There are some votes where you just have to wonder what Senate Democrats are thinking. Such was today on a strict party-line vote of 9-6 committee vote to kill an education bill (HB 2314) that would have encouraged corporations to help the underprivileged go to better schools.
Specifically, the bill would have established
a credit beginning in taxable year 2012 for corporations donating cash to nonprofit organizations providing education improvement scholarships to students who would have been eligible for the free and reduced lunch program under federal law [emp. added]
Basically, Democrats voted today against the poor. There is no other way around it.
From Governor Bob McDonnell:
“Once again, Democrats in the Senate have unfortunately voted against innovative education reforms that would increase educational opportunities for Virginia’s underprivileged children, and have instead decided to side with special interest groups and unions. This proven legislation would have allowed non-profits to provide more scholarships for lower income children to attend non-public schools, a measure that would actually save the state money. It would incentivize the business community to do good work to help those in need, a great American value. It is time for Senate Democrats to rethink their priorities and make decisions that are in the best interest of Virginia’s children, not outside unions and advocates for bigger government. The growing national effort to provide more educational opportunities for our young people is a bipartisan one. In Washington D.C. President Obama is committed to this effort and implementing new options and creative educational tools like charter schools and merit pay. I want to thank the Republican members on Senate Finance who stood up for Virginia’s low income families and voted to provide new educational options for children across the Commonwealth, and all those who have worked to move this measure forward. Helping disadvantaged children access greater educational opportunities is the right thing to do, and we will continue to work to increase that access in the years ahead.”
Why do Democrats ignore the education needs of children? Why do Democrats not want to encourage those who are poor a chance at a better life and more opportunity? Why do Democrats make kids cry? (an eyewitness source tells me kids in the committee room left crying)
Votes like this one today need to be remembered in November.
Update from the Republican Party of Virginia:
If Democrats really cared about “the children,” they’d support a good education for students, regardless of where it comes from.
Then again, with what we’ve seen on Capitol Square in recent days, perhaps it’s not all that surprising that when a union says ‘jump,’ Democrats are quick to say ‘how high’
… provided the check clears.
