(When the parent objects that the history class doesn't cover the role of the Illuminati, the school must devise a custom-made curriculum - and the parent's demands are kept secret. - promoted by elwood)
HB 542 is about as dumb as it gets. It is our Tea Party Legislature writing a bill for every fantasy idea that some freshman gets - in this case, J.R. Hoell, from Dunbarton. Majority Leader Bettencourt said yesterday that we shouldn't pay attention to all those hair brained bills Republicans file, but he didn't tell us how to tell the difference.
What did it do? It's short - just a thought, JR had.... Here is is: http://bit.ly/zB1Xx6
The Governor described it best:
Governor John Lynch today issued the following statement regarding the House's failure to override HB 542, which would have allowed a parent to determine if any course material is "objectionable" and require school districts to develop an alternative. The bill gave every individual parent of every student in a classroom a veto over every single lesson plan developed by a teacher:
"This bill had the potential to disrupt classrooms and learning across the state. It would have been difficult, and potentially costly for school districts to administer. I am pleased a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House stood together to reject this severely flawed legislation which would have damaged educational quality in New Hampshire.
But it's only the beginning of this session's pain. Look at the list of anti-public education bills on http://www.dnhpe.org. You'll be amazed. They are attacking from every angle.
The biggest bill this year might be the "Education Tax Credit" - essentially a voucher program. Here's my critique: http://bit.ly/rVsO63 . Takes the breath away.
But the House sustained the veto of HB 542 just over a month ago, so how did this happen? (The Senate, of course, voted to override both times.)
See how, after the jump
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The vote was 255 to 112. They needed 245 to win. The November 30 override vote was 244 to 130 (They would have needed 249).
O'Brien got 11 Republicans to switch from Nay to Yea:
Allen, Mary M r Rockingham 11 Newton
Azarian, Gary S r Rockingham 04 Salem
Charron, Gene P r Rockingham 07 Chester
Hess, David W r Merrimack 09 Hooksett
Hoell, J.R. r Merrimack 13 Dunbarton
Janvrin, Kevin M r Rockingham 14 Seabrook
Jones, Kyle D r Strafford 01 Rochester
Jones, Laura M r Strafford 01 Rochester
Proulx, Mark L r Hillsborough 15 Manchester
Simard, Paul H r Grafton 08 Bristol
Terrio, Ross W r Hillsborough 14 Manchester
And he got 12 Yeas who did not vote in the November 30 override vote:
Baldasaro, Alfred P r Rockingham 03 Londonderry
Blankenbeker, Lynne F r Merrimack 11 Concord
Brown, Kevin J r Hillsborough 26 Nashua
Daniels, Gary L r Hillsborough 06 Milford
Gonzalez, Carlos E r Hillsborough 17 Manchester
Graham, John A r Hillsborough 18 Bedford
Hogan, Timothy r Hillsborough 23 Nashua
Infantine, William J r Hillsborough 13 Manchester
Scontsas, Lisa E r Hillsborough 22 Nashua
Soltani, Tony F r Merrimack 08 Epsom
Sullivan, Kevin P r Rockingham 15 Hampton
Thomas, Joseph D r Hillsborough 19 Merrimack
And 3 who had voted Nay last time stayed home:
Ferrante, Beverly A r Rockingham 05 Derry
Hutchinson, Karen K r Rockingham 03 Londonderry
Sterling, Franklin W r Cheshire 07 Jaffrey
On the Democratic side, for some reason, Roger Berube (D-Somersworth), who had voted against the bill and against the override on November 30, voted this time FOR the override.
Nine Democrats didn't vote (but they would not have been enough to make the difference):
Browne, Brendon S d Strafford 04 Durham
Domingo, Baldwin M d Strafford 05 Dover
Hofemann, Roland P d Strafford 06 Dover
Kaen, Naida L d Strafford 07 Lee
Levasseur, Nickolas J d Hillsborough 11 Manchester
Lindsey, Steven W d Cheshire 03 Keene
Powers, James F d Rockingham 16 Portsmouth
Rice, Chip L d Merrimack 12 Concord
Roberts, Kris E d Cheshire 03 Keene
This is going to be a long six months. If you to track or analyze bills, let me know.
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