Police officers in New Hampshire would need a warrant to extract information from cell phones and global positioning satellite devices under legislation intended to protect people's privacy. The House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee will hold a hearing this afternoon on state Rep. Neal Kurk's bill that also applies to others who want to extract photos, phone contact…
January 31, 2012
New Hampshire's historic resistance to a personal income tax would no longer be left to politicians to uphold if a proposed prohibition against the tax is enshrined in the state constitution. The House will vote tomorrow on a constitutional amendment that would bar any new tax on personal income. Supporters say the amendment would not affect existing taxes but would stop lawmakers…
January 17, 2012
New Hampshire residents puff out their collective chests at having the first presidential primary, yet many were glad yesterday to see the GOP candidates leave for their next contest in South Carolina. Donna Gamache of Manchester said she's proud New Hampshire has the first primary, but tired of the computer-generated phone calls on behalf of candidates. The 51-year-old Gamache…
January 12, 2012
Gov. John Lynch vowed yesterday to veto three bills that would ease a broad range of gun regulations in New Hampshire to include allowing guns on college campuses, in classrooms and in public buildings like the Verizon Wireless Arena. Flanked by college and law enforcement officials, the Democratic governor told reporters at a State House news conference that he supports gun rights,…
January 4, 2012
Repealing New Hampshire's gay marriage law, legalizing casinos and changing the constitution to bar an income tax are among the hottest topics facing the Legislature heading into 2012, but lawmakers might not vote on these issues until after the Jan. 10 presidential primary. House Republican Leader D.J. Bettencourt said the House most likely won't cast its votes until Jan. 11 or…
December 27, 2011
New Hampshire's three liquor commissioners are no longer being allowed to take state cars home after a review showed they drove too many miles for personal reasons. A state review found their personal use was well above the limit of 15 percent of total mileage set by the state. The three commissioners, who drive to liquor stores across the state in an initiative to manage and upgrade…
December 23, 2011
Anyone handy with scissors and a blow-dryer could set up shop in New Hampshire without the state's formal blessing if an effort to eliminate education and licensing requirements for a host of occupations is successful. Cosmetologists, barbers and a handful of others in state-licensed occupations would no longer need to go to school or get a license to work under the bill facing…
December 20, 2011
New Hampshire has helped pay for public school construction since 1955 without limits on who could get aid, but the rising costs of projects coupled with tight finances could force the state to prioritize who gets money. The House is to vote early next year on a pair of bills that would create a ranking system similar to one used by Maine to determine which projects get state aid.…
December 18, 2011
Two New Hampshire agencies assured Senate budget and tax writers yesterday the state's hospital tax law will be upheld and hospitals that paid a lower tax using federal guidelines will have to pay up. Health and Human Services Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas said his department is working with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to clarify that the state's tax…
December 9, 2011
Failed private negotiations have given way to political gamesmanship in the effort to put a constitutional amendment on state school aid on New Hampshire's 2012 ballot. On Tuesday, a public hearing will be held on Democratic Gov. John Lynch's proposed amendment, but Lynch won't testify. Neither will House Democratic Leader Terie Norelli or Republican Senate President Peter Bragdon.…
November 20, 2011
New England
New England will continue to experience a slow economic recovery until well into 2013 due in part to weaknesses in the national and global economies, an economic forecaster said yesterday. The forecast came a day before the New England Economic Partnership was scheduled to hold its fall conference in Manchester. "Of significant concern looking forward is how the New England states…
November 18, 2011
Hoping to squelch efforts to expand gambling, Gov. John Lynch promised yesterday to veto bills that would legalize video slots in New Hampshire. The Democratic governor told Republican legislative leaders the state does not have an adequate regulatory structure in place. He also reiterated past concerns about the possible effects on New Hampshire's quality of life and that there…
November 15, 2011
When New Hampshire Republicans took control of the House and Senate from Democrats last year, they promised voters they would pass legislation resulting in more jobs. But after 10 months in power, the results are inconclusive despite Republican leaders' use of the bully pulpit to claim they have already made good on that promise. The best early measure of success - the unemployment…
November 14, 2011
House Democratic Leader Terie Norelli is throwing Republican House Speaker Bill O'Brien's words back at him for calling the governor's proposed constitutional amendment on school funding a publicity stunt. Norelli sent O'Brien a letter Thursday criticizing his plan to call representatives into session Nov. 30 to vote on Democratic Gov. John Lynch's proposal, saying that move was…
November 12, 2011
