This month: Border Security • Claremont Schools and Food Security • Education Funding • Dark Money In NH
IMMIGRATION
What’s the story on U.S. border security?
The persistent concern over U.S. border security is poised to be a defining issue in the 2024 election. Experts on both sides of the aisle agree that there is indeed a significant problem and that many cities and communities in the U.S. are feeling the brunt.
A basic understanding of the complexities involved with border security and what’s actually been done during the Biden administration to address it can help voters debunk myths, challenge misinformation, and support solutions that address the root causes of migration and that thoughtfully address problems with the U.S. immigration system.
For starters, conservative narratives of “open borders” and "unlimited illegal entry” due to Biden administration policies are simply untrue. The current U.S. immigration crisis stems from a complex web of factors, evolving over multiple administrations, and is deeply rooted in the socioeconomic and political landscapes of migrants' home countries, particularly those from Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras).
Attempting to deploy technology, manpower, and lawful pathways for migrants, the Biden administration has tried to create a more balanced system and advocated for comprehensive reform that secures the border and addresses humanitarian needs, not unrestricted entry.
Among Biden’s reform efforts:
U.S. Citizen Act of 2021: On day one of Biden’s administration the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 was introduced, aiming to modernize the American immigration system. Key components included providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, streamlining immigration processes, and investing in smart border controls. It was opposed by the Republican Party and not enacted.
Emergency Funding Request for Border Management: In 2023 a $13.6 billion request was made to enhance border security as part of a larger $106 billion funding package including funding for Ukraine and Israel. Among other things, the request aimed to improve the processing of asylum claims, and bolster the capabilities for managing migration flows effectively. The package focussed on allowing for 1,300 more Border Patrol agents, 1,600 more asylum officers and support staff, and 375 more immigration judge teams, among other new hires.
Bipartisan Border Security Bill: In response to the Emergency Funding Request, President Biden and members of the U.S. Senate worked for months to negotiate the Bipartisan Border Security Bill, a $118 billion bipartisan security package proposed to include the toughest border reforms ever proposed in the country. The bill was blocked by the Senate GOP despite it being crafted and endorsed in part by members of their own party – the party had previously demanded Democrats agree to a conservative border policy in exchange for additional aid for Ukraine. This bill met that challenge. Opposition was heavily influenced by Donald Trump, who desires to make unresolved border security issues a campaign platform.
Root Causes Strategy: In 2023, Vice President Kamala Harris led efforts to address the root causes of migration from Central America by implementing the Root Causes Strategy. This initiative aims to improve conditions in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, focusing on economic, governance, and security challenges to reduce the need for people to leave their homes. Highlights of the initiative include:
Supporting nearly 8,000 private sector firms, creating over 90,000 jobs.
Facilitating $179 million in financing for micro and small businesses.
Attracting over $4.2 billion in investments from 47 companies to strengthen economic security.
Training of over 500 Honduran government officials thus far on inspection procedures to prevent child labor and forced labor.
Providing $112 million in assistance for school feeding programs, improving food security for over 275,000 individuals.
Actions by DHS: Despite the continued GOP blockade over immigration reform, the Biden Administration and DHS have still managed to provide enhancements for border enforcement, expedited work authorizations, and increased personnel for immigration processing through administrative actions not requiring legislative approval.
Sources / Additional Reading:
CLAREMONT SCHOOLS AND FOOD SECURITY
The Fallout of NH HB601’s Failure and Its Impact on Claremont
In light of January’s killing of House Bill 601 (HB601) in New Hampshire by House Republicans, the implications for communities like Claremont are broad. HB601 was proposed to automatically enroll into NH’s free and reduced school lunch program (FRL), the children of families who qualify for Medicaid, just like 38 other states do.
The bill was killed by NH House Republicans, with outrageous remarks coming from House Finance Committee Chairman Kenneth Weyler who stated “there are no hungry children in NH and in the schools.”The claim that there are "no hungry children" flies in the face of the fact that 42,000 students, or over a quarter of all students in the state, are currently enrolled in these meal programs - routinely near 50% in Claremont.
The bill's rejection, including by Claremont's own two republican House representatives John Stone and Walt Stapleton, killed productive discussion and prevented streamlining the enrollment process to ensure maximum benefit for students of families in need of help. But because State financial education aid is in part tied to enrollment numbers of the FRL program, killing the bill also prevented something else: a significant increase in state funding to our public schools.
Per information researched with help from Rep. Gary Merchant and NH DOE, through HB601 and the State’s current funding formula, 100% enrollment in FRL could have benefited Claremont schools by up to $3 million dollars.
Even a significant number of additionally enrolled, less than 100%, would go a long way toward easing administrative and taxpayer funding burdens while benefitting local families in what could have been a win-win.
The party-line defeat of HB601, amidst claims of non-existent childhood hunger and vague concerns over privacy and costs shows a willful disconnect between legislative decisions and the pressing needs of communities like Claremont.
It underscores the importance of electing officials who are willing to work toward bipartisan solutions - including in matters of education and its funding.
EDUCATION FUNDING
NH School Funding Update: Legal Rulings and Legislative Progress
It was an important month for education in New Hampshire. Significant legal, and legislative developments have taken place in the ongoing battle for fair school funding.
