Today the Senate Finance committee included the most sweeping school voucher program in the country in the NH State Budget. In fact, the language approved was even more expansive than that passed by the Senate only a couple of months ago.
This legislation has still received no analysis from the Legislative Budget Assistant. “It essentially a blank check written by Senate Republicans to be paid by local property taxpayers of New Hampshire,” said Megan Tuttle, NEA-NH President. “This legislation will raise property taxes by diverting taxpayer money for private, religious and home school vouchers with absolutely zero accountability for those funds.”
Conservative estimates on this bill are that it will cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars each year. “Adopting such an expansive an un-scrutinized program in the state budget is an irresponsible move on the part of Senate Republicans and we urge members of the House and the Governor to reject this reckless provision,” said Tuttle.