Despite being the main metropolitan area in the state, the City of Manchester’s zoning ordinances are surprisingly hostile to the construction of new multifamily housing. As a review of the city’s zoning ordinances championed by former Mayor Joyce Craig continues, aldermen are considering three relatively small changes unanimously approved by the Planning Board and brought […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_1561753468-scaled.jpg19192560Mitchell Scacchihttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngMitchell Scacchi2024-03-13 18:12:522024-03-13 19:23:07Manchester considers first housing-friendly zoning changes to come from major zoning review
This week, two bills that would take Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs) away from children enrolled in the program will be considered in the state House of Representatives. We previously summarized a group of bills that would heavily regulate the EFA program to the point that its functionality and growth would be severely curtailed. The House […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_68157886-scaled.jpg17072560Mitchell Scacchihttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngMitchell Scacchi2024-03-13 18:09:002024-03-13 19:34:30House takes up two bills that would yank Education Freedom Accounts from kids
Imagine you own a small entertainment venue in New Hampshire. What’s the value of an aisle seat in Row 37 on a Wednesday night in April? Let’s say you printed the date, the time and a price of $100 on the ticket. Would that make the ticket worth $100? How about $200? No idea, right? […]
As pressure builds for local and state policymakers to address New Hampshire’s severe housing shortage, some activists and lawmakers are again blaming developers rather than regulators for the state’s high rents. Developers are building “too many” apartments for higher-income renters, some claim. This raises rents, hurting the poor, so government must intervene to make builders […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_156818384-scaled.jpg17012560Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2024-02-28 12:04:342024-02-28 12:10:25How building more luxury apartments helps the poor
Legislators are again considering a proposal to raise the state’s minimum wage through a series of automatic annual hikes. The House of Representatives will vote Thursday on House Bill 1322, which would institute an immediate 31% increase in the state minimum wage, then compel additional increases over the next five years. HB 1322 would require […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_498488377-scaled.jpg24342560Mitchell Scacchihttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngMitchell Scacchi2024-02-21 18:48:172024-02-21 20:28:13How to make a $20 Big Mac: Artificially inflate the cost of labor
Enticing people to buy electric vehicles does not fit comfortably into the core duties of state government. And yet it’s among the list of pet causes legislators will consider subsidizing with other people’s money. The latest effort comes in House Bill 1472. The bill, as amended, would confiscate $1.5 million that belongs to electric utility […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_2111178338-scaled.jpg17032560Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2024-02-21 15:06:252024-02-21 15:06:25Lawmakers consider a state subsidy for EVs as prices approach parity with conventional cars
A surprising divide has arisen this year over how the state should respond to increasing volumes of public records requests. On one side, we see discord and anger. On the other, unity and progress. The split shows the value of a win-win approach to solving problems. Many officials responsible for providing access to public records […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_2200284515.jpg62329348Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2024-02-14 15:26:002024-02-14 15:26:00Finding a win-win on public records access
The Manchester school district’s proposed 2025 budget continues the city’s trend of spending more to teach fewer students. The district is asking for $232,227,530 for its 2024–25 school year budget. That’s an increase of $49,175,526, or 26.9%, since 2020–21. Even after adjusting for inflation,* the increase is still $16,967,892.80, or 7.9%, over the last four […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Mitchell Scacchihttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngMitchell Scacchi2024-02-13 20:49:082024-02-14 10:31:43Manchester school spending since 2020 goes way up as enrollment falls
By Andrew Cline and Jason Bedrick Nearly 1 million American students participated in a school-choice program last year, according to data compiled by EdChoice. Across the country 72 choice programs operate in 32 states. And who has the most popular program in the nation? New Hampshire. With an Education Freedom Account (EFA), parents can customize […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_2046306005.jpg55048256Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2024-02-07 16:08:182024-02-07 16:09:48Why universal access to Education Freedom Accounts is the best choice for New Hampshire
