Welcome to the online version of LegisLink. This weekly newsletter, e-mailed to everyone and mailed to members of the Center, should be an excellent way for you to stay updated on the General Assembly. Do not hesitate to call the office for more information.

Director on Record

The word “service” means different things to different people. As a kid in Hampton, my family and I would go to a Peach’s “service” station to get gas. While pumping gas, a kind fella would check the oil, wash the windshield, and check the tires. Sadly, “service” stations have become gas stations where you pump, buy a Snickers, and smell like gas all the way home.

In the faith community, we have a different understanding of service. Our worship “service” is a time for the community of faith to gather around a common desire to worship God. The “service” may include singing in the congregation, or it may include working with our hands in the community at soup kitchens or through “service” projects. Our “service” is the embodiment of our faith.

With these understandings of service, and many more that we can all name, I am amazed that Payday Lenders consider the 375% APR charged on loans a “service” for low income workers. Recently, several gentleman from Car Title and Payday Lending organizations invited the head of the Center’s Advocacy Committee, Jay Speer, and I to a meeting to speak about the great “service” that they provide the poor.

Lenders were not satisfied by our concerns that the debt-trap, trapping the poor in a cycle of fees and high interest, was damaging families and communities. In the end, the meeting was civil but we held our ground. Targeting the military, the elderly, and the poor in any financial scheme that fleeces the most vulnerable is wrong. Like our 2005 Legislator of the Year, Delegate Harvey Morgan, the Center believes that Payday Lending has no place in Virginia.

Service is acting out our faith, not acting out our greed. I hope that out of state legislators will hear from you - the poor can do without Payday Lender’s “service.” Doug

Where things are in the legislative process

During this second week, it seems both like we just began and that we’ve been at it for weeks!! With the prefiling of most bills, committees have been diligently at work. In this edition, we have given it “our best shot” noting those bills for which we have particular interest. Moreover, the budget amendments are still being introduced.

THE ISSUE is transportion and to a lesser degree Medicaid. With close to 3000 bills, the focus over the next three weeks is mainly on committees and their sub-committees. It looks like there is no church property bill this session and so we are focusing on Indigent Defense and Payday Lending bills in a BIG way. We are watching the Medicaid Reform bills closely and wondering what “reform” may mean.

The most important committees for us are: Senate Finance and House Appropriations and their sub-committees on Health and Human Resources, carrying our Poverty and the Working Poor and our Health budget amendments, Senate and House Courts carrying our death penalty and criminal justice bills, Senate Education and Health and House Health, Welfare and Institutions carrying our health bills including children’s health (FAMIS) and related bills. Also Senate Finance and House Finance will be handing the tax and appropriationgs bills.

Legislative bills and resolutions are moving towards a February 14th deadline (called “crossover”). Be sure to join us for the Day of All People of Faith on Feb. 1!

Bill Tracking

This weekly source of information is designed to help you find the bills in which you are interested quickly and efficiently.

We will be posting information about any relevant bills, including which legislator(s) sponsoring a bill, a summary of the bill, and where the bill is in the legislative process. Bills in black are those that the Center opposes. Some bills had not yet been assigned numbers at the time of publication. Additionally, we will be expanding the online list of bills as needed.

NOW IS THE TIME TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS BY LETTER/PHONE/FAX/VISIT! Send email and fax messages to your legislators via our user friendly communications system on our website at www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org.

Day of All People of Faith at the Virginia General Assembly

Join us for the Day of All People of Faith on February 1, 2006 at the Virginia General Assembly. This is the scheduled Advocacy Day for the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, a time to LEARN, PRAY and ACT.

Registration begins at 8:00 am at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church across from the Capitol in Richmond. The day-long event affirms the work of the faith community to fulfill its mission to unite people of faith to build a more just and sustainable Commonwealth.

Cost: $15.00 includes lunch, materials, and speakers

Payment will be accepted online by credit card, by check via mail, or by check at the door. Make checks payable to Virginia Interfaith Center, P.O. Box 12516, Richmond, VA 23241.

For more information, please contact Margaret Reuthinger:
Phone: 804-643-2474
E-mail: Margaret@virginiainterfaithcenter.org

Center Priorities (.pdf)

Bulletin Inserts
Child Support (.pdf)
Environment (.pdf)
Housing Trust (.pdf)
Indigent Defense (.pdf)
Payday Lending (.pdf)
Minimum Wage (.pdf)

Advocacy Resources
Advocacy Guide (.doc)
Advocacy Portal (link)
Lending Info. (.ppt)
Richmond Map (.pdf)

For Small Groups
Eco-Stewardship (link)
Prayers for Creation (link)
Poverty Diet (link)

Policy Briefs
EITC (.doc)
TANF Child Support (.doc)
Payday Loans (.doc)
Healing Creation (.doc)
Child Ombudsman (.doc)
Affordable Housing (.doc)
Indigent Defense (.doc)
Minimum Wage (.doc)
Wage & EITC (.doc)
VA Tribes (.link)

Actions
Lending Petition (link)
Title Petition (link)
Wage Petition (link)

Reports
Budget Analysis (.pdf)
Food Stamps (.doc)
Lottery Study (link)

FAQ's (link)

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