Bismarck, N.D. – North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong is further explaining why he struck down two bills revolving around school choice and regulating reading material in school libraries.
There’s been a mix of praise and criticism over his decisions to veto a bill that would’ve allowed residents to use public tax dollars to pay for private school, and a measure that kept sexually explicit books away from minors.
On school choice, Armstrong still feels the vast majority of state school districts wouldn’t benefit, saying there were “good things” in both the House and Senate versions but work still needs to be done.
“It has to be economically responsible and has to affect more kids than just in the seven largest in North Dakota but we’re going to get through this,” Armstrong told The Flag’s ‘What’s On Your Mind?’
But Armstrong signaled that they’ll take another crack at school choice and work on a package to present before the next legislative session.
On the sexually explicit school book bill, Armstrong says the measure granted too much power to people who file complaints, even if they don’t live in the state.
“If the library says no [to moving a book] that person can stand up a five person committee,” said Armstrong. “If that committee says no, that person can force the state’s attorney to make a decision. That doesn’t exist anywhere else [in state law].”
Armstrong also says there was no way to determine if a book complaint “is frivolous or not”.
“You can’t define obscenity,” said Armstrong. “The problem is obscenity is defined differently by everybody.”
