SB 2: AN“UNWORKABLE FORM OF GOVERNEMNT”?

SB 131: THE “21ST CENTERY SCHOLAR'S PROGRAM”!

The election of Ohio Cong. John Boehner as House Majority Leader is a done deal.

My choice was Arizona Cong. John Shadegg. Here are a few reasons why.

Cong. Shadegg in an interview with Human Events (1/23): “I personally believe there is no place in the federal government for a Department of Education. It is not in the Constitution. There is no mention anywhere in the Constitution that the federal government has any role in education. I believe that the federal government doesn’t have a role in education.

“I have several members of my family, including my wife, who are teachers, who are not at all happy with the so-called No Child Left Behind bill, which I think has gone far astray from what it was even intended to do. And I would like to hope that at some point we could get the federal government out of the business of education altogether, and acknowledge that this is policy that should be decided at the state level.

“...The National Endowment for the Arts...still does not have a legitimate government purpose. It still should not exist as a federally funded function.

”And this from a San Diego Union-Tribune editorial: “Electing John Shadegg (R-Arizona) majority leader would send voters the clearest possible signal that excessive spending and sleazy ethics are not the hallmarks of congressional Republicans. With their congressional majorities potentially at risk, Republicans must decide which face they want to present the voters - business as usual or real reform.” Perhaps when House Speaker Denny Hastert retires – which he has said will happen soon – Shadegg will move up to majority leader – assuming we can keep the House Republican!

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Laconia and Franklin now have tax cap amendments as part of their city charters.

This came about as a result of the voters who felt that the city council needed to practice some fiscal restraint. The question is: why should the city government spending rise at a rate so much higher than the rate of inflation – every year?

The tax cap will be a remedy in that respect. In towns we have not found a way to institute a tax cap and, believe me, many have inquired!

What is available to NH towns is Senate Bill 2, also known as the “official ballot bill.” Once it has been accepted by the voters, they are more connected with their town and school district budgets.

Budget committees seem to be more aggressive in recommending budgets that will be accepted on voting day – which is some time after the traditional town meeting where debate takes place – the difference is ALL voters have the opportunity to vote in the privacy of the voting booth.

That is the prime reason for SB 2. How many folks are working, out of town, ill, or just cannot make it to the town meeting to vote on each warrant and budget?

It took the voters of Gilford three elections to finally have the necessary votes for SB 2.

My money says if the vote was taken today to retain SB 2, it would be an overwhelming yes.

That is why most selectmen, school board members, and some bureaucrats work so hard to convince you that if you vote yes it will be catastrophic!

They like the spending and the power, which is diminished with SB 2 or a tax cap.
Sanbornton is considering the change this March and, as said previously, most of the “powerful” are opposed.

The arguments are usually: there goes the traditional town meeting where we can all get together, and this is the truest form of democracy with debate, deliberation, and voting on each article.

Under SB 2 the voters still have all of that. Two things are different: the voting is held on a day where folks can vote absentee ballot if unable to attend and WITHOUT INTIMIDATION from the town powerful!

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One resident of Sanbornton wrote a letter published in The Laconia Daily Sun (2/1) asking voters to say no to SB 2. Here is one paragraph that says so much: “As your state legislator, after having researched this proposal and after consulting with other lawmakers, I find that SB 2 is an unworkable form of government. In fact, independent research concludes that no town should adopt SB 2 until the legislature fixes its fatal flaws.”

This letter was signed: “Bill Tobin, State Representative, Sanbornton.” Pray tell, Rep. Tobin, what towns, what study, which lawmakers?

Heck, Gilford, and Wolfeboro are among many towns that have SB 2. Just which towns did Rep. Tobin research?

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Senate Bill 131, also known as the 21st Century Scholars Program, has passed the NH Senate and will be heard on the House side March 7.

To help you understand and support the legislation, here is some info for you.

SB 131 would use tax credits (BET for businesses & interest/dividends for individuals) to create a public-private partnership to fund a 21st Century Scholars Fund.

Scholarships will be provided to low income families who can choose a school that is best for their child.

The amount of $3,500 will be provided to a child from a family whose household income is 200%, or less, of the federal poverty level (i.e., for a family of four earning $40,000 or less), and $2,500 will be provided to a child from a family whose household income is between 201% and 250% of the federal poverty level (i.e., for a family of four earning $50,000 or less).

The state will establish a distinct corporation to collect and administer the fund — much like it has done for the Healthy Kids program. Scholarship payments will be made by the fund to the parent and then sent to a qualifying school.

The state will contribute $2.5M in the initial year ($1M upon enactment and $1M upon the confirmation of $500K in private contributions through the tax credits). Our friends, Rich Killion and Charlie Arlinghaus, will join me this Saturday during The Advocates to discuss this legislation with you and me.

This truly is a good thing for the children of parents who would like to move the student to a school that they feel will provide an education preferable for that student. And who knows what is better for their child than a parent?

According to a report in The NH Union Leader by Paula Tracy, Sen. Dick Green R-Rochester summed up SB 131 with this “Choice means choice — in another public school or a private school, so I am having a hard time the way this is being spun. . . . I believe it is up to the parent to decide their education for their children, not the Legislature. I have to believe that the money should follow the child.”

Sen. Rob Boyce supports the concept as competition to the public education “monopoly” believing that there will be religious and non-religious schools to provide an alternative education at a lower cost available to the consumer – in this case – the parent who chooses what school will teach the child.

A big thank you to Sen. Carl Johnson for his leadership on this legislation.