FREEPERS needed at these remaining VA budet hearings

Fellow VA Freepers....please attend these remaining budget hearings to speak AGAINST the tax increases...get their EARLY and sign up to speak.

Date: Monday 3/29/04 Time: 6-8:00 PM Place: Rockbridge Regional Library, Lexington Legislator: Delegate Ben Cline

Date: Tuesday 3/30/04 Time: 5-7:00 PM Place: Amherst County Courthouse Legislator: Delegate Ben Cline

Date: Tuesday 3/30/04 Time: 6:30 PM Place: L. C. Bird High School, 10301 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield County Legislators: Senator Steve Martin (invited House and Senate leaders & conferees)

Date: Tuesday 3/30/04 Time: 7:00 PM Place: Godwin High School, Henrico County Legislators: Delegate Jack Reid, Delegate Bill Janis, and Delegate John O'Bannon

Date: Wednesday 3/31/04 Time: 5-7:00 PM Place: Madison Heights Library Legislator: Delegate Ben Cline

Date: Wednesday 3/31/04 Time: 6:00 PM Place: Sully Government Center, Stonecroft Blvd. Immediately off Rt. 28 and Westfiled Blvd. In Centerville Legislator: Delegate Gary Reese

Date: Thursday 4/01/04 Time: 6-8:00 PM Place: Library, Riverheads High School, Staunton Legislator: Delegate Ben Cline

------------------------------------ THE FAMILY FOUNDATION OF VIRGINIA One Capitol Square 830 East Main Street, Suite 1201 Richmond, VA 23219, Phone: 804-343-0010, Fax: 804-343-0050 www.familyfoundation.org

March 27, 2004

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Dear Cyber-Lobbyist:

Paul Goldman recently asserted that, “The 2004 budget impasse is no longer defined by the parameters of Capitol Square, but rather is now a front-page statewide style campaign issue, defined by a different set of rules in terms of the battle for public opinion.” Goldman is on target, and President Jean Bankos and Executive Director Jerry Caruthers have known this would be the case. VEA is about winning this campaign. Your prompt action is needed.

Our most immediate opportunity to influence this campaign is to attend and speak at the town meetings being schedule across the state. We are winning the battle so far, but we cannot become complacent. The week ahead is a crucial one.

It is often said that the Lord helps those who help themselves, and it is time for every educator in Virginia to step forward. There has never been a better opportunity to help ourselves and to be part of the solution. The town meetings are listed on the VEA Web Site:

http://69.13.97.230/home_articles_detail.asp?ContentID=1199

If you need help with talking points, please contact your UniServ director or me.

Please take this crucial opportunity to stand up. It is put up or shut up time!!!!

Yours,

Rob

I am a public school teacher/administrator and received an email similar to yours above pleading for "support" for more education funding, etc..etc....and more. I deleted it and others that followed just from rote habit. I received the following one day last week and thought I'd keep it to share (and gloat...lol). I teach in a conservative system in Virginia, and a huge portion of our budget is local. No one wants higher taxes, and there is just NO support for the higher taxes/funding.

Have heard from few members concerning the town meetings. Hope this doesn't mean you are not engaged in this most important discussion involving taxes and educational funding in the last 20 years. It is important to let your local representatives hear from you via e-mails, telephone calls or letters. Below are some excerpts from a Senate document that gives you their view of their latest concession and the remaining components of their plan. The Senate proposal holds the strongest hope for an adequately funded public education plan.
Press Release Senate Finance Committee March 17, 2004
Senate Finance Committee reduces budget proposal by $800 million per year
At the 2004 Special Session, the SFC eliminated the transportation component of its budget proposal, thereby trimming about $800 million per year, or $1.6 billion from the biennial spending blueprint.
In taking this action, Senate members reluctantly deferred to the House of Delegates' position that Virginia's transportation system is adequate for the 21st Century. Senator Chichester noted, "The Senate's attempt to keep Virginia on the 'highway of prosperity' by expanding and upgrading our roads and transit systems commensurate with our growing population was met by skeptism and indifference in the House of Delegates.
With that in mind, we have stepped away from transportation in an attempt to resolve the budget.
* Over $500 million per year paid to local governments for public education and public safety to hold down real estate taxes. This equates to $238 (19 cents on the tax rate) for the median home value of city dwellers, and $188 (15 cents on the tax rate) for the median home value of county dwellers;
* Ab extra $200 million paid into Virginia's Rainy Day Fund to ensure that we keep our Triple A bond rating;
* Over $65 million to allow adults with mental retardation to be cared for in their home communities rather than institutions that cost twice as much.
* $40 million to retain state police and deputy sheriffs who work to keep citizens of Virginia safe every day.

Senator Chichester concluded, "By removing one of the major areas of disagreement from the revised Senate Budget, I am optimistic that we can reach agreement on the matters that remain, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to that end."

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