Gov. Snoonoo signed just 52 Bills into law, and I’m not familiar with all of them, but some look unpleasant. One, HB1002, is well known to us and our audience. It permits towns to charge fees if a records request takes too much time—the Public Records Tax.
A majority of the New Hampshire legislature thought it would be a good idea to allow local towns and cities to charge citizens for public documents. The (incorrect) presumption is that citizens are more likely to abuse RTK laws for Evil than local government.
In keeping with my taxing things theme, this might be a good time to remind everyone, especially Republicans in the NH Legislature, that those among them who supported HB1002 (The public documents tax) can no longer argue for government transparency or accountability. They voted that right away.
The Republican majority of the New Hampshire Legislature is on the verge of doing what Democrats do. Punish everyone for the alleged bad behavior of a few. Assuming the few are truly being cantankerous in their pursuit of public records. It is reminiscent of most, if not all, Left-Wing gun-grabbing legislation.
We have two bits of excellent news for Granite Staters fighting the good fight – two bills you’ve all been battling have either died in committee or crawled out on their last legs, most certainly to die unless someone screws something up – always an option this session.
If you’ve missed it or are a glutton for punishment (as opposed to a gluten for punishment, which is what my spellchecker just tried to do to my pre-editing fat-fingered spelling of the former), HB1002 has gone around and come around after a valiant but failed effort to kill it on the floor of the … Read more
Charging residents for government transparency (see HB1002) increasingly sounds like a bribe to me. Yes, we created these documents at your expense, but if you want to see them, you’ll need to slip us a little cash. It might be a lot of money; we’ll let you know.
Last week, after a bill to charge citizens for access to public documents failed, I called the charge (fee, levy) a tax. Some boob took to X to tell me it was not a tax, as if the government taking money from citizens could be anything but. Later that day, a motion to reconsider was … Read more
HB1002 recently passed the House by about a dozen votes and now heads to the Senate for deliberations. This Bill permits municipalities to establish a policy to charge up to $25 per hour for requests that take over 10 hours to fill.
Travis O’Hara isn’t technically a bad Republican vote. If and when he shows up (not showing up for crucial votes is certainly bad), his HRA score for 2023 was a hair over 90%. You judge what that means, but as you do, please also consider his ready embrace of progressive language.
HB1002, as passed by the New Hampshire House, would allow unprincipled municipalities to turn requests for public documents into a revenue stream. It passed the NH House yesterday, after which (at least) two things happened.
If you missed it, we are opposed to HB1002, which would charge citizens for access to public records and, in some instances, charge them a lot for information that is theirs. We find it offensive and an invitation for abuse by the municipalities whose indifference and inefficacy resulted in the bill.
Two years ago, we discovered something interesting. If you ask too many questions about Taxpayer-owned Gunstock Resort, huge sums are spent, and pressure is brought to oust anyone in elected or appointed office who asks those questions. Suspicious?
Socialism is a game for the connected rich. In the Former Soviet Union, they are oligarchs and the wealthy connected class. The real one-percent. The people who want equality to mean everyone but them. And Socialist Sanders supporters are no different.
Thanks Majority Leader Jack Flanagan for siding against the majority of your Party’s members in the NH House and voting with the Democrats. I just heard about this bill late this afternoon – our Legislature, led by the Democrat appointed Speaker of the House Jasper and his Jaspercrats joined with pretty much all the Democrats … Read more
Former House Speaker Bill O’Brien has submitted a proposed amendment to HB 617 the New Hampshire Democrats massive gas tax hike. It would require all taxes raised to go to the Highway Department for roads and bridges. (From Facebook) This morning I sent the following email to all other state representatives. I would like … Read more
As endorsements are coming in for all candidates for all offices, like last night’s floodwaters, I want to call attention to some of Kelly Ayotte’s “problem endorsers.” No, I’m not talking big-time Deep State people, businesses, and organizations, but people that any respectable Nashua homegrown candidate for any office should shun.
In 2022, JR tried to recruit me to primary my senator. I won’t take the readers on a scenic side trip discussing the details of my multiple reasons for declining his request, but he did stroke my ego and I agreed to hear his 30 second ad on why I should say yes because I … Read more
I’m sure most, if all of our readers are familiar with the term “get it in writing,” but it’s a seemingly alien concept in city hall.
Most readers are already familiar with a flag pole outside Nashua City Hall, the one being referred to in this link. Over the years, it has been called various names. For those not up to speed on Nashua matters, I will offer the latest Grok piece and the one from the day before.