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"RICHMOND WRAP-UP"
Our Richmond Wrap-up--Success
SALT Advocates:
Update---Our annual SALT Richmond Wrap-up was an enormous success. Thanks to co-sponsor partners-VCEH, VOLACO, VOICE and CURE. Thanks to so many participants (60) and legislators (11) for making this event an enormous success. And wasn't the American Legion Auxiliary Post 180 just the best facility.
SALT provided an opportunity this Saturday, April 17, from 9:00 to 11:15 AM to hear from our state legislators reporting on issues of concern at the recent General Assembly session in Richmond. It was sponsored by Social Action Linking Together (SALT) and co-sponsors above..
Legislative presenters were Senators: Richard Saslaw, Patricia Ticer, David Marsden, George Barker, Chap Petersen and Delegates David Bulova, Jim Scott, Mark Keam, Vivian Watts, Charniele Herring, and Ken Plum. Special Guest was Governor McDonnell's Appointee Banci Tewolde as Commonwealth's First Statewide Prisoner Re-Entry Coordinator.
Evaluations were all 5s out of 5 except for 2 that were 4s out of 5. Some comments as follows:
HIGH ESTEEM - it was especially interesting when some of the legislators said they get their best information on proposed legislation from John!!!
From Anne --- I was with some friends today who happened to go to the SALT wrap-up yesterday -- first-timers! They could not stop talking about how excellent the program was -- how much they learned! and how well run the whole program was.
From Judi ---Thank you & everyone for putting this together. Also all the work you guys do all the time. It was very informative & well worthwhile. We learned many new things. This sharing of ideas & work really is the answer. We believe in the seamless garment & networking.
Our work & area of concern is primarily the children, but this is all part of the circle of needs. We agree with Ms. Herring, our job is not to sing to the choir, but to reach out & educate those who do not agree with us or turn a blind eye or ear to the needs of the many, not just the greedy & self-interest constituents....
From Bob --- I was really, really impressed with the many sincere expressions of gratitude to you and SALT from the VA legislators. You are held in very high esteem by these folks. What a great testimony to the work that you do.
John, you held an extremely important meeting on Saturday, it was a privilege to be there. Legislators---I am very proud to say that Northern Virginia Democratic Delegates led the fight to defeat Item 133 and Item 327. It was heartening to succeed in protecting this safety net.I appreciate the support and lobbying efforts from SALT. Let's keep up the good work! Kaye Kory
I just wanted to let you know that we were able to defeat the Governor's amendments that took money out of homeless programs and healthy families. David and I spoke on the house floor. Delegate Charniele Herring
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Subject: Richmond Wrap Up Photos/Article
SALT Advocates:
See Terry's remarkable article. Thanks to Terry Hartnett for her good work. Her article appeared recently in the Arlington Catholic Herald. Also see the photo below by Diann Sherwin. Thanks to all. john
Subject: SALT Wrap-up
John:
Thanks for an outstanding session today!! It was nice to see the legislators commending you and the SALT team for our effective advocacy.
Keep up the good work!!! Best Regards,
Jack Scorce
SALT Advocates:
To Jack's message I would add that due to the quality participation of so many advocates and so many legislators the Richmond Wrap-up was very successful. Thanks to our co-sponsors: CURE, VICPP, Virginia Coalition for the Homeless and to our collaboration with VOP on TAX Reform there was much to discuss and celebrate. Seven legislators came early Saturday morning despite the fact that the General Assembly just passed the budget on Friday afternoon at 3:00 pm. Please watch for Terry's article in the Herald. Send your legislator a copy. Also please drop your legislator a note of appreciation for making the extra effort to attend. Tell them you appreciate it. Those attending were:
Vince Callahan
Adam Ebbin
Al Eisenberg
Jim Scott /Vlerie Sutter
Brian Moran
Stephen Shannon
Mark Sickles
Thanks to all for a very successful Richmond Wrap-up event.
John
 
Special to the Arlington Catholic Herald
By Terry Hartnett
More than 30 years ago in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the papal encyclical Justice in the World, the U.S. Synod of Bishops wrote the following: "This examination of conscience --this review of the struggle for justice -- will be a waste of time if local dioceses do not put flesh on it."
In the Arlington Diocese, Social Action Linking Together (SALT), a network of some 600 advocates for the poor based at the parish level put flesh on the struggle. In a humble get-together Saturday, May 8, many of Northern Virginia's prominent legislators told how the conscience of SALT advocates and others eventually won the day in a historic budget battle for state funding.
