Newly elected U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes and a variety of N.H. organizations are putting their support behind a national campaign called Change America Now (CAN).

Participants from 40 organizations in 31 states are committing to helping the new Democratic majority fulfill their mandate for a short-term defining agenda during the first 100 legislative hours of the 110th Congress in January, with the promise of long-term progressive policy change.

The movement is calling for a raise in the minimum wage, cutting interest on student loans in half, repealing Big Oil tax breaks while pushing for investments in alternative energy, and eliminating the prohibition on Medicare negotiating for lower prescription drug costs.

Hodes said he sees the agenda as critical priorities for N.H. families. The campaign is seeking to pass these priorities with large bipartisan majorities in the House of Representatives in an effort to build momentum for them in a closely divided U.S. Senate and to apply sufficient pressure to have President Bush sign them into law. 

In addition, the Change America Now campaign is uniting progressive voices from across America to champion these issues and pass them into law as a down payment on advancing a broader agenda for American families in a number of areas, including jobs and wages, healthcare, the environment and education. 

The participating N.H. organizations held a press conference on Monday, Dec. 18. They include the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the New Hampshire Citizens Alliance, New Hampshire Working Families Win, Service Employees International Union and the Sierra Club.

The coalition will educate Granite Staters on these critical issues and rally support for CAN’s 100 Hour Agenda.