Letter to the Editor

Washington Post

Dear Editor:

Virginia is the seventh-wealthiest state in the nation, yet we rank 48th in per capita Medicaid spending, keeping almost a million people uninsured. Virginia almost always provides no more than the legal minimum level of funding for health care, making it harder to qualify for Medicaid and reducing benefits once you or your children are enrolled. And now, beginning this July, low-income Virginians' search for coverage and appropriate medical attention has become even tougher.

Because of the end of federal stimulus support, Virginia's leaders have scheduled significant reductions in what we pay to  our doctors, nurses and hospitals through our Medicaid program. This trend could seriously imperil health-care quality and access for Virginians hit hard by these tough times. But make no mistake: This is a choice our leaders made when they chose to balance the state budget with massive cuts to essential programs.

To put Virginia on a more stable economic footing and to make crucial investments in the health of our families, our leaders must make better budget choices. They could start by focusing on a balanced approach that includes new revenue. Only healthy Virginians can create a healthy economy. 

John Horejsi, SALT, Vienna

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A recent letter to the editor challenged E.J. Dionne’s understanding regarding what the Catholic Church teaches regarding “government’s responsibility to promote social justice.”  Dionne knows of what he speaks. His critic, whose letter was printed in the Washington Post (05.25.2011), misrepresents what the Church teaches regarding the government’s responsibilities with respect to social justice. She does not know of what she speaks.

The Catholic bishops’ “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States” says: “The Church’s obligation to participate in shaping the moral character of society is a requirement of our faith’ (par. #9).   Paragraphs 76-87 of that same document clearly sets forth the responsibility of citizens and the “social and economic policies” required of the government to advance the common good, to promote social justice for all citizens, especially the most vulnerable.

Dionne got it right about church teaching and government responsibility to promote social justice.  It is not just an individual responsibility, as the critic of Dionne asserts. Individuals have the responsibility to insist that the government’s “social and economic policies” conform to the requirement of social justice.  The bishops say that clearly in the document referenced above.

Regards,

Robert Stewart
Public Affairs Coordinator for Social Action Linking Together (SALT)

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I want to write to commend you for your brave and absolutely correct editorial “The Scandal of Virginia's Highways.”  Our road system is in an embarrassing state of disrepair. That puts us all in danger AND increases wear and tear on the vehicles of working Virginians throughout the state.

No one wants to pay higher taxes – no one wants to pay for anything if they don’t have to – but there’s also no such thing as a free lunch.  If we’re going to grow our way out of this economy we have to provide the kind of positive business environment that will attract companies to move here.  Without the ability to get your goods to market without damaging your trucks or endangering your driver, you simply can’t do business.

Governor McDonnell’s plan to borrow tomorrow’s transportation dollars to put a Band-Aid on today’s problem is the worst kind of dodge.  Not only is it not enough money to actually fix the problem, it’s going to make it harder for us to fund transportation down the road.

What we need in Richmond are politicians who are willing to be brave.  Not the false bravery that comes from cutting education, transportation, or social programs to balance a budget, but the real courage that’s required to tell Virginians that if we want to live in a state we’re proud of we’re all going to have to pitch in.

Sincerely,

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I am writing today to emphatically support your editorial describing our legislators as “cowards who have refused over the past decade and a half to cast the difficult votes to fund the legitimate duties of government at proper levels.” 

The fact of the matter is that we inherited from our parents and grandparents an incredible system of roads, schools, water and electrical infrastructure, and public safety institutions that have allowed us to prosper as a state.  Yet, we have betrayed their legacy and our children’s future by selfishly refusing to pay what it actually costs to maintain these amazing gifts. 

We pride ourselves on being a pro-business state. To get out of the recession successfully and in a position to have a vibrant and prosperous economy, we have to make sure the state is doing everything it can to play its critical support role for the private sector: educating our workforce, maintaining our roads and transit systems, providing robust public safety, and maintaining a safety net to return people to productivity when they are dealt an economic setback. 

Taxes are the only way the government gets the money to perform its key functions, and trying to operate 21st Century government with a tax code from the early ‘80s just wont work.

Sincerely,

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Roanoke Times: An expensive budget surplus

Gov. McDonnell shouldn't be so proud of the state's balance sheet

Gov. Bob McDonnell never misses a chance to crow about how well he manages the state's finances. Last week, for example, he cheered news that Virginia is running a $600 million budget surplus. It proves that the economy is rebounding under prudent leadership, according to the spin. Reality is far less rose-tinted.

