Staneski Votes to Override Governor on Education Legislation

State Representative Pam Staneski voted Monday July 20 to override the governor’s veto of an Education bill that passed unanimously out of the committee and the Senate and almost unanimously out of the House during the legislative session, according to a press release.
The state constitution requires that the House and Senate convene for special session to discuss bills that are vetoed by the governor. The only bill discussed in the House veto session was HB 6977, a bill that would set forth new qualifications for the position of the Commissioner of Education. An appointee would need a master’s degree or higher in an education related field, at least five years of teaching experience and three years as an education administrator in ordered to be considered.
A vote to override this bill, motioned by House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, failed as it did not meet the required two-thirds vote of the entire House, or one hundred and one votes.
“This veto illustrates a more substantial problem at the State Capitol,” Staneski said after the vote. “The requirements we sought and almost unanimously agreed with months ago are a bare minimum for what someone in that position should have. But because of the political discourse and attitudes in this building, there was nothing Republicans could do. One-party rule not good public policy won the day. This was purely political, and when dealing with the education of our children politics should never be a factor.”
The consequence of the override vote failing is the governor’s veto stands and the bill does not become law.