November 20, 2001

No. 52

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 S.B. 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 S.B. 164 "is better than nothing." I disagree strongly. S.B. 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 S.B. 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,

SB 60, relative to the authority of the board of tax and land appeals to assess attorney's fees.

SB 90, relative to misdemeanor jury trials.

SB 96-FN, repealing the requirements for resident and nonresident licenses to carry concealed weapons.

SB 97-FN, requiring the annual registration of manufactured housing parks.

SB 116-FN, relative to motor vehicle offenses which result in the death or serious bodily injury of another.

SB 180-FN-A, establishing the Hooksett district court as a full-time court and making an appropriation therefor.

SB 185, relative to push-polling.

SB 195-FN, permitting the department of regional community-technical colleges to lease building space from the Pease development authority in exchange for a reduction in Pease development authority's debt owed to the state.

HB 101, (New Title) requiring registered lobbyists to sign a statement concerning false statements or misrepresentation of material facts.

HB 130, relative to the maintenance of boundaries and fences.

HB 153, lowering the minimum medical cost coverage for motor vehicle liability policies.

HB 196-L, (New Title) relative to the penalty for failure to license a dog or renew a dog license.

HB 211-FN, establishing a restricted probationary permit to drive and correcting the ignition interlock program laws.

HB 304-FN, relative to insurance coverage for prostate cancer testing.

HB 614, relative to certain duties, responsibilities, and authority of the fiscal committee.

HB 697, extending the reporting date for the healthy kids subcommittee and clarifying the mission statement of the healthy kids corporation.

HB 748-FN-A-L, (2nd New Title) revising the definition of an adequate education and revising the weighted pupil formula used to calculate the cost of an adequate education.

NEW HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE TUITION SAVINGS PLAN ADVISORY COMMISSION (RSA 195-H:2) Room 103, SH

OIL FUND DISBURSEMENT (RSA 146-D:4) Room 305, LOB

SENATE WILDLIFE & RECREATION COMMITTEE (SB 146, relative to personal watercraft) Room 101, LOB

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY WAITLIST FUND ALLOCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (HB 1182, Chapter 248:1, Laws of 1998) Room 205, LOB

ASSESSING STANDARDS BOARD (RSA 21-J:14-a) Room 301, LOB

IMPACT OF WATER WITHDRAWALS ON INSTREAM FLOWS STUDY COMMITTEE (SB 330, Chapter 242:1, Laws of 2000, Extended by HB 612, Chapter 138, Laws of 2001)Room 305, LOB

PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE (RSA 187-A:28) Room 207, LOB

SENATE RULES COMMITTEE Room 105-A, SH

ROLE OF SELECTMEN IN THE ASSESSING FUNCTION AND ESTABLISHING AN ASSESSOR'S LICENSING BOARD (SB 193, Chapter 297:9, Laws of 2001) Room 101, LOB

NH DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Salem-Manchester 10418-C, I-93 Widening) Londonderry High School, 295 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, NH

SENATE AD HOC REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE (Belknap County) Belknap County Nursing Home, 30 County Drive, Laconia, NH

NH DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Pembroke-Allenstown 12978 Replacement of the existing bridge carrying Main St over the Suncook River) St. John the Baptist Church, Parish Center Building, 10 School Street, Suncook, NH

SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION Room 102, LOB

HOSPITAL PRACTICES & HMO's (HB 112, Chapter 104, Laws of 2001) Room 307, LOB

TASK FORCE ON RE-ESTABLISHING THE LAWRENCE, MA TO MANCHESTER NH AND THE CONCORD TO LEBANON RAIL SERVICE (HB 258, Chapter 271:1, Laws of 2001) Room 203, LOB

ADEQUATE EDUCATION AND EDUCATION FINANCING COMMISSION (RSA 198:49, I) Room 105-A, SH

211 COMMISSION (HB 707, Chapter 258, Laws of 2001) Room 304, LOB

TOBACCO USE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RSA 126-K:19) Room 205, LOB

NH DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Salem-Manchester 10418-C, I-93 Widening) McLaughlin Middle School, 290 South Mammoth Road, Manchester, NH

SENATE AD HOC REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE (Strafford County) Dover City Auditorium, 288 Central Ave, Dover, NH

COMMISSION TO STUDY THE CREATION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING (SB 21, Chapter 262:2, Laws of 2001) Room 103, SH

COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF COMMUNITY-TECHNICAL EDUCATION (SB 503, Chapter 272:35, Laws of 1998, Extended by SB 15, Chapter 43, Laws of 2001) Community Technical College, Nashua Campus, 505 Amherst Street, Nashua, NH

