WHY NH IS RED WITH A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AND VT BLUE WITH A REPUBLICAN (SELF-REFERENCE ALERT):

Lynch Says Private Sector Key for Housing (Mark Davis, 10/26/05, Valley News)

New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch said yesterday he prefers encouraging the private sector and town governments to support affordable housing projects, instead of offering developers an array of state tax breaks and other incentives that were recently proposed by his counterpart in Vermont.

“Communities have to understand that affordable housing is good for (them),” Lynch said in response to a question after a speech to a meeting of the Lebanon and Hanover chambers of commerce. “Too many communities out there believe it's other communities' responsibility to solve, and it’s not.”

In a brief interview afterward, Lynch pointed to initiatives of Citizens Bank, on whose board he used to serve, as a model of how companies can help with affordable housing. In 2004, the bank said it would provide $200 million in low-interest loans to nonprofit housing developers in New England to boost the region's affordable housing stock.

Lynch said he wasn't completely adverse to tax breaks, but “I think the Citizens Bank model would be best,” he said.

Lynch's comments come 10 days after Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas declared creating more affordable housing the centerpiece of his 2006 legislative agenda. Douglas proposed giving tax breaks to developers who build units for less than $200,000 and to companies that help their workers buy homes, and offering state-owned land for affordable developments.

I've only ever voted for a Democrat once--and I was working for him--but unless the GOP comes up with a fabulous nominee I could see voting to re-elect Governor Lynch.

Posted by Orrin Judd at October 26, 2005 1:25 PM