NH House Republican Leader Reacts to Senate Tabling of Education Opportunity Tax Credit Repeal Bill

CONCORD – Today House Republican Leader Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett) offered the following comment in reaction to the Senate action on HB370, a bill that would repeal the Education Opportunity Tax Credit program. The Senate voted to table the bill 13-11.

House Republican Leader Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett)

“I applaud the Senate for taking action to keep the Education Opportunity Tax Credit in place. The Education Opportunity Tax Credit is brand new and should be allowed the chance to prove itself before the legislature attempts to repeal it. Figures contained in the proposed House budget indicate that this program does not cost the State anything, therefore repealing it does not make any financial gain. Secondly, it allows parents to explore and be better able to afford education opportunities they may not otherwise have access to. Why some legislators want to take away this opportunity is beyond me. We need to make sure families have the ability to find the educational programs that best suit their children. I look forward to fighting to keep this program alive so families can share their stories once scholarships are awarded. Education choice should not be limited to wealthy families. We should have a way to lend a helping hand to less fortunate families to have those same opportunities.”

NHGOP APPLAUDS SENATE VOTE TO REJECT REPEAL OF EDUCATION TAX CREDIT

"Senate Republicans should be commended for fighting to uphold the important education tax credit that helps parents find the best possible educational opportunities for their children, regardless of family income. This tax credit levels the playing field and offers even our poorest students the opportunity to benefit from the learning environment that is best for them.

"Governor Hassan has repeatedly fought to repeal this popular tax credit and restrict school choice. Her disgraceful efforts to kill a program that allows our most vulnerable children to have access to a quality education reminds voters that the governor is out of touch with New Hampshire values.

NHGOP STATEMENT ON SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE VOTE AGAINST REPEALING SCHOOL CHOICE

Concord – New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman Jennifer Horn released the following statement on the State Senate Health, Education and Human Services Committee vote against repealing school choice:

"Senate Republicans were right to recognize that education choice is about parents being able to find the best possible educational opportunities for their children, regardless of family income. Today’s vote will help to protect a law that has leveled the playing field, offering even our poorest students the opportunity to access the educational environment that is best for them.

"It is disgraceful that Governor Hassan has tried to destroy this valuable program as part of her irresponsible and reckless state budget. Her efforts display an elitist and callous disregard for the most vulnerable students in our community.

“Gov. Hassan is obsessed with limiting school choice. I am proud to see Senate Republicans are standing up for Granite State families by opposing her foolish attempts to repeal this popular and productive law.”

NH Sen. Sanborn Statement on Committee Vote on HB370 School Choice Scholarships

The New Hampshire Senate

Majority Office

Concord, NH – Sen. Andy Sanborn, R-Bedford, issued the following statement today after the Senate Health, Education, and Human Services Committee recommended Inexpedient to Legislate on HB370, a bill to repeal the Education Opportunity Tax Credit Scholarship program established last session:

“The School Choice Scholarship program passed last year gives more options to students and parents, protects taxpayers, and encourages businesses to invest in the workforce of the future.  Since it was enacted, the program has garnered significant interest from students, parents, and business owners who applied to it based on their understanding of the law.  The Committee believes legislation repealing this innovative school choice program just months after it went into effect is premature, and we look forward to the full Senate affirming that decision when this bill is on the floor next week.”

Legislators File Amicus Brief to Support New Hampshire New Education Choice Law

Rep. William O’Brien (R-Mont Vernon) announced today that he is filing a friend-of–the-court brief as local counsel for the Pacific Legal Foundation on behalf of seven present and former legislators in the Stafford County case of Duncan, et al v. the State of New Hampshire. 

In order to protect union-dominated public education, in the Duncan case plaintiffs seek to deny children from low and moderate-income families the opportunity to receive private scholarships funded by education tax credits. Those scholarships would be paid by businesses to go to elementary and high schools chosen by the students and their parents. 

Included among the legislators named on the brief are Senators Jim Forsythe, Fenton Groen and Andy Sanborn, and Representatives Mike Balboni, Greg Hill, William O’Brien and Pam Tucker. These legislators comprise the prime legislators who supported, drafted and debated the Education Tax Credit Program last term. The Pacific Legal Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest and most successful non-profit, pro-liberty legal organizations. Joshua Thompson, an attorney with Pacific Legal, explained that the group represents the legislators without charge.  

Rep. O’Brien was quoted as saying, “It is our intent as present and former legislators who worked so hard for this law to make clear for the court that part of the plaintiffs’ argument against the law – that we supported the law to support religious schools – is simply not true.  It has no more relevancy or validity than if that argument had been brought against Congress 65 years ago to oppose another education scholarship opportunity program, the GI Bill, just because some funds might go to religiously founded schools. Our educational system is too often failing our children. Giving families of limited means the choice to find the best education for their children, directly benefits them and through competition, will improve public education in New Hampshire.”

It is anticipated that the Duncan case will reach the New Hampshire Supreme Court and these legislators will continue their efforts in the case to promote freedom of educational choices for New Hampshire families.

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William O’Brien is a state representative from Mont Vernon, serving his fourth term in the New Hampshire House, and a licensed attorney in New Hampshire and Massachusetts

Pacific Legal Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt legal foundation organized to provide a voice in the courts for mainstream Americans who believe in limited government, private property rights, individual freedom and free enterprise.  It has offices in four states and is headquartered at 930 G Street, Sacramento, California 95814; website http://www.pacificlegal.org/home ; blog:http://blog.pacificlegal.org/ .