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Dan Feltes

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Dan Feltes
Majority Leader of the New Hampshire Senate
In office
December 5, 2018 – December 2, 2020
Preceded byJeb Bradley
Succeeded byJeb Bradley
Member of the New Hampshire Senate
from the 15th district
In office
December 2014 – December 2, 2020
Preceded bySylvia Larsen
Succeeded byBecky Whitley
Personal details
Born (1979-03-23) March 23, 1979 (age 45)
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Northern Iowa (BA)
Georgetown University (MPP)
University of Iowa (JD)
WebsiteGovernment website

Dan Feltes (born March 23, 1979) is an American lawyer, a member of the Democratic Party, and represented the 15th district of the New Hampshire Senate from 2014 until 2020. At the age of 39, Feltes became the youngest Majority Leader in the history of the New Hampshire Senate.[1] Feltes was characterized by Steve Shurtleff, the former Speaker of the New Hampshire House, as the most effective consensus builder at the State House in two decades.[2] He was the Democratic nominee for governor in 2020, he now teaches at Iowa Law school, and is a practicing attorney at Iowa Legal Aid.[3]

Early life and career

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Feltes grew up in Dubuque, Iowa. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Iowa, a J.D. degree from the University of Iowa College of Law and a Master of Public Policy degree from Georgetown University.[4] Dan grew up in a working-class family, with his father working in a furniture factory for his entire adult life and his mother working part-time jobs while raising four children.[4] While in law school at The University of Iowa, Feltes led a service trip of 45 Iowa law students to New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina to help victims with legal services.[5]

Feltes then worked as a legal aid attorney for almost a decade in New Hampshire.[6] For four years he led the Housing Justice Project, overseeing the staff, grants, and legal work on housing access issues, including fighting housing discrimination and stopping foreclosures by big banks.[7] Feltes twice co-authored the statewide analysis of impediments to fair housing choice.[8][9] As a legal aid attorney, Feltes worked with then State Senator Maggie Hassan to expand unemployment insurance to part-time workers, which eventually became a lifeline to workers in the Market Basket labor dispute.[10]

Feltes has also taught law at the UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law.[11] In 2013, Feltes received the Robert E. Kirby Award of the New Hampshire Bar Association, awarded annually to a New Hampshire attorney 35 years old or younger who demonstrates the traits of civility, courtesy, perspective, and excellent advocacy[12]

New Hampshire Senate

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In 2014, Feltes ran for the state senate seat being vacated by Sylvia Larsen, and won.[13] Larsen backed Feltes's opponent in the Democratic primary, while other local Democratic leaders backed Feltes.[6] Feltes won the Democratic primary, winning all towns and all wards in the 15th District.[14] Feltes won 70% of the vote in the Democratic primary and over 65% of the vote in the general election.[15]

In 2016, Feltes was elected to a second term in the state senate, winning all towns and all wards in the 15th District and outperforming every Democrat up ticket, including getting more votes in the 15th District than Hillary Clinton.[16]

In 2018, Feltes developed and executed the plan that helped lead to the Democrats winning the majority in the State Senate.[17] Feltes then became the youngest Senate Majority Leader in New Hampshire history.[1] Feltes was characterized by Steve Shurtleff, the former Speaker of the New Hampshire House, as the most effective consensus builder at the State House in two decades.[2]

On jobs and the economy, Feltes passed legislation making New Hampshire the second state to protect workers from retaliation after requesting workplace or schedule flexibility,[18][19] advanced job training for working class in the trades,[20][21] established full-day kindergarten,[22][23] was the lead champion of paid family leave,[24] and accomplished business tax reform lowering taxes for in-state small businesses while closing loopholes for out-of-state corporations.[25][23]

On housing, Feltes sponsored the initial effort to capitalize the affordable housing fund with $25 million,[26][27] led the effort on a first-ever appropriation for recovery and sober housing,[28] advanced affordable housing and long-term care by passing the law to give property owners the right to both use and build accessory dwelling units and in-law apartments,[29] and received multiple legislator of the year awards for his bipartisan work on housing.[30][31][32]

