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Home Educators Association of Virginia (HEAV)

To: Home Educators of Virginia
From: Joe Guarino, director of government affairs

Wednesday, April 21, 2004

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: House Rejects Governor’s Amendments; Original Bill Awaits Governor’s Decision

After about ten minutes of debate, the House of Delegates rejected the governor’s recommendation to amend HB 675 by a vote of 62-37. Delegate James Dillard (R-Fairfax) again spoke passionately, as he had earlier in the regular session, to support the governor’s amendments. But the majority of the delegates disagreed.

In the end, four Democrats (A.T. Howell, Joannou, Johnson, and Stump) joined 56 Republicans and two Independents in rejecting the governor’s amendments. Four Republicans (Dillard, Griffith, D.W. Marshall, and Morgan) joined 33 Democrats in supporting adoption of the amendments. Republican S.C. Jones, a homeschooler, did not vote.

The debate was straightforward and simple--Del. Bob Marshall summed it up when he said, “The standards in the bill are appropriate.”

HEAV e-mailed a position paper to the delegates on Tuesday asking them to reject the Governor’s amendment. This, along with phone calls from homeschool constituents, paved the way for a successful vote. One homeschool parent in the Tidewater area called Tuesday asking for information to take to her delegate...who lived next door! He changed his vote today and rejected the Governor’s amendment!

After the session, the bill’s patron, Delegate Rob Bell (R-Charlottesville) strongly encouraged homeschoolers to continue calling the governor’s office. “If they (the governor’s staff) are telling you that your phone calls are hurting you, don’t believe them. Keep calling!”

According to the Virginia Constitution, the governor now has 30 days to decide how he will dispose of this bill. He may sign or veto the bill, or he may let the bill lay, in which case it would automatically become law. In a meeting late today with the governor’s special assistant, Anna Healy, she again rebuffed an offer for HEAV to meet with the governor to discuss the bill. Delegate Bell and HEAV will continue to pursue a meeting with the Governor.

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ACTION:
First, CONTINUE CONTACTING THE GOVERNOR AND ASKING HIM TO SIGN HB 675.

Call Governor Warner at 804-786-2211, and express your opinion. When you call, press 0 for a live person in Constituent Services. They will not argue or debate, but only take your message. Make it clear and brief: “I ask Governor Warner to SIGN HB 675, the Homeschool High School Diploma Bill.” If you prefer to leave a recorded message, choose option 1.

If the line is busy, or it is AFTER 5:30 p.m., you may fax a short message like the one above. Include your name and mailing address. This is very effective and easy for them to count. Fax the governor at 804-371-6351.

Or email the governor through his Web site: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Contact/email_form.html

Second, CONTACT THOSE DELEGATES WHO REJECTED THE AMENDMENTS AND THANK THEM.

To find your delegate, click on this link to find the list of delegates: http://leg1.state.va.us/041/mbr/MBR.HTM

Finally, CONTINUE PRAYING. This battle is not over. Pray that Governor Warner will sign the bill. Pray that those around him telling him to veto the bill will have a change of heart, realizing this bill will not hurt the children of Virginia or lower educational standards.

And, again, thank you for your actions of support--both praying and contacting those in government who have the authority to decide on this issue. As you can see again, HOMESCHOOLERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!