A major issue will be debated this Wednesday at the New Hampshire State House.  A proposed amendment to the State Constitution, "CACR 34," will be up for vote in the House.  The Senate has already voted for a variation of the Amendment, and is expected to agree with whatever the House approves. 

WHAT the Amendment really does, or doesn't, and whether it really means much, or not, is the bigger debate.  If the Legislature approves CACR 34, it goes to the voters in November, where 2/3rds approval -- two out of every three voters -- is needed for it to become part of our Constitution.  IF approved, THEN WHAT?

All good questions.

Here is the Amendment, exactly as it will be voted on this Wednesday:

“Are you in favor of amending the second part of the constitution by inserting after article 83 a new article to read as follows:

      [Art.] 83-a [Public Education.]  The legislature shall provide every child the opportunity for a public school education in fulfillment of the legislature’s duty with respect to public education provided for in Part II, Article 83.  The legislature shall have the responsibility to define the content of an adequate education to prepare the student to become a productive and contributing citizen and to determine the total statewide cost of providing that education to all public school students.  The legislature shall have the authority and responsibility to raise the funds that total the statewide cost of this education and to distribute these funds in a manner that alleviates local disparities in educational opportunity and fiscal capacity, provided that every school district shall receive a meaningful share of these funds.” 

That's it.  That is exactly what will be printed on our November ballots. 

What does this Amendment do?  (1), It requires the Legislature to "define the content" of an "adequate education;"  (2), It requires the Legislature to "determine" the cost for providing that adequate level of education;  (3), It gives the Legislature the "authority" and "responsibility" to raise funds for that adequate education; (4), It allows the State to distribute funds to "alleviate local disparities" based on local ability to pay (allowing targeting of State funding aid); and (5), It requires that every school district must get a "meaningful share" of funding. 

What "new" questions does this Amendment raise?  Since there are a number of new qualifying words that will be added to the Constitution, several brand new questions can be raised, opening up the possibility of yet another round of confusing and complicated lawsuits and court declarations:

1.  What is "adequate" education?

2.  Just what does it mean to give the Legislature the "responsibility" to raise funds? 

3.  In order to "alleviate local disparities," does that allow or even require the State to again create a statewide property tax, and perhaps "donor communities?"

4.  In "defining the content" of an "adequate education," are local school boards relinquishing authority over curriculum?

5.  What amount for each school district constitutes a "meaningful share?"

6.  Who determines a community's "fiscal capacity?"

7.  And exactly what does it mean to "...prepare the student to become a productive and contributing citizen...?"  And who decides what "productive" and "contributing" means, and how much THAT costs, and which curriculum creates that productivity and contribution?

If this Constitutional Amendment were put onto the State Constitution, I don't think it makes a bit of difference.  We can already "target" aid, that's not the question.  We don't need to have any "donor communities" now with the Constitution as it currently reads -- the Legislature has just gone that route in the past because it's been convenient at times to approve a statewide property tax with donor communities.

Approval of  this Constitutional Amendment doesn't mean the State won't provide more money for education, nor does not having this Amendment mean the State will provide less -- that's still a Legislative decision, and will be ongoing citizen and Legislative debate well into the future.

If this Constitutional Amendment is approved, that doesn't mean we'll never have an income tax or other tax reform.  And if this Constitutional Amendment is defeated, that doesn't mean we will have an income tax or other tax reform.  One is not dependent on the other.

I will vote for CACR 34 in the Legislature this Wednesday.  I think it is useful for the cause of better education of our kids to have this dialogue among the voters in the Fall. 

Perhaps it's doubtful CACR 34 will pass in the House this Wednesday.   But if it does, with the language offered in this Amendment and the additional questions it raises -- I've only touched the surface here -- I cannot imagine that 2/3rds of our citizens will vote in favor.  I believe we should pass this question onto the voters, and then I will join the many citizens who will oppose its final approval in November. 

We need to have the discussion on this Amendment in November so that if it is defeated by the voters, and I believe it will be, the next Legislature beginning in January will be able to find solutions and answers that don't include the continued debate about whether to amend or not.  That will have been answered by the voters. 

So in this case, I will vote FOR it before I vote AGAINST it.  I'll vote this Wednesday to put this Constitutional Amendment to the voters for their decision, and then I'll vote against it in November when I cast my own ballot. 

Why?

Why?  Because our next generation of young people deserves better and more, and it is our obligation to provide it.  We have to make sure they are prepared to compete with students from all the other states in this country and all the other nations of this planet during the balance of the 21st Century and beyond.

Our kids will have a global economy to compete in, plus problems to solve ranging from environmental concerns, global warming, terrorism, controlling nuclear weapons, creating new and cleaner energy sources, the next round of medical emergencies, viruses we can only imagine in our nightmares, opportunities and possibilities of which we can only dream, and being creative in finding world peace. 

THOSE challenges cannot be met with our next generations only having an "adequate" education.  They need excellence, and it's up to us to provide them with it. 

What are your thoughts?