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Date: February 20, 2003
To: Virginia Homeschoolers
From: Joe Guarino, Director of Government Affairs
 
Thursday, February 20, 2003
 
Bill Update and Action Request: Teamwork Pays Off in Victory!
 
Everywhere I went in the General Assembly, legislators and legislative aides told me of the numerous phone calls you made and the e-mails you sent requesting support for HB 2404. Thank you for your vigilance, determination, and faith in God that we would win.
 
And win we did! With the bill going before the full Senate this morning, I only had 21 firm votes out of a possible 40--not a comfortable margin if someone changes their mind at the last minute. Though I had not been able to get a commitment from another eight senators, other legislators held out hope they would vote for the bill. These extra votes would put us only two votes past being veto-proof. In the end, the Senate passed the bill with a landslide vote of 33-6! Not only did the 21 senators stick with us, but the eight uncertain votes joined us, and four legislators--whom I never thought would have voted for the bill--came through! The Senate also amended the bill by reverting it to its original intent of being just for home educators.
 
Then, because voting on all bills was to be completed by today, the bill was sent back to the House so they could consider the Senate’s amendments. Though some fierce opposition took away a few votes, the House decisively voted to agree with the Senate’s amendments by a vote of 63-33. We won!

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GIVE THANKS
 
Please give our Team Captain lots of thanks next time you talk with him. He took care of many unforeseen twists and turns as this bill went through the legislative process. When I had to see certain delegates or senators, it was amazing how they would suddenly appear around the corner. When I thought the enemy was ready to pounce, an incredible shield protected us. First and foremost, thank God!
 
Next, BEFORE the legislators leave Richmond Saturday, please send those supporting the bill an e-mail of gratitude. See the list below.

If your delegate voted for it, send an e-mail to del_lastname@house.state.va.us. (Fill in the delegate's last name after the underscore, such as del_oder@house.state.va.us.)

If your senator voted for it, send an e-mail to firstinitiallastname@sov.state.va.us. (Fill in the first initial and last name,
such as kcuccinelli@sov.state.va.us.)

If your e-mail is returned for some reason, please call the Constituent Viewpoint Hotline at 800-889-0229, and leave a brief message of thanks with the operator.

TO DELEGATES
In the subject line, put something like "Thank you for supporting home educators on the driver’s ed bill." Then thank them with a brief note saying something like, "Thank you, Del. LastName, for voting to give Virginia’s home educators the option to teach their own children the behind-the-wheel portion of driver’s education."
 
EVERYONE please send an especially heart-felt note of thanks to Del. Glenn Oder at del_oder@house.state.va.us. Del. Oder was the chief patron of the bill. He carried the bill, marshaled it through the General Assembly, and expended some
real political capital to bring this bill to victory. Be sure to thank his legislative aide, Craig Smith, at the same address. His vast knowledge of, and experience with, the General Assembly proved to be extremely helpful in knowing where to turn and with whom to speak.
 
TO SENATORS
In the Senate, thank:
Sen. Ken Cuccinelli at kcuccinelli@sov.state.va.us
Sen. Marty Williams at mwilliams@sov.state.va.us
Sen. Steve Newman at snewman@sov.state.va.us.

Sen. Cuccinelli, a home-educating father of five daughters, worked behind-the-scenes in getting support for the bill in the Senate. Sen. Williams went the long extra mile by calling a special committee meeting so the bill could be heard and not be killed. And Sen. Newman’s strategies, and being at the right place at the right time to hear and learn essential bits of information, proved very beneficial. His fight against a negative amendment in the Senate Transportation Committee also kept the bill from certain defeat.
 
Many others could and should be thanked. Thank God for all the players who helped.
 
Senators Voting in Favor of HB 2404
W. Bolling, J. Chichester, C. Colgan, K.Cuccinelli, C. Deeds, J. Edwards, E. Hanger, C. Hawkins, E. Houck, J. Howell, B.
Lambert, L. Lucas, S. Martin, K. Miller, Y. Miller, W. Mims, S. Newman, T. Norment, J. O'Brien, R. Potts, P. Puckett, F. Quayle, N. Rerras, R. Reynolds, F. Ruff, R. Saslaw, K. Stolle, W. Stosch, M. Trumbo, F. Wagner, W. Wampler, J. Watkins, M. Williams
 
Delegates Voting in Favor of the Senate Amendments to HB 2404
Abbitt, Albo, Athey, Bell, Black, Bolvin, Broman, Byron, Callahan, Carrico, Cline, Cole, Cosgrove, Councill, Cox, Devolites, Dillard, Drake, Dudley, Gear, Griffith, Hamilton, Hargrove, Hogan, Howell, Hugo, Hurt, Ingram, Janis, Johnson, Jones, S.C., Kilgore, Landes, Lingamfelter, Louderback, Marrs, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., May, McDonnell, McDougle, McQuigg, Morgan, Nixon, Nutter, O'Bannon, Oder, Phillips, Pollard, Purkey, Putney, Rapp, Reese, Reid, Rust, Saxman, Sherwood, Stump, Suit, Wardrup, Ware, Weatherholtz, Wright