Press Release - Speaker Bill O'Brien on the Education Funding Constitutional Amendment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shannon Shutts – (603) 271-3664
March 16, 2011                                                                                      


CONCORD – House Speaker William O'Brien (R-Mont Vernon) today released the following statement regarding the passage of CACR 12, a constitutional amendment to restore the authority of the legislature to exercise its traditional discretion over educational funding. CACR 12 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 252 to 113. With the passage of CACR 12 in the House, the Senate will take up the measure and, if passed there, give voters the opportunity to vote on the matter as a ballot initiative in November 2012.

“This is a historic moment for New Hampshire’s citizens, as for the first time, the House has passed a constitutional amendment to give them the right to restore education funding decisions to election officials and local schools, and not unelected judges.  By electing a supermajority of Representatives who support getting the courts out of funding decisions and returning the job back to parents, teachers and local school leaders, this is a clear sign that the public is hungry for the chance to vote for this amendment to bring government back to the people.

“For the past 15 years, we have seen a repeated cycle of chaos that has spread across both our education system as well as our legislature. This process began with the Claremont lawsuits, but it is my ardent belief that today’s vote will mark the start of the end of this chaos and the beginning of an era of sustainability, consistency and a focus on actually helping real students in need and no more battles pitting communities against each other and taxpayers against the judiciary.

“We strongly believe in local control and that education decisions are best made between parents, teachers and local school boards, not in courtrooms. CACR 12 ensures our New Hampshire values will remain and will protect our children, our economy and, more importantly, the future of our state.”