Court Rulings Affirm Need for Change, Pave Way for Supreme Court Challenge
The Rockingham County Superior Court recently reaffirmed its stance on two critical lawsuits, ConVal and Rand, which challenge the state's current school funding model. The court reiterated that per-pupil base adequacy funding must meet a minimum of $7,356.01. The Court also maintained as unconstitutional the retention of excess SWEPT (Statewide Education Property Tax) and the use of negative local tax rates to dodge SWEPT obligations. It further affirmed that these rulings could not be stayed until the State can appeal them. These affirmations rightly uphold the push for equitable school funding and are an important moment in the fight for fair education financing in NH.
It may be surprising to learn the depth to which the State is defending its positions against education funding reform. A recent inquiry initiated by the NH School Funding Fairness Project (NHSFFP) revealed that the State has allocated over $1 million to outside counsel, with actual figures likely eclipsing this amount when considering the work of internal Department of Justice attorneys. See NHSFFP right to know request to the NH Attorney General for insight.
Legislative Efforts to Reform School Funding Gain Momentum
Amidst the above legal proceedings, the New Hampshire House of Representatives took decisive action to address school funding inequities through legislation. Last Thursday marked a significant step forward with the passage of three important bills:
HB 1583 garnered a 228-150 vote in favor of increasing targeted aid by $64 million for communities with low property values and districts with high-needs students, setting a new base adequacy of $4,404 per pupil from 2025 onwards. The bill now advances to the House Finance Committee for further examination.
HB 1656 received unanimous voice vote approval, injecting an additional $35 million into differentiated aid for special education, promising more resources for students requiring specialized support. Like HB 1583, it moves to the Finance Committee for continued scrutiny.
HB 1212 also passed the House. This bill aims to increase the income eligibility for free and reduced school meals from 130% to 350% of the federal poverty level (FPL).
Not all efforts bore fruit. HB 1686, which sought to align state practices with the Rand ruling by ending the retention of excess SWEPT and the use of negative local tax rates, was tabled following a closely contested 193-181 vote, effectively halting its progress.
Your Voice is So Important
As legislative measures proceed through the Finance Committee, and as the potential for a Supreme Court appeal looms, your involvement has never been more important. Stay informed and engaged as the quest for equitable education funding in New Hampshire gains momentum. Subscribe to the NH School Funding Fairness Project newsletter here.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE / GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY
Dark Money and Ideological Extremism In NH
There is a deeply concerning, but under-the-radar trend occurring in New Hampshire: the encroachment of dark money and ideological extremism into our legislative process, and in particular, our public education policies.
In a recent article by Learnard Witt of InDepthNH, he noted that nearly half of the GOP members in the NH House of Representatives are supported by Young Americans for Liberty (YAL). Never heard of it? Many have not. And yet, YAL is a well-funded Austin, TX organization promoting libertarian and often controversial educational and political stances around the country. According to Witt, YAL lists nearly 100 NH GOP state house representatives as members of its coalition.
In 2022 alone, YAL's efforts in NH included 25,825 door knocks, 118,800 phone calls to constituents, and 21,755 mailers to advocate their beliefs throughout the state. With a budget of $13 million, YAL is gearing up to invest heavily in the mobilization of thousands of student activists to champion their ardent beliefs in state assemblies nationwide.
If that sounds concerning, it is. According to Witt, in NH, seven out of ten NH House Education Committee members are listed as being members of the “Hazlitt” coalition - a YAL-funded network comprising over 300 affiliated legislators from nearly 40 states. These members are backed by full-time YAL staff and are dedicated to advocating for YAL policies in their home states. Witt says that the seven NH House Education Committee members affiliated with YAL have used Hazlitt talking points. Five of them were given YAL-paid stipends to attend its conference last year outside of Orlando.
An example of the ongoing and concerning manifestation of this type of influence was this year’s legislative attempt by Representative Rick Cordelli (R-Tuftonboro), to introduce book-banning into NH education legislation. He was the primary sponsor of HB 1419 - the “book banning bill” which would have set vague standards for banning books from public schools in NH.
This bill was a direct threat to intellectual freedom, local control, and open dialogue in education. In a close initial vote, HB 1419 was tabled. It was ultimately defeated in a subsequent vote thanks to the mobilization of pro-public education representatives, marking a close win against politicizing educational content in NH.
Sadly, this example isn’t an isolated incident. It's part of a broad front to control New Hampshire's government at both state and local levels. Take the example from Croydon schools last year where a Free Stater's motion led to the halving of the school budget, from $1.7 million to $800,000, plunging Croydon’s education system into chaos.
The Free State Project is an ongoing initiative aiming to recruit 20,000 libertarians to move to NH to influence state policy. According to Witt, many of the GOP’s Free Staters in the NH legislature, including GOP House majority leader Jason Osborne, are also on YAL’s list of supported legislators.
The success of these organizations and others like them in gaining footholds in NH is alarming. Their focus is on creating a network of legislators within the State who advocate for a certain vision of “liberty” which includes significant reductions in the scope of government and subsequently, reductions in support for democratic values and institutions, such as strong public schools.
What’s at stake is the very fabric of NH’s democratic and educational systems. The concerted efforts by groups like YAL, the Free State Project, and others, to infiltrate and influence our legislative processes with a narrow vision of ‘liberty’, is very real. It demands a vigilant and informed response from constituents.
In truth, every voter in New Hampshire should be made aware of these ongoing attacks. As Witt says, “we have to ensure that we can thoughtfully address the influence of distant, well-funded PACs eager to enforce their distorted interpretation of “liberty" on NH.” Let it start with us.
Sources and additional reading:
Comments