Entries by Andrew Cline

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Study: Charter schools improve teacher quality at traditional public schools

Charter schools increase the average quality of traditional public school teachers by providing high-quality, unlicensed teachers an easier pathway into the field, a new paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research concludes.  “Because the fixed costs to participating in the charter sector are low, teachers are able to explore their taste for teaching […]

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In the Feltes vs. Volinsky fight over natural gas, Feltes is right

The two candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for governor are engaged in a heated dispute over natural gas. Though both support transitioning to 100% “clean energy,” state Sen. Dan Feltes would use natural gas in the transition; Executive Councilor Volinsky would not. Feltes would rely on natural gas as a bridge fuel between dirtier-burning fossil […]

Every now and then, you have to punch Massachusetts in the face

In the centuries since its capital was dubbed the Cradle of Liberty, Massachusetts has decayed into a nest of Puritanism brimming with monarchical arrogance and colonial pretensions. Its corrupted culture breeds scolds, meddlers and progressive tyrants with a boundless evangelical zeal to reform — and tax — the great, unwoke masses. And every time they […]

Law enforcement accountability commission calls for more study, punts on some big reforms

After 45 days of study, the governor’s Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community and Transparency on Friday recommended that New Hampshire spend a lot more time studying police practices and accountability.  The anti-climactic report did contain some immediate action items, including: Increase the N.H. Police Standards Training Council staff  Abolish the part-time police academy;  Create […]

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Occupational licensing reduces economic mobility

Gov. Chris Sununu signed a bill this week to make permanent the emergency changes expanding telemedicine services. The restrictions on telemedicine were not primarily to protect patients. They were to protect medical providers from competition. When the state makes it illegal to see a Boston doctor via video, patients have to see their local physicians.  […]

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Eight police reform proposals

In our republican form of government, all public employees, including police officers, exercise only the powers granted them by the people. All public employees serve the citizens and are accountable to them. The powers granted to public employees are altered from time to time as the people demand. High-profile abuses of police power in recent […]

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Smokers, Mass. lawmakers may have saved N.H. businesses from tax hike

Cigarette smokers and flavored tobacco scavengers from Massachusetts produced a surge of New Hampshire tobacco tax revenue that almost single-handedly prevented a business tax increase, preliminary, unaudited state figures suggest. State tobacco tax collections rose significantly in March, April and June, putting tobacco tax revenue $14.5 million (7.3%) higher than budgeted and $13.7 million (6.9%) higher […]