Obama Care…..What in the world are they thinking?

            Much to the surprise of most political observers, the Supreme Court upheld Obama Care by a 5-4 margin with the Chief Justice doing an incredible jujitsu in rewriting the bill from the bench to change the individual mandate into a tax.  When the bill was being considered, President Obama argued that the individual Mandate was not a tax.  He pledged to the American people over and over again if they made less than $250,000 a year he would not raise any of their taxes. The Court found that there was no way that the individual mandate could ever pass muster when justified by the Commerce Clause, so it threw Obama a lifeline with the novel tax interpretation. Whether the Federal Government coerces citizen behavior by invoking the Commerce Clause or through the threat of punitive taxation makes no difference to the individual citizen who sees his liberty slipping away.  Right now personal liberty and the Constitution are hanging by a thread. 

            The upshot of this extraordinary action by the Court is to make clear that there is only one path to reversing this terrible impending train wreck for the country.  We must elect Mitt Romney and send enough Republicans to the Senate to ensure the repeal of Obama Care.  Nothing else will save us from single payer nationalized health care which is failing dismally now in Europe.  The lines are drawn and now the people must decide which way this country goes.  I am on the side of the Constitution and the Rule of Law. If you agree, I would appreciate your support.

It's Official...I'm Running

   Why I am running  

      This will be the most important election of our generation.  The country will determine whether we make a fundamental shift back to constitutional government with fiscally responsible and limited government or continue on our way to have the overblown federal government continue to nationalize car companies, the health care industry, banks and the energy sectors of our economy.  Currently the federal government is incurring deficits in excess of $1 trillion per year under President Obama and the Democrat Senate that has not passed a budget in 3 years.  This election will require the electorate to make a choice.  This is not about compromise and meeting halfway on the road to ruin. We either limit government to a reasonable percentage of the Gross National Product or we continue to bankrupt our children and grandchildren sidling them with debts that they will never be able to repay. 

       I want to do my part to return to constitutional government by running for the New Hampshire House of Representatives.  If this election moves the Federal Government to limited constitutional government, it will refocus the country on the 10^th Amendment which reserves all powers not specifically enumerated in the constitution to the States and the People.  A move in this direction will require the States to step up to the plate and reassert their proper role in numerous areas that have been encroached upon by the federal government.  I would be proud to serve in the NH House when this change starts to evolve.

     New Hampshire is one of the states best prepared to make this shift.  We have 400 citizen legislators that each represents approximately 3700 residents.  Making only $100 per year, the representatives do not tend to be lifetime politicians but rather citizens who take it as their civic responsibility to serve their neighbors.  Not having a state sales tax nor an income tax gives rise to the New Hampshire Advantage that make the state a desirable place for people to live and businesses to thrive.  If we were to add the Right to Work legislation to make union membership voluntary, we could attract even more businesses to New Hampshire.  If we were to enact enlightened energy policies to lower New Hampshire’s historically high energy costs, we could enhance economic growth and ease the burden on New Hampshire residents. Given my background and training in engineering and finance and my experience in technologically advanced manufacturing, I could serve on the budgeting committee or on the Science, Technology, and Energy committee in the House.  I feel I could make a significant contribution to either committee in the service of my constituents.

For Immediate Release:

      Richard McClure has announced he is entering the race this fall to represent District 2  (Conway, Eaton, Chatham, and Hale’s Location) in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.  McClure is a retired business owner and has been a resident of the Mount Washington Valley for the last 13 years   

   McClure states the challenge facing the state is creating the conditions for economic growth to benefit both citizens and businesses in the state.  He cites passing the Right to Work legislation is important to make New Hampshire an attractive place for businesses looking to expand or relocate to a business friendly state.  McClure points out that electric rates are 149 percent of the national average and this places a drag on business development and places a burden on local residents.  McClure would look forward to serving on the Science, Technology and Energy Committee if he were to be elected.

      McClure was born in Titusville, Pennsylvania and graduated from Dartmouth College with honors in 1966.  He added a Bachelor of Science degree and an MBA in Finance from the Thayer School of Engineering and Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth in 1968.  McClure spent ten years working for Burroughs Corporation in Detroit Michigan working in Management Systems and Corporate Economic Analysis. He was Manager of Treasurers Administration and Manager of Group Financial Analysis for the Business Machines Group overseeing an operating budget of $400 Million.  While working in the Detroit area, McClure taught Industrial Dynamics and Engineering Economy at Wayne State University. 

     In 1978 McClure joined Aetna Machine Company in Cochranton, PA and was the owner and CEO of the company for the last 30 years.  Aetna Machine Company provides engineering services and precision-machined parts to its customers primarily in energy related industries.  McClure sold the business to his employees in 2011.

     McClure has been active in civic and industry related roles throughout his career. He served as President of the Northwest Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association.  He also was the Chairman of the Political Action Committee of the National Tooling and Machining Association to better represent the business owners concerns with their congressional delegations in Washington.  McClure helped to found and served as a Director of the Precision Machining Institute in Meadville, Pennsylvania.  The Institute was formed to provide training for machinists and tool and die makers to work in local businesses.  McClure served on the Leadership Council of the National Federation of Independent Business.  McClure was on the Board of Corporators for Meadville City Hospital.  McClure coached his son’s hockey teams and served as President of the Crawford County Youth Hockey Association.

     McClure became a resident of New Hampshire in 1999.  He is currently the President of the Hales Location Owners Association and is Treasurer of the North Conway Public Library.  McClure’s wife, Gail, is active in the community volunteering with the Chamber of Commerce and is the head of the Material Girls who make quilts for charities.

     McClure enjoys and wants to work to preserve the North Country’s outdoor environment.  McClure is a lifelong NRA member having hunted and fished all his life.  The McClure family is proud to have two golden retrievers and is grateful to have the outdoor facilities for daily hikes on the trails.