“The church is the conscience of the nation, and the law is a civil guide to moral behavior for all of us — but especially for the un-churched, who have no other guide.” (Rakazzi)
“Eternal vigilance is the price we must pay to protect Life and Liberty and to advance Virtue in the culture and in the public square.”
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Contending for Values in Virginia General Assembly
The VA General Assembly has now completed two full weeks of its 2015 session with four more to go before it adjourns on Feb. 28.
Each chamber must complete work on its pending legislation on or before Feb. 10, at which time bills that have been approved in one chamber will “Cross-over” to the other chamber for consideration.
The Republicans control both chambers, with a slim margin of 21-19 in the Senate and a much wider margin of 67-32 in the House of Delegates, plus one former Democrat who is now listed as an “independent”.
Listed below are 18 “Values” issues and specific bills – both friendly and hostile — that we are tracking because they will have a direct impact on core issues of Life, Faith, Family, and Freedom. These are drawn in part from individual legislators as well as from other organizations, including The Family Foundation and the Virginia Christian Alliance.
We will also provide you with periodic updates on these bills as they move through the legislative process, or you can track them yourself online HERE .
Finally, we will be sending you occasional “Action Alerts” in which we ask you to contact specific legislators for their help on particular bills at appropriate times.
For God and Country!
Dean
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— Bills We Support —
1. Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (HB 2321, LaRock). Prohibits abortion after 20 weeks gestation except to save the life of the mother.
2. Convention of States (HJ 497, Lingamfelter). Makes application to Congress to call an Article V convention of states to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution aimed at restraining the abuse of power by the federal government.
3. Protect Prayer at Local Government Meetings (HB 1437, Dickie Bell). Codifies U.S. Supreme Court’s Greece Decision.
4. Protect Religious Liberty Rights of National Guard Chaplains (SB 690, Black).
5. Homeschool Sports (“Tebow”) Bill (HB 1626, Rob Bell). Requires school boards and Virginia High School League to develop guidelines for home school participation in public school sports programs. (Passed House 57-41, 1/29)
6. Keep Common Core Out of Virginia: (SB 724, Black; HB 1752 LaRock). Prohibits VA Board of Education from adopting revisions to the Standards of Learning that implement Common Core State Standards without prior approval of the General Assembly. (Passed Senate 21-17, 1/30)
7. Parental Choice Education Savings Account (HB 2238, LaRock). Permits parents of students with certain needs who are enrolled in private or home-school education programs to apply for state education funds.
8. Amend VA Constitution to Allow State Board of Education to Approve Charter Schools (SJ 256, Obenshain). Provides more competition for K-12 education and gives parents more options for their children.
9. Mandatory Reporting of Sexual Abuse of Minor Age Children (HB 1527, Berg). Clarifies that mandatory reporters must report suspected child abuse, sexual molestation, neglect, or other indecent liberties with children to local department of social services.
10. Impose New Mandatory Felonies for Sex Trafficking (SB 1188, Obenshain; HB 2040, RBell).
11. Protect Rights of Conscience in Government Licensures and Business Activity (HB 1414 and HB 1409, RMarshall). Protects businesses, organizations, and individuals from being forced to affirm or promote homosexual “marriage” or “orientation” as a condition for state licensure or other business activity. (Both Bills Defeated in House Subcommittee by Voice Vote, 1/29)
— Bills We Oppose —
1. Introduction of Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity Laws
2. Efforts to Prohibit Sexual Orientation Counseling
3. Expansion of Gambling
4. Medicaid Expansion
5. Attacks on Pregnancy Resource Centers
6. Removal of Religious Exemption for Home Schooling
7. Repeal of Virginia’s Constitutional Marriage Amendment (HJ 492/493)