D.J. Bettencourt
Encyclopedia
David J. "D.J." Bettencourt (born January 6, 1984) is and legislator from Salem, New Hampshire
who has been a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
since 2004, representing district Rockingham-4, and was elected the House Majority Leader in 2011.
history. Prior to being Majority Leader Bettencourt served as a Republican Caucus Whip during the 2009-2010 legislative session as well as a majority caucus whip during the 2005-2006 legislative session. Bettencourt rose to a position of leadership with support from the newly conservative majority elected to the Legislature in 2010 and has been the public face for the Republican agenda in the House.
Bettencourt is entering his fourth term and has served in the House of Representatives, representing Rockingham County District 4, since 2004.
In the House, Bettencourt has been a staunch advocate of cutting government spending at a state level, presiding over the passage of a state budget that included major cuts to all areas of government. He was also a leading voice on labor issues such as pension reform, often angering unions while trying to cut costs for taxpayers.
Bettencourt also serves as a member of several charitable and nonprofit organizations, including the Museum of American Finance, New Hampshire Historical Society, New Hampshire Humane Society, and Republicans for Environmental Protection.
Currently, Bettencourt is sponsoring a tax credit program that would give businesses an incentive to donate money to be used exclusively to fund education options for New Hampshire students. The money donated by the companies would then be distributed to families seeking alternatives to public school - whether that is home-schooling, private schools, an alternative public school, or religious schools. Under Bettencourt’s plan the state would allow businesses to donate up to $10 to $15 million to educational scholarship funds, and receive a tax credit of between 75 and 90 percent for that donation. The credit would be against that company's bill for the annual business profits tax, though Bettencourt is open to applying it to the business enterprise tax as well, depending on how other reforms of that tax shake out legislatively.
Bettencourt, like the vast majority of Granite Staters opposes a sales or income tax in New Hampshire. Additionally, he staunchly opposes the raising of existing or implementation of new taxes, saying “we oppose this kind of lazy legislating. Our taxpayers and our economy simply cannot afford it. Instead, we will make difficult but responsible spending reductions and find innovative cost savings.”. He has also written, "the only way to maintain low taxes is to control spending. If government spends too much, taxes will go up, and no amount of shifting them around from one form to another will prevent this."
Bettencourt was the chief sponsor of a 2010 bill to allow for local municipalities to enact tax caps. He also sponsored a constitutional amendment prohibiting an income tax in New Hampshire. He formerly served on the House Ways and Means Committee and the Judiciary Committee. In total, Bettencourt has sponsored or co-sponsored over thirty pieces of legislation that are currently law in the State of New Hampshire.
's campaign for president announced that Bettencourt had endorsed his candidacy. The Boston Globe characterized the endorsement as "coming from one of the state’s top conservative leaders, is a coup for Romney, who has made an effort in recent days to reach out to conservatives, including the Tea Party movement."
Bettencourt praised Romney’s experience as governor and in business. “Mitt Romney’s experience is unmatched,” Bettencourt said. “As governor, he created jobs, kept spending low, and cut taxes. As head of the Winter Olympics, he was able to lead a turnaround and get the Games back on track. In addition, he has the private sector experience that will be critical to leading an economic recovery. His pro-business, anti-spending stance is similar to one Romney has been advocating on the campaign trail.”
Bettencourt said the primary and the Old Man of the Mountain are the two things that immediately come to mind when people across the country think of New Hampshire. "Unfortunately we lost one of them to Mother Nature a few years ago," Bettencourt said. "But we intend to fight to hold on to the other." He spoke of the expectation residents have here candidates will "look them square in the eye and be ready to answer the tough questions." Bettencourt believes "we have earned the right to be the first in the nation, we thank those candidates for president, both past and present, who have stood with us in our fight. And we look forward to maintaining our first in the nation status for m any years to come." On October 22, the Nevada Republican Central Committee voted to hold their caucuses on February 4th rather than January 14th, at the behest of Republican National Committee officials and responding to public pressure from New Hampshire and candidates who refused to campaign there if they did not change the date.
