The Senate met at 10:15 a.m.

A quorum was present.

The prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Robert E. De Wetter, Senate Guest Chaplain.

Senator Prescott led the Pledge of Allegiance.

July 12, 2001

To the Honorable Members of the General Court:

By the authority vested in me as Governor of New Hampshire, pursuant to Part II, Article 44 of the Constitution of New Hampshire, I have this day vetoed Senate Bill 164, an Act establishing a comprehensive statewide accountability system concerning an adequate education.

I have long supported strong school accountability legislation. Making schools accountable for their performance is critical to improving the education we provide our children.

Senate Bill 164 is advertised as a school accountability bill. Yet, it contains no provisions whatsoever to hold school districts accountable for their performance. As President George W. Bush has emphasized so strongly in his national educational reform proposal, "without consequences for failure, there is no pressure to succeed." To call SB 164, in the form in which it left the legislative committee of conference and has arrived on my desk, an "accountability" bill is disingenuous. I cannot support legislation which is more symbolic than substantive on an issue as critically important as school accountability.

Several have said to me in the last few days that SB 164 "is better than nothing." I disagree strongly. SB 164 imposes many new duties on the Department of Education, but fails to provide the Department with sufficient funding to successfully carry out those additional responsibilities. When this bill first passed the Senate on May 9, 2001, it appropriated more than double the funding it now contains. Unfortunately, the very people in the legislature who have loudly fought meaningful school accountability measures for the last four years are the same people who in conference committee removed the modest accountability provisions from the Senate version of SB 164 and slashed the resources the Department of Education would need to succeed.

As amended by the House, this legislation seeks to make teachers more accountable by making it easier to terminate teachers in about half of the school districts in this state. While I support streamlining the process for removing non-performing teachers, it makes little sense to make teachers more accountable without making school districts more accountable.

I am also concerned by the expansion of duties assigned to the so-called legislative oversight committee. This is another example of the disturbing trend of the legislative branch to interject itself into the day-to-day operations of the executive branch.

I am disappointed that Senate Bill 164 has arrived at my desk in this form, leaving me with no choice but to veto it.

Respectfully submitted,

JANUARY 2, 2002 CONVENING DAY

INTRODUCTION OF SENATE BILLS

(Calendar with all hearing published)

FEBRUARY 21, 2002 LAST DAY TO ACT ON SENATE BILLS

FEBRUARY 24, 2002 - MARCH 5, 2002 VACATION WEEK

APRIL 18, 2002 LAST DAY TO ACT ON ALL BILLS FROM OTHER BODY

APRIL 25, 2002 LAST DAY TO FORM COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCES

MAY 2, 2002 LAST DAY TO ACT ON COMMITTEE OF

CONFERENCE REPORTS

HB 201, relative to voters presenting identification to obtain a ballot.

HB 399, relative to proof of qualifications for voter registration.

HB 503, relative to incompatible offices.

HB 723, relative to vacancies in county offices.

HB 738, establishing a commission to assess the operating efficiency of state government.

Senator Gordon moved to have HB 748-FN-A-L, revising the definition of an adequate education and revising the weighted pupil formula used to calculate the cost of an adequate education, taken off the table.

HB 748-FN-A-L, revising the definition of an adequate education and revising the weighted pupil formula used to calculate the cost of an adequate education.

Senator Francoeur moved that the Senate now adjourn from the early session, that the business of the late session be in order at the present time.

Senator Hollingworth moved to adjourn Sine Die.