Colin Van Ostern

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the federal government ban certain "military-style" firearms, such as the AR-15?

"For"

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Do you support abolishing any federal agencies or departments?

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Do you support abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and redistributing its duties?

"Against"

Other, 2016

"I've been leading the effort in New Hampshire to push for getting passenger rail and commuter from Boston up to the central part of the state for years, and I'm glad we're making some progress, but we need to get it done now."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Do you support a constitutional amendment limiting terms for U.S. representatives and senators?

"For"

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014

What was the best decision made by the Executive Council in the past two years?

"Re-starting the federal economic feasibility study of how to bring passenger rail from Boston to central New Hampshire."

Other, 2016

Both candidates have promised not to introduce a broad-based sales or income tax to raise revenue. But they have different ideas on where additional source of revenue will come from; Van Ostern identifies federal money coming to the state from expanded Medicaid as a financial boon, while Sununu argues that cutting business taxes further will bring more businesses and, therefore, more revenue into state coffers.

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the federal government combat inflation by requiring budget cuts to match any new federal spending?

• "Support cutting junk fees and providing more accountability for companies that are rising consumer prices while increasing profits, but do not support broad price-setting by the government; support well-regulated free-market capitalism.
• "Support significantly cutting federal deficits.
• "Do not support raising taxes on small businesses and middle class families, but do support requiring the largest, most profitable companies and individuals to pay their fair share in taxes in order to help cut federal deficits."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the federal government combat inflation by capping price increases by large businesses?

• "Support cutting junk fees and providing more accountability for companies that are rising consumer prices while increasing profits, but do not support broad price-setting by the government; support well-regulated free-market capitalism.
• "Support significantly cutting federal deficits.
• "Do not support raising taxes on small businesses and middle class families, but do support requiring the largest, most profitable companies and individuals to pay their fair share in taxes in order to help cut federal deficits."

Other, 2016

"I don't think bringing casinos to New Hampshire is the solution to revenue challenges we face. They're building a $1.5 billion resort not too far over our border. I think what past proposals might have made sense at the time are just having less validity today, and so that's not what I'm going to be pushing as governor."

Other, 2016

"I think we should be very aggressive about replacing high-stakes standardized testing with localized project-based learning. There are a handful of school districts around New Hampshire that have done a pilot program in this area called PACE. We're actually the first state in the country to be able to break out of some of the rigid requirements around the yearly standardized testing, but right now we have a cap holding back the number of school districts that can do that. I think we should look at lifting that and making sure that education and curriculum are built at the local level."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Do you support a law that would allow U.S. officials to turn away migrants seeking asylum when the number of border crossings exceeds a certain number?

"While not perfect, support the bipartisan border security legislation that received significant support in both the US House and US Senate in Spring of 2024 and was then killed for political reasons, in an example of the current dysfunction that we need to fix in Washington."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the federal government combat inflation by decreasing tariffs on imports from foreign countries?

• "Support cutting junk fees and providing more accountability for companies that are rising consumer prices while increasing profits, but do not support broad price-setting by the government; support well-regulated free-market capitalism.
• "Support significantly cutting federal deficits.
• "Do not support raising taxes on small businesses and middle class families, but do support requiring the largest, most profitable companies and individuals to pay their fair share in taxes in order to help cut federal deficits."

Other, 2016

"I think that possessing a small amount of marijuana for personal use should not disrupt your entire life and career. The other states in New England have made progress towards that in a way that New Hampshire should have and hasn't yet. In concept, I think decriminalization makes some sense. I think we need to do it in a way that's careful and takes law enforcement's opinions and those who are on the front lines of the opioid and fentanyl crisis into account in how it gets done. But I think we spend a lot of money in our state prison system that could be better routed to things like treatment and recovery and prevention."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014

What do you think of the dollar limit on the size of state contracts that must be reviewed by the Executive Council?