All power residing originally in, and being derived from, the people, all the magistrates and officers of government are their substitutes and agents, and at all times accountable to them. Government, therefore, should be open, accessible, accountable and responsive. To that end, the public’s right of access to governmental proceedings and records shall not be […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_2419802687.jpg10241024Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2024-01-31 12:36:162024-01-31 12:36:16Paying for the right to know
Manchester considers first housing-friendly zoning changes to come from major zoning review
BLOG, HOUSING, REGULATIONDespite being the main metropolitan area in the state, the City of Manchester’s zoning ordinances are surprisingly hostile to the construction of new multifamily housing. As a review of the city’s zoning ordinances championed by former Mayor Joyce Craig continues, aldermen are considering three relatively small changes unanimously approved by the Planning Board and brought […]
House takes up two bills that would yank Education Freedom Accounts from kids
BLOG, EDUCATION, FEATUREDThis week, two bills that would take Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs) away from children enrolled in the program will be considered in the state House of Representatives. We previously summarized a group of bills that would heavily regulate the EFA program to the point that its functionality and growth would be severely curtailed. The House […]
Banning ‘scalping’ won’t fix the ticket resale market
BLOG, FEATURED, REGULATIONImagine you own a small entertainment venue in New Hampshire. What’s the value of an aisle seat in Row 37 on a Wednesday night in April? Let’s say you printed the date, the time and a price of $100 on the ticket. Would that make the ticket worth $100? How about $200? No idea, right? […]
How building more luxury apartments helps the poor
BLOG, FEATURED, HOUSING, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, REGULATIONAs pressure builds for local and state policymakers to address New Hampshire’s severe housing shortage, some activists and lawmakers are again blaming developers rather than regulators for the state’s high rents. Developers are building “too many” apartments for higher-income renters, some claim. This raises rents, hurting the poor, so government must intervene to make builders […]
How to make a $20 Big Mac: Artificially inflate the cost of labor
FEATURED, REGULATIONLegislators are again considering a proposal to raise the state’s minimum wage through a series of automatic annual hikes. The House of Representatives will vote Thursday on House Bill 1322, which would institute an immediate 31% increase in the state minimum wage, then compel additional increases over the next five years. HB 1322 would require […]
Lawmakers consider a state subsidy for EVs as prices approach parity with conventional cars
BLOG, ENERGY, FEATURED, TRANSPORTATIONEnticing people to buy electric vehicles does not fit comfortably into the core duties of state government. And yet it’s among the list of pet causes legislators will consider subsidizing with other people’s money. The latest effort comes in House Bill 1472. The bill, as amended, would confiscate $1.5 million that belongs to electric utility […]
Finding a win-win on public records access
BETTER GOVERNMENT, BLOG, FEATUREDA surprising divide has arisen this year over how the state should respond to increasing volumes of public records requests. On one side, we see discord and anger. On the other, unity and progress. The split shows the value of a win-win approach to solving problems. Many officials responsible for providing access to public records […]
Manchester school spending since 2020 goes way up as enrollment falls
EDUCATIONThe Manchester school district’s proposed 2025 budget continues the city’s trend of spending more to teach fewer students. The district is asking for $232,227,530 for its 2024–25 school year budget. That’s an increase of $49,175,526, or 26.9%, since 2020–21. Even after adjusting for inflation,* the increase is still $16,967,892.80, or 7.9%, over the last four […]
Why universal access to Education Freedom Accounts is the best choice for New Hampshire
EDUCATION, FEATUREDBy Andrew Cline and Jason Bedrick Nearly 1 million American students participated in a school-choice program last year, according to data compiled by EdChoice. Across the country 72 choice programs operate in 32 states. And who has the most popular program in the nation? New Hampshire. With an Education Freedom Account (EFA), parents can customize […]
Paying for the right to know
BETTER GOVERNMENT, BLOG, FEATUREDAll power residing originally in, and being derived from, the people, all the magistrates and officers of government are their substitutes and agents, and at all times accountable to them. Government, therefore, should be open, accessible, accountable and responsive. To that end, the public’s right of access to governmental proceedings and records shall not be […]