Following Taitz’s call demanding the removal of Secretary of State Bill Gardner for "egregious elections fraud, aiding and abetting fraud, forgery and possibly treason," Bettencourt blasted the birther leader saying “Bill Gardner is a New Hampshire treasure who has worked tirelessly for Granite Staters and the preservation of our special political culture. The fact that he has drawn this ire establishes his good judgment. Were Secretary Gardner to even entertain your request he would be putting New Hampshire’s ‘First in the Nation’ Primary in grave danger. Please, Dr. Taitz, go away and leave New Hampshire alone.”
On November 26, 2011 the New Hampshire Union Leader sided with Bettencourt saying: “Some of the birthers in attendance called members of the committee traitors. That prompted a sharp rebuke from House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt. In a letter sent to Taitz and all House Republicans, he called birtherism “ridiculous,” “gobbledygook,” and a “folly.” He’s right on all three…House leadership cannot and should not enforce absolute ideological purity, of course. But the leadership’s move to isolate and rebuke this nuttery is absolutely appropriate. New Hampshire needs no association with birtherism or 9/11 kookery or any other conspiracy fantasies.”
Bettencourt’s position was also greatly bolstered by New Hampshire Union Leader Publisher Joe McQuaid who penned a front editorial supportive of Bettencourt. New Hampshire’s only state-wide newspaper wrote, “This newspaper called for the resignation of Bishop John McCormack nine years ago, when it became clear just how shabby a record he had in handling pedophile priests for the equally shabby Cardinal Bernard Law in Boston…House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt would not need to apologize, as he rightly did yesterday, had he been more subtle in his remarks questioning McCormack's moral authority to criticize the Legislature last week. Tough choices to contend with New Hampshire's soaring budget ills may hurt innocent victims. But Bishop McCormack is in no position to talk, or to be listened to, on the subject of innocent victims.”
, from 2003-2004. His other political experiences include interning on Gordon Humphrey's 2002 gubernatorial campaign and Mitt Romney's 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign, as well as volunteering on many other campaigns including George W. Bush
's 2000 campaign.
Bettencourt enjoyed a distinguished baseball career prior to elected office. In high school he was the Merrimack Valley Conference “Player Of The Year” and was a two time (2002, 2003) Boston Globe and Boston Herald “All-Scholastic,” as well as the Lowell Sun “Player Of The Year” (2002, 2003). Additionally, he was a member of the 2003 Massachusetts/Connecticut All Star Team that played at Fenway Park. He was a catcher and first baseman. He attended the University of Massachusetts on a baseball scholarship prior to transferring to the University of New Hampshire.
Bettencourt obtained two bachelors degrees in Political Science and Communication from University of New Hampshire
(2007), and is currently enrolled as a full time law student at the University of New Hampshire School of Law where he has served as President of the UNH Law Federalist Society.. While at UNH, he was both a Pi Sigma Alpha Scholar, for Political Science and a Lamda Pi Eta Scholar, for Communications. In 2008 he received the Virginia Smith Award for Academic Scholarship Advancement and the Communication Department Service to University Award. He also a presenter for the UNH Undergraduate Research Conference in 2007 and 2008 for the Political Science and Communications Departments. He fully graduated in 2008 with Magna Cum Laude honors.
Prior to attending law school, he was a small business manager of DB's Instructional Baseball and Softball Academy, a family owned indoor athletic facility
In his free time, Bettencourt coaches baseball
.
Salem, New Hampshire
Salem is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 28,776 at the 2010 census. Salem is a marketing and distributing center north of Boston, with a major amusement attraction, Canobie Lake Park, and a large shopping mall, the Mall at Rockingham Park.- History :The...
who has been a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
New Hampshire House of Representatives
The New Hampshire House of Representatives is the lower house in the New Hampshire General Court. The House of Representatives consists of 400 members coming from 103 districts across the state, created from divisions of the state's counties. On average, each legislator represents about 3,300...
since 2004, representing district Rockingham-4, and was elected the House Majority Leader in 2011.
Legislative career
First elected as a NH state representative at the age of 20, he is currently the youngest House majority leader in the nation (age 27) and the youngest in New HampshireNew Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
history. Prior to being Majority Leader Bettencourt served as a Republican Caucus Whip during the 2009-2010 legislative session as well as a majority caucus whip during the 2005-2006 legislative session. Bettencourt rose to a position of leadership with support from the newly conservative majority elected to the Legislature in 2010 and has been the public face for the Republican agenda in the House.
