New 2011-2012 Keene budget proposal

Dave Eisenstadter reports from The Sentinel:

Keene officials’ proposed 2011-2012 budget calls for a 2.51 percent increase in taxes this year.

The proposal was released this morning.

City Manager John A. MacLean writes in an introduction to the document that this year’s budget represents one of the smallest increases in spending seen in a decade — less than 1 percent.

However, reduced revenues mean more money would have to be raised by taxes to meet the spending plan.

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New NH economics blog

I enjoy writing about economics, so I’m starting a New Hampshire economics blog.

It’s here: Fiscal Responsibility.

Since my economic views are pretty mainstream– I’m no Murray Rothbard, or Robert Murphy (or even Milton Friedman, really)– I get the impression that much of my writing would feel a bit out of place here. Thus the separate blog.

(No, I don’t intend to leave Free Keene any time soon. I’ll keep posting Keene-oriented blogs here.)

So now you know.

Keene Rep. Kris Roberts: New Hampshirites would benefit from a non-partisan Common Sense Caucus

In response to an article in the Concord Monitor about disgruntled Republicans planning a “coup” against house speaker Bill O’Brien, Kris Roberts argues:

A coup would be a really bad idea because it would allow the speaker and his leadership team to avoid taking the hit for the major cuts; whoever became the new speaker and whoever assumed leadership positions would be held responsible for the final budget.

The most effective way to deal with the current problem, the best way to look out for the interest of the people of New Hampshire would be the formation of a third caucus, what I would call for a better term the “Common Sense Caucus” made up of men and women who would be willing to put New Hampshire first, party second. Men and women who can take the time and decide just what are our core values, what programs that we believe define us as a state, programs that we must find funding for; Programs that we would be willing to stand up and fight for.

Fifty or sixty men and women may not have the power to conduct a successful coup but they could have the power to limit the power of the king; requiring him to lead by a set of rules. If one doesn’t believe so I recommend that they take out their history book and read about a little place named Runnymede and that piece of paper called the Magna Carta. After all you don’t have to kill the king to get him to look after the welfare of all the citizens of New Hampshire.

Should libertarians support unions?

As a result of pending anti-union legislation, and my ongoing project to build a liberal-libertarian alliance, I have been researching union issues for the last few weeks. Historically, libertarians, in a political coalition with business interests on the right, have opposed unions, but is there room to ally with liberals here? (more…)

Free Stater representative threatens “considers” taxing churches

[updated]

Rep. Andrew Manuse (R-Derry), one of the 12 or 15 Free Staters serving in the state house, is “considering a bill to remove the [Catholic] Church’s tax exempt status in New Hampshire”, according to a quote released by the Catholic League.

The threat resulted from a squabble between the Catholic church and House Republicans after Bishop John McCormack, of Manchester, claimed that Republican budget cuts would hurt the most vulnerable residents of New Hampshire. This prompted House Republican leader D.J. Bettencourt to call McCormack a “pedophile pimp,” a reference to his handling of sex abuse cases in the Boston archdiocese. The situation has only spiraled down from there. (Link)

April 5, 2011

N.H. REPUBLICANS ARE IN TROUBLE
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