The state’s push to overturn Claremont dovetails with efforts by Republican lawmakers this year to undermine the rulings. (Photo by Dave Cummings/New Hampshire Bulletin)
The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office plans to ask the state Supreme Court to overturn its two landmark Claremont school funding rulings from the 1990s, arguing they are an improper reading of the state constitution.
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmx?k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?6H92>AD9:C63F==6E:?]4@>^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ae^_a^$E2E6D\}@E:46\@7\pAA62=\:?\#2?5\42D6\u63\ac\a_ae]A57QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm2 7:=:?8 E@ E96 4@FCE %F6D52Jk^DA2?mk^2mkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm[ E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 yFDE:46 2AA62CD E@ 36 D6EE:?8 E96 8C@F?5H@C< E@ 2C8F6 E92E E96 2>@F?E E96 DE2E6 7F?5D :ED AF3=:4 D49@@=D :D 2 A@=:E:42= BF6DE:@? 7@C E96 {68:D=2EFC6 2?5 ?@E @?6 56E6C>:?65 3J E96 ;F5:4:2= 3C2?49 @C 5:4E2E65 3J E96 4@?DE:EFE:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%9@D6 2C8F>6?ED[ :7 DF446DD7F=[ 4@F=5 6?5 564256D @7 4@FCE AC64656?E 2?5 5:>:?:D9 E96 DE2E6’D 7:?2?4:2= @3=:82E:@?D E@ AF3=:4 D49@@=D] %96J 42>6 %F6D52J 2D A2CE @7 E96 DE2E6’D 2AA62= @7k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?6H92>AD9:C63F==6E:?]4@>^a_ad^_g^a_^DFA6C:@C\4@FCE\;F586\282:?\7:?5D\?9\D49@@=\7F?5:?8\>@56=\F?4@?DE:EFE:@?2=^QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm2 a_ac #@4<:?892> $FA6C:@C r@FCE CF=:?8k^DA2?mk^2m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmE92E 7@F?5 E92E }6H w2>AD9:C6’D D49@@= 7F?5:?8 7@C>F=2 :D F?72:C E@ =@42= E2IA2J6CD 2?5 F?4@?DE:EFE:@?2=] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm#624E:?8 E@ E96 7:=:?8[ +24< $96692?[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 $49@@= uF?5:?8 u2:C?6DD !C@;64E[ D2:5 E96 2C8F>6?ED F?56CD4@C65 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 E96 42D6] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm“u@C J62CD[ D@>6 =2H>2<6CD 2?5 DE2E6 =6256CD 92G6 D2:5 E96J H6C6 ?@E ECJ:?8 E@ @G6CEFC? r=2C6>@?E[” $96692? D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E (65?6D52J] “x? E9:D 7:=:?8[ E96 DE2E6 :D 7@C>2==J 2D<:?8 E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE E@ 5@ 6I24E=J E92E]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 r=2C6>@?E 564:D:@?D[ :DDF65 :?k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^72:C7F?5:?8?9]@C8^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_ac^_e^r=2C6>@?E\x]A57Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm`hhbk^DA2?mk^2m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm2?5k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=2H];FDE:2]4@>^42D6D^?6H\92>AD9:C6^DFAC6>6\4@FCE^`hhf^D49@@=]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm`hhfk^DA2?mk^2mkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm[ 6DE23=:D965 E92E E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 {68:D=2EFC6 92D 2 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= @3=:82E:@? E@ AC@G:56 2? “256BF2E6” AF3=:4 65F42E:@? 3J 7F?5:?8 :ED D49@@=D] %96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE >2;@C:EJ 5C6H E92E 4@?4=FD:@? 7C@>k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^=2H];FDE:2]4@>^4@?DE:EFE:@?^?6H\92>AD9:C6^=:E]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm!2CE xx[ pCE:4=6 gbk^DA2?mk^2m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm@7 E96 DE2E6 4@?DE:EFE:@?[ H9:49 56D4C:36D E96 “5FEJ” @7 =68:D=2E@CD “E@ 496C:D9 E96 :?E6C6DE @7 =:E6C2EFC6 2?5 E96 D4:6?46D[ 2?5 2== D6>:?2C:6D 2?5 AF3=:4 D49@@=D]”k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 CF=:?8D 7@C465 >2;@C 492?86D :? E96 DE2E6’D D49@@= 7F?5:?8 7@C>F=2 2?5 4C62E65 2 DE2?52C5 E92E F?56CA:?D E96 DJDE6> E@52J] qFE ?@E 2== 92G6 366? D2E:D7:65 H:E9 E96 C6DA@?D6] x? a_`h 2?5 a_aa[ D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 2?5 =@42= E2IA2J6CD 7:=65 EH@ D6A2C2E6 =2HDF:ED 2C8F:?8 =2H>2<6CD 92G6 ?@E 8@?6 72C 6?