On January 31, Susan B. Komen for the Cure, a charity founded to promote breast cancer research and prevention, announced its decision to cease providing grants to Planned Parenthood affiliates. Describing PP as “a longstanding partner”, the Komen foundation nonetheless put grants on hold pending the outcome of a Congressional investigation. The Komen charity recently adopted criteria barring grants to organizations that are under investigation by local, state or federal authorities.

We note that the Komen decision was not affected by PP’s abortion business. Even so, we’re glad that even temporarily, Komen’s work for women’s health is no longer entangled with the business of the nation’s largest abortion provider. Numerous agencies that provide breast health care and screenings, without also providing abortions, would be happy to apply for Komen grant money and put it to work promoting women’s health.

We flatly disbelieve any assertion that the Komen decision will interfere with cancer screenings by PP. According to CBS News, PP said the Komen grants totaled roughly $680,000 last year and $580,000 the year before. That amount, covering PP affiliates all over the country, is less than the public policy expenditures by just one PP affiliate: Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, whose 2010 annual report shows $822,481 spent on “public policy.” Any decision to deny cancer screenings as a result of a loss of Komen funds is a business decision by PP to make women’s health a secondary concern. Women seeking health care deserve better from their providers.

The response of PP supporters has been interesting, particularly on social media. There has been no acknowledgment from PP, either formal or informal, that Komen has the responsibility for good stewardship of its funds, and that it is legitimate to take a wait-and-see approach while a Congressional investigation is pending for a potential grant recipient. Instead, Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, accuses Komen of submitting to “bullying.”

Susan G. Komen for the Cure has made a good decision, and pro-life women can finally participate in its activities without fear that  donations will be sent to the nation’s largest abortion provider. We encourage all who applaud this decision to participate in a Komen event, and to let the foundation know the reason. We also note that any dollar spent on a publicity campaign by PP to pressure Komen is a dollar that is not going to promote women’s health.

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CORNERSTONE THANKS THE NH HOUSE FOR ADOPTING HB 228

A bill that will end the practice of sending NH taxpayer dollars to abortion providers like Planned Parenthood of Northern New England

CONCORD - Cornerstone thanks the New Hampshire House for adopting HB 228, a bill that will end the practice of sending NH taxpayer dollars to abortion providers like Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.  The January 19, 2012 roll call vote was 207 Yea to 147 Nay.

We are especially grateful to Rep. Warren Groen (R-Rochester) for his courageous leadership on this bill. A majority of House members have made the common-sense declaration that no NH resident should be compelled to subsidize abortion providers. This is entirely consistent with Roe v. Wade. The bill respects the conscience rights of everyone in NH who opposes abortion, while leaving abortion rights intact.

When NH’s financial resources are stretched so thin, this is hardly the time to send state money to agencies that have enough money to provide abortions as well as health care to their patients. Abortion providers have the choice between doing business without state involvement, or of establishing separate businesses to keep abortion segregated from health care. This has worked in Texas and would work in NH.

The principal abortion provider in our state, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE), has objected to the loss of state funds for family planning services at the same time it is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on marketing and “public policy” work. If PPNNE chooses to put marketing above health care, that is their business decision. Let them make it without the support, direct or indirect, of NH taxpayers.

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Cornerstone Announces Vice President of Policy

CONCORD - Cornerstone Policy Research and Cornerstone Action announced today that J. Scott Moody will serve as its Vice President of Policy beginning January 2.  Cornerstone is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving New Hampshire’s traditional family values, limited government, and free markets. Scott will serve as Cornerstone’s first Vice President of Policy.

Scott brings to Cornerstone an understanding of how to use fact-based research to shape public policy with nearly 15 years of experience in the field.  He has worked with numerous national and state-based public policy think-tanks including The Heritage Foundation and The Tax Foundation and has authored over 150 studies and books.  Scott received a Masters in Economics from George Mason University.  Moody’s CV can be viewed here.

“Cornerstone is thrilled to bring Scott on board as its new Vice President of Policy,” said Wendy Warcholik, Executive Director of Cornerstone.  “Scott’s ability to use fact-based analysis to show how important New Hampshire’s families are to our social fabric and economic well-being will significantly elevate Cornerstone’s out-reach—as witnessed by the recent launch of the NH Cornerstone Blog.”

“I am excited to serve as Cornerstone’s Vice President of Policy,” said Moody.  “Too often public policy is based on flimsy anecdotes that lack the hard data to understand the consequences of certain actions.  Protecting New Hampshire’s families is too important not to have the best information available and disseminated as widely as possible.”