EQUALIZATION STANDARDS BOARD (RSA 21-j:14-c) Room 301, LOB

SENATE AD HOC REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE (Coos County) Lancaster Town Hall, 25 Main Street, Lancaster, NH

NH DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Whitefield P-2953 Reconstruction of US 3 beginning at the Carroll Town Line and Continuing north approx. 2 miles to the US 3/NH 116 intersection) Whitefield Town Hall, 7 Jefferson Road, Whitefield, NH

ROLE OF SELECTMEN IN THE ASSESSING FUNCTION AND ESTABLISHING AN ASSESSOR'S LICENSING BOARD (SB 193, Chapter 297:9, Laws of 2001) Room 101, LOB

JOINT HEALTH COUNCIL (RSA 326-B:12) NH Board of Nursing, Room 17, 78 Regional Drive, Building 2, Concord, NH

SENATE AD HOC REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE (Grafton County) Plymouth Senior Center, 8 Depot Street, Plymouth, NH

BOARD OF MANUFACTURED HOUSING (RSA 205-A:25) Room 201, LOB

ASSESSING STANDARDS BOARD (RSA 21-J:14-a) Room 301, LOB

GUARDIANS AD LITEM BOARD Room 103, LOB

SENATE AD HOC REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE (Carroll County) Ossipee Public Library, Main Street, Ossipee, NH

NH DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Farmington 13379,Relocation of NH Route 153) Farmington Town Hall Gym, 39 N. Main Street, Farmington, NH

SENATE AD HOC REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE (Cheshire County) Keene Library Auditorium, 60 Winter Street, Keene, NH

STATE-OPERATED TRAILS AND PRIVATE LANDS USED BY ALL TERRAIN VEHICLES (ATV's) AND TRAIL BIKES (HB 717, Chapter 259:1, Laws of 2001) Rooms 301-303, LOB

UNIFORM COMMON INTEREST OWNERSHIP ACT (HB 117, Chapter 6, Laws of 2001) Room 302, LOB

SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION Room 102, LOB

OSTEOPOROSIS ADVISORY COUNCIL (RSA 126-I:3) Room 102, LOB

PERINATAL ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND OTHER DRUG USE TASK FORCE (RSA 132:19) Room 101, LOB

CERTIFICATE OF NEED STATUTE TASK FORCE (RSA 151-C:16) Room 203, LOB

SENATE AD HOC REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE (Merrimack County) Merrimack County Administration Building, 163 Main Street, Concord, NH

LONG RANGE CAPITAL PLANNING AND UTILIZATION COMMITTEE (RSA 17-M:1) Room 201, LOB

ASSESSING STANDARDS BOARD (RSA 21-J:14-a) Room 301, LOB

SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION Room 102, LOB

JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATIVE RULES (RSA 541-A:2) Rooms 201-203, LOB

PRIVACY TASK FORCE (HB 702, Chapter 256:8, Laws of 2001) Rooms 210 - 211, LOB

INTERBRANCH CRIMINAL AND JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMISSION Room 101, LOB

BREATH ANALYZER MACHINES ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RSA 106-G:1) Department of Safety, State Police Conference Room, 10 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH

ARCHITECTURALLY SECURE FACILITIES AND COMMUNITY SHELTER CARE FACILITIES FOR JUVENILES, NEED AND LOCATION (SB 55, Chapter 97:2, Laws of 2001) Room 201, LOB

FISCAL COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL COURT Rooms 210-211, LOB

TOBACCO USE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (RSA 126-K:19) Room 205, LOB

JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATIVE RULES (RSA 541-A:2) Rooms 306-308, LOB

PET OVERPOPULATION COMMITTEE (RSA 437-A:7) Room 102, LOB

SOURCES THAT BURN VIRGIN PETROLEUM OR COAL TO COMPLY WITH AIR TOXIC CONTROL ACT (RSA 125-I), STUDY OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS (SB 93, Chapter 88:1, Laws of 2001) Room 101, LOB

9:00 a.m. Regular Meeting

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The New Hampshire Women's Policy Institute is sponsoring workshops in Plymouth, Durham and Concord to help concerned citizens learn how they can make a difference in the New Hampshire legislative process. For more information or to pre-register (so we can plan for enough materials) please contact the co-sponsoring organization for the location of your choice or contact the New Hampshire Women's Policy Institute.

Senator Katherine Wells Wheeler

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As a convenience to the members of the NH General Court, the Visitors’ Center offers the following schedule of schools and other groups visiting the State House in November 2001. These listings will replace individual notifications in an effort to reduce paper usage and to ensure all members will be notified in a timely manner. Our schedule is tightly booked for the remainder of the school year. Please contact the Visitors’ Center concerning school tour booking information. Thank you for your continued participation with your School Visitation Program.

Kenneth Leidner, Director