| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 5/3/2002 5:08:47 PM Christopher J. Klicka, Esq., Senior Counsel of HSLDA Florida--Calls Urgently Needed to Defeat Government Nanny Bill |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- May 3, 2002 Dear HSLDA Members and Friends, Some of you have received responses from the Governor's office concerning the Learning Gateway program nicknamed the "Government Nanny" bill. They are claiming the bill that was passed as an amendment to S.B. 1844 is significantly different than last year's Government Nanny bill that Governor Bush vetoed. Not true. Please let the Governor know that the bill is largely unchanged and will still greatly increase the power of the government over children at the expense of parents' rights. Below are some of the arguments against the bill that we have sent to Governor Bush already. Also below are the details on the deal that was struck behind closed doors to allow the Government Nanny bill to pass the legislature. Please keep your calls and emails coming to the Governor's office. With God's help, and your efforts, the bill will be vetoed. REQUESTED ACTION IMMEDIATELY call the office of Governor Jeb Bush at 850-488-7146 and deliver this message: "Concerned parents want Governor Bush to veto S.B. 1844. This bill creates a big government program that will invade family privacy, usurp the role of parents, and waste taxpayer money. This bill goes against everything the governor stands for." You do not need to identify yourself as a home schooler. The Governor can sign or veto this bill at any time. Although phone calls are the most effective form of getting your message to Governor Bush, you may also want to email him at jeb@MYFL.com . BACKGROUND Mike Peak, lobbyist for Florida Coalition of Christian Private School Association (FCCPSA), believes a deal was struck to get the bill through the legislature even though the House opposed it. Mike explains: "After conversations with other lobbyists and staff in Tallahassee, I believe there was a deal made among the leadership of the House, Senate and Governor's office to let this bill pass. Learning Gateway is about 17 pages long and not likely to have been missed by aides watching for it. Rep. Fasano, chairman of the Healthy Communities Council, assured me in February that they were not going to let Sen. McKay (Senate President) sneak this one through. Yet Rep. Fasano knew it was in the bill when he voted against it, and he did not spread the word. He was one of only three who voted against it. "Also, the bill to which it is attached was one put forth by the Governor to create an "Emerging Technology Commission" under the authority of the Board of Education to develop "centers of excellence" within the state. These centers will facilitate university industry partnerships to increase the speed and frequency with which new discoveries in college laboratories are brought to market, thereby increasing revenues for the universities. "So, the deal appears to have been a trade in order to get the Governor's bill passed." The Governor is saying to many of you that have contacted him that the he is satisfied with the wording added to the Learning Gateway portion of the bill requiring parental consent. However, even with wording in the bill to require parental consent for initial screening, most would feel compelled to comply with the recommendations of the "experts". If they refuse services, they could be turned in for child neglect. ARGUMENTS SUPPORTING THE GOVERNOR'S VETO Here are some of the general arguments thousands of families in Florida have against SB 1844. 1) If this bill becomes law, it will lay the foundation for transforming Florida into a "government nanny state." It will cause unnecessary big government intervention and constitutes a massive invasion of family privacy. 2) S.B. 1844 creates a new big government program called "Learning Gateway," which will "provide systematic hospital visits or home visits by trained staff to new mothers." Such visits by government officials are intimidating and will traumatize many innocent families. 3) The purpose of S.B. 1844 is to "screen" children from birth to age 9 for "learning problems." Further, Learning Gateway providers will conduct "intake with families," conduct "needs/strength based assessments of families," and "make referrals for needed services" and "developmental monitoring." This will all be done in "collaboration" with the Florida Department of Children and Family Services and numerous other big government agencies and programs. 4) S.B. 1844 requires that an electronic data system be developed to track children who are screened, assessed, and referred for services. Will parents be able to remove the child from the government programs once the initial screening is done without their consent? What happens to innocent families who do not want to participate in this screening or programs? Will they be investigated by the child welfare workers since they refused services? 5) S.B. 1844 creates a huge, expensive bureaucracy, with the intent of expanding the program statewide. Thank you for your help. We convinced the Governor to veto it once. Let's do it again! Christopher Klicka HSLDA Senior Counsel {{JoinAd}} ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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