"New Hampshire's Executive Council moved this fall to cut government waste, improve efficiency, strengthen transparency and make it easier for local firms to do business with the state. Sometimes, the best change you can make is when you change yourself: that's why I voted to raise the threshold for which items come before the Executive Council. Up until this fall, the five of us on the Executive Council vote on essentially all state contracts of $10,000 or more and all personnel contracts of $2,500 or more (as well as key appointments by the governor and other matters). Last year, this added up to 1,431 contracts ranging from $2,500 to hundreds of millions of dollars apiece. I've spent most of my career in the private sector, and the idea that a multi-billion dollar organization would essentially require its board of directors to approve a $12,000 roof repair is frankly somewhat shocking to my business-minded colleagues outside government. But the truth is, government is not a business - we carry the public trust, and have higher standards of transparency and accountability. So it's worth looking at it through the lens of what's best for the public. And through that lens, the answer is clear. The extensive council review process for the hundreds of smaller contracts every year is costing New Hampshire taxpayers tremendously - both in terms of bureaucratic waste and in obscuring transparency. Leading the effort to raise the threshold all year has been our longest-serving councilor, Deb Pignatelli. I also spoke with three previous councilors before making up my mind - two Republican, one Democrat - who together represented my district for more than 32 years. Unprompted, all thought the threshold should be raised. Here's why: To improve efficiency and cut waste: Today, a typical contract of less than $25,000 consumes roughly 40 to 85 hours of personnel time and costs the state nearly $3,000 (as estimated by the Division of Purchase & Property Management). There are hundreds of contracts of this size (last year, 374 to be precise). Quite literally, we have dozens of state employees who spend hundreds or thousands of hours a year on paperwork on these contracts. It's not uncommon for an agency to receive an electronic document from a vendor, print it out and ship it to another agency that makes a dozen or more paper copies for processing, then scans one into a new electronic document. To be sure, any organization as large as the state will have some bureaucracy. And, the council is also discussing other much-needed reforms - like a project to bring more of the contracting process online, spearheaded by Councilor Christopher Sununu, and a new consent calendar spearheaded by Councilor Christopher Pappas and myself. But raising the limit is a concrete and immediately impactful step we can take now. We have a responsibility to taxpayers to be frugal with their tax dollars and tens of thousands of hours on paperwork is hardly frugal. To strengthen transparency and accountability: Today, contracts of less than $25,000 make up 26 percent of all contracts the council reviews - but they make up roughly 0.2 percent of all funding we oversee. And by the way, 100 percent of these contracts have passed in recent years. Effectively, these small contracts are the hay"in the proverbial haystack - lots of paper standing between citizens and the vastly more impactful 'needles' - that is the multimillion dollar contracts that often don't raise a single question from a single councilor before passing. There's no question that it is important for the public to see transactions big and small - which is why the state should publish quarterly reports listing even these smaller contracts for councilors and the public to review. But the best way to ensure both transparency and accountability is to ensure that the council review process focuses on projects that have a big impact on the state - and too often the smaller contracts are essentially shielding them from the full review they deserve. The Executive Council has been meeting for 334 years and it took until 2014 for a majority of the councilors to abandon the 10 000-page deep council packets each meeting in exchange for laptops and iPads. But New Hampshire is moving forward. Our court system has made great strides to electronic records this year and Gov. Maggie Hassan has ordered all state business forms to be available online within the year. Raising the council contract threshold can achieve better efficiency and more impactful transparency for New Hampshire citizens."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Do you support a federal rule that would oblige automakers to make 50% or more of the vehicles they sell electric?

"Support accelerating the transition to and beyond this goal through tax credits, electrification of government fleets, investment in charging networks, and other means overproduction mandates."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Do you support revising Title IX to limit participation in female sports based on an individual's reproductive biology and genetics at birth?

"Against"

Candidate's Facebook Page, 2015

"We shouldn't be capping the full potential of our clean tech economy in New Hampshire -- we should be accelerating it. The time to end the NH solar cap is long overdue."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Do you support an expanded child tax credit that sends monthly payments to middle and low income families?

"For"

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Do you support extending the Trump-backed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) past 2025?

"I support letting the Trump-tax cuts expire for the ultra-wealthy and large corporations, but will oppose any increases to 2024's tax rates for typical families, including making less than roughly $400,000/year, small businesses, and investments in R&D. I also support considering new targeted tax relief for middle class families."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the federal government ban some abortions?

"Against"

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014

What is your position on accepting federal grant money related to the online health insurance exchange?

"The Executive Council was right to accept federal money related to the online health insurance exchange."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the federal government pass a law guaranteeing the right to choose abortion before fetal viability (generally 24 weeks gestation)?

"Support the Women's Health Protection Act, which proactively establishes a right for health care providers to provide abortion care."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014

When approving a state purchase or contract, which is most important?

"The financial merits (or problems)"

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Do you support increasing military aid to Taiwan?

"For"

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Do you support increasing oil and natural gas leases on publicly owned land and water?

"Against"

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should military aid to Israel include a requirement that Israel take certain actions to reduce civilian casualties?

