In the Oct. 17 op-ed by Rep. Jeremy Fischer demanding the Governor implement the education reform law as it is written, Rep. Fischer omitted some of the facts that lead to the enactment of the school consolidation law. By blaming the Commissioner of Education for not implementing the law as it is written he is deflecting responsibility for the law he actually supported.
The bill as a policy matter was in front of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee and they proposed three different options for the redistricting. The Appropriations Committee rejected those options and set up their own four person subcommittee to write the law. Rep. Fischer, as House chair of the Appropriations Committee, had ample opportunity to weigh in on the issue and address the concerns he now raises in his article. At the very least he could have required the bill to be separate from the budget, as education policy, instead of combining the two.
As Vice Chair of the legislators’ rural caucus, I raised many of the issues before the vote that Rep. Fischer has suddenly discovered. Had Rep. Fischer attended the rural caucus’ meetings on a regular basis, he would have understood the concerns that many of us had regarding this state takeover of local schools. He writes that rural law makers opposed the Governor’s original proposal fails to mention that many rural legislators continued to oppose the legislation and voted against the school consolidation compromise crafted by his committee because it did not do enough to protect rural areas.
The Commissioner of Education is implementing the law as it was written. In fact the commissioner worked very closely with Rep. Fischer and the Appropriations Committee to ensure they were on the same page. It is not the interpretation of the legislation that is the problem it is the law itself; Now Rep. Fischer wants to pass the blame onto the Governor and the Commissioner rather than share responsibility for his role in passing this misguided legislation.
Fortunately or unfortunately for Rep. Fischer and others who voted for this legislation, they may get to vote again. There are nearly 60 bills that legislators have submitted for consideration during the special session that would repeal or amend the law. Rep. Fischer now has a second chance to vote, and he should urge Democratic leadership to allow these bills to be considered during this session so we may have the opportunity to correct the problems highlighted by his recent article.
Sen. Sherman of Hodgdon can be reached by mail, PO Box 682, Houlton, ME 04730; or by phone in Augusta, (207) 287-1507.
The bill as a policy matter was in front of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee and they proposed three different options for the redistricting. The Appropriations Committee rejected those options and set up their own four person subcommittee to write the law. Rep. Fischer, as House chair of the Appropriations Committee, had ample opportunity to weigh in on the issue and address the concerns he now raises in his article. At the very least he could have required the bill to be separate from the budget, as education policy, instead of combining the two.
As Vice Chair of the legislators’ rural caucus, I raised many of the issues before the vote that Rep. Fischer has suddenly discovered. Had Rep. Fischer attended the rural caucus’ meetings on a regular basis, he would have understood the concerns that many of us had regarding this state takeover of local schools. He writes that rural law makers opposed the Governor’s original proposal fails to mention that many rural legislators continued to oppose the legislation and voted against the school consolidation compromise crafted by his committee because it did not do enough to protect rural areas.
The Commissioner of Education is implementing the law as it was written. In fact the commissioner worked very closely with Rep. Fischer and the Appropriations Committee to ensure they were on the same page. It is not the interpretation of the legislation that is the problem it is the law itself; Now Rep. Fischer wants to pass the blame onto the Governor and the Commissioner rather than share responsibility for his role in passing this misguided legislation.
Fortunately or unfortunately for Rep. Fischer and others who voted for this legislation, they may get to vote again. There are nearly 60 bills that legislators have submitted for consideration during the special session that would repeal or amend the law. Rep. Fischer now has a second chance to vote, and he should urge Democratic leadership to allow these bills to be considered during this session so we may have the opportunity to correct the problems highlighted by his recent article.
Sen. Sherman of Hodgdon can be reached by mail, PO Box 682, Houlton, ME 04730; or by phone in Augusta, (207) 287-1507.
