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Sunday, January 10, 2010
Washington Post
Washington area officials eye deep cuts to fill budget
gaps
The stimulus is mostly spent. The rainy-day funds have
been dipped into. Most of the accounting gimmicks have
been used. After two years of doing whatever they could to
balance their budgets, state and local lawmakers confront a
grim reality: They're likely to make deep and painful cuts to a
host of cherished services.
MORE ...
May 2, 2009
The Virginia Pilot
Again, Payday Lenders Roll Virginia's Legislature
It doesn't take a Ph.D. in economics to operate a predatory
loan business. And yet the efforts by state lawmakers to
regulate the industry make payday lenders look like geniuses
at avoiding real limits.
More ...
April 7, 2009
UUA Web Site
UUA President Celebrates Vermont Marriage Votes
The following statement was issued by Unitarian Universalist
Association (UUA) President Rev. William Sinkford:
I rejoice in the Vermont legislature’s votes to allow
same-sex couples to marry in their state. Today’s
actions guarantee equal treatment under Vermont law
for committed same-sex couples and their families.
This clear call for justice by Vermont lawmakers brings
us one step closer to equality for all Americans. Along
with last week’s court decision in Iowa, Vermont’s
action is yet another encouraging sign that the United
States eventually will extend full civil rights to all of “we
the people.” Read more...
March 4, 2009
Herdon Connection
Vanderhye’s ‘Labor of Love’ Meets Success in
Richmond
Bill will expand screening and treatment of breast and
cervical cancer under Medicaid.
By Mike DiCicco
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Del. Margi Vanderhye (D-34) said House Bill 2200, signed
into law on Feb. 23, was the most dramatic accomplishment
of her first term in the House, if not the most important. "I’
m pleased with my legislative accomplishments, but this was
really a labor of love," she said. More...
March 6, 2009
Daily Press, (Hampton Roads)
Solutions, but not from GA
Payday lenders accomplished something brilliant in the
recently concluded legislative session, whether intentionally
or not. They managed to divert legislators' attention from
their abusive lending practices by raising the specter of
something even worse. MORE ...
Legislators' Bills Crack Down on Unethical Mortgage
Brokers
By Anita Kumar
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 5, 2009; B08
RICHMOND -- Sandra Berrios was at home, cooking dinner
for her sons, when she received a call from a mortgage
broker offering to refinance her four-bedroom townhouse in
Lorton. MORE...
Democrats Strategize on Regaining House Control
By Tim Craig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 5, 2009; LZ04
RICHMOND
Now that Virginia legislators have left the state Capitol, the
battle is on for control of the House of Delegates.
Democrats will be trying in the November election to pick up
the six seats needed to regain control of the House, which
the GOP captured in 1999. MORE ...
Car-Title Lender Reform Effort Fails in Legislature
Saslaw Says New Limits Will Come
By Fredrick Kunkle
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, March 5, 2009; VA03
Car-title lenders evaded an attempt by Virginia's General
Assembly this year to regulate their business, but they have
been put on notice that new limits could be around the
bend. MORE ...
February 22, 2009
New York Times Op-Ed Contributor
A Reconciliation on Gay Marriage
By DAVID BLANKENHORN and JONATHAN RAUCH
Two policy wonks who have debated for years about same
sex marriage have reached a compromise. They start by
saying that "We take very different positions on gay
marriage. We have had heated debates on the subject.
Nonetheless, we agree that the time is ripe for a deal that
could give each side what it most needs in the short run,
while moving the debate onto a healthier, calmer track in the
years ahead." More ...
What's Hot in the 2009 Session, and
Counterproductive Advocacy
Bacon's Rebellion is a great Virginia Legislature blog. It's
Feb. 13 post about the session so far, and the vociferous
citizen advocacy that is adding a new discomfort to the
session is well worth reading.
(Note: NoVA LUUPers are always polite and respectful.)
Virginia Legislature Recognises Mount Vernon
Unitarian Church for its Social & Earth Justice Work
It slipped past NoVA LUUP's watch for a few weeks, but
today we found it: SJ 320 Commending the Mount Vernon
Unitarian Church.
Senator Linda (Toddy) Puller, Patron.
Congrats MVUC!
See the text of the resolution
Predicting Poverty in the Commonwealth
A new report by The Commonwealth Institute and Voices for
Virginia’s Children estimates that an additional 122,000 to
218,000 people will be living in poverty by year’s end.
Among the hardest hit: Virginia’s children, with an additional
44,000 to 73,000 children living in poverty. More ...
Del. Ken Melvin Speaks on Martin Luther King Day
On Mon. Jan. 19, 2009, Del. Ken Melvin (D-Portsmouth)
rose to speak about the changes he's witnessed in race
relations in the United States and in Virginia since he first
came to the House of Delegates in 1986.
Take 6 minutes to watch this You Tube video -- it's
amazing! It brought the House of Delegates to their feet
and will bring tears to your eyes.
Bill would crack down on car title, payday lenders
By DENA POTTER, The Associated Press
2009-01-22
RICHMOND, Va. -
Virginia would crack down on car title lenders under Senate
legislation introduced Thursday, and tighten controls on
payday lenders who are getting around new regulations that
took effect Jan. 1.
Sen. Mark Herring's bill would require any company making
loans under Virginia's open-end credit law to charge no
more than 36 percent annual interest.
READ MORE...
PayDay Lenders’ Ally Now Upset
JEFF E. SCHAPIRO TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Published: January 16, 2009
A powerful ally of payday lenders is furious over the
industry's perceived end-run on new restrictions on high-
cost instant loans and is vowing to block it.
Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw, D-Fairfax, said he
is writing legislation to prohibit lenders from offering so-
called open-ended loans with potentially unlimited fees.
More …
Why Car Title Loans Are a Bad Idea
B Christopher Neiger -- CNN Living.com
Updated Weds. Oct. 8, 2008
Story Highlights
- Signing car over for high-interest loan is a serious
financial issue
- Title loan offers cash in return for title of your paid-for
car
- Title loan lenders are able to charge triple digit annual
percentage rates
- If you can't pay back loan, they may sell your car and
keep 100% of the profit
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