Entries by Andrew Cline

,

Concord’s expanding black hole

Scientists on Wednesday revealed what they claimed was the first ever photograph taken of a black hole. But this can’t be true because people have been taking pictures of government since the dawn of photography.  This early photo of the U.S. Capitol was taken in 1846, 70 years before black holes were characterized and 125 […]

, ,

House budget proposes $382 million in new spending, $417 million in new taxes and fees

A new briefing paper from the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy shows that the House’s 2020-2021 budget proposal spends $382.4 million more in state funds than Gov. Chris Sununu’s proposed budget and includes $417.7 million in new taxes and fees.  The paper shows that the divergence in governing philosophies between the Republican governor and the […]

Measuring outputs, not inputs

The financial services website WalletHub this week ranked New Hampshire No. 1 in the nation for return on taxpayer investment (ROI). It’s a fascinating ranking primarily because that’s how taxpayer expenditures ought to be ranked but seldom are. State political and government rankings often tell us how much a state spends on X or how […]

, ,

The Education Tax Credit Program: Fact vs. Fiction

New Hampshire’s Education Tax Credit Program is under fire from legislators who want to kill the program or reduce its funding. Unfortunately, much of the rhetoric accompanying these attacks is factually incorrect. Inaccurate and misleading statements have been used in testimony at legislative hearings, in public debate, and on social media in an attempt to […]

Slouching towards Connecticut

The Legislature’s Democratic majority is seizing its opportunity. In control of both legislative chambers for only the fifth time since the Civil War (and one of those times involved a tie in the Senate), they are determined to leave their mark on the state.  Indeed, businesses are looking at the bills passed so far and […]

, ,

Minimum wage increases hurt the lowest-skilled workers

  Bartlett Brief: Minimum wage increases hurt the lowest-skilled workers Legislators on Thursday are preparing to vote on bills to mandate that employers raise wages to levels some politicians find morally appealing. These mandates will hurt the lowest-skilled workers. They also have the potential to raise costs for consumers and taxpayers. House Bill 186 would […]

,

The Education Tax Credit: How does it work?

Serious misunderstandings about the state’s Education Tax Credit Program seem to be driving the effort to eliminate it. At least, they’re driving the narrative behind that effort. Misconceptions are so pervasive that legislators are repeating them in public statements. Experienced drivers know that it’s dangerous if even a few people wind up going the wrong […]

,

Five facts about the minimum wage

The odds that legislators will vote to raise New Hampshire’s minimum wage this year are significantly better than the odds that sitting through next year’s Super Bowl halftime show will be more entertaining than going to the kitchen for more nachos. Why? Ideas like this, as expressed by Rep. Howard Moffett, D-Canterbury: “If there is […]

Fight socialism with beer!

Sign up for our e-newsletter by Feb. 21 for a chance to win a $100 Murphy’s Taproom gift card! Socialism is gaining popularity in the United States. And we’re here to fight back… with beer. Each Friday we publish a free-market e-newsletter called The Broadside. Sign up for The Broadside using the form below — […]