| “Woe to those who call Evil Good, and Good Evil, and who justify the wicked for reward.” (Isaiah 5:20)
“Those who forsake the law, praise the wicked, and those who keep the law contend with them.” (Prov. 28:4)
“The law is a civil guide to moral behavior — especially for the un-churched and the unbeliever, who have no other guide.” (Rakazzi)
“Eternal vigilance is the price we pay to protect Life and Liberty and to advance Virtue in the culture and in the public square.” (Rakazzi)
* * * *
Crossover: High Noon in the VA General Assembly
The VA General Assembly has just reached the halfway point of its 60-day legislative session. Therefore, bills passed by one chamber have now “crossed over” to the other chamber for final action before the close of session on March 10.
As you recall, Republicans, including all members of our Valley delegation, still control both chambers with the slimmest of margins at 21-19 in the Senate and 51-49 in the House of Delegates.
That is the clear dividing line along which this “Civil War of Values” is being fought, including on the core issues of Life, Faith, Family, and Freedom. Most Republicans work hard to pass these “Values” bills while Democrats work just as hard to defeat them – and propose hostile bills in their place.
The Top Tier of “Values” Bills
Listed below is an update on the eight priority “Bills We Support” — all sponsored by Republicans. Below that is a list of 35 “Bills We Oppose” – all sponsored by Democrats. The stakes are high and, with such a slim margin dividing the two parties, the outcome for each of these votes could easily have gone either way.
As a result, only three of the eight bills we support have survived and have now “crossed over” to the Senate for a vote. They are marked below in Green. The five that were killed are marked in Ged.
However, the good news is that the Republicans have been able to defeat all of the 35 bills we oppose, which are therefore marked below in Red.
Appreciation and Encouragement to Our Valley Legislators
Therefore, as suggested earlier, please consider sending a note of appreciation and encouragement to members of our Valley delegation who continue, with only a couple of exceptions, to stand strong for our core values and principles in the face of hostile fire from the other side.
You can also include the Family Foundation of Virginia in a separate note for all the work they do throughout the year on our behalf.
Senator Emmett Hanger district24@senate.virginia.gov (804) 698-7524
Senator Mark Obenshain district26@senate.virginia.gov (804) 698-7526
Senator David Suetterlein district19@senate.virginia.gov (804) 698-7519
Senator Jill Vogel district27@senate.virginia.gov (804) 698-7527
Delegate Dickie Bell deldbell@house.virginia.gov (804) 698-1020
Delegate Rob Bell delrbell@house.virginia.gov (804) 698-1058
Delegate Ben Cline delbcline@house.virginia.gov (804) 698-1024
Delegate Todd Gilbert deltgilbert@house.virginia.gov (804) 698-1015
Delegate Steve Landes delslandes@house.virginia.gov (804) 698-1025
Delegate Tony Wilt deltwilt@house.virginia.gov (804) 698-1026
The Family Foundation familyfoundation@familyfoundation.org (804) 343-0010.
In addition, please stay tuned and ready for action on an occasional “Action Alert” so that you can weigh in with specific legislators for their help on particular bills, as needed.
A Reminder: Family Advocacy Day in Richmond
Finally, please remember that the Family Foundation of Virginia, a strong champion in this battle for values, has invited us to join other “Values Voters” from across Virginia for its annual Advocacy Day in Richmond on Monday, Feb. 19.
The day will feature an update on legislation currently pending in the General Assembly as well as an opportunity to personally encourage our Valley delegates and senators in their support for these issues of Life, Religious Liberty, Parental Authority, and Constitution Governance that come before them during the legislative session. It will also include a visit to both the Senate and the House chambers.
Admission is free, and registration begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Theater Room on the fourth floor of the Sun Trust Building located at 919 E. Main St. in Richmond. To register online, go to www.familyfoundation.org/fad.
For Life, Faith, Family, and Freedom!
