#HR27 declaring "brainpower" a state resource KILLED 182 to 137 I voted in minority #nhhouse #nhpolitics

HR 27, urging New Hampshire policymakers to declare "brainpower" a state resource.  MAJORITY:  INEXPEDIENT TO LEGISLATE.  MINORITY:  OUGHT TO PASS.

Rep. Frederick C Rice for the Majority of Commerce and Consumer Affairs:  High level academic, intellectual and scientific capabilities and resources are certainly among the types of resources that New Hampshire should seek to encourage, develop and market as factors that may contribute to growth.  Simply labeling these assets as “brainpower” in hopes that it will attract investment or economic growth is simplistic and counter productive, however.  Potential private investment for the purpose of promoting this concept can be implemented at any time by coordinating directly with the state agencies responsible for economic development and education.  Vote 13-3.      

Rep. Donna L Schlachman for the Minority of  Commerce and Consumer Affairs:  On the surface, this resolution may seem like the bridge to no-where.  What should be known, however, is the motivation behind it.  This resolution is at the request of dozens of prominent leaders in the business and education community who are looking to the state to show its clear support for a campaign aimed at a concrete educational and business problem:  attracting students to our science, technical, engineering and math programs, and holding onto our brightest graduates.  More importantly, they are willing and able to put financial resources into this effort.  It is common knowledge that New Hampshire is not graduating enough students to fill specific highly skilled jobs, and that many graduates are leaving our state to work elsewhere.  Efforts to fill these skilled positions with our graduates and with people willing to relocate to our state are falling short, and businesses are impacted. New Hampshire’s community college and university system are making progress in meeting the needs of our employers.  It is past time, though, for New Hampshire to do more to build opportunity and relationships in New Hampshire and expand our public-private partnership to aggressively craft our image beyond being a great place to vacation and raise a family. The business and educational leaders who requested this resolution are asking the legislature for a symbolic gesture to give governmental legitimacy to their investment in helping New Hampshire to form stronger bonds for success and to become a destination state for the best and the brightest.  Rather than argue over better ways to express what the committee all agreed was an education, retention and attraction issue, the minority wishes to give the green light to private business leaders who are ready to spend private money for the public good.