New Hampshire Governor Lynch: Majority of Senate Republicans Put Politics Ahead of School-Funding Solution

Praises Senate Democrats, Three Republican Senators for their Willingness to Put New Hampshire's Children First

CONCORD - New Hampshire Governor Lynch said today he was deeply disappointed that, despite extensive compromises by Democrats, the majority of Republicans in the state Senate still chose to block passage of a constitutional amendment to direct more education aid to needier communities.

"I am deeply disappointed with the refusal of Senate Republican leadership to support this compromise amendment. For 10 years, Republicans have said we need a constitutional amendment to solve education funding, yet given a real opportunity to pass an amendment, the majority of Senate Republicans instead chose to put politics ahead of a solution and ahead of the best interests of New Hampshire's children and taxpayers," Gov. Lynch said.

The amendment, CACR 19, would have affirmed the state's responsibility for education and given the Legislature the flexibility to direct more education aid to needier communities.

"I applaud the majority of Senate Democrats, especially Senate President Sylvia Larsen and Majority Leader Joe Foster, for their leadership, their support, their willingness to compromise and to join with me in fighting to put the interests of the people of New Hampshire first," Gov. Lynch said.

From the beginning of this debate, Republican legislators insisted on certain language being included in the amendment. First, they said that they needed the addition of the word 'reasonably' to ensure flexibility for the legislature and language specifically requiring the legislature to look at fiscal capacity of communities when distributing aid. Democrats agreed to include those changes.

After those agreements, Republican legislators then said they needed 'per pupil' language as a condition of their support. Senate Democrats agreed to include those changes. But despite those changes, the majority of Senate Republicans opposed the amendment.

"Democrats agreed to what the Republicans said they needed - moving 100 yards on the issue. But the majority of Senate Republicans continued to move the goalposts back and then took their ball and went home," Gov. Lynch said. "I applaud Senators Odell, Roberge and Bragdon for putting their convictions ahead of partisanship and for supporting the best interests of New Hampshire's children.
"I also want to thank the many Republican statesmen who worked with me to build support for this amendment. It's unfortunate the majority of Senate Republicans chose to ignore these leaders," Gov. Lynch said.

Gov. Lynch believes the best way to ensure a quality education for every child in New Hampshire is to direct more education aid to communities with the greatest needs. Unfortunately, the New Hampshire Supreme Court's rulings make it difficult to put in place an effective law to direct more state education aid to the communities that need it most. That is why Gov. Lynch is working for an amendment that would allow that to happen.

"I continue to believe an amendment is needed to put in place the very best educational policy for our children. I will keep working for an amendment as we continue to move forward on defining adequacy and putting in place the very best education policy possible under the constraints we face," Gov. Lynch said.

Source: New Hampshire Governor