There's nothing like a parade to bring out the politicians. The chance to shake hands and greet hundreds — perhaps even thousands — of voters at one time is too much to pass up.

Numerous candidates for federal offices were expected to be out over the holiday weekend, trying to march in as many parades as possible.

John Stephen, one of two Republican candidates for Democrat Carol Shea-Porter's 1st Congressional District seat, was expected to be especially busy.

He planned to take part in eight events yesterday and Friday, including the fireworks display in Derry, a breakfast in Wolfeboro, parades in Raymond and Merrimack, a duck race in Meredith, a concert in Center Harbor, a picnic in Hopkinton, and a reception at the Mount Washington Hotel.

Former Congressman Jeb Bradley, Stephen's opponent in the Republican primary, also planned to attend the Wolfeboro Republican Committee's annual breakfast on Friday morning, before marching in the Wolfeboro and Laconia Fourth of July parades.

Jim Steiner, a Republican candidate for Democrat Paul Hodes' 2nd Congressional District seat, also had a number of appearances planned, including parades in Amherst and Lincoln and a gathering in Rumney on Friday, and meet-and-greets in Bradford and Hopkinton yesterday.

And those were only a few of the many candidates scheduled to be out and about at various holiday picnics, parades and barbecues.

Hodes' plan would boost veterans' mileage reimbursement

Following an announcement last month that the VA Hospital in Manchester isn't likely to become a full-service facility, Hodes said he is co-sponsoring a bill to increase the mileage reimbursement for veterans traveling to receive medical treatment. The bill would increase the mileage payment to 50.5 cents a mile, the same rate that federal employees receive. It would also include reimbursements for more veterans, not just those with certain service-related disabilities.

Last month, Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake said he did not foresee that the Manchester VA Hospital would be upgraded to a full-service VA hospital in the near future. Some New Hampshire veterans have to travel to Boston or to Vermont because of the limited services in Manchester.

No sooner had Hodes announced his proposal than one of his opponents, Republican Grant Bosse, issued a statement calling it an "election-year gimmick." What Hodes should do, he said, is push for veterans to be able to use their benefits at any hospital they choose.

"If Paul Hodes were serious about fixing this problem, he would let veterans use the hospital closest to them," Bosse said. "Instead he keeps them trapped in a system that requires long commutes and fails to provide the best care."

Bosse, a former legislative assistant to U.S. Sen. John Sununu, is running against Steiner, Jennifer Horn and Bob Clegg in the Republican primary for a chance to face Hodes in the general election.

Candidate criticizes PSNH rate hike

Bosse also took issue with last week's announcement that Public Service of New Hampshire would be hiking its electric rates for residential customers.

"New Hampshire continues to pay the highest electric rates in the nation because failed government intervention has driven out market forces and driven up prices," he said in a statement. "By blocking nuclear power plants and putting hurdles in the way of new power lines, our government has forced families to pay more just to turn on the lights. It's time we get Congress out of our energy markets in order to bring down the price of gas, home heating oil, and electricity."

PSNH said rates for a customer consuming 500 kilowatt hours of power will increase $4.39 to $81.80, an increase of 5.7 percent.

'Building' a coalition

Clegg picked up an endorsement last week from the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of New Hampshire. The agency recognized the state senator, who worked in construction when he was young, for his support of a low-tax climate to help foster economic security in the construction industry.

"Senator Clegg has worked with (us) on numerous occasions on bills fundamental to our cause," said Tricia Grahame, trustee for the BUILD Political Action Committee of the National Association of Home Builders. "The senator's knowledge and support of the building industry and small-business issues leads (us) to believe that he will carry this forward to represent New Hampshire in Congress."