Despite backing from legislative leaders and Governor Lynch, amendment falls about 100 votes short of the needed 3/5th support. The margin has top house lawmakers from both parties saying they see little hope an amendment could ever win broad bipartisan backing.
The magnitude of the amendment defeat was something of shock to even the most seasoned house members.
“I know that the leadership and the governor had been working very, very hard. I thought it would be closer.”
13-term Concord Republican Liz Hager opposed the amendment from the start and like many lawmakers she said changing the constitution would be unwise. Proponents did do what they could to fight that view, often casting the issue of targeted educational aid as a matter of social justice.
“My friends, I submit to you this constitutional amendment is all about helping poor families avoid poverty.”
That was Hopkinton Democrat Gary Richardson. Here’s Weare Republican Neal Kurk.
“This amendment is not half a loaf, it’s not a quarter of a loaf, it’s a single slice of bread. But for those who hunger for an education a single slice of bread is very important, our students need that single slice of bread.’”
But to opponents from across the poltical spectrum, even that single slice was too much to swallow. Conservative lawmakers rejected it because it did not change the standard of judicial review. Liberals denounced it for giving lawmakers the freedom to shirk their commitment to provide equal treatment to all students. Laconia Democrat Judith Reever, who sat on the commission changed with putting a price tag on educational adequacy, said the proposal would undercut important progress.
“It doesn’t feel to me as though we are solving anything, and as I looked at the amendment that I so desperately wanted to support, I realized that it actually does away with all the work we did on the costing committee.”
When house speaker Terie Norelli took to the floor in favor of the measure – a first in her time as speaker – she stressed her pride in the work lawmakers put in to costing of educational adequacy. She then gamely tried to shore up a crumbling coalition of supporters.
“I’d like to thank all the democrats and all of the republicans who said it’s time to put our partisanship aside to see on what issues we can agree.”
Clearly it’s not on this one. But moments later, after the vote, top lawmakers did seem to be of a mind to this extent -- there will no agreement anytime soon. David Hess is deputy House Minority Leader.
“I don’t see any likelihood of the passage for any amendment today, I don’t see any likelihood of the passage of an amendment next year, I don’t see the likelihood of any amendment passing for the rest of the decade.”
Hess went on to say he wasn’t sure a bipartisan school funding amendment was even possible. A sense shared by the House speaker.
“I wouldn’t disagree with that.”
The amendment’s lead author, House finance chair Marjorie Smith said pursuing an amendment at this point would be delusional.
“I can’t imagine anyone would move forward with an amendment unless they lived through the looking glass.”
But some at the statehouse do remain optimistic. Governor Lynch has made a targeted aid amendment a top priority. And he says that won’t change.
“It’s the only way I know of of ensuring that every child in NH receives the opportunity of a quality education. It’s the best public policy, and I’m going to continue to talk about that. Hi Norm.”
The Governor says those discussions will include lawmakers and the voting public during his reelection bid.
