The legislative committee reports on current legislative issues which may impact library media centers.

Cyber-lobbying!

Voice your concern over the reduction in the Standards of Quality in the 2010 state budget for education. Write to Governor McDonnell to remove the waiver language during the April 21 Veto session. This is the language we are concerned about: 

The new budget states:Page 79, after line 24, insert:

"11. To provide temporary flexibility, notwithstanding any other provision in statute or in this Item, school divisions may elect to increase the teacher to pupil staffing ratios in kindergarten through grade 7 and English classes for grades 6 through twelve by one additional student; the teacher to pupil staffing ratio requirements forElementary Resource teachers, Prevention, Intervention and Remediation, English as a Second Language, Gifted and Talented, Career and Technical funded programs are waived; and the instructional and support technology positions, librarians and guidance counselorsstaffing ratios for new hires are waived." 

Click on the link to the Governor’s office and voice your concern today.  Feel free to use the text in the letter drafted by the VEMA board.

The link to write the Governor before the Veto Session April 21 is

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/TheAdministration/contactGovernor.cfm 

IN BOX

Click into legislative information sites, and respond with messages about libraries and media.

Visit http://capwiz.com/ala/home/ and follow links for information about Congress and also receive alerts when action is needed.

For search information about the Virginia see the Virginia General Assembly Home Page http://legis.state.va.us/  

To track bills, see past sessions, and follow committees: http://leg1.state.va.us/lis.htm

VEA website with top stories, Action Alert and direct email link to the Governor and General Assembly

http://www.veanea.org/ 

 

VEA Daily Reports from the General Assembly 2010

 

Virginia Library Association Voter Voice Grassroots Action Center

 

OUT BOX

To Virginia legislators:
The NEA website's Legislative
Page allows contacts with state legislators at http://capwiz.com/nea/home 

National, state and local elected officials can be located from this page as well as Issues and legislation.

To Federal legislators:
Go to the ALA Website's Legislative Action Center at http://capwiz.com/ala/home/

Search my zip code or state.
Fill in information.

For NEA’s site click on
http://www.nea.org/lac/funding/index.html  
Enter zip code and click on “act now”

As legislation comes before the General Assembly and Congress, VEMA will keep members informed through the listserve and the website.

Any VEMA members interested in joining me on the legislative committee and attending lobby day in Washington, please email me.

National Library Legislative Day
June 29, 2010
Washington, D.C.

ALA Washington Office
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/wo/  

 

Kathy Lehman, Legislative Chair
kblehman@comcast.net

Last Updated: Monday, October 26, 2009