HELP ALERT 06.28.07


The Oregon Legislature adjourned Thursday June 28th at 1 pm.

In spite of numerous attempts to erode home schoolers' rights and autonomy, your actions and activism stopped them all.

Even SB 392, which would have lowered the age of compulsory attendance and attack parental rights, died in a House committee after sailing through the Senate.

The author of the bill, and its most shrill advocate, Vicki Walker announced that she would seek the Secretary of State's office. She is in the middle of her Senate term so she will retain that seat no matter the outcome of her race.

Walker lashed out at home schoolers during the debate on the bill and later admitted she had received a total of two angry phone calls opposing her bill.

Kate Brown, the Sentate Majority leader and an opponent of home schooling, announced that she would not seek reelection.

House Rep Karen Minnis, a reliable supporter of home schooling, and former Speaker, announced that she too would not seek reelection, nor will Senator Avel Gordley.  Gordley, who had supported home schoolers in the past, folded to the teachers' unions and voted in favor of SB 392.

Although House Rep. Donna Nelson made no official announcements of which we are aware, she commented while carrying a bill on the House floor that it would "probably be her last." While not a leader on the issue, Nelson could be counted on to support pro home school bills.

Rest assured that the enemies of  home schooling and parents' rights (like Paul Holvey) will be back. The Legislature will convene again in February for a "special session."  So stay tuned and stay active, but for now, congratulations on a job well done.