New Hampshire Governor Vetoes Book Ban Legislation

From the Boston Globe:

Governor Kelly A. Ayotte vetoed legislation on Tuesday that would have established a centralized process in New Hampshire to review complaints about sexual content in school library books.

Ayotte, a Republican, rejected the legislation that had been backed by members of her own party, and Democrats celebrated her decision as a victory over the proposal that critics said would create a statewide book-banning process.

In a statement, Ayotte said she understands and appreciates the concerns parents have about their children potentially being exposed to materials at school that are age-inappropriate or otherwise objectionable, but state law already gives parents an avenue to address such concerns.

Ayotte said she doesn’t think the state should get involved in “addressing questions of literary value and appropriateness,” particularly with legislation that includes “monetary penalties based on subjective standards.”

Read the Complete Article (about 1100 words)

From the Concord Monitor:

People voiced their opposition to the bill through a “read-in” demonstration at the State House last month, where dozens of protesters and education advocates lined the halls in front of Ayotte’s office and read some of the books most commonly banned in the U.S.
Ayotte’s veto won praise from state education associations on Tuesday.

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The Legislature will have an opportunity to override Ayotte’s veto in a few months. Overriding a veto requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate; even with Republicans’ expanded majority in the State House this year, their chances to push the bill through will be slim.

Read the Complete Article (about 650 words) ||| Archived Version

UPDATE: Statement From EveryLibrary

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