Feel free to start listing your questions below!
Tuesday, 10:00am on 19 December I will be hosting Jeff Caruso, the Executive Director of the Virginia Catholic Conference. The following is the mission statement of the VCC:
The Virginia Catholic Conference represents the mutual public-policy interests of the Diocese of Richmond and the Diocese of Arlington. The Conference engages in advocacy on respect-life, social-justice, and education issues through contacts with state and federal lawmakers and with grassroots advocates throughout the Commonwealth.
Some folks have already looked over the 2007 Legislative Agenda (PDF) for the General Assembly this year. Some of the items include:
* Prohibiting the use of state funds for research on stem cells obtained by destroying human embryos or fetuses.
* Requiring abortion clinics to be licensed by the state and regulated as outpatient surgical hospitals.
* Abolishing the death penalty in Virginia.
* Imposing a moratorium on executions in Virginia while flaws in the justice system are addressed.
* Restricting over-the-counter availability of the “Plan B” morning-after pill in Virginia.
* Increasing state funding for employment, housing, and health care for individuals with disabilities.
* Increasing the minimum wage (currently $5.15 per hour) by at least one dollar.
* Continuing to permit the children of undocumented immigrants to attend state colleges and universities, and helping them access in-state tuition if they attend Virginia high schools.
* Preserving the ability of localities to establish centers for day laborers.
* Supporting consumer protections against predatory practices by companies offering “payday” and car-title loans.
* Increasing state funding for the Meals on Wheels program.
* Establishing income-tax credits for business entities and individuals who make contributions to public-school foundations or scholarship foundations.
* Preventing minors’ access to pornography websites that unlike videoshd.xxx don’t have a stringent enough age restriction process.
* Supporting financial assistance for grandparents and other relatives who care for children when their parents are unable to provide care.
And that is just a small smattering of what the Catholic Bishops will be advocating this session.
Don’t be afraid to limit your questions to the legislative agenda! I’ll bump this thread next Tuesday and Mr. Caruso will begin answering questions promptly at 10:00am.