×
×
homepage logo
LOGIN
SUBSCRIBE

The week and review

By Staff | May 18, 2013

Gas tax waits in Statehouse purgatory

In the upcoming political machinations leading to passage of the next New Hampshire biennial budget, the proposed three-year, 12-cent gasoline tax increase could re-emerge, For now though, it languishes in Senate committee purgatory because of concerns the increase would hurt the state’s economy.

That’s an attractive but unconvincing argument when one considers that on any given day gas prices across the state can vary by as much as 25 cents a gallon and that Granite State gas prices consistently track below the prices of its New England neighbors – in large part because of the state’s current low gasoline tax.

This suggests there is room to increase the tax – although perhaps not by 12 cents. What can’t be denied is the compelling need to upgrade and repair the state’s roads and bridges. To fail to do so would have more detrimental effects on the economy than raising the gas tax a few cents.

All-night Tree Streets
parking on the mark

Hats off to James Vayo of Renaissance Downtowns for his idea offered at Tuesday’s Nashua Board of Aldermen meeting to allow overnight parking on as many as 20 city roads in the Tree Streets area. Currently anyone parking overnight is subject to a $25 fine.

The overnight plan would generate a few thousands dollars in permit fees for the city, but that’s not the larger point. Offering residents the opportunity to park closer to where they live could increase the overall attractiveness of the neighborhood by making it a more convenient place to live.

Residents with permits wouldn’t have to schlep to the Elm Street parking garage. It is certainly a good enough idea to try it for year, as it appears the aldermen are willing to do.

Deficit news shouldn’t be excuse to do nothing

The bad news is the good news is bad, at least when you are talking about the federal budget deficit.

The Congressional Budget Office said this week that the 2013 budget shortfall would be $642 billion. That’s $200 billion less than its February estimate. The CBO now says the 2015 deficit will be $378 billion or 2.1 percent of the overall economy which is an acceptable level. The problem is these numbers are likely to make it more difficult for Congress and the president to reach a long-term deal on containing deficit spending and the national debt. With no sense of urgency, little is likely to happen. That, of course, would be a big mistake, but one certainly within the capabilities of Washington.

President Obama draws comparisons to Nixon

The Obama administration moved quickly this week to douse the conflagration over revelations that for at least two years the Internal Revenue Service has targeted conservative “social welfare” groups for special scrutiny by firing IRS Commissioner Steven Miller.

It was a needed gesture that’s unlikely to change growing public perception that the president is the second coming of Richard Nixon, the president most remembered for dirty-tricks aimed against his political opponents.

Adding to that perception were other disclosures this week that the Obama justice department obtained telephone records and personal phone numbers of more than 20 phone lines assigned to Associated Press reporters and offices in April and May of 2012.

Attorney General Eric Holder told Congress Wednesday that a serious national security leak required the secret gathering of information. But the Obama administration has a long and documented track record of going after journalists who report unsavory details of its actions.

The AP fishing expedition is just the most recent to come to light. When it comes to vindictive paranoia, Obama is making Nixon look like a neophyte.

Consumers share roll in
garment worker safety

For too long, garment workers have been dying in the sweatshops of Bangladesh that provide clothing to markets in the United States and Europe. Earlier this month, more than 1,000 people lost their lives in the collapse of a factory in Dhaka.

The tragedy may be the tipping point that pushes international industrial and governmental reforms to better protect laborers. Consumers have a responsibility as well by making sure they purchase garments from manufacturers and retails who can prove their products from safe factories.

Newsletter

Join thousands already receiving our daily newsletter.

Interests
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *