[Gator-Gazette] Budget

[Chip & Sherry Felker]

Hello everyone.

Please take the few short moments to go to this website and let your
opinions be known about the need for our General Assembly to support
public education.  The budget proposal not only affects K-12 education,
but support for higher education as well.  Unfortunately, there are Reps
in the House who are not courageous enough to tell us that there is simply
not enough revenue to pay for basic services.  They are now proposing
putting forward a tax increase referendum proposal to take the heat off
themselves.  This should not be a Republican vs. Democrat issue.  Rather,
the General Assembly has not met its funding obligations for public
education under current state law for many years and its time that we tell
them that is no longer acceptable.

Thanks so much!
Shelley


The next 10 days are our opportunity to convince the General Assembly that
they must fund education this year.  To see the stark contrast between the
House budget and the Senate budget
<http://action.vastudents.org/ctt.asp?u=1695363&l=19857> go to our home
page and look at the comparison of the budget proposals.  We need to get
every Virginian to speak up who knows and cares about adequately funding
schools from pre-Kindergarten through our state colleges and universities.

Please do the following:
1)  Go to the  <http://action.vastudents.org/ctt.asp?u=1695363&l=19858>
Alliance Action Center and click on the red headline for "Adopt Senate
Budget for Education."  There, you can edit a sample letter and
automatically send it to the House Conferees - who need to be persuaded
that Virginians want the Senate budget for education.  Your Delegate and
Senator will be copied on the letter.  You will also be given the chance
to choose to have your message sent by email or fax - and if you have
time, come back and do both.

2)  <http://action.vastudents.org/ctt.asp?u=1695363&l=19859> Check your
Representatives Report Cards.  Look through the Report Cards for all of
the General Assembly.  Each Report Card includes an email link.  Send them
a message and thank those who have Gold Stars for standing up for
education. Let those know who have voted against education know that it
has been noticed and that Virginians support education.

3) Send this message on to your friends, family and neighbors and urge
them to call, fax, write and email the General Assembly as often as
possible in the next few days.

4) Pick up the phone:  Call 1-(800)889-0229 and tell the General Assembly
you support the Senate Budget for Education.  Or, find your
Representatives direct dial telephone number on the Report Card.

Thank you VERY much