@F89 E@ >66E E9@D6 7F?5:?8 @3=:82E:@?D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm{2DE yF=J[ E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE CF=65 :? 72G@C @7 D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED :? E96 7:CDE @7 E9@D6 =2HDF:ED[ r@?E@@4@@< '2==6J $49@@= s:DEC:4E G] $E2E6 @7 }6H w2>AD9:C6[ 7:?5:?8 E92E E96 DE2E6’D “32D6” A2J>6?ED E@ AF3=:4 D49@@=D —k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]65F42E:@?]?9]8@G^D:E6D^8^7:=6D^6936>Ebae^7:=6D^:?=:?6\5@4F>6?ED^D@?9^256BF24J\7J\ae\>F?:\DF>>2CJ\6DE:>2E6]A57Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm4FCC6?E=Jk^DA2?mk^2m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmSc[aee A6C DEF56?E A6C J62C — 2C6 :?DF77:4:6?E E@ AC@G:56 2? 256BF2E6 65F42E:@? 2?5 5:C64E:?8 E96 {68:D=2EFC6 E@ C2:D6 E9@D6 2>@F?ED]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmqFE E96 9:89 4@FCE 92D ?@E J6E 564:565 E96 D64@?5 =2HDF:E[ #2?5 G] $E2E6 @7 }6H w2>AD9:C6] x? E92E 42D6[ }6H w2>AD9:C6 AC@A6CEJ E2IA2J6CD 2C8F6 E96 4FCC6?E D49@@= 7F?5:?8 >@56= C6=:6D E@@ 962G:=J @? =@42= E2I6D[ 4C62E:?8 F?72:C E2I C2E6 5:DA2C:E:6D 36EH66? H62=E9J 2?5 A@@C E@H?D] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm#F=:?8 :? E92E 42D6 =2DE pF8FDE[ #@4<:?892> r@F?EJ $FA6C:@C r@FCE yF586 s2G:5 #F@77 D:565 H:E9 E96 E2IA2J6CD 2?5 7@F?5 E92E E96 DE2E6’D =@H 7F?5:?8 =6G6=D “67764E:G6=J 4@?G6CED” =@42= AC@A6CEJ E2I6D :?E@ 2? F?4@?DE:EFE:@?2==J 5:DAC@A@CE:@?2E6 DE2E6 E2I] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmx? E96 ?@E:46 @7 2AA62= %F6D52J[ }6H w2>AD9:C6 $@=:4:E@C v6?6C2= p?E9@?J v2=5:6C: :?5:42E65 E92E E96 DE2E6 5:D28C66D H:E9 #F@77’D 564:D:@? 2?5 =2:5 @FE `b =682= BF6DE:@?D E96 DE2E6 H@F=5 =:<6 E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE E@ 4@?D:56C @? 2AA62=] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmp>@?8 E9@D6 BF6DE:@?D :D H96E96C E96 4@FCE D9@F=5 7:?5 E92E !2CE xx[ pCE:4=6 gb 5@6D ?@E 24EF2==J >2?52E6 E96 DE2E6 >66E 2 BF2=:E2E:G6 DE2?52C5 @7 65F42E:@? @C >66E 2 DA64:7:4 7:?2?4:2= 36?49>2C<[ 2 CF=:?8 E92E H@F=5 @G6CEFC? E96 r=2C6>@?E 564:D:@?D] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 DE2E6 :D 2=D@ 2D<:?8 E96 4@FCE E@ 4@?D:56C H96E96C 9@H E96 DE2E6 7F?5D 2? 256BF2E6 65F42E:@? :D 2 “?@?\;FDE:4:23=6 A@=:E:42= BF6DE:@?]” s@:?8 D@ 4@F=5 AC6\6>AE 7FEFC6 =2HDF:ED @G6C E96 DE2E6’D 7F?5:?8 >@56=D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmx? :ED @E96C BF6DE:@?D 7@C 2AA62=[ E96 56A2CE>6?E :?5:42E65 :E H:== D66< E@ C6G6CD6 #F@77’D CF=:?8 3J 492==6?8:?8 9:D 56E6C>:?2E:@? @7 9@H >F49 256BF2E6 65F42E:@? 24EF2==J 4@DED A6C AFA:=[ 9:D C6=:2?46 @? A=2:?E:77D’ 6IA6CE E6DE:>@?J E@ 56E6C>:?6 E92E ?F>36C[ 2?5 9:D 7:?5:?8 E92E >F?:4:A2= AC@A6CEJ E2I6D D9@F=5 36 EC62E65 2D DE2E6 E2I6D H96? 2DD6DD:?8 E96:C AC@A@CE:@?2=:EJ] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 DE2E6’D AFD9 E@ @G6CEFC? r=2C6>@?E 5@G6E2:=D H:E9k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?6H92>AD9:C63F==6E:?]4@>^a_ae^_a^`g^?6H\92>AD9:C6\65F42E:@?\7F?5:?8\:D\2=C625J\256BF2E6\C6AF3=:42?\3:==\2DD6CED^QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm677@CED 3J #6AF3=:42? =2H>2<6CD E9:D J62Ck^DA2?mk^2m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmE@ F?56C>:?6 E96 CF=:?8D]k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^84]?9]8@G^3:==0DE2EFD^=6824J^3Da_`e^3:==%6IE]2DAInDJla_aeU2>Aj:5l`dbcU2>AjEIEu@C>2El9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmw@FD6 q:== `g`dk^DA2?mk^2m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmH@F=5 492?86 DE2E6 DE2EFE6 E@ 564=2C6 E96 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ E@ AC@G:56 2? 256BF2E6 65F42E:@? E@ 36 D92C65 36EH66? =@42= D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 2?5 E96 DE2E6[ H9:49 4@F=5 42FD6 4@FCED E@ 7:?5 E92E }6H w2>AD9:C6 D49@@=D 2C6 2=C625J DF77:4:6?E=J 7F?565] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 DA@?D@C @7 E92E 3:==[ #6A] q@3 {J??[ 2 (:?592> #6AF3=:42? 2?5 7@C>6C $FAC6>6 r@FCE 49:67 ;FDE:46[ 92D 2C8F65 E96 r=2C6>@?E 564:D:@?D H6C6 HC@?8=J 564:565]k^DA2?mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.