A new radio ad chastising former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D) is the target of a complaint filed last week by the New Hampshire Democratic Party with the Federal Elections Commission. State Democrats allege that the nonprofit group Americans For Job Security has violated elections laws by disguising itself as an issues organization while running political advertisements--. The complaint also claimed that the ads are--> on behalf of Shaheen's opponent in the Senate campaign, incumbent John Sununu (R). Americans For Job Security President Stephen DeMaura called the claims "completely baseless."
"Shaheen pledged to oppose any new taxes," an announcer says in "Taxes Hurt" (subscription), "but she broke her pledge and proposed millions in new taxes -- taxes that hurt New Hampshire, taxes that hurt families, taxes that have cost New Hampshire jobs." Another announcer urges viewers to call Shaheen and "tell her to oppose higher taxes on New Hampshire families."
--Americans For Job Security President Stephen DeMaura said the claims that the group is specifically targeting Shaheen are "completely baseless." The issues the group cares about, such as those that affect small business owners, are what they want to address, he said. "They're not currently within the debate in New Hampshire because nobody is talking about these issues so we’re trying to shape the debates around these issues."-->
This is the first race the group has engaged in for this election season, but it is looking at "multiple" contests throughout the country, DeMaura said.
--This legal squabble echoes a http://adspotlight.nationaljournal.com/2008/06/law_order_misso_1.php similar case in the Missouri governor's race where a new 527 group was accused of violating elections laws as well by putting out ads on behalf of a candidate and missing required deadlines. -->