The State of New Hampshire’s long term fiscal health is mediocre. Fortunately for us, the abysmal state of the federal government makes us look good by comparison. Fortunately for them, they are not in nearly as bad shape as much of southern Europe. For the future, we have the choice to wallow in our mediocrity and celebrate being not as bad as others or try to fix things before they get even worse.
00Charles M. Arlinghaushttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngCharles M. Arlinghaus2013-09-06 09:26:092018-08-28 06:18:42Should We Be Proud To Be Mediocre?
As reported by various media outlets earlier this week, the Health Care Oversight Committee held a hearing with representatives of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. Anthem, who will be the only health insurance provider offering plans on the New Hampshire Exchange, confirmed that future exchange customers would only have access to only about half of the hospitals in the state.
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Joshua Elliott-Traficantehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngJoshua Elliott-Traficante2013-09-05 17:03:442013-09-05 17:03:44NH gets its first glimpse of the Health Insurance Exchange Plan, and it isn’t good.
Both the state and the country can better focus their efforts on budgets and economic development by following the example and the reasoning of that bastion of conservative economics called Sweden.
00Charles M. Arlinghaushttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngCharles M. Arlinghaus2013-08-22 17:14:592018-08-28 18:46:53On economic stimulus, Sweden sets a good example
The unemployment rate for New Hampshire was 5.1% for the month of July, remaining unchanged from the previous month. According to the Household Survey, the number of unemployed residents fell by 390, the number of unemployed fell by 460, while the labor force has contracted by 850.
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Joshua Elliott-Traficantehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngJoshua Elliott-Traficante2013-08-22 17:07:572018-08-28 18:48:39New Hampshire Unemployment Remains at 5.1% in July
An initial look at state revenues for fiscal year 2013 showed that the year ended with a $47.9 million dollar surplus in the General and Education Trust Funds. Most tax collection was in line with forecast, with several major exceptions. In addition, several, one-time revenues were realized, further growing the surplus. Though these figures are unaudited, the final size of the surplus will likely be roughly the same.
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Joshua Elliott-Traficantehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngJoshua Elliott-Traficante2013-08-15 16:02:472013-08-15 16:02:47A First Look at State Revenues in FY13
Charlie Arlinghaus August 14, 2013 As originally published in the New Hampshire Union Leader Because the numbers are so large, most people don’t bother to look at federal taxes and end up making assumptions that are at odds with the actual numbers. Federal taxes and the federal budget are very different from political rhetoric and […]
00Charles M. Arlinghaushttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngCharles M. Arlinghaus2013-08-15 15:34:282018-08-28 18:48:48Federal taxes don’t look like you’d think
Obamacare is an awful law. It’s falling apart under its own weight, and President Obama has already been forced to waive key provisions several times to prevent the law’s disastrous consequences from fully hitting us. Repealing Obamacare is a good idea, and Congress should do everything it can to get rid of it. Unfortunately, the push to de-fund Obamacare through the appropriations process just won’t work.
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Grant Bossehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngGrant Bosse2013-08-15 15:30:042018-08-28 18:48:56Repealing Obamacare is worth doing right
In the spirit of carrying coals to Newcastle, I write a newspaper column today on the importance of newspapers to the public square. More specifically, I fear the effect on public policy and the public debate of the continuing decline of newspapers. For all the bluff and bluster so many of us have about new media and technology, the skeletal underpinning of almost all news today is news gathering that comes from the old fashioned, grandfatherly, dead tree, black and white broadsheets we love to ridicule.
00Charles M. Arlinghaushttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngCharles M. Arlinghaus2013-08-08 13:10:482018-08-28 18:49:12No One Really Gets His or Her News From The Internet
Last week the City of Manchester saw its general obligation bond rating downgraded from Aa1 to Aa2; in layman’s terms it went from the second highest to the third highest ranking category affecting $193 million in outstanding general obligation (GO) debt. Moody’s also downgraded the school facility revenue bonds to Aa3, affecting $77.3 million in outstanding bonds.
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Joshua Elliott-Traficantehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngJoshua Elliott-Traficante2013-08-06 15:02:412013-08-06 15:02:41A Look at Manchester’s Bond Rating Downgrade and why the Tax Cap is not to blame.
