North Hampton State Rep. Under Fire For F-Bomb Facebook Post

NORTH HAMPTON, NH — A Seacoast state representative and House Education Committee member is under fire after a Facebook rant, in which she dropped the f-bomb, while attacking religious and private schools. State Rep. Tamara Meyer Le, D-North Hampton, an assistant House majority floor leader, lamented in a since deleted five-point public post on her page, how one of her children learned her friends were applying to private high school while Le wasn't allowing her to attend. Le said her reasoning was private and religious schools "do not have anti-discrimination policies that protect students with disabilities" and "the supports her IEP (individualized education program) provide her are not a right at private or religious schools." Le added, "Her father and I would not give money to any high school that discriminated against people who experience disabilities … F*** private and religious schools."

In the post, Le, who has a professional background in communications and journalism, including working at public television stations WNET in New York and WGBH in Boston, also praised Winnacunnet High School, where North Hampton children are sent, saying it "kicks butt."

The rant has caught the eyes of Republican leadership who are calling for her to be removed from the education committee.

"It’s more than very concerning to me that a member of the House Education committee has used this type of vile language in a public format," said state Rep. Dick Hinch, R-Merrimack, the house Republican leader. "It’s also concerning to me that so many of her Democrat House colleagues commented on and liked the post."

Private and religious schools, Hinch said, play an important role in many New Hampshire families’ lives; around 30,000 children in the Granite State attend those schools. He questioned whether Le could offer "any fair or objective review of policies pertaining to private and religious schools" as a member of the committee. House Speaker Steve Shurtleff, D-Penacook, needs to remove her from the committee, Hinch added.

"Rep. Le should immediately apologize to every private and religious school throughout the state, as well as all the students and parents," he said.

And Rep Le's own Ed Committee chairman, Rep. Myler, said "She does NOT speak for the committee."
— NH Journal (@NewHampJournal) November 2, 2019

Le, who also serves on the State Advisory Committee on the Education of Children/Students with Disabilities, did not respond to an email seeking comment Sunday but did offer more comments on her Facebook page Saturday, condemning "institutional discrimination" calling for equal access and protections in private and religious schools for children with disabilities.

Le's district represents voters in North Hampton, Greenland, Newington, and Ward 3 in Portsmouth.

"@RepTamaraLe is an outspoken progressive who has endorsed @eWarren for president, despite the fact that Warren sent her own son to private school."@NHDems #FITN #NHPolitics https://t.co/3bvTNUUCxM pic.twitter.com/pWpxyYGNkp
— NH Journal (@NewHampJournal) November 2, 2019

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