On health care, Feltes was the lead Democratic negotiator reauthorizing Medicaid expansion,[33] and he led the effort to do a 1332 waiver to reduce health care costs.[34] Feltes received awards for his bipartisan work combatting the opioid crisis, including from New Futures.[35] Feltes was the author of landmark legislation protecting Granite Staters with preexisting conditions.[36]

On prescription drug relief, Feltes authored the historic legislation to import safe, low-cost prescription drugs from Canada for New Hampshire seniors.[37] Feltes passed prescription drug relief for senior citizens who fell in the Medicare Part D "donut hole".[38] Feltes also passed legislation capping out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $30 per month.[39]

During the pandemic, Feltes sounded the alarm bell early on the administration's lack of testing in nursing homes,[40][41] which drove New Hampshire to becoming the worst in-the-nation in dealing with COVID in nursing homes.[42][43] Feltes fought for additional support and enhanced oversight and transparency of nursing homes, including the New Hampshire Veterans Home,[44][45] advocated for a COVID-19 Workers Bill of Rights to get people back to work safely,[46] and Feltes was among the first in the nation to propose direct relief for frontline workers.[47]

In a sweeping reform of children's mental health care, Feltes authored the bipartisan landmark legislation making the largest advancement in children's mental health care in the history of New Hampshire, including a statewide system of care for children that involved a statewide mobile crisis team, otherwise known as SB 14.[48][49] Feltes also consistently fought the administration for better child protection staffing,[50][51] and sponsored the successful and historic effort to combat childhood lead poisoning from both paint and water.[52]

On energy and the environment, Feltes was instrumental in getting some of the toughest drinking water standards for PFAS in the country.[53][54][55] Feltes also authored bipartisan legislation protecting the historic Warner river.[56] Feltes was the lead Democratic sponsor and author of the New Hampshire Clean Energy Jobs and Opportunity Act of 2019.[57] Feltes was also the lead Democratic negotiator involving the completion of the restructuring of the utility market in New Hampshire.[58] Feltes was a bipartisan leader advancing energy efficiency and weatherization.[59] Feltes authored New Hampshire's community power act, or community choice aggregation,[60] which led to electric rates being cut by 22% or more for tens of thousands of residents in communities across New Hampshire.[61] Feltes also authored New Hampshire's landmark community solar law.[62][63]

On campaign finance reform and ethics, Feltes passed bipartisan reforms of inaugural committee transactions and disclosures,[64] led executive branch ethics reform,[65] and led the effort to bolster oversight and enforcement of election and lobbying compliance.[66][67] Feltes also fought to close the LLC contribution loophole and get dark money out of politics, although both efforts were vetoed.[68][69][70][71][72]

On diversity, equity and inclusion, Feltes authored historic legislation, the Criminal Justice Reform and Economic Fairness Act of 2018,[73] which, among other things, accomplished bipartisan bail reform.[74] Feltes also passed bipartisan legislation getting rid of so-called debtors prisons,[75][76] and as Majority Leader of the Senate, Feltes held the votes necessary to override a veto in order to repeal the death penalty.[77] Feltes's legislation to “Ban the Box” and provide workers with a criminal history an opportunity to compete for jobs garnered bipartisan support but was vetoed.[78] In the wake of the Me Too movement, and amid concerns about the conduct of legislators, Feltes authored and passed legislation to crack down on sexual harassment at the Statehouse.[79]

2020 gubernatorial election

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Main article: 2020 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

After declining to run for governor of New Hampshire in the 2018 election,[80] Feltes announced his intent to run for governor on September 3, 2019,[81] facing Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky in the Democratic primary.[82] Despite sharing much of the same ideology, Volinsky was largely viewed as the more liberal choice, especially given his endorsement from Senator Bernie Sanders. Feltes earned the support of progressive campaign finance reform and voting rights organizations, End Citizens United and Let America Vote,[83] as well as the support of fourteen labor unions.[84][85] One union contrasted Feltes' background as a legal aid attorney with Volinsky's background as a corporate attorney.[86] Feltes defeated Volinsky with a strong showing in Hanover, Portsmouth, Concord, Manchester, and Nashua.

