Josiah Bartlett Center - Gov. Lynch Corrects his Mistake

Second Veto Message Corrects Mistakes in First

Josiah Bartlett Center President Charlie Arlinghaus issued the following statement thanking Governor John Lynch for correcting his mistake on school choice:

"I want to thank Governor John Lynch for correcting his mistake on the School Choice Scholarship Act. While we disagree with the Governor's veto, we are confident that the Legislature can now consider the School Choice Scholarship Act on its merits, and on what is actually in the bill."

The Legislature convenes on Wednesday to consider vetoes of SB 372 and HB 1607.

Kevin Smith Announces Education Reform Plan

Smith: Education reform is critical to our state’s economic success

MANCHESTER – Today, Kevin Smith, Republican candidate for governor, released the third installment of his “New Hampshire’s Future Is Now” plan to strengthen the state’s economy. In a statement, Smith announced his education reform proposal, calling it an important component to rebuilding the state’s workforce and sustaining economic success.

“If we are to put New Hampshire on a path toward prosperity and economic competitiveness, we must strengthen public schools and choice in education,” said Smith. “We cannot compete in the 21^st Century economy without a skilled workforce, and that begins with giving students the tools they need early in their academic lives. Improving public schools and providing parents and students with greater choice and flexibility to get the education they need is a vital component to ensuring that New Hampshire doesn’t fall behind its economic competitors in the future.”

“My number one goal as governor will be to create an environment in which the private sector can grow and create good-paying, sustainable jobs in New Hampshire. So, I’ve proposed lowering business taxes, health care costs and electric rates to help existing businesses grow and hire, and to attract new companies to relocate in our state.” Smith continued, “But, if we don’t produce the skilled workforce necessary to fill those new jobs, we will never get them or keep them. That’s why it’s so important to make sure we have the best education in the country.”

“You can’t just say you’ll be an education governor, you need to actually do something about it and put forth a plan. That’s why I’m introducing part three of my plan to improve New Hampshire’s economy, and it centers on education. It calls for empowering families and students, encouraging merit based pay and tenure reform, giving greater flexibility to administrators, strengthening support for charter schools, passing school choice, and allowing our education system to address the different needs of all our students.”

“States like Florida, Louisiana, Indiana and others have made significant progress in passing reforms, such as vouchers and merit pay. And, in each case, students have been the beneficiaries. Bureaucrats and labor unions may not like reform, but their grip on the status quo isn’t doing anyone any good. New Hampshire is falling behind other states, but when I’m governor that will change, and we’ll restore New Hampshire's position as a leader in public education."

Smith noted his disappointment with the absence of an education funding amendment on the November ballot, but he indicated that there are many other reforms also needed.

“I’ll work tirelessly to pass a Constitutional Amendment to once and for all put the authority to make and fund education policy back in the hands of the legislature. But, a Constitutional Amendment is only one piece to improving education in our state. Students benefit from competition and choice – just like in our economy. If we can make strides in shoring up charter schools, passing a voucher program, and giving administrators and teachers greater flexibility in education, everyone benefits and schools get better.”

Part III of Kevin Smith’s “New Hampshire’s Future Is Now” plan follows, or please visit his website at: www.KevinSmithForGovernor.com

Hassan Praises Governor’s Veto of Private School Tax Credit

MANCHESTER– Democratic candidate for Governor Maggie Hassan released the following statement on Governor Lynch's veto of the private school tax credit.

 

“I applaud Gov. Lynch’s veto of legislation that would have diverted millions of dollars in taxpayer money from our public schools to private schools, including religious schools. This legislature has said the state can’t afford to support public education. It has cut in half funding for higher education and reduced aid to local public schools, shifting costs to property taxpayers.  Now the legislature, and the Republican candidates for governor, want to send millions in taxpayer money to private schools. Ovide Lamontagne, Kevin Smith and this legislature have the wrong priorities for New Hampshire’s middle-class families and economy. Our educational system, including our public colleges and universities, are crucial to ensuring we have the best-trained workforce in the country, ready to tackle the jobs of an innovative and growing economy. We should be focusing our state resources on our public schools, colleges and universities.”

Kevin Smith: Lynch Veto of SB 372 Is Par For The Course; I Will Fight For School Choice As Governor

MANCHESTER – Today, Kevin Smith, Republican candidate for governor in New Hampshire, made the following statement regarding Governor John Lynch’s veto of SB 372:

“I’m dismayed at Governor Lynch’s veto of SB 372, which would have allowed businesses to receive a tax credit by establishing a program to award scholarship funds to New Hampshire students. Governor Lynch is turning his back on making our state a leader in education reform.

“While other states are employing innovative solutions to empower families and students, giving greater flexibility to administrators, and providing real choices in education, the Democrats and Governor Lynch continue to bow to labor unions and oppose needed reforms.

“In vetoing this bill, Governor Lynch showed how our children’s education has been high-jacked by special  interests. Instead of looking out for the interests of New Hampshire’s families, he is carrying the water for the unions in the state.

“The inaction and lack of leadership by Governor Lynch on both the education funding amendment and on education reform as a whole is more evidence that we need to restore the corner office to competent hands. We must empower families and students, encourage merit based pay and tenure reform, give greater flexibility to administrators, strengthen support for charter schools, pass school choice, and allow our education system to address the different needs of all our students.

“I supported SB 372, and as governor I will work to allow a business tax credit for this type of scholarship program. Despite what Governor Lynch indicated, this is not about shifting funds among schools – it’s about giving students choices in education and getting our business community to more directly support the future workers of our state. The bill’s “cost” would represent less than a quarter of a percent (0.0025) of all the elementary and secondary expenditures according to the NH Department of Education’s latest data. Governor Lynch’s veto ensures that the only people who decide how education funds get spent are elected officials and bureaucrats – not the families who have school aged children.”

Josiah Bartlett Center - The Governor's Big Mistake

A number of people have asked about the clear factual error in the governor’s veto message on SB 372, the school choice bill. Some sections are misleading but there is one clear, undeniable, egregious factual error.

Statement of Charlie Arlinghaus (President, Josiah Bartlett Center):

The Governor’s Big Mistake

Governors should read bills before they veto them. To prove that point, Gov. Lynch vetoed a bill today citing a provision that isn’t part of the bill. Oops. The mistake:

His official veto message of the school choice scholarship act claimed he objected because “while the intent of the bill, in part, is to provide financial assistance to less fortunate students in helping them switch to a private school, a substantial portion of scholarships are available with no income restrictions.”

It just isn’t true. The bill, SB372, quite clearly requires all scholarships to be means tested at 300% of the federal poverty limit (SB 372, section VIII (b)). Some early draft in the legislative process may have allowed some scholarships without means testing but the bill the governor vetoed does not.

A veto is not a mere statement of opinion; it is an act which overturns the will of the Legislature – in this case, a Legislature which worked extremely hard to address an important issue and express that issue via the legislation, passed by clear majorities, presented to him. The Legislature did its job; the least the voters can expect is that the Governor do his and read and understand what is presented to him. If a veto follows from that, so be it. But it is unfortunate and troubling to veto a bill not because of a difference of opinion but because you think the bill does something it doesn’t.

The simple solution: Read it before you veto it.