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NTU Member Charlie
Reynolds wrote the follow Letter to the Editor which appeared
in the Nashua Telegraph on Friday, February 13th.
Charles
A. Reynolds
Nashua
On Nov. 20, state Sen. Jane O’Hearn issued “A Letter
to the Community of Nashua on Education Funding.” The full
text can still be viewed at mark.vattes@leg.state.nh.us.
Sen. O’Hearn, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, took
the opportunity to discuss House Bill 608, the new education funding
law, and “to present a balanced view of how Nashua will fare
under the new system as compared to the former, broken approach.”
Her letter also stated: “Because of HB608, Nashua residents
will enjoy more than $24 million in statewide property tax relief
and will receive an extra $2 million in state grants for education
over the next two years.”
It has been reported in The Telegraph that Nashua has, in fact,
had the amount it receives in state aid for education reduced by
$4.4 million by the new education funding law.
Nashua, and the southern tier of our state, continues to be the
cash cow for the rest of our state. Our financial contribution funds
services throughout our state.
I find it particularly interesting to note that while a member of
the House of Representatives, Mrs. O’Hearn served as the chair
of the House Education Committee from 1997 to 2000. It is my understanding
the old “broken approach” to education funding occurred
during this time.
Given her past position as the chairperson of the House and currently
as chairperson of the Senate Education Committee, I believe Sen.
O’Hearn must be held accountable for failing to adequately
represent her “dear constituents” by her contribution
to the passage of the new education funding law. In fact, in her
letter, she pledges, “to continue to offer the leadership
to deal with education funding.”
Political word-smithing aside, Sen. O’Hearn was elected by
the residents of Nashua to act in their best interest and to support
the needs of our community. She has not done so.
I believe that Nashua needs and deserves honest representation in
Concord and there are at least 4.4 million reasons why Sen. O’Hearn
has proven she does not represent Nashua adequately. I call on her
to do the right thing and resign immediately.
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