GOP Attacks on Public Education Continue

The Republican attack on public education in New Hampshire continues unabated. For example, GOP legislators proposed and supported SB 372 and its companion piece HB 1607 in an attempt to circumvent the New Hampshire Constitution's prohibition against using public tax money to support religious institutions. To do this, something like a baseball double play was used.

That is, New Hampshire businessmen toss donations to "scholarship organizations" who, in turn, throw the money to private school students. Oh, and a hidden ball trick is used, too. Eighty-five percent of the money winds up back in the pockets of the businessmen through tax deductions on the money they have given.

Baseball plays result in outs. Who's out? Tax payers are out the money given to private schools. As a result, to make up for the lost money, the cost of public education will be downshifted onto local property taxes.

Also, the private schools and the home schoolers to whom the money is given don't have to provide accountability; that is, they don't have to tell taxpayers how the money was used. Is your tax money being put to good use? Are the voucher students receiving it being well educated? The private schools and home schoolers don't have to tell you.

And there is no public support for this legislation. According to a WMUR Granite State Poll of all voters, respondents oppose the use of public tax funds for private schools by more than a 2 to 1 margin (55 to 23 percent). What sense does it make to give tax money to private schools when times are so tough that state funding for the University of New Hampshire, our public state university, was cut by 45 percent?

Who would support such a scheme? Republican legislators, who apparently don't care what the public thinks. The votes on SB372/HB1607 cast by Hampton and North Hampton legislators on 5/16/12 appear below. D stands for Democrat; R for Republican. Yes is a vote for SB372/HB 1607. No is a vote against. NV stands for not voting.

Hampton: Chris Nevins (R), Fred Rice (R), Kenneth Sheffert (R) - all yes. Jim Waddell (R) - no. Kevin Sullivan (R) - NV.

North Hampton/Exeter/Stratham: Patrick Abrami (R), Michele Peckham (R), Marshall Quandt (R), Matt Quandt (R), Joanna Ward (R) - all yes.

Timothy Copeland (R), Patricia Lovejoy (D), Donna Schlachman (D) - all no.

Unfortunately, SB372/HB1607 passed both the State House and the State Senate due to Republican support. It will likely be vetoed by Democratic Governor John Lynch. In that case, both houses will attempt to override the Governor's veto, but they will need at least 2/3 of the votes cast to do so. So, this bill is still in play, and legislators can change their minds on the override vote.

Republicans also backed a constitutional amendment (CACR12) designed to give the legislature "the full power and authority" to determine the amount of state funding for public education. This amendment virtually eliminates the role of the judiciary in making this decision. Traditionally, our democratic form of government uses a tripartite divsion of power - judiciary, legislative, and executive - to reach decisions.

For all practical purposes, CACR12 removes the judiciary from educational funding decisions, in the process giving the legislature an undue amount of power. There would be no floor on state funding for public education - theoretically it could be reduced to zero by the legislature. In this case, once again, the cost would be downshifted, and local property taxes increased to make up the loss of state funding.

With CACR12 in place, school districts would have limited ability to plan ahead. They would be forced to mount a lobbying effort each budget session to protect their allocations against power grabs by larger and more influential school districts.

Which Hampton and North Hampton legislators voted for misguided CACR12?

Hampton: Chris Nevins (R), Fred Rice (R), Kenneth Sheffert (R), Kevin Sullivan (R), Jim Waddell (R) - all yes.

North Hampton/Exeter/Stratham: Patrick Abrami (R), Timothy Copeland (R), Michele Peckham (R), Matt Quandt (R), Joanne Ward (R) - all yes.

Patricia Lovejoy (D), Marshall Quandt (R), Donna Schlachman (D) - all no.

This story has a happier ending than the first one. Due to Republican backing, this constitutional amendment passed the House, but not by the 3/5 margin necessary to put it on the November ballot for approval or rejection by the voters. So, CACR12 is dead for this session. May it rest in peace for eternity.

The conservatives' creed is "Unless it is necessary to change, it is necessary not to change." Boston Latin School was founded in 1635 and is both the first public school and the oldest existing school in the United States. Progress in our country has gone hand-in-hand with the growth of the public school system. Yet, conservative Republicans would overturn all that. They ought to pay more attention to their own creed.