New Hampshire’s severe housing shortage was decades in the making. Like a boa constrictor squeezing its prey, local governments gradually tightened zoning restrictions to the point that they began choking off the lifeblood of communities. A shrinking supply of new homes and apartments has contributed to the state’s slowing population growth rates and dwindling school […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_1772742275-scaled.jpg17072560Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2022-02-22 17:53:002022-02-22 17:53:00Housing is having a moment
Speaking in favor of Senate Bill 432, a bill to eliminate New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Account program, Sen. Rebecca Whitley, D-Hopkinton, argued that state education aid should not go to help lower-income students purchase educational services outside of their assigned school districts, but should directly aid their districts instead. “We clearly have a problem with […]
“It is far easier to concentrate power than to concentrate knowledge. That’s why so much social engineering backfires….” — Thomas Sowell In New Hampshire, Republicans tend to think of themselves as opposed to government regulations, especially ones that can be called “social engineering.” And yet Democrats don’t have a monopoly on such efforts. A recent […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_1726716787-scaled.jpg19202560Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2022-02-14 18:43:432022-02-14 18:43:43From ‘social credit scores’ to driver’s ed, legislators often assume more knowledge than they have
One of the hottest beauty trends of the last few years is the blow-dry bar. These semi-salons offer rapid hair styling services for a night out or a special event. But their expansion in New Hampshire is restricted because of the state’s outdated occupational licensing laws. To open a shop that offers hair washing and […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/IMG_3091.jpg6831024Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2022-02-07 17:10:252022-02-07 17:10:25How license requirements slow the spread of hot new services such as blow dry bars
Join us on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 6 p.m., for a lively, candid discussion about the Seacoast region’s housing market and the opportunities for regulatory solutions to our housing supply and affordability crisis, organized by the Center for Ethics in Society at Saint Anselm College and the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy. Jason Sorens, […]
On Feb. 1, amid a critical shortage of health care personnel in New Hampshire, the licenses of 22,328 medical workers were set to expire. That’s 26% of health care workers licensed to practice in the state. In January, the state’s Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) prevented that disaster by issuing an emergency rule […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_1820262245-scaled.jpg17082560Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2022-02-01 17:58:152022-02-01 17:58:15Temporary licenses offer life support for N.H. health care system as permanent fix proves elusive
In New Hampshire, School Choice Week 2022 (Jan. 24-28) highlighted some reasons why parents pursue educational options beyond their assigned public school. On Monday, School Choice Week kicked off with a new policy at Newmarket Junior-Senior High School: Unmasked students are to be removed from class, given detention, then suspended if they continue to attend […]
As School Choice Week kicks off, it’s worth considering why there’s no such thing as Grocery Choice Week. Or Clothing Choice Week. Or Home Choice Week. When it comes to the basic necessities of life — food, clothing and shelter — Americans have the freedom to choose from among whatever options the market provides. (Government […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_243420649-scaled.jpg16812560Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2022-01-24 17:04:292022-01-24 17:04:29Why school choice is the most powerful education reform
A House bill considered in committee this week would deny much of New Hampshire access to the most advanced telecommunications technologies. House Bill 1644 would require “telecommunications antennas” to be placed “at least 1,640 feet from residentially zoned areas, parks, playgrounds, hospitals, nursing homes, day care centers, and schools.” The bill’s stated purpose is to […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_750428737-scaled.jpg14402560Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2022-01-17 23:47:032022-01-18 11:46:39Impeding the expansion of new telecom technologies would hurt New Hampshire
