Norelli endorses constitutional amendment, just not Lynch's

House Speaker Terie Norelli

When it comes to highly controversial issue of a state education funding amendment two things have been clear for months.

Gov. John Lynch heavily favors an amendment and there is no way his fellow Democrats making up the majority in the House were going to support it.

Today House Speaker Terie Norelli (D-Portsmouth), hoping to find the middle ground, announced she endorses the concept of a constitutional amendment, just not the same one Lynch wants.

Her amendment is different from Lynch's version because allows courts to continue oversight on the issue. She said without that cause her Democratic caucus could not support any amendment.

It is too early to see the political implications of the move for Lynch or the electoral prospects of Democrats this fall.

For his part, Lynch said that while he has not reviewed Norelli's proposal he said it moves the issue it forward.  

"It will take a bipartisan effort to get an amendment on the ballot, and I will be continuing talk with lawmakers so that we can put in place the best education policy for our kids," Lynch said in a statement.