By Jonathan Helton Will New England have enough fuel this winter? The region’s six governors have their doubts, and in July they wrote U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to ask for relief from a 1920 shipping law that has limited the region’s supply of fuel, particularly oil and natural gas. The governors asked the Biden […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_1159689760.jpg40008000Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2022-09-27 12:06:442022-09-27 12:06:44How a protectionist shipping law could leave New England in the cold
Gov. Chris Sununu has proposed tapping $60 million of the state budget surplus to give $100 rebates to electricity ratepayers. The plan requires approval by the Legislature and could come up for a vote this Thursday when legislators return to take up bills vetoed by the governor. In the spring, a gas tax holiday was […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_604851029-scaled.jpg17072560Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2022-09-13 16:36:152022-09-13 16:36:15With electricity rebate, legislators could spend more than 75% of the 2022 budget surplus
Two events on opposite ends of the state last week highlighted the central problem with New Hampshire’s housing market. In Newmarket over the weekend, a group of renters held a demonstration to denounce landlords and protest high rents. After experiencing a substantial rent increase, one couple said they had to move out of town to find […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_1797594718-scaled.jpg14012560Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2022-09-13 15:38:322022-09-15 10:17:12Moving to Maine to escape high housing prices in New Hampshire
Energy shortages in California and Europe have prompted a revival of interest in Nuclear power. And who gets the credit? Environmental activists, naturally. “Why even environmental activists are supporting nuclear power today,” National Public Radio gushed last week. The few environmentalists highlighted in the story deserve credit for taking such an unpopular position within the […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_1958702797-scaled.jpg17092560Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2022-09-06 20:02:582022-09-06 20:04:05Nuclear power is having a moment despite, not because of, environmental activists
Hanover could be the canary in the coal mine for housing-induced labor shortages in New Hampshire. The town has canceled its annual Fall Fest and its after-school program for grades three through five because it can’t find enough staff, the Valley News reported. Why can’t the town find enough staff? The town manager cited the […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_1199063533-scaled.jpg17062560Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2022-08-29 15:43:132022-08-29 15:43:13Is Hanover the canary in the coal mine for N.H. housing?
Students are heading back to school, and based on media reports you might expect them to be sitting in classrooms without a teacher. News organizations nationwide have published stories raising alarms about dire school staffing shortages. So why do hiring and staffing data tell a completely different story? The New Hampshire Department of Education announced […]
By Jason Sorens Gov. Chris Sununu and his opponent, Sen. Tom Sherman, have proposed reforms to alleviate New Hampshire’s severe housing shortage. How do those proposals compare, and how effective would they be? A brief overview of each suggests that neither would solve New Hampshire’s housing shortage, but Gov. Sununu’s initiative would be likely to […]
On August 23, a handful of state laws crafted to address New Hampshire’s housing shortage take effect. Though the big reforms were left on the Legislature’s cutting room floor, these modest changes might prove helpful. The splashiest change, which might prompt some warrant articles next spring, applies zoning exemptions carved out for 55+ communities to […]
I have nothing further to recommend at this time but the cultivation of a Spirit of Unanimity and Harmony, of Candor and liberality of Sentiments among ourselves and the people at large, that while (as I trust) we are all aiming to promote the general welfare, the different Sentiments that may be Entertained of the […]
New Hampshire collected a record $430.1 million budget surplus in the 2022 fiscal year, which ended June 30th. Most of it is already gone. From January to June, legislators spent $261.7 million — or 60% — of the surplus. For context, the amount of new spending in 2022 was just a bit larger than the […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_2141393497.jpg476847Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2022-08-08 18:30:022022-08-08 18:30:02Legislators have spent (at least) 60% of the state’s record budget surplus
How a protectionist shipping law could leave New England in the cold
ENERGY, FEATURED, REGULATIONBy Jonathan Helton Will New England have enough fuel this winter? The region’s six governors have their doubts, and in July they wrote U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to ask for relief from a 1920 shipping law that has limited the region’s supply of fuel, particularly oil and natural gas. The governors asked the Biden […]
With electricity rebate, legislators could spend more than 75% of the 2022 budget surplus
BLOG, BUDGETGov. Chris Sununu has proposed tapping $60 million of the state budget surplus to give $100 rebates to electricity ratepayers. The plan requires approval by the Legislature and could come up for a vote this Thursday when legislators return to take up bills vetoed by the governor. In the spring, a gas tax holiday was […]
Moving to Maine to escape high housing prices in New Hampshire
FEATURED, HOUSING, LOCAL GOVERNMENTTwo events on opposite ends of the state last week highlighted the central problem with New Hampshire’s housing market. In Newmarket over the weekend, a group of renters held a demonstration to denounce landlords and protest high rents. After experiencing a substantial rent increase, one couple said they had to move out of town to find […]
Nuclear power is having a moment despite, not because of, environmental activists
BLOG, ENERGY, FEATUREDEnergy shortages in California and Europe have prompted a revival of interest in Nuclear power. And who gets the credit? Environmental activists, naturally. “Why even environmental activists are supporting nuclear power today,” National Public Radio gushed last week. The few environmentalists highlighted in the story deserve credit for taking such an unpopular position within the […]
Is Hanover the canary in the coal mine for N.H. housing?
BLOG, HOUSINGHanover could be the canary in the coal mine for housing-induced labor shortages in New Hampshire. The town has canceled its annual Fall Fest and its after-school program for grades three through five because it can’t find enough staff, the Valley News reported. Why can’t the town find enough staff? The town manager cited the […]
What teacher shortage?
BLOG, EDUCATIONStudents are heading back to school, and based on media reports you might expect them to be sitting in classrooms without a teacher. News organizations nationwide have published stories raising alarms about dire school staffing shortages. So why do hiring and staffing data tell a completely different story? The New Hampshire Department of Education announced […]
The gubernatorial candidates’ housing plans: An assessment
FEATURED, HOUSING, REGULATIONBy Jason Sorens Gov. Chris Sununu and his opponent, Sen. Tom Sherman, have proposed reforms to alleviate New Hampshire’s severe housing shortage. How do those proposals compare, and how effective would they be? A brief overview of each suggests that neither would solve New Hampshire’s housing shortage, but Gov. Sununu’s initiative would be likely to […]
Modest changes to housing regulations take effect
FEATURED, HOUSING, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, REGULATIONOn August 23, a handful of state laws crafted to address New Hampshire’s housing shortage take effect. Though the big reforms were left on the Legislature’s cutting room floor, these modest changes might prove helpful. The splashiest change, which might prompt some warrant articles next spring, applies zoning exemptions carved out for 55+ communities to […]
Josiah Bartlett (the original) urges spirit of goodwill
BLOGI have nothing further to recommend at this time but the cultivation of a Spirit of Unanimity and Harmony, of Candor and liberality of Sentiments among ourselves and the people at large, that while (as I trust) we are all aiming to promote the general welfare, the different Sentiments that may be Entertained of the […]
Legislators have spent (at least) 60% of the state’s record budget surplus
BUDGET, FEATUREDNew Hampshire collected a record $430.1 million budget surplus in the 2022 fiscal year, which ended June 30th. Most of it is already gone. From January to June, legislators spent $261.7 million — or 60% — of the surplus. For context, the amount of new spending in 2022 was just a bit larger than the […]