Dean
* * * * *
— Bills We Support –
1. LIFE: Involuntary manslaughter of the unborn (SB 541, Obenshain). Provides that anyone driving under the influence who causes the death of the fetus of another is guilty of involuntary manslaughter. (Held over to 2019)
2. LIBERTY: Free speech on university campuses (HB 344, Landes). Requires public institutions of higher learning to establish policies regarding free speech on campus, provide to students and faculty, and report annually. (Passed House 89-8)
3. EDUCATION 1: Opt-in for FLE (HB 1168, LaRock). Prohibits any public elementary or secondary school student from participating in any family life education program without the prior written consent of his parent. (Defeated in House Committee)
4. EDUCATION 2: Parental choice Education Savings Accounts (HB 1286, LaRock) Permits parents of a public school child to apply to the local school division for a PCESA that is equivalent to a certain percentage of the cost for the child to remain in that school district, and then use it for alternative educational programs of the parents’ choice. (Defeated in House Committee)
5. EDUCATION 3: Homeschool students in public school sports aka “Tebow” (HB 496, R. Bell). Prohibits public schools from joining interscholastic organizations that do not allow home-schooled students to participate in public school sports programs and other interscholastic activities. (Defeated in House Committee)
6. EDUCATION 4: Online learning program (HB 1504, Cline). Provides that enrollment in Virtual Virginia online program during school year shall be open to each public high school student and home school student in the Commonwealth on space-available basis and free of charge. (Passed House 51-49)
7. EDUCATION 5: Regional charter school divisions (SB 516, Obenshain). Authorizes Board of Education to establish charter school divisions within at least two school divisions of over 3,000 students in which one or more schools have been denied accreditation for two of past three years. (Held over to 2019)
8. SANCTUARY CITIES (HB 1257, Cline). States that no locality shall restrict the enforcement of federal immigration laws to less than is permitted by federal law under penalty of loss of state funding to extent permitted by state and federal law. (Passed House 51-49)
— Bills We Oppose —
1. EDUCATION 1: Requires plan to fund full day kindergarten in all localities. (HB 109, and HB 350) – Delaney and Reid.
2. EDUCATION 2: Requires Board of Health to direct that school children receive meningococcal conjugate MCFA vaccine before child enters sixth grade effective July 1, 2019. (HB 644) — Hope.
3. EDUCATION 3: Removes “Abstinence”, Benefits of “Marriage” and “Value of Postponing Sexual Activity” from FLE instruction materials. (HB 159) — Rasoul.
4. LIFE: Repeals current pro-life laws, resolutions, and protections and proposes new pro-abortion laws. (HB 298, HB 450, HB 1231, HB 1037, HB 1481, HR 14, SB 133, SB 201, SB 709, SB 292, SB 910) — Watts, Rodman, Boysko, Convirs-Fowler, Eileen Filler-Corn, Convirs-Fowler, Locke, Favola, Wexton, and McClellan (2).
5. MARRIAGE: Removes statutory and constitutional language on natural marriage. (HB 75, HJ 7; SB 3, SB 50, SB 603, and SJ 1 were held over 2019) — Simon, Kory, Edwards, and Ebbin (3).
6. SOGI 1: Adds sexual orientation/gender identity (SOGI) to “Hate Crimes” category that carries higher criminal penalties. (HB10, HB 32, HB 266, HB 718, and SB 112) — Kory, Sullivan, Turpin, Plum, and Favola.
7. SOGI 2: Adds special SOGI rights and protections to employment, housing, and insurance laws. (HB 401, HB 971, HB 108, HB 1466, SB 202, and SB 423) — Levine, Guzman, Boysko, Ebbin, Wexton, and Rodman. Both of the Senate bills had earlier passed the Senate, with regrettable support from two of our Valley Senators, Jill Vogel and Emmett Hanger, but both were then killed in the House.
8. SOGI 3: Places prohibitions on sexual orientation counseling. (SB 245) — Surrovell.
9. GAMBLING: Allows casinos to be set up in Virginia. (SB 90 and 91) – Lucas (2).
|
