Over a decade ago, the New Hampshire Legislature made the wise decision to restructure the state's electric industry and provide consumers the ability to choose their electric provider. A vibrant competitive generation market developed here and across the region.Consumers have…
Once again, a few shortsighted souls in the New Hampshire House have mounted an effort to repeal the state's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The difference this year is that, fortunately, they appear to be alone.RGGI is a…
To the editor:House Bill 1487 should be enacted in order to avoid costly increases in fuel and heating oil prices for New Hampshire citizens.State Representatives Holden, Bettencourt and O'Brien have co-sponsored the bill, which would require legislative approval prior to…
I'd like to clarify some facts about House Bill 1642. Let's be clear: The goal of HB 1642 is to make the business climate here in New Hampshire more attractive for destination specialty hospitals and clinics. Locating these centers in…
The New Hampshire Senate recently passed and sent to the House yet another proposed constitutional amendment designed to specify our Legislature's authority and responsibility regarding state aid to local education, including the ability to use "targeted" aid as the basic…
Last year was one of extraordinary achievements for this Legislature. We committed to voters to live within our means and balance our budget without raising taxes and did an uncommon thing for elected officials, and in 2011 we kept our…
If you were to apply today to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services for an environmental permit, it's likely that it would be processed in a short period of time, and more quickly than if you applied for a…
Though recent news has been positive, New Hampshire continues to face serious economic challenges 2 1/2 years into its recovery from the Great Recession. Employment has been rising over the past few months, but New Hampshire still needs to add…
Small-business owners have often learned the hard way that not knowing the law is not an acceptable excuse for noncompliance. You are expected to follow the law and the associated rules and regulations, or you will suffer the consequences of…
In his State of the Union address in January, President Obama emphasized the importance of American innovation - especially in creating an American energy economy that is built to last.At USDA, we are working every day to fuel renewable energy…
The last year was difficult for many. While the stock markets were up about 5 percent, it was a bumpy ride. Other markets, such as commercial real estate, were not so volatile. In fact, they continue to be somewhat lethargic.Now…
The 2012 forecast for New Hampshire commercial real estate expects continued improvement in demand for quality industrial, retail and multifamily properties, with demand for office properties remaining sluggish.The current commercial construction activity throughout the state is a sign that, yet…
For more than 10 years, New Hampshire has been paying for an "adequate" education for primary and secondary public school students across the state. State spending on public education is in addition to what local communities raise and spend.State spending…
Over the past several years, our region and our nation have faced great economic challenges. We are fortunate in New England to have weathered this period with less collateral damage than other parts of the country.Our overall regional unemployment rate…
What do the Federal Reserve and a Ouija board have in common? Both are equally adept at predicting the economic state three months from now. So when the Fed recently announced its intent to keep interest rates near zero for…
Three and a half years have passed since the onset of the financial and economic crisis of 2008, yet despite what politicians campaigning across New Hampshire have been saying about the U.S. economy, the New Hampshire economy appears to be…
On Jan. 4, the New Hampshire Legislature passed House Bill 542, a bill that took effect immediately and grants parents unprecedented powers to direct the education of their child in public schools.Specifically, the new law - sponsored by Rep. J.R.…
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