Live Free or Die: It’s a Motto, Not a Sales Pitch

In nine days, New Hampshire’s state motto will turn 200 years old. It was July 31, 1809, when Gen. John Stark wrote to his comrades from the Battle of Bennington to offer this toast: “Live free or die. Death is not the worst of evils.” It is a...

Granite State Fair Tax Coalition is Neither Local nor About Fairness

Updated for 2009 It’s that time again. People all over NH will be getting ready for town meetings. The town meeting is the esteemed NH institution where residents can exercise control of how their property tax dollars are spent for both town and school, by means...

Atkinson Police Chief Bully or Target?

ATKINSON – Two residents who claim police Chief Philip V. Consentino bullied people into removing their names from a warrant article petition are preparing to sue the chief and the board of selectmen. In a notice sent to the town by attorney Charles Douglas, residents...

Office of Economic Stimulus?

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch says he will name Deputy Attorney General Orville “Bud” Fitch to head a newly created Office of Economic Stimulus to coordinate the stimulus money New Hampshire could get from a federal rescue...

Governor Lynch Scores ‘D’

Gov. John Lynch gets a D in the latest Cato Institute Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors. Cato notes that Lynch was more frugal at first, but this year did not restrain spending. He’s relied heavily on cigarette tax hikes, which dropped his score in...

Hodes and Porter Not Looking Out for Taxpayers

by Ed Naile As luck would have it, being involved with local taxpayer issues gives one a unique perspective of people who run for office in this small state. Case in point: Ashland, the year 2000, where the Town Manager, Rosie McNamara, misappropriated at least,...