In what can only be described as a team effort, we prevailed today
in defeating the Governor's substitute for SB 1324 and his budget amendment
#12. The substitute bill failed to pass
on a 14 to 25 vote in the Senate, while the amendment failed on a 39 to 59 vote
in the House.
These measures would have broadened the scope of the state
takeover of public schools and increased the funding for the takeover program.
When I referred to the team effort, I mean YOU and the following
organizations: VACo, VML, VSBA, VASS,
VASSP, VAESP, VA PTA, First Cities, and VEA.
The official vote is not posted yet, so I’ll give you the
unofficial tally of who voted right in each chamber.
Thanks these Delegates who voted right (Against Amendment #12):
Anderson, Bacote, Brink, Bulova, Byron, Carr, J. A. Cox, Crocket-Stark,
Dance, Edmunds, Fariss, Farrell, Filler-Corn, Helsel, Herring, Hester, Hope, A.
T. Howell, Hugo, James, Joannou, Johnson, Keam, Kory, Krupicka, Landes, Lewis,
Lingamfelter, Lopez, R. G. Marshall, McClellan, McQuinn, Miller, Minchew,
Morefield, Morrissey, O’Quinn, Orrock, Peace, Plum, Purkey, Ransone, Rust, E.T.
Scott, J.M. Scott, Sherwood, Sickles, Spruill, Surovell, Torian, Toscano,
Tyler, Villanueva, Ward, R. L. Ware, Watts, Webert, Wilt, Wright
Thank these Senators who voted right (Against SB 1324S):
Alexander, Barker, Black, Colgan, Deeds, Ebbin, Edwards, Favola,
Hanger, Herring, Howell, Locke, Lucas, Marsden, Marsh, McEachin, Miller,
Northam, Petersen, Puckett, Puller, Reeves, Saslaw, Smith, Vogel
The Governor’s
takeover approach was like a fresh fish in January’s cold. But, the more it was studied the more it lost
support. A Louisiana approach is not
what is best for Virginia. That fish
began to stink as Spring’s warmth arrived.
We will all benefit from the JLARC examination of this important issue. I think we can come up with a Virginia
solution to our underperforming schools.
The Louisiana plan is not a good fit.