NH Resources

  New Hampshire State Senator David Starr (R-Franconia) recently reported on legislative progress in Concord including asking his constituents to be “pointing out bills that you care about.” There is a bill that I care about and if it passes into state law would result in needed statewide economic development and especially local tax base relief across the expanse of senate district one which is everything north of Plymouth. Senate Bill 310 would allow two casinos in New Hampshire including 5,000 slot machines, 240 table games like blackjack and roulette and the increasingly popular sports betting. If this legislation passes these two casinos would generate at least $134 million dollars a year in revenue to the state treasury. Revenue that could be used to solve many of the issues that now plague the Granite State: better roads, better schools, family leave, more social workers and local property tax relief. What I do not understand is why Sen. David Starr is not a co-sponsor o...

Two days after the state primary will be a day of decision for New Hampshire.   The September 13th veto override day in Concord will determine if wood biomass energy production has a future in the Granite State. This vote could go either way.   If the political analysts and State house watchers are to be believed there are now about 107 swing votes in the 400 member house. Swing votes are undecided votes that are frequently characterized by horse trading which isn't a good thing especially with the permanent economic consequence and job losses to the North Country if this override fails.   In recent days the wood biomass industry has stepped it's presence with rallies at the State house plaza and the southern tier which is where I think these swing votes are all from.   There has to be a 3/5ths vote majority to override Gov. Chris Sununu. This vote will be close like razor thin close. It will be a history defining day for New Hampshire.  

  A number of wood biomass supporters including the son of a former governor recently appeared before a Sun editorial board with reasons why Senate Bill 365 should be overridden and continuing this North Country industry.       Unfortunately, they sung like a choir performing before the wrong audience.     Sen. Jeb Bradley, Lobbyist Jasen Stock, Tom Thompson and local forester Karla Allen all made compelling arguments for wood biomass energy production but they should have been in southern New Hampshire where the real votes are that will decide the fate of this industry on September 13th.     "If landowners who for years have been willing to share with the public and the state are going to shut access to their land down." said Tom Thompson son of the former governor best known for his ultra-conservative policies on state spending and his infamous quote, "Ax the tax!" New Hampshire was different then but Thompson is right if this override...

The candidates for the next election in New Hampshire have all filed.   As in all state elections there is alot of political speculation as to what could happen. I've heard for some time that the democratic party is poised to make big election wins because of President Donald Trump, and that the NH Republican Party is not only disorganized but is experiencing real issues in fundraising for it's slate of candidates.   The history of elections in the granite state is interesting. Many decisive political races have been fought and won not by political parties themselves, but by the role of undecided independents that swing a race either to the left or to the right.   I think this will happen in this next election and there will even be a few surprises.   The GOP will likely construct a breakwater against this reported blue wave that is coming and attempt to hold on to their held territory, which includes the governor's office. There will be alot of campaign ads and ...

September 13th will be a defining day in the history of New Hampshire.     This is veto override day in Concord. The house and senate will vote yea or nay for pieces of legislation that Gov. Chris Sununu has vetoed in this last legislative session.     One of these vetoed bills is Senate Bill 365, the wood biomass bill which will decide the course of history for the Granite State. The question that gets answered on this early fall day is whether New Hampshire will continue to have a working and sustainable forest industry with millions of dollars in local tax base and good paying jobs or not. September 13th will be a historical direction for New Hampshire.     Senate Bill 365 is about the North Country. Over 1/3 of the state is forested, most of it north of Concord. This veto override will require a 3/5 yea majority which is 250 votes in the 400 member house and 16 votes in the 24 member senate.     This 3/5ths is a real problem. A vas...

Governor Chris Sununu recently made a political campaign like swing up north to Conway.   Of course he was asked about the wood biomass industry and his veto of legislation that now decimates this North Country industry and lots of good jobs.    "To ask the governor to impose a quarter billion in tax, plus an additional subsidy, I'm not going to do that." Sununu said. Similar to his previous statements about subsidies the governor doesn't define these numbers like how the quarter billion is calculated.  "It's unfortunate about the jobs." the governor also said. It is unfortunate about the jobs and the loss of local tax base. It's unfortunate that New Hampshire can't have policymakers in Concord that can support well established state history with a realistic or even explained financial model or at least come up with a compromise. None of this was done.     Gov. Sununu is campaigning for a second term. I don't see anything stopping him...