The case for taxpayer-subsidized commuter rail from Manchester to Boston has grown weaker, not stronger, in the seven years since the state released its major study of the proposed Capitol Corridor project. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation’s December, 2014, report on the Capitol Corridor project projected that a commuter rail line from Manchester to […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_1603135213-scaled.jpg18512560Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2022-01-12 21:00:392022-01-13 16:24:49The case for commuter rail in N.H. got worse, not better, in the last seven years
Housing is having a moment
BLOGNew Hampshire’s severe housing shortage was decades in the making. Like a boa constrictor squeezing its prey, local governments gradually tightened zoning restrictions to the point that they began choking off the lifeblood of communities. A shrinking supply of new homes and apartments has contributed to the state’s slowing population growth rates and dwindling school […]
Claremont’s core flaw emerges in Education Freedom Account debate
EDUCATION, FEATUREDSpeaking in favor of Senate Bill 432, a bill to eliminate New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Account program, Sen. Rebecca Whitley, D-Hopkinton, argued that state education aid should not go to help lower-income students purchase educational services outside of their assigned school districts, but should directly aid their districts instead. “We clearly have a problem with […]
From ‘social credit scores’ to driver’s ed, legislators often assume more knowledge than they have
BLOG, FEATURED, REGULATION“It is far easier to concentrate power than to concentrate knowledge. That’s why so much social engineering backfires….” — Thomas Sowell In New Hampshire, Republicans tend to think of themselves as opposed to government regulations, especially ones that can be called “social engineering.” And yet Democrats don’t have a monopoly on such efforts. A recent […]
How license requirements slow the spread of hot new services such as blow dry bars
FEATURED, REGULATIONOne of the hottest beauty trends of the last few years is the blow-dry bar. These semi-salons offer rapid hair styling services for a night out or a special event. But their expansion in New Hampshire is restricted because of the state’s outdated occupational licensing laws. To open a shop that offers hair washing and […]
Event: Housing Regulation in the Greater Seacoast: Causes & Consequences, Feb. 8, 2022
BLOG, HOUSINGJoin us on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 6 p.m., for a lively, candid discussion about the Seacoast region’s housing market and the opportunities for regulatory solutions to our housing supply and affordability crisis, organized by the Center for Ethics in Society at Saint Anselm College and the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy. Jason Sorens, […]
Temporary licenses offer life support for N.H. health care system as permanent fix proves elusive
FEATURED, HEALTH CARE, REGULATIONOn Feb. 1, amid a critical shortage of health care personnel in New Hampshire, the licenses of 22,328 medical workers were set to expire. That’s 26% of health care workers licensed to practice in the state. In January, the state’s Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) prevented that disaster by issuing an emergency rule […]
After School Choice Week, legislators consider bills to limit choice
EDUCATION, FEATUREDIn New Hampshire, School Choice Week 2022 (Jan. 24-28) highlighted some reasons why parents pursue educational options beyond their assigned public school. On Monday, School Choice Week kicked off with a new policy at Newmarket Junior-Senior High School: Unmasked students are to be removed from class, given detention, then suspended if they continue to attend […]
Why school choice is the most powerful education reform
EDUCATION, FEATUREDAs School Choice Week kicks off, it’s worth considering why there’s no such thing as Grocery Choice Week. Or Clothing Choice Week. Or Home Choice Week. When it comes to the basic necessities of life — food, clothing and shelter — Americans have the freedom to choose from among whatever options the market provides. (Government […]
Impeding the expansion of new telecom technologies would hurt New Hampshire
ECONOMY, FEATURED, REGULATIONA House bill considered in committee this week would deny much of New Hampshire access to the most advanced telecommunications technologies. House Bill 1644 would require “telecommunications antennas” to be placed “at least 1,640 feet from residentially zoned areas, parks, playgrounds, hospitals, nursing homes, day care centers, and schools.” The bill’s stated purpose is to […]
The case for commuter rail in N.H. got worse, not better, in the last seven years
FEATURED, TRANSPORTATIONThe case for taxpayer-subsidized commuter rail from Manchester to Boston has grown weaker, not stronger, in the seven years since the state released its major study of the proposed Capitol Corridor project. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation’s December, 2014, report on the Capitol Corridor project projected that a commuter rail line from Manchester to […]