"SALT served as my conscience when it came to deciding funding priorities," says Steve Shannon, a freshman delegate from the Oakton/Vienna and a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. Shannon says he received more than 100 handwritten letters from SALT advocates asking for assistance for low-income individuals, the homeless, and the imprisoned. He was appointed to serve on the House Finance Committee, the group that determines who to tax and how much. "SALT really helped me keep my eye on the ball so that I could make sure that the worse off did not slip through the cracks."
In a historic 115-day session, the Virginia General Assembly passed a budget one day before SALT's annual Legislative Wrap-up. "This budget preserves the safety net for low -income children, aged and disabled citizens," says Vincent Callahan, chairman of the House Budget Committee, and a member of St. John 's Church, McLean. Additionally, says Callahan, the approved budget provides additional tax relief for low-income individuals and families.
Low-income Virginians will have the option beginning in tax year 2006 to claim either the current tax credit of $300 for each personal and dependent exemption claimed or a nonrefundable tax credit at 20% of the federal earned income tax credit. This will allow more low-income individuals and families to be eligible for a tax credit, he explained.
State Senator Toddy Puller and Delegate Brian Moran have introduced the amendment for a refundable earned income tax in previous years but the measured failed. The credit passed is not refundable but it will help many families. "It is the best news I've heard in a long time," says Sue Capers, head of the Virginia Coalition for the Homeless. She thanked advocates who wrote letters, made phone calls, and visited legislators in Richmond. "Your advocacy has made a difference in the lives of thousands of working Virginians," she adds.
Virginia currently has a low-income tax credit that is available to those below the poverty line. But when the family's income rises $1 above poverty guidelines they owe the full amount of Virginia income tax. For the family making $18401 this is a tax of $381.
"All of you should be proud of the accomplishments that were made in this budget," says Delegate Brian Moran. "You eloquently and passionately spoke up for the needs of the poor, particularly at public hearings across the state. You reminded us that we had not stepped up to the plate to provide for the needs of our citizens," he notes. Moran described one particular public hearing in Chantilly at which there were 43 speakers and only 8 opposed the Senate's budget plan. "Clearly advocacy paid off," he adds.
One of SALT's priorities for 2004 was passage of a bill to fund a prisoner re-entry program. State Senator Jeannemarie Devolites (Our Lady of Good Counsel) and Delegate Callahan sponsored the prison bill authorizing the use of available federal funds. The non-custodial parenting program initiative will promote parenting skills training, anger management and literacy skills training to non-custodial parents who are currently in a Virginia prison but scheduled for release. The goal is to promote effective parenting and to help reintegrate the prisoner back into the community. Prisoners in the program must re-establish and maintain family ties and communication. SALT also was instrumental in getting funds restored for the child-support pass through, a program that benefits low-income families.
All members of the Northern Virginia delegation were invited to attend the SALT wrap-up. Those who attended include: Vincent Callahan, Steve Shannon, Brian Moran, Adam Ebbin, Al Eisenberg, and Mark Sickles. The legislators outlined additional measures passed this year that address social justice issues. These include: * Abolition of the 21-day rule for prisoners on death row. There will now be no time limit on the defendant's ability to present a petition to hear new evidence, says Moran who sponsored the bill. He is concerned, however, that the defendant is allowed only one petition. * Establishment of an indigent defense commission. This commission will provide legal services for the poor in Arlington and Falls Church.
A bill that would ban execution of convicted juveniles in Virginia failed despite its sponsorship by Delegate Eisenberg and 25 co-patrons. Virginia is second on the list of states that perform executions next to Texas. A juvenile was executed in April 2003 and since 1990 the state has executed three juveniles. Virginia law currently allows execution of juveniles age 16 and over. Other countries that permit execution of juveniles include Iran, China, Congo, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Yemen abolished the practice in the mid 1990s.
Delegate Sickles noted that members of the Virginia General Assembly meet for a Speaker's Bible Study during the session. He says he was somewhat surprised that the bible studies focused on stress reduction for members. He says he would like to see the legislators discuss faith and public policy. "We have very conscientious people like you (SALT) in this state. We need to work together to help everyone understand that it is our duty to provide for our citizens, that 'We' are the government. This is not big government v. everyone else," he adds. "You helped us see a very basic truth, that the needs of many in the state were being neglected," says Eisenberg.
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