A budget surplus certainly is better than a budget deficit. McDonnell plans to roll the money into aid programs for communities hard hit by weather disasters in recent weeks. That is an especially worthy use of the dollars after the Federal Emergency Management Agency declined to provide federal assistance.

Yet Virginians should not be fooled that this surplus is the result of smart fiscal policy. On the contrary, McDonnell and the General Assembly built it on debt, federal subsidies and drastic cuts to core services. All the while, they refused seriously to consider raising revenue.

The commonwealth delayed payments of more than $600 million to the public employees' pension fund, accepted nearly $2 billion in federal stimulus money and borrowed against future federal highway revenue to raise money today. It shifted millions of dollars in expenses onto localities, and slashed spending on schools, higher education and law enforcement.

Virginia will have a budget surplus when the fiscal year ends, but it came at a very high cost.

Evan Feinman
Campaign Coordinator
The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis

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Catholic Digest Hero

      Dear Mr. John Horejsi, I'm delighted to inform you that following your nomination by George Alexa, you've been selected by our editorial staff as a Catholic Hero to be featured in the November 2010 issue of Catholic Digest. This special issue of our magazine will celebrate Catholic laypeople who demonstrate a strong commitment to their Catholic faith and to making a difference in the world. A feature about you and your work with SALT will accompany write-ups of 11 other Catholic heroes and activists who are quietly putting their faith into action, providing medical care, helping children, rebuilding New Orleans, counseling youth, working to promote the sanctity of life, and empowering the poor.

      From: Kate Oates Subject: Catholic Digest: Catholic Heroes (You've been chosen!) Congratulations! And thank you for all that you do! Article follows. God Bless, Kathryn Oates Kathryn S. Oates | Assistant Editor Catholic Digest 1 Montauk Ave., New London, CT 06320 

 John Horejsi Founder of SALT

“Out of the pew and into the lobby.”

      Taken in by poor relatives after his mother died, John Horejsi was moved by the sacrifices they made to care for him. “These kinds of life events cause you to think, what are you doing for others?” Inspired, he became a passionate social worker, devoting his time to impoverished people.

     After speaking at a Catholic Charities conference about homelessness and hunger, his audience decided to organize themselves and take action. “We learned that Virginia was charging sales tax on food stamps. They were scraping like $9.5 million of food off the top of the federal food stamp program for families at risk of hunger.” Outraged, the group went to Virginia to lobby their cause. They contacted a senator who discovered that 18 other states were also taxing the food stamp program, which was also about to be further marked up in price.

      Thanks to the combined efforts of the group and sympathetic politicians, the mark up bill was stopped, and the tax removed. Heartened by their success, SALT (Social Action Linking Together) was founded. “We seek to keep social justice issues front and center at the Virginia General Assembly. We have to be up there to speak for these bills or there’s no chance that anything will ever be done for poor people. One legislator told me, ‘whenever we have a hearing, if the issue is for rich people, you can’t get in the door. But when we’re talking about poor folks, the room is empty.’”

      Encouraged, SALT began diligently tackling new problems. The group found out that homeless shelters were filled past capacity, and thousands of families were being turned away. Getting to the root of the problem, they lobbied for the Homeless Intervention Program (HIP) that offers rental assistant for up to four months. “Most of these people are on the edge of homelessness because of a crisis. They lose their job or have medical expenses.” The program offers individuals a chance to recover without losing everything in the process, and is currently keeping 7,600 families in their homes each year.

      “Legislators have said that the thing they really respect about us is that we’re not asking anything for ourselves, but we’re asking something for those are most desperate and in the greatest need.” Nominated by George Alexa, Arlington Diocese.  Contact  S.A.L.T at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   s-a-l-t.org This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   

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SALT Success!

Virginia Income Tax Credit Coalition Mini-Grants

Out of this appropriation, $230,000 the first year and $230,000 the second year shall be provided to the Virginia Community Action Partnership to support the Virginia Earned Income Tax Coalition and provide grants to local organizations to provide outreach, education and tax preparation services to citizens who may be eligible for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. The Virginia Community Action Partnership shall report on its efforts to expand the number of Virginians who are able to claim the federal EITC, including the number of individuals identified who could benefit from the credit, the number of individuals counseled on the availability of the federal EITC, and the number of individuals assisted with tax preparation to claim the federal EITC. This report shall be provided to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees and the Chairman of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission by December 1 each year."

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