Bismarck, ND (AP) – North Dakota Republican Governor on Wednesday imposed a veto bills to further limit sexual content in libraries and to set up a private school voucher, rejecting two measures that have observed wide support from other GOP Governors.
The legislative power, led by GOP, can cancel the veto of governor Kelly Armstrong by two -thirds votes in each chamber: 32 votes in the Senate and 63 in the House. Nor did he receive such support on his way to the Armstrong Bureau.
The Library Bill would have expanded the ban on North Dakota in 2023 on “explicit sexual material” in public libraries in school districts and to require these entities to have policies to move such material “to an area in the library that are not easily accessible to minors.” The bill has also ruled that libraries have a technology for stopping K-12 students to have access to a certain online content and requires local prosecutors to weigh the alleged violations of state restrictions.
In his veto, Armstrong stated that the bill “is a deluded attempt at moral legislation through excessive and censorship. The bill imposes vague and criminal burdens of professionals and opens the door to many unforeseen and harmful consequences for our communities.”
He also said that the bill “is superfluous, too burdensome and puts local librarians, school districts and state lawyers in an insolvent situation.”
Proponents said the bill would protect the minors from the harmful effects of books they say were pornographic or obscene. Examples they cited are books with LGBTQ themes. Opponents said the procedures were already present and called the government of the bill.
Bill’s sponsor and Republican Senator Keith Bom declined to comment on the veto. The Associated Press sent a message to the Republican leader of the majority in Senate David Hog, asking for a possible attempt to cancel.
Book prohibition legislation has been pursuing in recent years in countries led by Republicans such as Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Florida and Missouri, said Jonathan Friedman, Managing Director of Pen America free expression programs. Some communities and legislators have sought to develop what he called a “censorship program” in recent years, largely motivated by Anti-LGBTQ animation, he said.
The voucher bill seeks to set up an income -based “Savings Account Program”, administered by the State Bank of North Dakota, with $ 21.7 million for the next two -year budget cycle. Money can be used for training in private schools, textbooks, technological expenses and other expenses, first available for the school year 2026-27.
In his veto message, the Governor said that although his administration “strongly supports the expansion of the school”, the bill “does not reach a very truly expanding choice, as this affects only one sector of our student population. The debt of the voucher is still in need of the implementation of the problems of the problem They benefit from the most students and guarantee the implementation of the program is achievable and realistic.
Proponents said the bill allows parents to choose the best form of education for their children.
Reporter Ben Copelman, who sponsors the measure, said he was “confident that most red -state governors would sign this Bill and we would just be back next time to do it again.”
The leader of the majority of the Republican house Mike Leofor said he would talk with his cause to try cancellation.
Opponents said the state should not give public money for private education. Others quote a state constitutional prohibition, which reads: “No money raised to support the state schools of the state are not assigned or used to support each sectarian school.”
The governor’s two -year budget includes $ 44.3 million to launch a savings billing program for financing additional services through a digital portfolio that restores approved services and supports and expands educational opportunities for public, non -public and home students. “
The Chamber has not yet voted on another bill with a similar concept. Armstrong called this bill “an available vehicle to combine the best parts of the two accounts.”