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Jeanne Shaheen on Government Reform

Democrat Sr Senator; previously Governor

 


Demanded answers on destruction of USAID documents

Senators Jeanne Shaheen & Gary Peters pressed Secretary of State Marco Rubio for information on whether the agency's directive to shred and burn certain classified documents complied with the Federal Records Act, the federal law that requires the preservation of government records. The directive instructed staff to clear out classified safes and personnel documents through a combination of shredding and burn bags.

[The Senators wrote], "In a court filing last week, attorneys from the Department of Justice asserted that these disposals did not violate the FRA because 'they were copies of documents from other agencies or derivatively classified documents, where the originally classified document is retained by another government agency and for which there is no need for USAID to retain a copy.' This explanation is insufficient." 

Under the law, federal agencies are required to submit potential schedules for disposition of records to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

Source: Senate press release on 2026 New Hampshire Senate race , Mar 21, 2025

Introduced legislation to put a woman on the $20 bill

The nonprofit Women On 20s has been campaigning to replace Andrew Jackson with a woman on the $20 bill by 2020. Now Shaheen has also introduced legislation with the same goal. "Our paper currency is an important part of our everyday lives and reflects our values, traditions and history as Americans," Shaheen said in a news release. "It's long overdue for that reflection to include the contributions of women."
Source: Buzzfeed News on 2020 New Hampshire Senate race , Apr 15, 2015

People's Pledge: Let's limit outside PAC contributions

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is challenging her potential Senate opponent Scott Brown to agree to limit outside, third-party spending during the campaign. Shaheen sent a letter to Brown asking him to sign the "People's Pledge," an identical document to the one he agreed to while running against Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in 2012.

Shaheen wrote, "I hope you will join me in once again committing to the same People's Pledge you signed in Massachusetts and limiting the influence of outside groups in NH this year.

The pledge aims to take away the incentive for independent expenditure groups, individuals and Super-PACs from spending in the race to either oppose or support a candidate. If outside ads are run in the state, the pledge would require the candidate that benefits from the ad to pay 50% of the cost of the ad buy to charity. The pledge would relate to broadcast and online advertising, but not outside spending on direct mail or field work in the state.

Source: The Hill e-zine on 2014 New Hampshire Senate race , Mar 15, 2014

Reforms must respect state's rights to select electors.

Shaheen adopted the National Governors Association position paper:

The Issue

In the wake of the United States presidential election in Florida, the Congress and the administration has expressed interest in federal standards for elections. Recognizing that Articles I and II of the United States Constitution grants states, not Congress, the authority to determine the manner of selecting presidential electors and conducting elections generally, most legislative proposals do not mandate federal standards. Rather, current proposals direct federal agencies or commissions to study and make recommendations concerning the election system. Nonetheless, the possibility of legislation in the 107th Congress requiring states to implement federal election standards remains. If enacted without adequate funding by the federal government, such legislation could also result in an unfunded mandate to the states.

NGA’s Position

Articles I and II of the United States Constitution grant states the authority to determine the manner of selecting presidential electors and provide that states are responsible for establishing election procedures generally. However, in the wake of the 2000 presidential election, the nation’s Governors recognize the need for election reform. NGA will continue to monitor federal legislation addressing this issue, but has not taken a position in support of or opposition to election reform efforts.
Source: National Governors Association "Issues / Positions" 01-NGA11 on Aug 1, 2001

Require full disclosure of independent campaign expenditures.

Shaheen co-sponsored DISCLOSE Act

Congressional Summary:

Wikipedia & OnTheIssue Summary: