Don't Look Away From New Hampshire

Though the eyes of America may shift away from New Hampshire after today's Presidential primary, postal eyes will remain focused on the Granite State, especially on Thursday.

That's the day that another pernicious Do Not Mail bill will receive a hearing before the Commerce Committee of the New Hampshire state legislature.

The bill, HB 1506, directs the New Hampshire Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau of the Department of Justice to establish and operate a registry of state residents who do not wish to receive direct mail solicitations.

A handful of witnesses from postal employee organizations and postal industry-related groups are slated to testify against the bill.

At least eight states are considering bills that would create state-run Do Not Mail registries -- seven states carried over legislation from their 2007 session, along with the New Hampshire bill.

The Mail Moves America coalition website provides a good run-down on state-by-state Do Not Mail legislative activity. Postal analyst Alan Robinson also has provided some commentary on the devastating economic impact of DNM.