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February 10, 2009 –   Vouchers bills, planning time bill, statewide health insurance bill all pass the House.  House budget includes permanent cuts.  Senate budget retains existing funding methodologies making cuts temporary.

Two voucher/tuition tax credit measures, Saxman’s HB1965 (50-47) and Janis’ HB2104 (59-39), passed the House today.  We will do our best to stop these measures in the Senate crossover.

Delegate Hugo’s HB2474, the elementary planning time bill as amended passed the House on a 96-2 vote.

Delegate Shannon’s HB2632, the statewide insurance plan bill passed in its amended form on a 90-9 vote.

Today was the last day for each chamber (House and Senate) to act on its own legislation.  All bills now cross over to the other chamber. 

Our focus is now upon the budget.  Please take some time to click on “Virginia Education Association warns of ‘devastating effects’ of school budget cuts.” on the main page of this web site.  The VEC Statement should be required reading for every Virginian.

Despite statements from Republican and Democratic leadership in the House, the House budget includes permanent cuts to K-12 funding, adopting the support personnel ratio proposed by the Governor.  Thankfully, the Senate cuts are temporary.

VEA will be seeking amendments to the House budget to make the cuts temporary and to provide bonuses to NBPTS national certificate holders.  Please stay tuned as the vote on these amendments will probably be on Thursday.