"Supported the bipartisan foreign aid package that included support for both Israel and Ukraine in spring of 2024, which gives the President of the United States broad authority to ensure that all foreign aid is being used consistent with international humanitarian standards, and support the US using a broad range of diplomatic tools to provide humanitarian support and decrease civilian casualties in current war that was instigated by the terrorist attacks of Hamas on October 7, 2024."

Other, 2016

Van Ostern supports decriminalizing marijuana, but has stopped short of supporting outright legalization.

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the government legalize marijuana at the federal level?

"For"

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the federal government reform Social Security by requiring means testing?

"Open to ensuring very high income earners pay their fair share on their marginal income, but have concerns about increasing the current cap for middle class individuals and households at or near the current cap."

Other, 2015

Supports expanded Medicaid eligibility.

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the federal government amend the Affordable Care Act/"Obamacare" by automatically enrolling every citizen in Medicare, replacing most private insurance?

"Not as a mandatory requirement."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the federal government amend the Affordable Care Act/"Obamacare" by allowing citizens to opt into Medicare if they so choose?

"Yes, as a public option."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the U.S. government continue to provide military aid to Ukraine (without putting U.S. soldiers on the ground)?

"For"

Other, 2016

Van Ostern supports the Gateway to Work program passed by Gov. Maggie Hassan and opposes right-to-work legislation. His economic plan calls for keeping business taxes low and preventing a sales or income tax. He also supports establishing a state minimum wage, and he has said $12 an hour would be a good starting point.

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Do you support increasing federal enforcement of organized retail crime?

Other, 2016

We need a governor who's going to stand up for the people. The reason Chris said he voted against solar projects was 'because they penalize the electric utility companies.' I'm worried about doing what's right for New Hampshire consumers."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014

When making an appointment, how much should the Executive Council consider a nominee's political beliefs?

"A nominee's knowledge and experience are more important than his/her political beliefs."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Do you support presidential action to bar asylum-seekers from staying in the United States before their court date?

"While not perfect, support the bipartisan border security legislation that received significant support in both the US House and US Senate in Spring of 2024 and was then killed for political reasons, in an example of the current dysfunction that we need to fix in Washington."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the federal government privatize some or all of Social Security?

"Against"

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the federal government reform social security by raising the cap on income subject to the Social Security tax?

"Open to ensuring very high income earners pay their fair share on their marginal income, but have concerns about increasing the current cap for middle class individuals and households at or near the current cap."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the federal government reform Social Security by raising the retirement age from today's age of 67?

"Against"

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the federal government combat inflation by raising taxes to reduce the budget deficit?

• "Support cutting junk fees and providing more accountability for companies that are rising consumer prices while increasing profits, but do not support broad price-setting by the government; support well-regulated free-market capitalism.
• "Support significantly cutting federal deficits.
• "Do not support raising taxes on small businesses and middle class families, but do support requiring the largest, most profitable companies and individuals to pay their fair share in taxes in order to help cut federal deficits."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014

Do you agree with the Executive Council's refusal to grant a pardon to Thomas Schoolcraft, a reformed burglar turned corrections officer?

"The Executive Council was right to deny the pardon."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the federal government combat inflation by repealing or revising the Jones Act to allow more foreign involvement in shipping between U.S. ports?

• "Support cutting junk fees and providing more accountability for companies that are rising consumer prices while increasing profits, but do not support broad price-setting by the government; support well-regulated free-market capitalism.
• "Support significantly cutting federal deficits.
• "Do not support raising taxes on small businesses and middle class families, but do support requiring the largest, most profitable companies and individuals to pay their fair share in taxes in order to help cut federal deficits."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should Congress revise Section 230, a federal law that shields social media companies from lawsuits over content that appears on their platforms?

"Believe that algorithmically-boosted and similar platform-supported content should have a higher level of regulatory scrutiny than passive platform hosting, and that the well-documented mental health impacts of social media require congressional action, which may include some updates to Section 230."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2014

What is your opinion on the state providing some funding for Planned Parenthood?

"The Executive Council was right to approve the contract with Planned Parenthood."

Candidate's Facebook Page, 2015

"Basic, common-sense gun safety laws are completely consistent with the 2nd amendment rights I respect and I exercise as a gun owner. But they will only happen if we call on our elected officials to listen to the people of our country and make positive change."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the federal government combat inflation by supporting further Federal Reserve interest rate hikes?

"Against"

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the federal government tax carbon emissions?

"Open to ways to ensure the full cost of energy production that relies on carbon emissions is paid by producers, but have concerns about a tax that would increase costs for consumers."