Bettencourt is entering his fourth term and has served in the House of Representatives, representing Rockingham County District 4, since 2004.
In the House, Bettencourt has been a staunch advocate of cutting government spending at a state level, presiding over the passage of a state budget that included major cuts to all areas of government. He was also a leading voice on labor issues such as pension reform, often angering unions while trying to cut costs for taxpayers.
Bettencourt also serves as a member of several charitable and nonprofit organizations, including the Museum of American Finance, New Hampshire Historical Society, New Hampshire Humane Society, and Republicans for Environmental Protection.
Election as New Hampshire House Majority Leader
Bettencourt won the House majority leader's post on the second ballot in voting by the Republican House caucus. He received 172 votes to 89 for Rep. Paul Mirski, R-Enfield. Bettencourt led the field after the first ballot, with 117 votes to 78 for Mirski and 74 for Rep. Shawn Jasper, R-Hudson, but fell short of a majority of the caucus. Jasper then threw his support behind Bettencourt for the second ballot. In a show of unity after the second ballot result, Mirski asked the caucus to make Bettencourt's selection to the post by unanimous consent, to which the caucus agreed.Abortion
Bettencourt is pro-life and is a supporter of parental notification, stating that “it is critical that parents stay involved in their children’s lives and ensuring that the mothers and fathers across New Hampshire are part of their children’s medical decisions.”Business
Bettencourt favors job creation and New Hampshire’s small business community. He enjoys career rankings of 80% with the New Hampshire Business and Industry Association, 85% with the New Hampshire National Federation of Independent Business, and a 100% with the New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association.Education
In 2010 New Hampshire Families for Education gave Representative Bettencourt a grade of A+.Currently, Bettencourt is sponsoring a tax credit program that would give businesses an incentive to donate money to be used exclusively to fund education options for New Hampshire students. The money donated by the companies would then be distributed to families seeking alternatives to public school - whether that is home-schooling, private schools, an alternative public school, or religious schools. Under Bettencourt’s plan the state would allow businesses to donate up to $10 to $15 million to educational scholarship funds, and receive a tax credit of between 75 and 90 percent for that donation. The credit would be against that company's bill for the annual business profits tax, though Bettencourt is open to applying it to the business enterprise tax as well, depending on how other reforms of that tax shake out legislatively.
Budget and Taxes
In 2011, Bettencourt outlined the New Hampshire House Agenda saying, “this legislature must immediately take on the duty of making some very difficult, but necessary spending choices. Over the past four years, state government spending increased by 25%. This came at a time when other states were cutting their spending by an average of 2% and now we are now facing the serious consequences.”Bettencourt, like the vast majority of Granite Staters opposes a sales or income tax in New Hampshire. Additionally, he staunchly opposes the raising of existing or implementation of new taxes, saying “we oppose this kind of lazy legislating. Our taxpayers and our economy simply cannot afford it. Instead, we will make difficult but responsible spending reductions and find innovative cost savings.”. He has also written, "the only way to maintain low taxes is to control spending. If government spends too much, taxes will go up, and no amount of shifting them around from one form to another will prevent this."
Bettencourt was the chief sponsor of a 2010 bill to allow for local municipalities to enact tax caps. He also sponsored a constitutional amendment prohibiting an income tax in New Hampshire. He formerly served on the House Ways and Means Committee and the Judiciary Committee. In total, Bettencourt has sponsored or co-sponsored over thirty pieces of legislation that are currently law in the State of New Hampshire.
