Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Make a sustaining gift today to support local journalism!
0000017a-15d9-d736-a57f-17ff8d070000Race: District 1, U.S. House of RepresentativesParty: RepublicanPolitical Experience: 2010-2012 - U.S. House2006-2009 - Mayor of Manchester2001-2005 - New Hampshire HousePersonal: Married, with two children; lives in ManchesterEducation: Bachelor of Arts, Assumption College; Masters, Franklin Pierce Law CenterCandidate WebsiteIssuesGuinta wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act and enact "market-based reforms" that include allowing insurance to be purchased across state lines."[I]f we could eradicate those state line borders, just start with our region, so every carrier now has the ability to compete not just in New Hampshire but in New England as a region, you will bring more competitive market forces to this area, probably upwards of 30 carriers or more."On immigration, Guinta opposes a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants already in the country. He says the U.S. must hire more border patrol agents and construct a wall in "high traffic areas." The current crisis of immigrants fleeing Central America for the U.S., he says, is the result of President Obama's policy of "prosecutorial discretion" to allow some individuals to remain here: "But the vast majority of those individuals can be returned to their home countries with their families."Guinta says he is "disappointed in a whole host of issues" related to the Obama administration's foreign policy, accusing the president of "disengagement" and lack of leadership. While he does not support "boots on the ground" against the Islamic States of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Guinta says the militant group cannot be allowed to grow. "The president is going to have come up with a strategy that doesn’t just contain, but has to eradicate ISIS because Americans would rather, I think, finish this now than deal with it for years and years and years and allow ISIS to become the next Al Qaeda."

On The Political Front: Guinta Interviews Generate More Questions Than Answers About His Finances

Allegra Boverman for NHPR
Frank Guinta talks with NHPR's Laura Knoy last fall.

It’s been a tough few days for first district congressman Frank Guinta. First, the news that the Federal Elections Commission found Guinta violated campaign finance laws by accepting $355,000 money from his parents in 2010,  then Joe McQuaid, publisher of The Union Leader ran a six word editorial: "Frank Guinta is a damned liar." Shortly after, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte said Guinta owes voters a full accounting.

And it may only get worse. The Eagle Tribune ran an editorial yesterday calling on Guinta to resign, and then there have been the interviews – with WMUR, NH1 and The Union Leader - in which Guinta sought to clear things up, but really only generated more questions.

NHPR's Senior Political Reporter Josh Rogers joins Morning Edition with more on the Guinta story, the calls for his resignation, and how it might affect the 2016 primary race in New Hampshire.

Josh has worked at NHPR since 2000.
Related Content

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.