In the general election, Feltes was endorsed by the New Hampshire State Troopers, who had backed the incumbent governor Chris Sununu in the prior election.[87] Feltes, a strong retail campaigner, was effectively sidelined during the pandemic while the incumbent governor Chris Sununu appeared on statewide TV, sometimes three times a week.[88][failed verification] Sununu also took unilateral control of $1.25 billion in federal pandemic relief, frequently announcing new relief efforts, while his administrators announced the infections and the outbreaks.[88] Sununu only agreed to do one televised debate, on WMUR. Feltes lost to incumbent governor Chris Sununu in the general election in November 2020,[89] having set fundraising records for a non-incumbent in a race for governor in New Hampshire.[90][91]

Personal life

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Feltes and his wife, Erin, have two daughters.[92] Feltes and his wife, Erin, are both natives of Iowa, and they moved back to Iowa from New Hampshire in the fall of 2021 after Erin accepted a job at the University of Iowa.[93]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Sen Soucy Elected Senate President And Sen Feltes Becomes Youngest Majority Leader In NH Senate".
  2. ^ a b "Letter: Feltes is an effective consensus builder". Concordmonitor.com. August 29, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  3. ^ "Daniel Feltes | College of Law - The University of Iowa". law.uiowa.edu. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Dan Feltes for NH State Senate". Danfeltesnh.com. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  5. ^ "Law students to aid Katrina victims". March 9, 2006.
  6. ^ a b Doyle, Megan (June 26, 2014). "Concord attorney Dan Feltes releases list of supporters for his state Senate bid". Concord Monitor. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  7. ^ "For Immediate Release June 2017". June 13, 2017.
  8. ^ 2015 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice nhhfa.org June 2019
  9. ^ Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice in New Hampshire cnht.org 2012
  10. ^ "Like many, I was surprised by Sen. Sylvia Larsen's retirement and immediately curious to learn more about the two Democrats". Concordmonitor.com. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  11. ^ News, E. I. N.; Terry, Lauren K. (October 1, 2021). "Franklin Pierce School of Law Appoints New Faculty with Record of Excellence". EIN News. Retrieved April 29, 2023. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  12. ^ "New Hampshire Bar Foundation - Robert E Kirby Award". Nhbarfoundation.org. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  13. ^ Doyle, Megan (November 5, 2014). "Feltes easily wins N.H. Senate District 15 seat". Concord Monitor. Archived from the original on December 16, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  14. ^ Doyle, Megan (September 11, 2014). "Feltes wins all wards, towns in District 15". Concord Monitor. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  15. ^ "Dan Feltes". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  16. ^ "New Hampshire 15th District State Senate Results: Dan Feltes Wins". Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  17. ^ "Sununu, Shaheen tangle over Trump offshore drilling move; Feltes, Pappas roll up sleeves". Concordmonitor.com. November 30, 2018. Archived from the original on December 1, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  18. ^ Parris, Jennifer (June 16, 2016). "New Hampshire Becomes Second State with Right To Request Flexibility".
  19. ^ "New law protects workplace flexibility requests". August 3, 2016.
  20. ^ "Senate approves tripling fund for job training programs". AP NEWS. January 31, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  21. ^ Holly Ramer. "Fosters.com". Fosters.com.
  22. ^ "NH legislators debate full-day kindergarten funding". January 23, 2017.
  23. ^ a b "Mary Jane Wallner and Dan Feltes: A tale of two state budgets". UnionLeader.com. July 12, 2021.
  24. ^ "Paid family leave proposal makes its NH Senate debut". January 30, 2019.
  25. ^ "Change in calculating business taxes mulled". June 6, 2019.
  26. ^ "Senator Presents Ambitious Proposal For More Affordable Housing in NH". February 23, 2017.
  27. ^ "Appropriation sought to boost workforce housing". February 2, 2017.
