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 death of Coretta Scott King reminds us in very real ways that entire segments of a change-agent-generation will be lost to the biology of existence in the next decade. The zeitgeist of a generation is ending.

We must be the living legacy of yesterday’s leadership just as we must be the model for tomorrow’s leaders. You and I are molded by the saints of the past and likewise are called to create a faithful future. Often times this will mean that we must move beyond our zones of comfort; from spectator to actor, from sidelines to the public square.

This week’s Day of All People of Faith advocacy day is a prime example of people moving to action. The largest group ever to gather with the faith community at the Virginia General Assembly to Learn about the issues facing the Assembly, Pray together (thanks to the leadership of Rev. Roger Harp), and to Act on behalf of those who are most vulnerable and on the margins became a voice for change, even if just for a little while. The day was a great success and provided tremendous hope for the future of the Center and the journey we have shared for the last 24 years.

I wonder, as I consider a soon-to-be-passing generation, who will take up journey after the leaders of today. As I look around, my fear is that some of us have been so eager to create a better world that we have forgotten to create caretakers to be the recipients of this future.

The work we are given to do is not a gift to be placed upon the shelf of our experience. It is a like loaf of bread to be broken and shared with those around us. We must share all of our gifts, particularly with the young and the next generation. I hope that you will seek out those next great stewards of advocacy and become mentors to them. The zeitgeist only dies when no one else experiences it. Doug

Where things are in the legislative process

Tuesday, February 14, is “crossover.” Whatever bills have passed one house cross over to the other.

After crossover, each house works on the other house’s bills. Whenever there is a difference, a conference committee tries to work out a compromise. This year, an emerging issue seems to be the search for dedicated revenue for transportation funding. We thought that transportation funding would take center stage but the focus seems to be shifting from roads and rails to the revenue question - perhaps a rehash of the 2004 tax debate.

One thing missing from the conversation is real tax reform, e.g. more progressive brackets, capturing the new service economy via a services tax, removing outdated credits, deductions and exemptions, etc. It seems as though the longer tax reform is avoided, the more difficult it will be to maintain core service funding.

Staff are presently spending enormous amounts of time in subcommittees because of the new rules that allow the House to kill bills without a full hearing. Subcommittees meet in the early morning (as early at 7:00am) during the day, and late into the evening.

The process of passing bills and noting financing needs will affect the next phase- the budget- when the action shifts to the money committees of each chamber: Senate Finance and House Appropriations. Tensions may be ahead.

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.

Just Can’t Get Enough of This Stuff?

Check our Website for more information.

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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