Obamacare
A staunch opponent of Obamacare, Bettencourt has rigorously fought it on a state level. He was quotes as saying that "a major reason why the voters repudiated the big-government Democrat agenda last November [2010] was because of their plan to take over Americans’ health care. Republicans campaigned on a clear message of restoring the freedom to make our own health care decisions and we kept our word by passing legislation that will pull the hand of government interference off the backs of our citizens.” He has also been supportive of New Hampshire seeking a waiver from Medicaid and the Obama health insurance law so cuts to optional services not required under federal law could be made.Expanded Gaming
After initially taking a neutral position on expanded gaming in his first campaign for State Representative, Bettencourt has become a supporter of expanded gaming citing access to more accurate information since his election. He has stated that he believes expanded gaming would not have solved all of New Hampshire’s problems but would certainly make difficult economic times a little less painful and provide additional revenues for future budgets. In November 2011, Bettencourt harshly criticized Governor John Lynch’s pledge to veto any legislation expanding gaming saying Lynch's stance was "a slap in the face to the 40,000 New Hampshire residents who are currently unemployed." He continued, "I am disappointed that Gov. Lynch has chosen to take this path and watch our citizens money go to Massachusetts instead of keeping it here and attracting revenue from citizens from other states that could be used to create jobs here."Endorsement of Mitt Romney for President
On September 2, 2011, Mitt RomneyMitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
's campaign for president announced that Bettencourt had endorsed his candidacy. The Boston Globe characterized the endorsement as "coming from one of the state’s top conservative leaders, is a coup for Romney, who has made an effort in recent days to reach out to conservatives, including the Tea Party movement."
Bettencourt praised Romney’s experience as governor and in business. “Mitt Romney’s experience is unmatched,” Bettencourt said. “As governor, he created jobs, kept spending low, and cut taxes. As head of the Winter Olympics, he was able to lead a turnaround and get the Games back on track. In addition, he has the private sector experience that will be critical to leading an economic recovery. His pro-business, anti-spending stance is similar to one Romney has been advocating on the campaign trail.”
Defense of NH Primary
In 2011, after controversy arose when Nevada Republicans tentatively set the date for the 2012 Republican Caucuses for January 14th, Bettencourt, along with other legislative and political leaders throughout New Hampshire became vocal advocates for the protection of New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation Presidential Primary. New Hampshire law requires it's Primary be held at least 7 days in advance of any similar contest. As a result, it had been believed that NH Secretary of State Bill Gardner would set the date as early as December in order to avoid occurring too soon after Iowa. Bettencourt said all New Hampshire officials were asking is for Nevada to move its caucuses back 72 hours, to avoid disrupting the primary process by pushing the New Hampshire primary into December. “Given the consequences, given the relatively easy fix, which is for Nevada just to move their caucus back 72 hours, I think a boycott is appropriate,” Bettencourt said. "I appreciate and thank all of the candidates who have chosen to stand with New Hampshire in support of the First in the Nation primary," Bettencourt said in reference to several candidates who have agreed to boycott the Nevada caucus if it does not move back its Jan. 14 date. "It has become an important part of our heritage."Bettencourt said the primary and the Old Man of the Mountain are the two things that immediately come to mind when people across the country think of New Hampshire. "Unfortunately we lost one of them to Mother Nature a few years ago," Bettencourt said. "But we intend to fight to hold on to the other." He spoke of the expectation residents have here candidates will "look them square in the eye and be ready to answer the tough questions." Bettencourt believes "we have earned the right to be the first in the nation, we thank those candidates for president, both past and present, who have stood with us in our fight. And we look forward to maintaining our first in the nation status for m any years to come." On October 22, the Nevada Republican Central Committee voted to hold their caucuses on February 4th rather than January 14th, at the behest of Republican National Committee officials and responding to public pressure from New Hampshire and candidates who refused to campaign there if they did not change the date.
Criticism of "Birther" movement
Representative Bettencourt has drawn anger from the so-called "birther" movement that does not believe President Obama is an American citizen. Following a hearing before the New Hampshire Ballot Law Commission, which unanimously rejected a “birther” effort to disqualify President Obama from the New Hampshire ballot “birthers” began shouting their displeasure at the five-member panel. Bettencourt responded with an email to “birther” leader Orly Taitz in which he said the outburst was "unbecoming of any legitimate political dialogue, never mind one as ridiculous as the continued obsession over President Obama's birth place."Following Taitz’s call demanding the removal of Secretary of State Bill Gardner for "egregious elections fraud, aiding and abetting fraud, forgery and possibly treason," Bettencourt blasted the birther leader saying “Bill Gardner is a New Hampshire treasure who has worked tirelessly for Granite Staters and the preservation of our special political culture. The fact that he has drawn this ire establishes his good judgment. Were Secretary Gardner to even entertain your request he would be putting New Hampshire’s ‘First in the Nation’ Primary in grave danger. Please, Dr. Taitz, go away and leave New Hampshire alone.”
