[Tired of Taxes]

The homeschooler who called me to give me the governor's number said that the office was taking names and towns. When I called - just minutes after she did - the office said they were just taking a "tally" because "there are hundreds of you." :-)

It turned out to be a very organized effort, and homeschoolers came together on this one.

[agrace]

Our county homeschool group called with the governor's office contact info shortly before 6 and I immediately called to give my opinion and they had already switched to the automated system for the night - a few minutes early. Guess they were getting hammered with calls. :)

Thanks for keeping this bumped, Coleus! Here's the latest from HSLDA -

January 13, 2004

Dear HSLDA members and friends:

Your tremendous efforts worked! AB 4033 died last Monday at the end
of the 2002-2003 legislative session because it was never brought up
for a vote.

In the rush and confusion of the last day of the legislative session
we suspected that Assemblywoman Loretta Weinberg (D-37) might use a
parliamentary tactic, thereby avoiding a public hearing, to obtain
passage of this harsh homeschool bill. You did a fantastic job
alerting every lawmaker in the state!

HSLDA is working closely with other organizations on this issue:
Tricounty Home Educators Association, New Jersey Homeschool
Association, Education Network of Christian Homeschoolers of New
Jersey, Unschoolers Network, Catholic Homeschoolers of New Jersey,
and Eagle Forum of New Jersey. Representatives of these groups met
last Saturday in East Windsor and affirmed their commitment to work
together toward stopping any legislative effort to restrict home
education.

As of this writing, Weinberg has filed 72 bills as primary sponsor in
the 2004-2005 Assembly, and 88 as a co-sponsor, but none deal with
homeschooling. We will watch the situation carefully.

Thank you for standing with us to protect homeschool freedom in New
Jersey.

Sincerely,


Scott A. Woodruff
HSLDA Staff Attorney