Long time right-to-life activist and state Representative Kathleen Souza (R-Manchester) says she is writing legislation that would require licensing and inspections for health clinics that perform abortions.

Abortion clinics in New Hampshire like Planned Parenthood are considered physician offices, and therefore do not require special licensing and inspections.

"In New Hampshire, there is no such thing as an abortion clinic - the majority of abortions are done in doctors offices," wrote Kris Neilsen, communications director for the state Department of Health and Human Services.

"Nobody has oversight," said Souza, according to the Union Leader. "Right-to-life people have been trying to put in legislation for 20 years to require abortion clinic licensing and clinic inspections."

Souza's actions were prompted by the high-profile conviction of Dr. Kermit Gosnell for several gruesome, late-term abortions in Pennsylvania.

Jane Munson, former medical director of the Concord Feminist Health Center, said she and other pro-choice advocates wouldn't necessarily oppose greater oversight and licensure. 

"We have nothing to hide, and we know the quality of our services," Munson told the Union Leader.

However, Munson cautioned that new, strict regulations that force abortion clinics to close might force women to seek out the services of illegitimate doctors such as Gosnell.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the debates over abortion and family planning in New Hampshire.

CLICK HERE to read coverage from the Union Leader.

On Wednesday the town of Antrim asked to appeal the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee's denial of a ten-turbine wind farm on Tuttle Hill.

The Committee denied a permit for the wind farm in February due to aesthetic impact on nearby wilderness areas.

Antrim Wind Energy LLC, the company behind the project, has since offered $40,000 to off-set the aesthetic impacts with improvements to the nearby Gregg Lake area.

The Antrim wind project has be extensively debated at town and state hearings.  The Antrim Board of Selectmen has consistently supported the wind farm, citing economic benefits.  However, residents who would live near the turbines are concerned about sullied views, habitat disruption, and physiological side-effects. 

CLICK HERE to learn more about the debate over wind farms in New Hampshire.

CLICK HERE to read coverage from the Union Leader.

Last week Millennium Gaming revealed a new, expanded plan for a casino at Salem's Rockingham Park.  However, on Wednesday a House super-committee voted 23-22 against licensing a casino in New Hampshire.

Many New Hampshire legislators formerly opposed to a casino decided to support expanded gambling after Massachusetts approved three casinos in November 2011.  One concern of casino opponents and proponents alike is that Massachusetts casinos will draw meals and rooms revenue away from New Hampshire.  The new, expanded casino plan from Millennium Gaming aims to better compete with the large Massachusetts casinos by adding a spa, conference center, 1,500-seat entertainment venue, and horse racing track.

The expanded casino plans may have made as many enemies as friends, however.  The Verizon Wireless Center, the Capital Center for the Arts in Concord and Palace Theater in Manchester have all lobbied against a large entertainment venue at the casino.

The slide image depicts a screenshot of the casino plans from Millenium Gaming.

Do you think New Hampshire should approve a casino?  CLICK HERE to answer the question on our Facebook page.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the debate over gambling.

CLICK HERE to read coverage from the Nashua Telegraph.

Do you know the candidates for the June 4 Special Election in Claremont?  CLICK HERE to see who is running for state Representative and learn where they stand on the issues.

This week the Senate Ways and Means Committee voted to delay any action on HB 617, a bill to increase the gas tax, until the 2014 legislative session.  However, the Senate may still vote to increase the gas tax this year by approving HB 1, the budget bill from the House of Representatives.

Ways and Means member and Senate Finance Committee Chair Sen. Chuck Morse (R-Salem) is leading the fight against the proposed gas tax increase.  Morse has said the gas tax increase was "dead on arrival" in the Senate.  Morse instead advocates for casino revenue as an alternative to a gas tax increase.  However, the House may not approve the Senate's plan for expanded gambling.

State transportation officials argue that the gas tax increase is necessary to cover critical road repairs.  Supporters of the gas tax increase also point out that the tax has not been adjusted since 1991.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the debate over revenue sources in the next fiscal year.

CLICK HERE to read coverage from the Union Leader.

Hardy Macia, a 2012 Libertarian candidate for U.S. Representative in New Hampshire, died on Monday night after a nine-month fight against Hodgkin’s lymphoma.  Last week Macia posted a video plea for Gov. Hassan to support a home-growing option for patients prescribed medicinal marijuana.  The video received national attention.

At the end of April Gov. Hassan announced that she would oppose a medical marijuana bill that allowed home-growing.  Hassan cited concern over the ability of law enforcement to regulate home growers.

Supporters of a home-growing option have argued that home-growing is more affordable and more accessible for rural patients.

"Leave it up to the patients and the doctors, and leave the law enforcement out of it," Macia said in his video appeal.

CLICK HERE to see our 2012 U.S. House candidate page for Hardy Macia.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the debate over medicinal marijuana in New Hampshire.

CLICK HERE to read coverage from the Concord Monitor.