We have two chances of getting SB 1830 (Engrossed) to the Governor’s desk. Even better, the author of HB 3220 is the conservative Rep. Hancock and the Senate sponsor is conservative Sen. Dan Patrick.
The chicken is even closer to hatching!
Archive for May, 2009
Better News! SB 1830 is also attached to HB 3220!
May 27, 2009Good News! Senator Patrick’s Plan B has worked so far!
May 26, 2009I can now tell you about Plan B. Since SB 1830 is stalled in the House, Senator Patrick decided to attach the engrossed version bill (the version that the Senate passed unanimously) as an amendment to HB 3646 which had already passed the House.
He was successful. SB 1830 was successfully attached as an amendment to HB 3646, and HB 3646 was successfully passed by the Senate.
The chicken is almost hatched, but not just yet.
One hurdle is left. Since the version of HB 3646 that passed the Senate is quite a bit different than the version that passed the House, a Conference Committee made up of members from the House and Senate will meet to reconcile the differences. Since the House has refused to pass most of the Senate’s bills, the Conference Committee members from the House will be in a weakened position to remove any of the Senate amendments.
I’ll let you know about the Conference Committee results as soon as I find out.
Thank you for calling and emailing House Calendars. The House is not going to help us, but Sen. Patrick has a plan B.
May 24, 2009Thank you again for responding to our Action Alerts. Apparently the House has deaf ears. We seem to be wasting our voices and keyboards on the House. The House is in really bad shape this year. Perhaps Speaker Straus is still a novice at his task.
But Senator Dan Patrick and the Senate have an alternate plan B, which only involves the House indirectly. I don’t want to be more specific at this time, out of deference to Senator Patrick.
At any rate, no more calling and emailing is needed at this time. If you want to follow the action, watch the Senate deliberations, not those of the House.
Testimonials from Parents and Students who have experienced school choice.
May 17, 2009These testimonials are from parents that have experienced parental choice of schools through private vouchers awarded by a sister organization to Let’s Choose Schools in Texas, the Austin Children’s Educational Opportunity Foundation
I took my daughter out of public school because she was feeling a lot of pressure and negative influences to do the wrong things. She was getting into trouble and was very depressed. The new school environment we chose has helped tremendously with her self esteem and is helping her to make good choices.
Syreeta
Education has always been a very big part of our lives… We invest a lot of time and energy in partnering with our teachers and participating in school activities. We strongly believe that our children will develop into successful men and women in an environment that reinforces the values and principles that we teach at home.
Monica
I feel that the method used is academically outstanding at the school we picked. The school provides a very nurturing environment for our son. I would like for my child to get the best education possible–an education suited to his learning needs.
Ammathyst
Taxpayers! Do you want to stop feeding the public sector? Then support tuition tax credits!
May 16, 2009Support tuition tax credits, even if you are not that excited about school choice!
In the WSJ article entitled “Unions vs. Taxpayers“, Steve Malanga persuasively makes the point that public sector unions are the most powerful political force in government. Their goal is to move the nation toward socialism.
If taxpayers are going to turn the nation around toward smaller government, they must cut the taxes going to the government trough that are feeding these socialists.
The most obvious way is to refuse to pay your taxes. This approach has the inconvenient consequence of having the IRS hot on your trail. Is there a safer way to keep the tax money out of the public sector?
Yes! It is tax credits! With tax credits, the money is still coming out of your pocket, but it stays in the private sector!
What is the biggest spigot that can be turned off with tax credits? School Taxes! How big is this spigot? When you add state, local, and federal money going to public education, it is bigger than the defense budget! State and local taxes make up more than 80% of this money.
How do we turn off this spigot? Tuition tax credits are the answer. With tuition tax credits, all your school tax dollars could be redirected to the private school sector before the public sector gets their greedy hands on it. But you get a second benefit.
In addition to keeping the money away from the teacher unions, you allow private schools to teach the kids to be productive members of society, rather than preparing them to be wards of the state.
When those kids become productive members of society, they also become TAXPAYERS! More taxpayers means more people that want smaller government.
If you want smaller government, the first place to start is with tuition tax credits, EVEN IF YOU LOVE YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOL!
2,000 D.C. Parents and Children Demand Action on School Choice at Wednesday Rally
May 6, 2009May 6, 2009 (D.C. Children First)–At a rally today on Freedom Plaza, nearly 2,000 D.C. families demanded that Mayor Adrian Fenty, the D.C. City Council, and Congress defend their right to school choice, participating in an historic rally to protect the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program and public charter schools.
“We are here to support you and to stand up for choice” said Current D.C. Councilman Harry Thomas, Jr.
Supporters delivered a petition to Mayor Adrian Fenty with over 7,400 signatures. The petition was signed by D.C. residents who support quality educational options, including the reauthorization and strengthening of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program.
“Every child in our city should have the opportunity to succeed” said former D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams. “To put our kids first, we need to fight to see that the U.S. Congress, the D.C. Council, and my successor all support school choice for our children.”
We will demand an education for our children – one at a time if we have to – by any means necessary” said former D.C. Councilman Kevin P. Chavous.
Many parents attended the rally, including Patricia William, who has a 7th grader and a Kindergarten student in the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program. “I am here to testify that this program works. My son has made tremendous progress. I think all parents should have the opportunity to send their children to the schools of their choice.”
D.C.’s current school choice options are under attack. Public charter schools are facing funding cuts, attempt to curtail their autonomy, as well as limited access to closed public school buildings to meet their growing demand. And both Congress and the Department of Education have taken steps that could end the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program.
“We ought to tell the Congress to fund this program and not let D.C. families down. Therefore we have to fight, fight, fight to protect school choice,” said Councilman and Former Mayor Marion Barry.
“This program has changed my life and has made me the successful young man standing before you,” said Ronald Holassie, a 10th grader at Archbishop Carroll High School. “The Opportunity Scholarship Program must continue. I am shocked that there are some people who do not care about our education and would take away our chances of having brighter future.”
For more information, visit www.DCChildrenFirst.org.
