Unprecedented and unpredictable really describes much of what went on during the 2012 General Assembly Session, and the Veto Session proved to be no different. During the Session of 2012, highly publicized social legislation put Virginia on the national map and the late-night TV circuit. But almost from the first day state politicians came to …
Tag: General Assembly
Apr 09
Budget Woes for Educators….Again!
Command and control; but do not compensate. That appears to be the new state mantra for K-12 personnel. And the news on the compromise budget appears to bolster that view, as previously expressed by the Governor and others, that public school personnel are “local employees” and may be why we learned last week that funding …
Mar 30
Let’s Talk Budget
Yes, Virginia, it looks like we will have a budget this year – if the House and Senate budget conferees are able to come to a “meeting of the minds” and agree to compromise on differing solutions to balancing the state budget. Conferees on the part of the House are: Delegates Putney, Cox (of Colonial …
Mar 21
VRS Legislation Update
According to the VEA, the fiscal impact to instructional personnel of the legislative changes to VRS over the next 20 years could be as high as $3.8 Billion – that is $3.8 B less in benefits owing to the number of “offsets” the General Assembly is proposing in order to make VRS whole and to …
Mar 13
General Assembly Review
The 2012 General Assembly Session ended amid a flurry of last minute voting on key legislation, amendments to a number of controversial bills and a decision to heed the Governor’s call for a special budget session. Members agreed to take a few days to “cool off” before returning to Richmond on March 21. After …
Mar 12
Potential Changes for Our VRS
Just when legislation outlining VRS retirement options seemed on the verge of failure, new amendments appeared on the last day of the 2012 Session. After consulting with key Republican leaders from the House and Senate money committees, the Governor sent down revisions to VRS bills. Some Democrats objected that few members had seen the amendments …
Mar 08
HB 576 Still Has Not Passed
How often is a bill passed over without a vote for ten days? The answer: not often. But that is exactly what is happening with HB 576, the Governor’s contract bill, which moves the probationary period for teachers, principals and assistant principals from three years to five years and replaces continuing contract with a three-year …
Mar 05
VASSP Opposition to HB 576 – Contract and Evaluation Policies Legislation
The Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals has made it clear that it does not support the implementation of HB 576 (the Teacher and Principal Contract and Evaluation Policies Bill) as it is written. This bill was developed without the opportunity of Virginia’s education organzations to provide input into the discussion and development of the …
Mar 02
Budget Impasse in the General Assembly
State government almost shut down in 2004 and again in 2006 – but crisis was averted and consensus was reached before the drop-dead date of July 1. We may not be so lucky this year. The last week of the 2012 Session is upon us, and the Senate has no budget to put into conference …
Mar 02
House Bill 947 Fails
In a room packed with homeschoolers and their parents and, for the first time, public school students, HB 947 failed to be reported. Citing choice, fairness and the importance of preserving competition, opponents of HB 947 told Senate Education and Health Committee members that parents make choices regarding where their children will be educated and …