The VA voters put the Republicans in power to adhere to their issues and beliefs and I can understand the Democrats doing what they are doing but when “one” Repubican can override “all” the Republicans in the General Assembly well this can not be! If nothing else Senator Blevins should of abstained especially with the thoundsands of dollas received from Virginia Edcuation Associaltion, Chesapeake Public Schools Retired , and all those retired teachers in 2011 (wonder how the Governor feels since his PAC Opportunity VA gave Blevins $2,500 in September 2010). Anyone with any knowledge of the education system knows as a matter of fact the parents of homeschoolers and private school students save the Commonwealth a lot of money they pay for VA educational system and do not even use it! Below for your perusal is a recent article on new report on how school choice helps financial the school districts.

Indianapolis, IN — Public schools throughout the country are not harmed by school choice programs as most of their costs are flexible and can change with student enrollment, according to a new report issued by the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice.

The report entitled “The Fiscal Effects of School Choice Programs on Public School Districts,” found that 36 percent of public school expenses are “fixed” costs while 64 percent are “variable” costs over a one year period.

“This means when public schools lose students to a school that better meets their needs, there is no fiscal harm,” said Ben Scafidi, a senior fellow with the Friedman Foundation and author of the report. “They actually have more money when students leave because there are fewer to educate, and they get to keep some of the allotted funds to educate them.”

The report showed that if school systems retain 36 percent of the funds to educate each student when children leave, then they will be able to fund “fixed” costs that remain with school systems. “Fixed” costs are related to buildings and other capital investments. “Variable” costs cover instruction, curriculum and other related costs.

The report estimates that the average spending per child across the United States was $12,450 during the 2008-09 academic year. Fixed costs account for about $4,482 per student on average.

“If districts have school choice programs and lose a few hundred children, they really are benefitting financially because they keep many of the dollars spent on each child,” said Robert Enlow, President and CEO of the Friedman Foundation. “In no other business in America do you still get paid for not having a customer to serve.”

Scafidi added that “variable” costs which cover instruction and learning can easily be reduced when a student departs because there are fewer students to teach - especially from one year to the next.

“It’s like when children go off to college; families usually reduce household spending,” he said. “So too is it possible for public schools to reduce spending.”

There currently are 34 school choice programs in 19 states and other jurisdictions including voucher, tax credit and education savings account programs to offer parents the opportunity to utilize their own tax dollars to transfer to the school of their choice.

To read the full report, visit our website at: http://EdChoice.org/ScafidiFiscal2012

I keep hearing anyone but Obama and yes Obama needs to go! But do we sell out our values again and again to get anyone but Obama! I have been for the last part of two decades holding my nose and voting the less of the two evils but the lesser of two evils keeps getting closer and closer to the same evil. Example, Romney he started the Obamacare before in his state before Obama was even on the radar and guess what some of the people who created Rommeycare worked and help create Obamacare! Of all the Judges appointed by Romney in Massachusetts 2/3 where liberal judges! Two ladies that work in the EPA now (creating regulations) use to work for Romney! I digress for a moment does anyone notice that people who use to work for Romney now work for Obama so what does that say about Romney and people he hires? Romney will not be transparent will not show his financial statement and Romney says he will not undermine the undermining of the "don’t ask don’t tell"! It goes on but it Christmas and I trying to be nice. If the candidate is Romney well he will not get my vote he is no different than Obama in his policies and making him President will only help how. He will just continue what has been done and not try and make any conservative policy take back. With Obama he lowered the bar in numerous areas with Romney he will just maintain the lower bar.

I posted this on FB, and thought I should put it up here, too. Update: Here is the bill. Look at sections 1031 and 1032. Under section b(1) of 1032, it is stated that the "requirement to detain a person in military custody... does not extend to citizens" of the US. This is very strangely worded. It simply fails to require that citizens be detained; it does not prevent them from being so. Later, it states (in c(1) of 1032) that "not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall issue, and submit to Congress, procedures for implementing this section," and then goes on to list some protocols which shall be included, but to which the President is not limited. What this effectively does, is create a dictatorial police state run by the executive. You should be alarmed. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112%3AS.1867:

Tonight (11/29/2011), on Judge Napolitano's show FreedomWatch, Napolitano said that a secret meeting is being held in the Pentagon to discuss a proposed amendment which would allow our President to use the military as a police force. This would effectively remove due process of law. The President would then have the ability to sic the American military on anyone he deems to be a threat. This is fascism. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find any further information on the internet. If anyone can confirm or deny what Napolitano has said, and especially if you can spread this information as it currently stands, I would be grateful. If this is what it appears to be, our federal government will have made it abundantly clear what they want and how they will get it. Thank you.

RPV Chairman Pat Mullins perhaps having finally heard the voices of many Virginia Republicans, sent an invitation to all of the GOP candidates for U.S. Senate on Thursday, asking them to participate in three debates prior to the June primary election.

In that letter he wrote the following; “While all of you are out meeting voters each day, Virginia is a large and diverse state and I believe that it would be beneficial to the voters to have at least three debates with all of the Republican candidates who will be on the Republican ballot for the June 12, 2012 Primary.”

The question is will George Allen accept the invitation? His campaign seems content to try to ride out the primary with contributions and endorsements from the GOP establishment.

Allen needs to come out from behind the contributions and endorsements and convince Conservative Virginians that he deserves their support again.

It is not 2000 anymore Senator Allen. Virginians and the country at large have changed. The stakes are too great to send a part-time conservative to the Senate. Our children and grandchildren are depending on us, and we must not let them down.

 Washington Post Story here.

Washington Examiner Story here.