News – Politics – Opinion – Podcasts
Julie Smith 
With town elections less than two weeks away in most communities, it’s a good time to remind everyone of the Students First Act, originally known as SB219 and later codified in HB1265. It was quietly signed by the Damn Emperor two summers ago and is now RSA 189:76. However, like some of those election security reform bills, … Read more
As a courtesy to new readers that are new to NH, let’s point out a few things about Manchester. It’s our largest city and almost 1/10th of the population calls it home. It’s also in that darling OTHER district in congress, the one that always gets all the attention, money and resources. That district, which … Read more
If you haven’t already heard about HB1811 as a bill to support (repealing statutory immunization requirements for children), you haven’t been paying attention to memos from groups like RebuildNH and Health Freedom NH. It’s a vax policy bill that would end mandatory childhood vaccines that Team Red failed to unify behind (OTP 155-192). Who are … Read more
Robert’s Rules, Mason’s Rules, and Moderator Gary Matteson’s own rules, I won’t get into the weeds or nuts and bolts of operations. Let’s just say that there’s a common structural design to maintain order. Maintaining order is vital to avoiding CHAOS, something that a lone wolf dissenting alderman was recently accused of being an agent … Read more
It’s time for the 4th installment of my sporadic Spotlight of Positivity series, and the public servant I’ve selected is the state house gift shop manager and tour guide, Virginia Drew. She is also the head selectman in Epsom. Because she will eventually read this, I’d better call her position by its proper name, which is “visitor … Read more
Most people are already familiar with Americans for Prosperity (AFP), so it’s really not necessary to write a new book on them, but there are a few things to point out. One does not need to be a card-carrying paid member to attend their free events, seminars, and workshops. These events are often generously catered. … Read more
On the heels of the executive council blocking an extension of that rent-seeking Gordon-Darby contract, it was pointed out that NH receives $330M of federal highway money each year. Sure, that’s a lot of money, but I still say “so what.” This isn’t the first rodeo, so to speak, with NH and DC. One could … Read more
Helping veterans is a noble and popular thing to do. I doubt that anyone would disagree. Similarly, we are often told to help our elders. With that said, I propose a volunteer group for performing one particular service to elderly veterans in NH. I don’t know if Reps Mannion, Sabourin, and Granger were officers or … Read more
I know lots of people are focused on their upcoming town elections, as they should be, but I’m here to point out that we are in Year Two of our current legislature and filing time will be here sooner than you know it. With that piece of excrement commonly known as federal judge Landya McCafferty … Read more
While looking through my phone for another picture, I ran into one that I took in 2020 of a picture that was taken in 1973. It was taken in the living room of Beverley Gustitus, now 87, of Nashua. I thought about writing an article about her in the future, but after seeing the new … Read more
Councilor Wheeler’s constituents have been waiting for Ms Melanie Levesque to make up her mind, but Dems aren’t allowed to think for themselves, especially black Dems. Want to call me a racist for saying that? It’s your free speech to do so, but what about Jonah Wheeler’s free speech? Pay attention because Melanie is now … Read more
There’s going to be a warrant article in Epsom that asks the voters if TIFs (Tax Increment Financing) should be allowed. You might already be thinking this article isn’t for you, but stay with me here, especially if you live in a town that doesn’t currently have TIFs, because the discussion of them might be … Read more
I’ve done a lot of keyboard commando work in trashing our Senate, its leadership, committees, and committee leadership, and I stand by it. However, one must keep in mind that a broken clock is correct twice a day. This article is an update to my previous one, putting Senate Finance on notice because they deserve … Read more
Many Granite Staters are scratching their heads over how a Dem tax bill (HB451) could make it to the Corner office, especially with a red House and an even redder Senate. This is not the first time our Senate has failed to be a firewall against a bad House bill. Never forget Queen Sharon, Senate … Read more
A Ward 3 political watchdog called attention to the Americans for Tax Reform PLEDGE that Tim Lang signed, as did Denise Ricciardi. If you watch the video of the January 7 meeting of the Senate, you will observe Denise asking Tim if HB451 is a TAX, to which he denied, and I mentioned this discussion … Read more
I used to like Chuck Mower, and I will start by saying a few nice things about him. I met Chuck in the mid-90s when the Merrimack River Watershed Council had a canoe trip program. Chuck was one of the volunteer trip leaders and a regional historian. I enjoyed many trips in which we would … Read more
If all the property in your town or city is being appraised this year, it’s a revaluation year. If it happened in 2025, pay attention. If you’re in Nashua, keep in mind how flaky city hall has regularly proven itself to be. The law says every 5 years, but 2024 was only two years after … Read more
HOWARD PEARL VOTED FOR A PAINT TAX. He was also the 5th R vote, therefore arguably the one responsible for its advancement because 8+5=13. Read that again if he’s YOUR senator. I put those words in all caps because he’s MY senator and I am adding today’s HB451 roll call to Howard’s senatorial rap sheet. … Read more
Let’s call a spade a spade and recognize SB406 for what it is, an urban blue senator’s effort to flip a neighboring red district. However, its selling points to the Senate Finance Committee when Rosenwald (a member) introduces it to her peers at the January 13 hearing will be all about removing the Daniel Webster … Read more
When someone says “The Squad,” most people think of AOC and three other far-left young women of color in DC, but why should they have a monopoly on those words? Old white men in NH who call themselves Republicans appear to want in on it. They just don’t know it. Look at this fearsome foursome … Read more