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Home School Heartbeat in Florida
Bonifay
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WJED
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91.1
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FM
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Cape Coral
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CAPE RADIO
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88.8
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FM
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Cocoa
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WWBC
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1510
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AM
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Daytona Beach
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WAPN
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91.5
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FM
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Englewood
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WSEB
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91.3
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FM
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Englewood
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WSEB
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91.3
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FM
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Fort Lauderdale
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WREH
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90.5
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FM
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Fort Myers
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WDEO
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98.5
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FM
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Fort Pierce
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Radio 4VEH - Horiz...
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94.7
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FM
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Ft. Lauderdale
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WAFG
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90.3
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FM
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Jacksonville
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WAYL
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91.9
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FM
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La Belle
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WBIY
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88.3
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FM
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Merritt Island
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WCPL
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95.5
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FM
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Miami
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*KAMINDA FM
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93.1
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FM
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Miami
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WXTK.COM
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888
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INTERN
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Milton
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WECM
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1490
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AM
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Pace
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WTGF
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90.5
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FM
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Vero Beach
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WSCF
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91.9
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FM
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West Palm Beach
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WPBR
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1340
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AM
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Florida
It's never over until it's over
Florida homeschoolers have won a great victory for the freedom of the family and it came after what appeared to be a sure defeat. This past March, homeschoolers were able to convince the House to vote down a "government nanny" bill which would have created a screening program to identify children in need of government services.
But then in a backdoor move at the eleventh hour, Senate majority leader John McKay slipped his government nanny measure (officially known as the Learning Gateway program) into Senate Bill 1844, an economic development bill. Many House members, who had earlier rejected the government nanny bill, voted for S.B. 1844, unaware that the Learning Gateway language had been added at 9:00 p.m. on the last day of the session.
The bill passed both the Senate and the House, and because it was attached to a needed economic development bill, Governor Jeb Bush signed it into law May 22, 2002. From all appearances, our efforts had been defeated.
However, when a special session was required for budget considerations, HSLDA saw the opportunity for a renewed effort to convince Governor Bush to veto the funding for Learning Gateway. We contacted the governor's office to discuss this. A staff member informed us that Governor Bush was still not supportive of this intrusive program. We were told to email our objections directly to this staff member, and he would meet with the governor.
We sent another email alert to our members, encouraging them to make one last effort in calling and emailing the governor with their statements of opposition. Hundreds of homeschoolers responded--the governor's staff received hundreds of emails, which were then presented to Governor Bush. As a result, he used his line item veto authority to strike all funding for the Learning Gateway program, rendering it a hollow shell.
The fight for freedom is never over until we've exhausted every possible avenue. We are thankful for God's grace working in the heart of Governor Bush.
— Christopher J. Klicka
