Wins and Losses in Battle for Values
The VA General Assembly completed its 2015 session last Friday, passing seven of our priority “Values” bills listed below under “The Wins”. That’s the good news. These bills are now with the Governor for his approval – or veto – on or before March 30.
In addition, the eight worst of the “Efforts We Opposed” listed at the bottom did not succeed. That’s more good news.
Nevertheless, were some very good bills that should have passed but did not. Eight of them are listed below as “Honorable Mentions”. We will continue to promote those bills that advance the cause of Life, Faith, Family, and Freedom.
Details on all of the bills listed below are available by bill number at www.virginiageneralassembly.gov.
Not surprisingly, the votes were generally along straight party lines, with Republicans supporting and Democrats opposing nearly all of these “Values” bills.
Once again, it demonstrates the importance of electing and supporting strong, principled legislators who will fight for these Judeo-Christian values and Constitutional principles.
Therefore, we owe a deep debt of gratitude to our Valley Senators and Delegates who took the lead on many of these efforts. You can find contact information for each of them in the General Assembly link noted above.
For Life, Faith, Family, and Freedom!
Dean
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— The Wins! —
1. Protect Religious Liberty Rights of National Guard Chaplains (SB 690, Black). (Passed Senate 38-0 and House 99-0)
2. Homeschool Sports (“Tebow”) Bill (HB 1626, RBell). Requires school boards and Virginia High School League to develop guidelines for home school participation in public school sports programs. (Passed House 62-37 and Senate 22-13)
3. 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 22-15 and House 87-12)
4. Amend VA Constitution to Allow State Board of Education to Approve Additional Charter Schools (SJ 256, Obenshain). Provides more competition for K-12 education and gives parents more options for their children. (Passed Senate 21-17 and House 58-42)
5. Impose New Mandatory Felonies for Sex Trafficking (SB 1188, Obenshain; HB 2040, RBell). (Similar Bills: SB 1188 Passed Senate 36-0 and House 97-0)
6. Prohibit Possession of Obscene Materials by Prisoners in State-Run Facilities (HB 1958, Landes) (Passed House 86-13 and Senate 38-0)
7. (New) Encouraging Support for the State of Israel (HJ 659, Pogge). Directs the Clerk of the House to express the sense of the Virginia General Assembly in support of the State of Israel. (Passed House 100-0 and in Senate by Voice Vote)
— The Honorable Mentions —
1. Convention of States (SJ 269, McDougle; 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. (Withdrawn in Both Chambers.)
2. Beginning of Life (HB 214, RMarshall) Recognizes that human life begins at conception and that the 1973 SCOTUS decisions to “legalize” abortion were based on false science. (Died in House.)
3. Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (HB 2321, LaRock). Prohibits abortion after 20 weeks gestation except to save the life of the mother. (Died in House.)
4. Protect Prayer at Local Government Meetings (HB 1437, DBell). Codifies U.S. Supreme Court’s Greece v. Galloway Decision to permit sectarian prayers. (Passed House 69-30; Defeated in Senate Committee 8-7)
5. 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 Died in House.)
6. 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. (Died in House Committee.)
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. (Passed House 57-42; Defeated in Senate 19-18 with President’s Tie-Breaking Vote)
8. Duty of Attorney General to Represent Commonwealth (HB 1573, Pogge). Requires Attorney General or his designee to defend VA laws when contested in federal or VA appellate court. (Passed House 68-32; Defeated in Senate 21-20 with President’s Tie-Breaking Vote)
— Efforts We Opposed and Which Did Not Succeed —
Tax Increases
Medicaid Expansion
Introduction of Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity Laws
Efforts to Prohibit Sexual Orientation Counseling
Expansion of Gambling
Attacks on Pregnancy Resource Centers
Removal of Religious Exemption for Home Schooling
Repeal of Virginia’s Constitutional Marriage Amendment