We have less than 36 hours until crossover and, in typical
fashion, the House and Senate floor calendars were very long. All committee
work was cancelled as both bodies worked to complete debate on all of their own
bills by midnight tomorrow.
The House passed VEA’s HB2332 unanimously. Delegate Roslyn
Tyler carried legislation to add language to Virginia’s teacher compensation goal.
This bill adds language that would put, as a state policy, the goal that
teachers in Virginia be paid at or above the National Average. We are very
grateful to Delegate Tyler for carrying this bill for us and we look forward to
getting it through the Senate as unscathed as it was in the House. We have tried
in past sessions to get this language into Code, and this may be the year we
make it happen!
In an interesting twist in the Senate, the Parental Choice Education
Savings Account Bill from Senator Dunnavant (SB1243) passed on its last read
along a party line vote of 21-19. A few minutes later, the body asked that the
bill be reconsidered and the vote was 20-20 allowing Lieutenant Governor
Northam to cast the tie-break vote. He voted NO and the bill failed! This is a
big victory against VOUCHERS! Thank you to Lt. Governor Northam for breaking
the tie. It will be interesting to see what happens when HB1605 comes over to
the Senate. Delegate LaRock’s bill is much more broadly drawn, but it is the
same voucher scheme that failed today. Time will tell.
Many bills that VEA opposes are still on the floor and will
all be taken up for final passage tomorrow in what will surely be another long
day of floor action.