For Immediate Release: December 14, 2011
Contact: Shannon McGinley, Chairman of the Board of Directors
smcginley@nhcornerstone.org

CONCORD - Cornerstone Policy Research and Cornerstone Action announced today that Wendy Warcholik will serve as their new Executive Director beginning January 1.  Warcholik will replace Kevin Smith whose resignation was effective November 1.

Cornerstone is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving New Hampshire’s traditional values, limited government, and free markets. Wendy will serve as its third Executive Director in 12 years.

Dr. Warcholik brings to Cornerstone a decade of experience researching and writing on important public policy issues like limited government and entrepreneurship from a traditional conservative perspective.

Wendy received a Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University, and has served as an economist for the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Chief Forecasting Economist for Virginia’s Department of Medical Assistance Services, adjunct scholar with the Tax Foundation, and a Research Fellow for the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs.  Wendy’s full CV can be viewed here.

“The board of Cornerstone is thrilled to have Wendy as its new Executive Director,” said Shannon McGinley, Chairman of the Board.  “Wendy’s commitment to the sanctity of all human life, the defense of marriage, and to limited government makes her a perfect fit for advancing Cornerstone’s mission through the difficult battles ahead.”

Wendy says, “I consider myself lucky to have met the good people of Cornerstone at a time when I was frustrated by the fact that economic solutions alone will not be durable unless they are supported by an American culture with a strong moral foundation.  It was an easy decision to join Cornerstone’s team as the accomplishments achieved by their former Executive Director Kevin Smith, along with their board, show their deep and enduring commitment to faith and New Hampshire’s families.”

She continues, “Having spent the last 15 years researching and writing in the public policy arena, I’ve come to the conclusion that the problems in America’s economy stem directly from the breakdown of the family which is why I’m very excited to lock arms with Cornerstone as an energetic advocate for New Hampshire’s families.”

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November 17, 2011

Contact: Ellen Kolb                                                                                                                                                

(603) 228-4794

WGIR morning radio host Paul Westcott yesterday blasted a national same-sex marriage front group, responding to a NH Journal report revealing that the state’s same sex marriage lobby is funded by outside special interest lobbyists in New York City and in Washington, DC – with no ties to New Hampshire.

“Turns out a gay marriage group in the state of New Hampshire is being run exclusively from New York and Washington DC” (Paul Wescott, WGIR, 11/16/11)

 Of National Freedom to Marry, the national organization funding gay marriage front group, Standing Up for New Hampshire Families, Westcott said, “I looked at their mission statement.  It said, ‘to win more states!’” (Paul Wescott, WGIR, 11/16/11)

 “When you’re looking at political activism you want it to be grassroots – you want it to be based on something happening in the State of New Hampshire…” (Paul Wescott, WGIR, 11/16/11)

 “…Whether you’re talking about something like gay marriage in the state,…you do not want outside interests coming into the state and saying, “This is the way it should be.”(Paul Wescott, WGIR, 11/16/11)

“Well the reality is, that’s how it is. That’s sadly what’s started to happen with this type of activism.  And they they put on a front to basically say “we’re from the state, we’re gonna be fighting for you…” (Paul Wescott, WGIR, 11/16/11)

“Standing Up for New Hampshire Families,” sounds pretty organic to New Hampshire doesn’t it?  Well, the reality is, it’s absolutely not.”(Paul Wescott, WGIR, 11/16/11)

Cornerstone-Action is the legislative and issue advocacy arm of Cornerstone Policy Research. 

Cornerstone Policy Research is a non-partisan, non-profit education and research organization dedicated to the preservation of strong families, limited government and free markets.

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**PRESS RELEASE**

November 15, 2011

Contact: Ellen Kolb

(603) 321-2703

CONCORD – Today, Cornerstone Action’s Legislative Affairs Director, Ellen Kolb, released the following statement in response to newly released documents showing that New Hampshire’s pro-same-sex marriage effort was scripted and funded by national activists with no ties to the Granite State:
“Today’s public release of these documents underscores the lengths to which national activists have gone to enact their agenda,” said Kolb. “This news can only help encourage our legislators to repeal the same-sex marriage law, which looks more than ever like an experiment funded by out-of-state special interests with no long-term concern for the people of New Hampshire.”
Kolb added, “Not a single New Hampshire resident signed this organizing document and that’s all we need to know about this group. They’re free to try to push their agenda. New Hampshire voters, given the chance, will push back.”