According to the data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate dropped by .2 percentage points, to 7.4%. The Establishment Survey Data showed the creation of 161,000 non-farm pay roll jobs. On the surface it looks like a fairly decent report: unemployment down and job growth, while not stellar, is enough to keep up with natural population growth.
https://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.png00Joshua Elliott-Traficantehttps://jbartlett.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_white_v1_360x70.pngJoshua Elliott-Traficante2013-08-05 11:06:492018-08-28 18:49:23Unemployment drops in July…for all the wrong reasons
Should We Be Proud To Be Mediocre?
BUDGETThe State of New Hampshire’s long term fiscal health is mediocre. Fortunately for us, the abysmal state of the federal government makes us look good by comparison. Fortunately for them, they are not in nearly as bad shape as much of southern Europe. For the future, we have the choice to wallow in our mediocrity and celebrate being not as bad as others or try to fix things before they get even worse.
NH gets its first glimpse of the Health Insurance Exchange Plan, and it isn’t good.
HEALTH CAREAs reported by various media outlets earlier this week, the Health Care Oversight Committee held a hearing with representatives of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. Anthem, who will be the only health insurance provider offering plans on the New Hampshire Exchange, confirmed that future exchange customers would only have access to only about half of the hospitals in the state.
On economic stimulus, Sweden sets a good example
BETTER GOVERNMENT, BUDGETBoth the state and the country can better focus their efforts on budgets and economic development by following the example and the reasoning of that bastion of conservative economics called Sweden.
New Hampshire Unemployment Remains at 5.1% in July
BETTER GOVERNMENTThe unemployment rate for New Hampshire was 5.1% for the month of July, remaining unchanged from the previous month. According to the Household Survey, the number of unemployed residents fell by 390, the number of unemployed fell by 460, while the labor force has contracted by 850.
A First Look at State Revenues in FY13
BUDGETAn initial look at state revenues for fiscal year 2013 showed that the year ended with a $47.9 million dollar surplus in the General and Education Trust Funds. Most tax collection was in line with forecast, with several major exceptions. In addition, several, one-time revenues were realized, further growing the surplus. Though these figures are unaudited, the final size of the surplus will likely be roughly the same.
Federal taxes don’t look like you’d think
TAXATIONCharlie Arlinghaus August 14, 2013 As originally published in the New Hampshire Union Leader Because the numbers are so large, most people don’t bother to look at federal taxes and end up making assumptions that are at odds with the actual numbers. Federal taxes and the federal budget are very different from political rhetoric and […]
Repealing Obamacare is worth doing right
HEALTH CAREObamacare is an awful law. It’s falling apart under its own weight, and President Obama has already been forced to waive key provisions several times to prevent the law’s disastrous consequences from fully hitting us. Repealing Obamacare is a good idea, and Congress should do everything it can to get rid of it. Unfortunately, the push to de-fund Obamacare through the appropriations process just won’t work.
No One Really Gets His or Her News From The Internet
BETTER GOVERNMENTIn the spirit of carrying coals to Newcastle, I write a newspaper column today on the importance of newspapers to the public square. More specifically, I fear the effect on public policy and the public debate of the continuing decline of newspapers. For all the bluff and bluster so many of us have about new media and technology, the skeletal underpinning of almost all news today is news gathering that comes from the old fashioned, grandfatherly, dead tree, black and white broadsheets we love to ridicule.
A Look at Manchester’s Bond Rating Downgrade and why the Tax Cap is not to blame.
TAXATIONLast week the City of Manchester saw its general obligation bond rating downgraded from Aa1 to Aa2; in layman’s terms it went from the second highest to the third highest ranking category affecting $193 million in outstanding general obligation (GO) debt. Moody’s also downgraded the school facility revenue bonds to Aa3, affecting $77.3 million in outstanding bonds.
Unemployment drops in July…for all the wrong reasons
BETTER GOVERNMENTAccording to the data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate dropped by .2 percentage points, to 7.4%. The Establishment Survey Data showed the creation of 161,000 non-farm pay roll jobs. On the surface it looks like a fairly decent report: unemployment down and job growth, while not stellar, is enough to keep up with natural population growth.