Distant Dome

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NH Legislature Has a Very Different Look

If you transported a typical New Hampshire resident from the turn of the century into a Legislative committee hearing today, that person would not think it was in the same state.

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The NH Presidential Primary Is Different Now

The near sacred process of choosing who will be running for what was once considered to be the leader of the free world is about to commence. But this year’s presidential run for the roses feels different than past races.

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Distant Dome: Second Year of Legislative Term Always More Contentious

Gone are the Kumbaya days of the bipartisan budget deal and work on expanding housing and day care services, two of the state’s biggest needs, if New Hampshire is to be economically viable.

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Distant Dome: Changes Proposed for Education Freedom Account Program 

But the fairly new Education Freedom Account program approved three years ago in the state’s two-year budget package has no limit on what is spent from the state’s Education Trust Fund. Sort of like Santa Clause this time of year.

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Dark Times this Christmas Season

It may be mid-December with the days sprinting toward the 25th, but it does not feel like a festive season for many reasons.

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Some Major NH Issues Decided in November

From equitable education funding to extreme partisan gerrymandering, from education vouchers to voting rights, from constitutional protections to the date of the New Hampshire Presidential Primary, and from potential mass shootings to illegal legislative voting, the state dealt with all of this in one form or another during the 30 days of November.

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Court Decisions Do Not Call for More Education Spending in NH

The long battle over equitable education funding does not end with the two decisions released last week.

Rockingham County Superior Court Judge David Ruoff ruled the state needs to pay a higher percentage of public education costs and its methodology for administering the statewide property tax makes it unconstitutional.

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Report on Teacher Shortages Held Up Over Divisive Concepts Law

New Hampshire faces a growing problem with an aging workforce, the dearth of affordable housing and child care, and the high cost of higher education.

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Distant Dome: Selective Rules Not Good for Democracy

Today people continue to insist — without any evidence  —  the 2020 presidential election was a sham and the former guy, Donald Trump, should still be president although 7 million more people voted for current President Joe Biden.