To read today’s New Hampshire Journal report, click HERE.

Cornerstone-Action is the legislative and issue advocacy arm of Cornerstone Policy Research.

Cornerstone Policy Research is a non-partisan, non-profit education and research organization dedicated to the preservation of strong families, limited government and free markets.

Today, Cornerstone Action Legislative Director, Ellen Kolb, released the following statement upon reports earlier this week that the Executive Director for the local pro-same-sex marriage group had to resign citing a loss in national funding for the position:

“It looks like out-of-state interests paid to get NH’s same-sex-marriage law passed. No surprise. The same-sex-marriage lobby in NH now must do what Cornerstone has done all along: work with NH neighbors using NH resources.  Cornerstone’s here for the long run to strengthen and defend marriage, just as we’ve been here for over a decade, growing every year,” said Kolb.

Cornerstone-Action is the legislative and issue advocacy arm of Cornerstone Policy Research.

Cornerstone Policy Research is a non-partisan, non-profit education and research organization dedicated to the preservation of strong families, limited government and free markets.

Today, Cornerstone Action legislative director, Ellen Kolb, responded to attacks on the marriage compromise bill, HB437, made at a press conference today by the pro-gay marriage group, Standing Up for NH Families:

“Clearly we’re seeing these attacks from the gay marriage lobby today because they know traditional marriage has momentum in the Granite State,” said Kolb.

Kolb continued, “Elections have consequences.  Last year, New Hampshire voters rejected the extreme far-left majority and replaced it with a new majority that treasures traditional marriage.  This week we saw the first fruits of that important election with regard to this issue. The same-sex marriage lobby’s agenda has been exposed and there isn’t enough out-of-state special interest money to obscure it any longer.”

Cornerstone-Action is the legislative and issue advocacy arm of Cornerstone Policy Research.

Cornerstone Policy Research is a non-partisan, non-profit education and research organization dedicated to the preservation of strong families, limited government and free markets.

For Immediate Release

October 27, 2011
Contact: Ellen Kolb
Phone: (603) 321-2703
Email

CONCORD, NH – Today, Cornerstone Action legislative director, Ellen Kolb, responded to attacks on the marriage compromise bill, HB437, made at a press conference today by the pro-gay marriage group, Standing Up for NH Families:

“Clearly we’re seeing these attacks from the gay marriage lobby today because they know traditional marriage has momentum in the Granite State,” said Kolb.

Kolb continued, “Elections have consequences.  Last year, New Hampshire voters rejected the extreme far-left majority and replaced it with a new majority that treasures traditional marriage.  This week we saw the first fruits of that important election with regard to this issue. The same-sex marriage lobby’s agenda has been exposed and there isn’t enough out-of-state special interest money to obscure it any longer.”

Cornerstone-Action is the legislative and issue advocacy arm of Cornerstone Policy Research.

Cornerstone Policy Research is a non-partisan, non-profit education and research organization dedicated to the preservation of strong families, limited government and free markets.

Today, Cornerstone Action applauded the House Judiciary Committee for its overwhelming vote on a measure to restore the traditional definition of marriage, while allowing the same rights and benefits to be given to both homosexual and heterosexual couples through civil unions. The Committee voted 11 to 6 to recommend passage of HB 437 as amended, which will restore traditional marriage to New Hampshire while providing civil unions for all couples.

“The Judiciary Committee took an important first step toward correcting an overreach committed by the previous majority in the legislature, which has since been voted out of office,” stated Ellen Kolb, legislative director for Cornerstone Action.

“A measure that restores traditional marriage while providing for civil unions reflects the will of the people as expressed in the last statewide election,” Kolb continued. “It’s also the right thing to do for Granite State families.”

An April survey by Public Policy Polling – a Democrat firm -shows a majority of Granite Staters (54%) supports either civil unions or no legal recognition for same-sex couples. Only 44% said they support gay marriage.

In March 2010 every town that placed a question on an SB2 ballot asking voters if the people should have a say in defining marriage inthe state of New Hampshire voted overwhelmingly in favor of giving the people a voice.

Cornerstone-Action is the legislative and issue advocacy arm of Cornerstone Policy Research.

Cornerstone Policy Research is a non-partisan, non-profit education and research organization dedicated to the preservation of strong families, limited government and free markets.