  28. ^ "Sober housing is key to help former drug users stay in recovery, officials said. Concord Sen. Dan Feltes is proposing". Concordmonitor.com. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  29. ^ Laurentnews@seacoastonline.com, Suzanne. "Workshop explores accessory dwelling ordinance changes". seacoastonline.com.
  30. ^ "People and Property: Real Estate and Construction News Rundown". October 28, 2015.
  31. ^ "Congratulations to 2016 Home Matters in NH Award Winners". April 12, 2016.
  32. ^ "Home Matters in New Hampshire". Catch Housing. May 16, 2017.
  33. ^ "Legislative victories and defeats, through the eyes of two top N.H. senators". Concordmonitor.com. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  34. ^ Leader, Kevin Landrigan New Hampshire Union (August 5, 2020). "NH gets federal waiver to lower health care premiums". UnionLeader.com.
  35. ^ New Futures. "Congrats to leg. Champions @DanFeltesNH and @JoeAHannon for winning the Legislator of the Year Award #NFadvocacy thanks for your hard work!…". Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021 – via Twitter.
  36. ^ "Sununu To Sign Bill To Protect Health Coverage for Those With Pre-existing Conditions". New Hampshire Public Radio. July 9, 2019.
  37. ^ Leader, Kevin Landrigan New Hampshire Union (January 22, 2020). "Sununu joins forces with potential election rival to fight for lower drug costs". UnionLeader.com.
  38. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  39. ^ "New Hampshire law caps monthly insulin copay at $30". Healio.com.
  40. ^ "Most Coronavirus Deaths In NH Occurred In Nursing Homes: Data". Patch.com. May 6, 2020.
  41. ^ "Sununu expands COVID-19 testing for the public and in nursing homes". Nashuatelegraph.com. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  42. ^ Leader, Mark Hayward New Hampshire Union (December 26, 2020). "New Hampshire ranks No. 1 -- in COVID-19 nursing home deaths". UnionLeader.com.
  43. ^ Enstrom, Kirk (May 7, 2020). "19 new deaths, all in long-term care facilities, attributed to COVID-19 in NH". WMUR.
  44. ^ "Steve Shurtleff and Dan Feltes: Our veterans deserve better". UnionLeader.com. December 20, 2020.
  45. ^ Ramer, Holly. "Telehealth passes as NH Senate spreads out to tackle clumped together bills". Seacoastonline.com.
  46. ^ Leader, Kevin Landrigan New Hampshire Union (May 6, 2020). "Feltes floats COVID-19 'workers' bill of rights'; NHGOP calls it 'grasping for relevancy'". UnionLeader.com.
  47. ^ Leader, Kevin Landrigan New Hampshire Union (April 2020). "Feltes plan for federal COVID-19 relief earmarks at least $50M to select 'frontline' workers". UnionLeader.com.
  48. ^ "Hope for an improved child behavioral health system in N.H." Concordmonitor.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  49. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 24, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  50. ^ "Lawmakers push Sununu to approve more DCYF workers". Concordmonitor.com. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  51. ^ DiStaso, John (June 3, 2019). "DCYF bills signed into law after Sununu, Senate standoff". WMUR.
  52. ^ "Sununu Signs New Lead Exposure Protections Into Law". New Hampshire Public Radio. February 8, 2018.
  53. ^ "New Hampshire sets tough drinking water standards for PFAS". Nacwa.org.
  54. ^ Michael Casey. "New Hampshire sets tough drinking water standards for PFAS". seacoastonline.com. Associated Press.
  55. ^ "N.H. Approves Unprecedented Limits For PFAS Chemicals In Drinking Water". New Hampshire Public Radio. July 19, 2019.
  56. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  57. ^ "Our Turn: Pass SB 129, save 900 New Hampshire jobs". Concordmonitor.com. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  58. ^ Testimony puc.nh.gov
  59. ^ "Our Turn: Republicans, Democrats must work together on energy". Concordmonitor.com. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  60. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  61. ^ "Community Power Coalition announces electricity rates below utilities". March 14, 2023.
  62. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  63. ^ "NH House panel reaches compromise on renewable energy standard". May 7, 2019.
  64. ^ "N.H. Senate Moves To Tighten Rules For Inaugural Committees". New Hampshire Public Radio. March 7, 2019.
  65. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  66. ^ DiStaso, John (February 7, 2017). "NH Department of Justice seeks two full-time election-campaign-lobbying law investigators". WMUR.