On November 26, 2011 the New Hampshire Union Leader sided with Bettencourt saying: “Some of the birthers in attendance called members of the committee traitors. That prompted a sharp rebuke from House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt. In a letter sent to Taitz and all House Republicans, he called birtherism “ridiculous,” “gobbledygook,” and a “folly.” He’s right on all three…House leadership cannot and should not enforce absolute ideological purity, of course. But the leadership’s move to isolate and rebuke this nuttery is absolutely appropriate. New Hampshire needs no association with birtherism or 9/11 kookery or any other conspiracy fantasies.”
Criticism of Bishop John McCormack
Bettencourt has been criticized for statements that supporters and colleagues view as simply part of his plainspoken “no nonsense” style. His most notorious criticism came when he called New Hampshire Bishop John McCormack a “pedophile pimp” for his role in allegedly protecting abusive priests. He later apologized to McCormack in person. Despite criticism Bettencourt received strong support for his assessment. Attorney Peter Hutchins who represented nearly 200 victim survivors of childhood clergy sexual abuse in New Hampshire, with 150 of those cases involving the Diocese of Manchester called the criticism leveled at Bettencourt by people who were notably “absent” in 2002 and 2003 “curious at best, disingenuous at worst.” Another Attorney, Roderick MacLeish whose work for abuse victims helped spur the resignation of Boston's Cardinal Bernard Law in 2002, also supported Bettencourt saying, “I might not have used the term ‘pedophile pimp’ to describe the bishop but, stated simply, the facts are clear and unequivocal to support this assertion.”Bettencourt’s position was also greatly bolstered by New Hampshire Union Leader Publisher Joe McQuaid who penned a front editorial supportive of Bettencourt. New Hampshire’s only state-wide newspaper wrote, “This newspaper called for the resignation of Bishop John McCormack nine years ago, when it became clear just how shabby a record he had in handling pedophile priests for the equally shabby Cardinal Bernard Law in Boston…House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt would not need to apologize, as he rightly did yesterday, had he been more subtle in his remarks questioning McCormack's moral authority to criticize the Legislature last week. Tough choices to contend with New Hampshire's soaring budget ills may hurt innocent victims. But Bishop McCormack is in no position to talk, or to be listened to, on the subject of innocent victims.”
Awards and Honors
In 2007, then-Speaker Terie Norelli named Bettencourt to serve on the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Committee in New Hampshire. In 2008, the New Hampshire Advantage Coalition awarded Bettencourt as their “Legislator of the Year.” In 2010, through the University of New Hampshire School of Law he was named a 2010-2011 New Hampshire-Vermont Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Scholar.Early Life and Education
Bettencourt is a lifelong resident of Salem where he got his start in politics as a special aide to Massachusetts Governor, Mitt RomneyMitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
, from 2003-2004. His other political experiences include interning on Gordon Humphrey's 2002 gubernatorial campaign and Mitt Romney's 2002 Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign, as well as volunteering on many other campaigns including George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's 2000 campaign.
Bettencourt enjoyed a distinguished baseball career prior to elected office. In high school he was the Merrimack Valley Conference “Player Of The Year” and was a two time (2002, 2003) Boston Globe and Boston Herald “All-Scholastic,” as well as the Lowell Sun “Player Of The Year” (2002, 2003). Additionally, he was a member of the 2003 Massachusetts/Connecticut All Star Team that played at Fenway Park. He was a catcher and first baseman. He attended the University of Massachusetts on a baseball scholarship prior to transferring to the University of New Hampshire.
Bettencourt obtained two bachelors degrees in Political Science and Communication from University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
(2007), and is currently enrolled as a full time law student at the University of New Hampshire School of Law where he has served as President of the UNH Law Federalist Society.. While at UNH, he was both a Pi Sigma Alpha Scholar, for Political Science and a Lamda Pi Eta Scholar, for Communications. In 2008 he received the Virginia Smith Award for Academic Scholarship Advancement and the Communication Department Service to University Award. He also a presenter for the UNH Undergraduate Research Conference in 2007 and 2008 for the Political Science and Communications Departments. He fully graduated in 2008 with Magna Cum Laude honors.
Prior to attending law school, he was a small business manager of DB's Instructional Baseball and Softball Academy, a family owned indoor athletic facility
In his free time, Bettencourt coaches baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
.