Posted on 02/16/2011 4:31:08 PM PST by Gopher Broke
Victoria Cobb, President Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Information Alert: Senate Finance Dems Reject Ed Freedom
Yesterday, nine Senate democrats rejected education opportunity for low-income children by cowering before Virginia’s education establishment. By a 9-6 party-line vote, and in the face of overwhelming testimony, the committee defeated HB 2314, patroned by Delegate Jimmie Massie (R-72, Henrico).
The legislation had the active support of Governor McDonnell and his staff. The Governor took the rare action of going office to office of committee members before yesterday's vote urging their support.
I urge you to watch video from yesterday's meeting by clicking here. If you watch only one of our videos from session this year, please make it this one.
In what would appear to be a vote meant to solidify their election year teacher’s union support, Senate democrats rejected facts and truth and blindly hid behind distortions and misinformation.
The nine democrats rejected testimony from Delegate Massie, who made the case that the legislation, similar to a program in Florida, would save the state money that it could use to improve public education. They rejected compelling testimony from Delegate Algie Howell (D-90, Norfolk), an African American who understands the lack of hope in urban schools. They ignored testimony from Florida legislator Terry Fields, an African American who talked about the success of the Florida program at helping disadvantaged kids get better educations and how it has improved the overall performance in Florida schools. Representative Fields also met individually with several member of the committee prior to yesterday’s meeting.
Most compellingly, they ignored emotional testimony from several kids from urban schools that have found hope and opportunity through private schools in some of Virginia's toughest urban environments.
As usual, opponents from the education establishment, like the Virginia Education Association and the Virginia School Boards Association, railed against the bill as being a “voucher” scheme that would drain funds from public schools. Ignoring evidence to the contrary, they hid behind old arguments that lack merit. More revealing was the nearly hysterical reaction of several committee members like Senators Henry Marsh (D-16, Richmond), Dick Saslaw (D-35, Springfield) and Edd Houck (D-17, Spotsylvania). Marsh in particular was extremely concerned that the program might succeed and more kids might leave public schools and get better educations.
Families in Virginia are growing weary of being forced to attend schools assigned them based solely on their address. They are growing weary of partisan politics blocking opportunity for their children. Where other states find hope and success, too many in our state legislature fear loss of control.
But make no mistake, despite yesterday's outcome, education freedom is coming to Virginia. Four years ago similar legislation didn't get a motion in this committee. Three years ago only three members voted in favor. Now, all six Republicans favor the measure and vocally defended it in committee, and Democrat leaders had to battle to keep their members in line.
Families in Virginia want more and better opportunities for their children and they will do what is necessary to either change the minds of those legislators blocking access to opportunity, or they will remove those legislators from office on election day. One way or another, real education opportunity will be provided for those children who today have little or no hope for success because of the actions of the nine democrat members of the Senate Finance committee.
where is the video?
The GOP should hammer this like all get out.
Blacks are basically single party people, which is a shame, because then the party doesn’t really care about what they want. They can count on the vote, and it doesn’t matter what Democrats do.
This is one issue that blacks personally suffer from, and Obama has only made worse.
Thank you
HB 2314 Education Improvement Scholarships; tax credit for donations by business entities.
02/15/11 Senate: Passed by indefinitely in Finance (9-Y 6-N)
YEAS—Colgan, Houck, Howell, Saslaw, Miller, Y.B., Marsh, Lucas, Whipple, Reynolds—9.
NAYS—Wampler, Stosch, Quayle, Norment, Hanger, Watkins—6.
ABSTENTIONS—0.
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