  67. ^ "New Hampshire SB197 | 2018 | Regular Session". LegiScan.
  68. ^ DiStaso, John (February 6, 2017). "NH Primary Source: Ayotte-Trump 'fence-mending' welcomed by key Republicans". WMUR.
  69. ^ "Should New Hampshire close the 'LLC loophole'?". February 5, 2021.
  70. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  71. ^ "New Hampshire Democracy Report: April 15, 2019". Open Democracy Action.
  72. ^ DiStaso, John (July 11, 2019). "NH Primary Source: Sununu vetoes bill that would have closed 'LLC loophole'". WMUR.
  73. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  74. ^ Moore, Greg. "Reforming our broken bail system will benefit taxpayers and the accused". fosters.com.
  75. ^ "Carson, Feltes pleased by passage of bill restoring rights to Granite Staters - Senator Sharon Carson". Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  76. ^ "NH Legislature and Governor Approve Bill Aimed to Curb Debtors' Prison Practices". ACLU of New Hampshire. June 7, 2017.
  77. ^ Sexton, Adam (May 31, 2019). "Death penalty officially abolished in New Hampshire". WMUR.
  78. ^ "N.H. Senate Votes to Ban Businesses From Asking Applicants About Criminal Records". New Hampshire Public Radio. March 28, 2019.
  79. ^ "Independent investigator proposed for Statehouse harassment". AP NEWS. February 20, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  80. ^ DiStaso, John; Sexton, Adam (March 9, 2018). "Democrat Feltes won't run for governor, will seek third term in state Senate". WMUR-TV. Archived from the original on March 5, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  81. ^ DiStaso, John; Sexton, Adam (September 3, 2019). "Promising to put working-class families first, Democrat Dan Feltes announces run for governor". WMUR-TV. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  82. ^ DiStaso, John; Sexton, Adam (July 11, 2019). "State Sen. Dan Feltes says he's 'strongly considering' run for governor". WMUR-TV. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  83. ^ DiStaso, John (June 11, 2020). "NH Primary Source: Feltes among 8 Democrats endorsed by campaign finance reform, voting groups". WMUR-TV.
  84. ^ DiStaso, John (July 30, 2020). "NH Primary Source: NH Sheet Metals workers Local 17 becomes latest union to endorse Feltes". WMUR-TV.
  85. ^ DiStaso, John (May 7, 2020). "NH Primary Source: Two Laborers union locals endorse Feltes for governor". WMUR-TV.
  86. ^ DiStaso, John (March 7, 2020). "Volinsky defends representing 'secondary defendant' in 2015 wage theft case". WMUR-TV.
  87. ^ DiStaso, John (September 10, 2020). "NH Primary Source: NH Troopers Association backs Feltes over Sununu in November election". WMUR-TV. Archived from the original on September 17, 2021.
  88. ^ a b DeWitt, Ethan (November 3, 2020). "Sununu's popular handling of pandemic proves too much for Feltes to overcome". Concord Monitor. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021.
  89. ^ Landrigan, Kevin (March 13, 2021). "Sununu: 'We're coming out of winter, we're coming out of COVID'". New Hampshire Union Leader. Archived from the original on October 17, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  90. ^ DiStaso, John (June 18, 2020). "NH Primary Source: Feltes to report raising $916K so far in governor's campaign, $480K cash on hand". WMUR-TV. Archived from the original on September 17, 2021.
  91. ^ DiStaso, John (December 4, 2019). "NH Primary Source: Feltes to report record-breaking $500K raised so far for campaign for governor". WMUR-TV. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021.
  92. ^ Feltes, Dan (March 1, 2020). "Feltes: Let's get real results for working families in 2020". The Portsmouth Herald (opinion). Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  93. ^ "On the trail: Who would replace Sununu in the governor's office?". Archived from the original on October 29, 2021.
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Media related to Dan Feltes at Wikimedia Commons

New Hampshire Senate
Preceded by Member of the New Hampshire Senate
from the 15th district
2014–2020 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Majority Leader of the New Hampshire Senate
2018–2020 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of New Hampshire
2020 		Succeeded by
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