HELP ALERT 06.19.07

Representative Linda Flores moved today to remove House Bill 3450 from the House Education Committee and vote on the bill on the House Floor.

This bill would have ended the burdensome and unnecessary government testing requirements faced by home schoolers.

The bill had been in committee for months with no action.

Representative Peter Buckley, an opponent of  home school freedom, rose to oppose the motion, citing "negotiations" with home schoolers that never happened.

After a few cliffhanger moments with members changing their votes, the motion to move the bill to the floor failed by 1 vote. A vote NOT to withdraw the bill was a vote AGAINST home schoolers' rights and freedoms. For a complete vote count, please see this link. All but one House Democrat* voted against parents' rights. All House Republicans voted for parents' rights.

Representative Jeff  Barker, who has supported home schooling in the past voted "no."  Representative Flores deserves a big "thank you" from home schoolers for her efforts on their behalf.

*Tomei was absent. Otherwise she would have voted against parents' rights.