  About 1773 the king of England, George III had a problem. English colonies were not paying taxes into the state treasury as they should.     New Hampshire was one such colony.   "Once vigorous measures appear to be the only means left of bringing Americans to a due submission to the mother country the colonies will submit." the powerful monarch said. He then sent divisions of British redcoats in heavily armed frigates across the atlantic quickly igniting a bloodshed fueled insurrection and a revolution which would ultimately forge a small forested New England state and later a country.       England lost this war but they might be returning.     The North Country of New Hampshire which is over a 1/3 of the state's landmass is on the verge of losing it's last working forests industry which has existed since before the American Revolution. Concord is now similar to London as centre of taxation, revenue, sovereignty and the issuance of ed...

 Governor Chris Sununu vetoed Senate Bill 365 the wood biomass mill. Now a portion of the local North Country economy is almost on the skids.   "Senate Bill 365 creates another immense subsidy for New Hampshire's six biomass plants. It will harm our most vulnerable ratepayers and job creators to benefit a select few." Sununu said.   The statistically popular governor didn't say how these immense subsidies are created, if they even exist at all. The governor also didn't define what harm there would be to ratepayers and who these select few are. Gov. Sununu Has Delivered A Decisive Blow To Northern New Hampshire.   If there were any illusions that Gov. Sununu supports the North Country and it's economy his veto of Senate Bill 365 answers some questions of their very own.

Governor Chris Sununu recently made a political campaign like swing up north to Conway.     Of course he was asked about the wood biomass industry and his veto of legislation that now decimates this North Country industry and lots of good jobs.    "To ask the governor to impose a quarter billion in tax, plus an additional subsidy, I'm not going to do that." Sununu said. Similar to his previous statements about subsidies the governor doesn't define these numbers like how the quarter billion is calculated.    "It's unfortunate about the jobs." the governor also said. It is unfortunate about the jobs and the loss of local tax base. It's unfortunate that New Hampshire can't have policymakers in Concord that can support well established state history with a realistic or even explained financial model or at least come up with a compromise. None of this was done.   There Isn't Much Opposition To Gov. Sununu  Gov. Sununu is campaignin...

 The candidates for the next election in New Hampshire have all filed.   As in all state elections there is a lot of political speculation as to what could happen. I've heard for some time that the democratic party is poised to make big election wins because of President Donald Trump, and that the NH Republican Party is not only disorganized but is experiencing real issues in fundraising for it's slate of candidates.     The history of elections in the granite state is interesting. Many decisive political races have been fought and won not by political parties themselves, but by the role of undecided independents that swing a race either to the left or to the right. Question Whether There Will Be A Tsunami In New Hampshire.    I think this will happen in this next election and there will even be a few surprises.     The GOP will likely construct a breakwater against this reported blue wave that is coming and attempt to hold on to their...

The Trump inspired tariffs on Canada mean less freedom and first amendment rights.   One of the major tariff items imported from Canada that is causing this is newsprint. Some of the smaller newspapers in New Hampshire are reporting as much as a 35% increase in the price of newsprint.   The impact of this is very clear: less newspapers, less words and less free speech.     In New Hampshire neither Governor Chris Sununu or one member of the congressional delegation has said anything about these tariffs and this is despite the granite state having over $500 million dollars a year in cross-border trade with Canada alot of which originates in the North Country.   These tariffs against Canada are very real. Sanctions against free speech are very real. Less newspapers are less free speech which will only embolden more sanctions to happen and they will.  

Spent part of the day watching horse racing from Presque Isle Downs which is in the western part of New York. The whole scene made me think of Rockingham Park in New Hampshire and how the clock really is ticking down.... The historic Rockingham Park is closing for good at the end of August. And what could have been.... like Presque Isle Downs in New York. Synthetic Track Surface for one. I'm watching it now on simulcast and is the racing ever fast. The horses, at least to me, seem to corner much tighter to the rail but unlike the dirt surface there doesn't seem to be a large margin of 'comeback' on the final stretch. Like the horse in dead last position coming in to win the race. Synthetic tracks= early speed and maintaining the lead. Too bad the politicians in New Hampshire couldn't have done what they did in New York and saved the historic Rockingham Park. It's business as usual in Concord.