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Dear friends,
We are (hopefully) almost done with the 2021 Special Session, which is really just finishing up the work of the Regular Session. Unfortunately, most of the legislation being sent to the Governor is very bad for the Commonwealth, but there are a few good bills moving forward....
First Announcement: Critical Race Theory (CRT) webinar and resources
CRT webinar - The Virginia Project and P.A.C.T. Present: "What is Critical Race Theory, and its Impact on Loudoun County Schools?" Wednesday, March 3, 7:00 pm.
In this webinar, hear from The Virginia Project's Research Director on Un-American Activities, and Parents Against Critical Theory (PACT) as they discuss Critical Race Theory (CRT), a divisive ideology taking over school curriculum. The presentation will provide an overview of CRT - its history, language, and goals - and CRT's destructive impact on Virginia's Loudoun County Schools. This webinar will answer the questions:
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What is CRT and how can I identify it in my children's curriculum?
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Why has LCPS, like many public schools, implemented CRT and their Stated Equity Goals?
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Who Is involved, and what does it look like?
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What is an LCPS Equity Partner?
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What can be done?
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More background from The Federalist- Critical Race Theory Is A Classic Communist Divide-And-Conquer Tactic "...rather than serve as a balm for healing, critical race theory has proven to be poisonous to liberty, true community, and our common humanity."
Back to School? But When?
As I’ve highlighted in past messages, Democrats wasted time attacking police and throwing open the prison doors while keeping our schools shut.
Democrats loyal to their union bosses are keeping schools closed. These are the same unions who push Democrats to oppose funding school choice, leaving many kids and parents stuck in the middle with no good options.
Republicans and a few Democrats are fighting for SB 1303, which would require 5-days-a-week-full-day education for students IF parents choose that option, within the next month. Unfortunately, Democrats voted down the emergency enactment to accelerate the return timeline yesterday, meaning this will not go into effect until July 1, 2021.
Democrats have sold out to the teachers' unions that fund their campaigns, and dismiss parents who want their kids back in school. The only reasonable way forward is to get the schools back open OR give parents the freedom and funding to access private or home school options.
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Frontpage magazine: The Public School System Doesn't Exist for the Students. It Exists for the Teachers' Unions "...The Democrats claim to care about black people. Keeping public schools closed disproportionately hurts black people. But so do most Democrat policies...."
Schools in the Budget
House Democrats have announced that their amended budget contains "more than $500 million" to combat learning loss from virtual schools. The reality is much less rosy.
Of the money for "learning loss," the majority goes toward teacher pay raises, and another large share to funds that will hold districts harmless if their failure to educate students has led to decreased student enrollment.
It appears only $80 million or so goes toward true "learning loss," including $30 million that will go to grants for selected systems.
None of this money will be available until July.
Republicans had a plan to put $100 million into the hands of parents to fight learning loss before it ever took place in the form of the READ Fund.
House Democrats should get out of the way and let parents make decisions that allow their students' education process to resume.
Bad bills passing
While things are simmering down in Washington, the craziness is getting off the rails in Richmond.
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hire someone of their own faith as an in-home tutor or caretaker and even be subjected to in-home visits from the Health Department to conduct an inspection of the premises. Read more about the dangers of these bills here. I voted NO, and spoke against this legislation on the floor (video here).
Another bill, HB 1932, passed on a party line vote. This bill would repeal conscience protections for faith-based adoption and foster care agencies. If this becomes law, the result will be disastrous for private faith-based agencies that want to help find homes for hundreds of children in foster care or who are waiting to be adopted. I voted NO.
House Bill 1896 will force Virginia taxpayers to fund elective abortions for around 1.5 million Virginians, and it even forces taxpayers to fund abortions, contraception, and sterilizations for non-citizens illegally present. I voted NO.
Government taking away our choice of who to hire in our own home, putting faith-based agencies out of business leaving at-risk kids without homes, and wasting our tax dollars paying for non-citizens’ abortions and medical procedures is outrageous.
House Democrats also passed a bill to protect convicted killers on death row from capital punishment, the most extreme measure in their ongoing push to move violent criminals out of jail and back on the streets. Their compassion did not rise to a level sufficient to even hear the bill I proposed in the 2021 Session to block live non-anesthetized babies from being dismembered in the womb. See HB 2241 Unborn child protection from dismemberment abortion; penalties.
Reality Imposes Itself as Green Energy Policies Cause Life-Threatening Failures
Some folks in Texas are not feeling too good about over-reliance on “feel good energy”.
Virginia Democrats have no reservations about raising electric bills to pay for Green Energy schemes, but when demand for electricity exceeds the intentionally-reduced production capacity, black and brown outs are the harsh reality that ensues.
Commentary on Harms of the Green Energy Agenda:
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As nation freezes, fossil fuels are keeping the lights and heat on
“Last week, much of the Midwest and the Mountain States were seeing subzero temperatures and blizzard conditions sweep through. As far south as Dallas, a polar vortex has caused temperatures to dip into the 20s, with ice and snow. There are now rolling blackouts in some parts of Texas because of power supply shortages at a time when the deep freeze causes peak demand.”
“This story isn't so much about the weather as it is about a grand failure of public policy. Because of the political left's war on fossil fuels, and "renewable energy mandates" that require 20 percent to 30 percent of a state's power supply to come from wind and solar power, the power grid is squeezed to the brink.” Read the whole article here.
Inviting Election Fraud
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Reinforcing voter’s doubts about election integrity, Democrats continue to push measures that invite fraud. Monday, SB 1245 passed with almost no consideration to Drop Box security.
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I'm looking forward to session being over this weekend so I can get out and around the community more. As always, thank you for the honor and privilege of serving you in the Virginia House of Delegates. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions!
Sincerely,
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Get in touch and stay connected:
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DelDLaRock@house.virginia.gov
District Office: P.O. Box 6, Hamilton, Virginia 20159 (540) 751-8364
Paid for and authorized by Dave LaRock for Delegate
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