-state students who attend post-secondary education."

Source: Concord Monitor on 2018 New Hampshire Gubernatorial race Sep 3, 2018

On Government Reform: End voter suppression; end corporate campaign contributions

Molly Kelly and Steve Marchand equally knock Sununu for signing into law two voter eligibility bills that they describe as "voter suppression" measures. But they disagree on how to reform campaign finance laws.

"I am the only candidate certainly in this race, and I suspect in a generation, who believes the only way you're going to get campaign finance reform is through public funding of elections," Marchand's said. And he claimed that when he released his plan this spring, "Molly and her campaign, she criticized me harder than Chris Sununu."

Kelly's said she doesn't believe Granite Staters should pay for political campaigns and TV ads. But her campaign's said she would work as governor to end corporate contributions to political campaigns and strengthen campaign finance laws.

Source: Concord Monitor on 2018 New Hampshire Gubernatorial race Sep 3, 2018

On Technology: Supports raising gas tax to fund infrastructure repairs

Too many of New Hampshire's roads and bridges are in disrepair and must be fixed. This is an economic issue and a safety issue for Granite Staters. I support raising the gas tax to pay for these critical repairs.
Source: Concord Monitor on 2018 New Hampshire Gubernatorial race Sep 3, 2018

The above quotations are from 2018 New Hampshire Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
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Page last updated: Dec 11, 2018