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Hillary Clinton may think it takes a village to raise your child — a village of her own choosing, of course. But Virginians think otherwise. Just prior to crossover, the House of Delegates passed a resolution affirming parental rights 64-31! This resolution, HJ 193, patroned by Delegate Brenda Pogge (R-96, Yorktown), urges Congress to pass an amendment to the U.S. Constitution declaring that, “the liberty of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children is a fundamental right.”

In case you have not yet heard about the Parents Rights amendment, let me give you the facts (see our policy brief, here). In the United States, parents have traditionally held the right to raise their own children according to their own beliefs. This right has been upheld in the U.S. Supreme Court for 70 years. However, recent court rulings on parental rights have shown that the court is becoming divided on this critical issue. In fact, the court issued 6 different opinions in the parental rights case Troxel v. Granville (2000), with only four justices acknowledging that parental rights were protected by the Constitution.

There’s another reason to be concerned about the plight of parental rights: the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (see our preivous post and video about this). Supported by people such as President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), this treaty actually has a chance of passing. Currently, the United States and Somalia are the only countries that have not passed the treaty. If this treaty is passed, it will undermine parental rights unless the Constitution clearly says otherwise.

Delegate Pogge’s resolution received enthusiastic support from both sides of the aisle in the House. However, this resolution will not become law unless it is also passed in the Virginia Senate. As many of you know, the Senate is much less receptive to family issues like this than the House of Delegates. When the bill is debated in the Senate, we will ask you to contact your Senators to urge their support of this measure.

Another parental rights effort did not meet with the same success. Several legislators this year introduced bills that would have allowed home school students to participate in public school sports programs. Unfortunately, despite the fact that their parents pay for public schools and their programs through tax dollars, home school students are treated as second-class citizens.

Delegate Rob Bell’s (R-58, Charlottesville) HB 926, which would have directed the Virginia High School League to allow homes school students eligibility, was “carried over” (see vote) until next year by the House Education Committee after a lengthy debate and opposition by the VHSL. This will give Delegate Bell the opportunity to work with the interested parties to seek a solution to the problem.

The House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee released their budgets this afternoon (the Senate doing so despite rumors they would fail to craft one due to internal bickering among the Democrat majority’s factions) and Governor Bob McDonnellhas just released his statement on the two proposals. Interestingly, contrary to his conciliatory tone at his news conference last week, where he politely disagreed with former Governor Tim Kaine’s proposed budget, and where he said Mr. Kaine sincerely believed he submitted a good budget, but that the the two simply had an honest disagreement, the new governor came out swinging today. Check out the first quote in his statement.

Statement of Governor Bob McDonnell on House and Senate Budget Amendments 

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell issued the following statement this evening regarding the budget amendments released today by the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee.

I commend the leadership and members of the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee for producing their budgets today. Due to the dire economic situation facing our Commonwealth this is an extraordinarily difficult budget cycle. It was further exacerbated by the previous Administration’s inclusion in their introduced budget of a $2 billion tax hike that was quickly dismissed by a 97-0 bipartisan vote in the House of Delegates. The proposed tax increase, which had no possibility of passage, simply put off until now the full challenge of closing a $4.2 billion cumulative shortfall.

For the past month we have met often with legislative leaders to discuss the budget in great detail, choosing a framework of bipartisan collaboration over dictation. I have laid out three major priorities for this budget: it must be done on time, not contain any general tax increases, and invest, even in a difficult fiscal environment, in job creation and economic development measures imperative to a successful recovery. The budget amendments from both bodies advance two of these priorities, and I am pleased by the common ground our partnership has produced.

Additionally, the House has put forward amendments advancing our job creation and economic development proposals. I am optimistic that the Senate will also support these smart investments in Virginia’s economic future as the budget process continues. There are other differences, some significant, over the specifics of the recommendations made by both Committees, and those put forward by our Administration. However, with today’s action we have taken a step in the right direction.

The parameters governing the budget making process from this point forward are set. We will work together across party lines to cut spending while not raising taxes. As we do this, we will not forget that the reductions we make, while necessary for the future prosperity and vitality of our Commonwealth, will mean real hardships in the near term for many of our citizens. There are no easy choices in closing the $4 billion budget shortfall that is unparalleled in Virginia history.

In the weeks ahead, I look forward to continuing to work with the House and Senate budget conferees in every manner by which this Administration can be helpful. I have great confidence that in the midst of the most difficult budgetary period in modern Virginia history we will pass a balanced budget on time, as the citizens of Virginia sent us here to do.

Friday, we posted what several national media now are saying: The Obama administration and its liberal Congressional ideologues will unveil and push through what was thought to be dead — a nationalized health care plan. If this, and the entire federalized health care idea concerns you, then consider attending this very special event.

Thursday, February 25, The Family Foundation and The Heartland Institute are co-hosting a complimentary forum and panel discussion concerning the future of health care in America. The panel consists of our president, Victoria Cobb; Peter Fotos, director-Government Relations, Heartland Institute; Ben Domenech, managing editor-Health Care News; and Peter Ferrara author of The Obama Health Plan: Rationing, Higher Taxes, and Lower-Quality Care. Also confirmed are Delegates (and doctors) Scott Garrett (R-23, Lynchburg) and John O’Bannon (R-73, Henrico).

The Heartland Institute is a natioanlly recognized nonprofit research and education organization. Based in Chicago, it promotes free-market solutions to the issues of health care, school choice, the environment, and government bureaucracy. It is an honor that it has chosen us to partner with on this very informative and important forum. So, we hope you can make it to Richmond to attend; or if you live in the area, make arrangements to spend three hours with us.

The panel discussion will be held in Richmond from 9:00 a.m. until noon in The Family Foundation’s 12th floor conference room located at 830 East Main Street (the corner of 9th Street and Main Street). Refreshments will be served. Pre-registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. Those wishing to register should contact Robin Knox at The Heartland Institute at (312) 377-4000 or rknox@heartland.org. We hope you will be able to join us for this informative discussion.