ALG's Daily Grind - Obama's Platonic Head Start Expansion

Feb. 19, 2013

Obama's Platonic Head Start Expansion

Obama calls for universal enrollment in preschool.

Labor turnover struggles

There are strange rumblings out of the scandal ridden Labor Department as those left behind in the wake of former Secretary Hilda Solis' sudden departure both jockey for power and dive for cover to avoid being tainted in the financial malfeasance surrounding the Job Corps program.

'So-Called' Citizens

Sen. Dianne Feinstein on using predator drones to slay American citizens: "One of the problems is, once the drone program is so public, and one American is caught up, people don't know much about this one 'American citizen' — so called."

NHGOP RESPONSE TO COMMITTEE VOTE ON BILL TO REPEAL SCHOOL CHOICE LAW

Concord, NH- New Hampshire Republican State Committee Chairman Jennifer Horn released the following statement today in response to the committee vote on HB 370, a bill to repeal the school choice law:

"The partisan vote in today's House Ways and Means Committee on HB 370, a bill to repeal a scholarship program that would allow underprivileged students in NH the opportunity to access the best possible education, was an enormous disappointment for families across the state.

"Rather than allow themselves to get caught up in the "repeal-a-palooza" mentality of their party leadership, we had hoped the members of the committee would give this good law at least a chance to prove its effectiveness. With over $150,000 already raised for these scholarships, and 250 students applying for aid, it is clear that NH parents are interested in this program.

"The attempt to repeal this bill is an elitist effort to deny the highest quality education to our most vulnerable students. I call on Governor Hassan to make it clear that should this bill makes it to her desk, she will veto it."

NH Republican Leaders Comment on Bill to Repeal School Choice

CONCORD – House and Senate leaders today issued the following statement in reaction to House Bill 370, which seeks to repeal the New Hampshire School Choice bill.  To date, 250 children have applied for Education Opportunity Tax Credit Scholarships from The Network for Educational Opportunity.

House Republican Leader Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett)

“Choice in education should not only be available to the rich. No parent should be forced to send a child to a school that does not meet the child’s needs. The School Choice Bill we passed last year gives more options to students and parents, protects local property taxpayers and gives businesses the chance to ensure a strong workforce in the future. This legislation is good for New Hampshire’s future and will bring competition to our schools, which should improve their quality as well.  We need to protect choice in education, empower families and give this program a chance to succeed.”

Senator Andy Sanborn (R-Bedford)

“We believe that parents, not zip-codes, should have priority in choosing the schools that best fit their child’s needs.  The scholarships to be offered under this program will improve educational outcomes for students across New Hampshire by allowing them to do just that.  The monies used to fund these scholarships are private donations, not public dollars, and will be used to level the playing field in education by giving lower and middle income students the same opportunities as those more well off.”

Update on Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 03:33PM by NH INSIDER

FYI, this out earlier today from Rep. Chandler and Sen. Sanborn on the scholarship repeal bill.

 

UL has the story of this morning's anti-repeal press conference, updated with Sen. Stiles' testimony this afternoon that she will vote against efforts to repeal the program: http://www.unionleader.com/article/20130131/NEWS06/130139791

NH House Republican Leaders React to Lawsuit Challenging School Choice Law

CONCORD – Today House Republican Leader Gene Chandler (R-Bartlett) and Deputy House Republican Leader David Hess (R-Hooksett) offered the following comments in reaction to the lawsuit filed by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, American Civil Liberties Union and the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union challenging the constitutionality of the school choice law passed by the New Hampshire legislature in 2012. The law allows businesses to donate to scholarship programs for lower income families in exchange for credits against their state business taxes.

House Republican Leader Gene Chandler

“We believe the school choice law is constitutional. The policy committees that worked on this issue did a thorough job in ensuring we had a constitutional bill. This law is intended to help less fortunate New Hampshire families expand their education choices. It is a shame that we now have an out of state special interest group leading the charge to challenge this law. This frivolous lawsuit will no doubt cost the taxpayers of New Hampshire money and tie up resources. In the end, we believe the law will stand and New Hampshire will be able to continue this program to empower families by having the opportunity to do what they think is best for their children.”

Deputy House Republican Leader David Hess

“The legislation we worked on for several months and passed last year was modeled after similar legislation that was fully vetted and successfully passed in a number of other states. We wanted to ensure we had a bill that would withstand such a challenge. This is a privately funded scholarship opportunity that makes programs of academic excellence available to moderate and low income families. We are not giving funds to religious institutions we are giving scholarships to families. It is the families’ choice where they choose to use the scholarships.”

AFT-NH endorses Martha Fuller Clark's NH Senate District 21 Campaign

Martha thanks the 3600 teachers and workers who are represented by AFT-NH 

(Portsmouth, NH) Martha Fuller Clark's campaign for the New Hampshire Senate is proud to acknowledge the endorsement of AFT-NH, one of New Hampshire's largest labor organizations.  

"I am grateful to AFT-NH for their support and look forward to continuing my advocacy on behalf of New Hampshire's teachers and working families in the Senate," Clark said. "Campaigning can be hard work, but endorsements like this remind us all of why we do what we do."

AFT-NH President Laura Hainey: "AFT-NH is proud to endorse your candidacy for the Senate. We look forward to working with you in coming years to defend working families in our state and build the middle-class."

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About Martha Fuller Clark: First elected to serve in 1990, Martha spent twelve years in the New Hampshire House of Representatives where she sponsored and co-sponsored more then 120 bills that became law. Signature legislation by the Senator during that time include: a NH patient’s bill of rights, insurance coverage of contraception for women, the first-in-the-nation college tuition savings plan, the state Conservation/ Heritage plate, better know as “the Moose plate”, the creation of the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program “LCHIP”, and the repeal of legislation discriminating against gays and lesbian who wished to adopt and the enactment of same day registration for the purpose of voting.

In 2004, Martha was elected to the New Hampshire State Senate where she served the Seacoast’s District 24 with distinction. Currently she is Senate President Pro-Tem. In addition, Martha served as Chair of the Senate Energy, Environment and Economic Development Committee, Vice Chair of the Senate Executive Departments and Administration Committee and also as a member of the Senate Education Committee and the Senate Transportation and Interstate Commerce Committee. She is running in the newly-drawn 21st District that includes her Portsmouth home.