Use of school resources in elections prompts bill

BOSTON -- State lawmakers sent a bill to Gov. Mitt Romney yesterday tightening the existing ban on the use of tax dollars to influence elections.

Lawmakers said the bill was inspired in part by complaints that some schools were using public resources, like paper and copiers, to send home fliers or newsletters with students urging their parents to vote in favor of Proposition 2? overrides.

Such overrides often are used to help pay for a new school or a major renovation for an existing school.

Sen. Brian Joyce, D-Milton, said supporters and opponents of overrides are free to fight it out, as long as they don't tap tax dollars.

"It's certainly not permitted for either side," he said. "Whether it's in the form of a school newsletter or fliers distributed through the schools or using taxpayer dollars for labor or paper costs."

The bill states that "no person may use federal, state, municipal or other public resources for the purpose of aiding, promoting, preventing, antagonizing or otherwise seeking to influence or affect the vote on any question submitted to the voters." The bill creates a fine of up to $10,000 and a year in jail.

A spokesman for Gov. Mitt Romney said he will review the bill before deciding whether to sign it.

This story appeared on Page A8 of The Standard-Times on October 8, 2004.