Editor’s note: To avoid social repercussions in a small community, the subject of this story requested that only her first name be used and that her son’s name not be used. We granted the request. Christine M. spent three years trying to find the right learning environment for her son. When he started at Stevens […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_256626130-scaled.jpg17072560Mitchell Scacchihttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngMitchell Scacchi2024-03-27 17:32:442024-03-27 17:51:20Out of options, one Granite State family turned to EFAs only to find out they ‘made too much’
“This is not a world to live at random in as you do.… Everything in this world is matter of calculation.” — Thomas Jefferson, Oct. 12, 1786 Random chance is a constant feature of life on Earth, and for centuries it was a feature of human government. Kings and councils ruled with “arbitrary power,” as […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_1913444224-scaled.jpg10802560Andrew Clinehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngAndrew Cline2024-03-20 17:01:252024-03-20 17:06:02Legislators distributing random numbers is no basis for sound public policy
Child care in New Hampshire is often hard to find and, when you do, expensive. A bipartisan group of legislators has offered families some relief in a surprising way: zoning reform. Child care offered to small groups of children in a caregiver’s home was once a popular option for many families. But professionalization and regulation […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_1008699211-scaled.jpg22192560Mitchell Scacchihttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngMitchell Scacchi2024-03-20 15:07:272024-03-20 15:07:27A zoning fix for child care can apply to education too
The second group of bills to saddle the Education Freedom Account program with onerous red tape will be considered this week by the state House and Senate. State lawmakers took up the first set of regulatory measures last week, voting down both House Bills 1512 and 1594. This week, the House will vote on HB […]
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/shutterstock_679523059-scaled.jpg18142560Mitchell Scacchihttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngMitchell Scacchi2024-03-20 14:38:592024-03-20 15:41:30House and Senate to vote on second round of anti-EFA bills this week
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
Out of options, one Granite State family turned to EFAs only to find out they ‘made too much’
EDUCATION, FEATUREDEditor’s note: To avoid social repercussions in a small community, the subject of this story requested that only her first name be used and that her son’s name not be used. We granted the request. Christine M. spent three years trying to find the right learning environment for her son. When he started at Stevens […]
Legislators distributing random numbers is no basis for sound public policy
BETTER GOVERNMENT, FEATURED“This is not a world to live at random in as you do.… Everything in this world is matter of calculation.” — Thomas Jefferson, Oct. 12, 1786 Random chance is a constant feature of life on Earth, and for centuries it was a feature of human government. Kings and councils ruled with “arbitrary power,” as […]
A zoning fix for child care can apply to education too
EDUCATION, FEATURED, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, REGULATIONChild care in New Hampshire is often hard to find and, when you do, expensive. A bipartisan group of legislators has offered families some relief in a surprising way: zoning reform. Child care offered to small groups of children in a caregiver’s home was once a popular option for many families. But professionalization and regulation […]
House and Senate to vote on second round of anti-EFA bills this week
BLOG, EDUCATIONThe second group of bills to saddle the Education Freedom Account program with onerous red tape will be considered this week by the state House and Senate. State lawmakers took up the first set of regulatory measures last week, voting down both House Bills 1512 and 1594. This week, the House will vote on HB […]
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 […]