Like many services with state funding, law enforcement took some hits in the last budget
Calling public safety “our most important responsibility,” Governor Maggie Hassan outlined her funding proposals in today’s budget address. Comparing public safety to the state’s health care system, Hassan said it had taken “too many hits” in the last budget. She called on legislators to “reverse course” immediately, in the interest of keeping New Hampshire residents safe.
Hassan wants to raise the cigarette tax above its original level
Governor Maggie Hassan is looking to raise New Hampshire’s cigarette tax. In her state budget address, she pitched a 30-cent increase as good public health policy.
“New Hampshire has the highest youth smoking rate in the Northeast, with 19.8 percent of high school students who smoke cigarettes,” Hassan said. “Cigarette taxes nationwide have proven to be one of the most effective ways to prevent youth smoking.” Continue Reading →
A number of people involved in the LGC case expressed shock at Carroll's dismissal.
Over the past several months, StateImpact has been keeping up with the various twists and turns in the Local Government Center case. The latest development–the ouster of Executive Director Maura Carroll by the LGC board–has shocked the organization’s supporters and critics alike.
This week, I called some of the players in this ongoing saga to get their reaction to Carroll’s sudden departure, and discussed them with NHPR’s All Things Considered host Brady Carlson.
You can catch our conversation, or read the transcript, after the jump.
Workers cast firearms parts at Sturm, Ruger's Newport foundry
As federal lawmakers grapple with tighter gun control laws, business is good for the firearms industry. Across the country, gun dealers can’t keep them on the shelves, and manufacturers can’t keep up with demand.
But how do these trends affect New Hampshire’s economy?
If you pick up a Sturm, Ruger gun—rifle, pistol, revolver, assault rifle -odds are it was made in Newport, New Hampshire. Or at least, parts of it were cast in the company’s on-site foundry, and shipped to Ruger’s other factory, in Arizona.
“It takes about two or three hours to make a gun from components into the box,” says Tom Sullivan, Vice President of Newport Operations for Sturm, Ruger. “Every product we make at this point is very popular, and we have large backlogs on every product we make.” Continue Reading →
A legislative proposal to expand the production and sale of food grown in New Hampshire received a lukewarm reception at a public hearing at the State House this morning.
Senate Bill 141 calls for the creation of a farm-to-table program to promote the economic development of New Hampshire’s farming and fishing sectors, while increasing consumers’ access to locally grown and processed food. The program would be implemented by an advisory council of farmers, vendors and sustainability experts working closely with the state Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food.
The bill’s primary sponsor, Sen. Martha Fuller Clark, told the Senate Executive Department and Administration Committee that the program would help bring together the “disparate groups” who are already committed to the “grow-local, eat-local movement” in New Hampshire.
“There is an ongoing interest throughout all of New England, in fact throughout the country, to look at how we promote and coordinate what really is a major food revolution in this country” Clark said. “This bill is an effort to make sure NH is in the forefront as this food revolution moves forward.” Continue Reading →
New Hampshire lawmakers have introduced legislation that aims to expand the market for food grown in the Granite State.
Senate Bill 141 would establish a farm-to-table program to help bolster the state’s “food and farm economy” by increasing access to healthy food, promoting jobs and encouraging private and public investment in local agriculture.
A public hearing is scheduled for 10:15 Wednesday in Room 100 of the Statehouse.
The bill, sponsored by a half dozen legislators led by Sen. Martha Fuller Clark (D-Portsmouth), calls for creation of an advisory council to the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food. Among its duties, the council would be charged with gathering data on the types of food produced in New Hampshire, “current and potential markets” for local farmers and the extent of land available for future food production. Continue Reading →
Should New Hampshire put local beers in state liquor stores? Or, should liquor commission revenues fund advertising for local wine and beer makers?
These were two of the questions a House Commerce Subcommittee began to discuss Tuesday. But the conversation could end there. That’s because some lawmakers feel the state should consolidate its efforts in supporting what they call “local agro-tourism,” which is not just local beer and wine producers, but other local products, like meats, or maple syrup.
Nicole Carrier – a nanobrewer on the Seacoast – says some of the existing bills would help her business. But, she says, other kinds of promotion from the state would go a long way too. For example, she says, Vermont has detailed beer, cheese and wine maps. New Hampshire’s beer map hasn’t been updated in years, so her two year old business isn’t on there.
Representative Kermit Williams said he’d like to see lawmakers do something for local beer and wine makers, this year.
The Local Government Center will see new leadership almost immediately.
After about four years as head of the Local Government Center, Executive Director Maura Carroll is stepping down.
During most of her tenure as Executive Director, Maura Carroll headed an embattled LGC. The state’s Bureau of Securities Regulation contends that for years, the LGC overcharged communities for health insurance premiums and improperly used funds. The case went to a hearing officer last summer, who ordered the LGC to return more than $53 million to communities. Continue Reading →
Dominique Vasquez-Vanasse stands with her two sons at a press conference. Later, she'll testify before the Ways and Means Committee in support of an education tax credit.
The House Ways and Means Committee heard testimony Thursday on a bill that would repeal the School Choice Scholarship Act, which passed last year. The act allows businesses to receive a tax credit when they donate scholarship money to private schools.
Many of the same arguments that were heard last session came up again this time, as lawmakers debated whether or not a tax credit for businesses that fund private and even religious schools is wise – or even constitutional. Continue Reading →
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