VCN
E-NEWS: March 15, 2004
THE WEEK
IN REVIEW
NATURAL RESOURCES
FUNDING: The budget conferees have made very little progress
toward coming up with a budget which means that session
which was scheduled to end on Saturday will continue until
next week. We will let you know as soon as we know anything
about natural resources funding.
WATER RESOURCES: No new events.
LAND ITEMS: SB 614 (Ruff) which deals with the Occoneechee
State Park (SB 614 is opposed by VCN) was reported from
House Ag, Ches. and Natural Resources Committee, 12-10
and went to the House Floor where it was initially defeated
(47-49). It was then reconsidered, the next day and passed
the next day 57-42. SB 614 passed with the same text as
initially filed. It now goes to the Governor. Meanwhile,
a $2M budget allocation which accommodates the proposed
conference center is before the Budget Conference Committee.
Communication from VCN, and others, has asked that the
$2M be deleted from the Budget
TRANSPORTATION ITEMS: Last week it was reported that Senator
Edwards' bill, SB413, was stalled in House Appropriations
on a 12-12 vote and then carried-over to 2005. However,
early this week it was brought back up for reconsideration.
During the ensuing discussion, more controversy arose
and it was killed on an 11-14 vote in House Appropriations.
Senator Edwards will work on the Rail Authority bill some
more and will re-file it for the 2005 Session.
SB 670 (Newman) which addressed the US 29 bypass situation
in the Charlottesville area continued through the legislative
process in its amended, and still detrimental state, and
is now on their way to the Governor. A related bill HB
1419 (D. Marshall) had been amended to include the language
in SB 670, but that language was not accepted by the House
and the Senate also agreed to drop the added language.
HB 1419 is also on its way to the Governor.
SB 58 (Martin) which would remove authority from localities
and give it to VDOT regarding the maintenance of certain
signs. By falling under VDOT standards instead of local
regulations for non-conforming use, outdoor advertising
signs will be allowed to maintain even though they may
be in need of significant repair. The House and Senate
could not agree on the language of the bill so a conference
committee was appointed. The Senate agreed to the conference
report on a 22-17 vote. The House agreed to the conference
report on an 87-11 vote.
BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS: No changes - - the VCN Board statement
on proposed budget amendments is available on the VCN
website. Go to the White Papers and Issues page.
2004 VCN STATEMENTS OF POSITION - - Visit the VCN Website
[www.vcnva.org] and go to the White
Papers and Issues page for the updated position statement.
It will updated this weekend to reflect the end of the
session actions on general legislation.
NEWS
FEC PROPOSES RULES THAT COULD REDEFINE MANY NONPROFITS
AS POLITICAL COMMITTEES
Last week, in a 5-1 vote, the Federal Election Commission
proposed new rules that will potentially redefine many
nonprofits as political committees.
If these rules are adopted, nonprofits that engage in
certain activities defined in the proposed rules-including
legitimate advocacy activities-could be classified as
political committees under federal election law. Political
committees have to register and report to the Federal
Election Commission, and are subject to funding restrictions
that prevent them from accepting contributions from corporations,
labor unions, foundations, and individual donations above
$5,000.
As an example, the proposed regulations would consider
any of the following groups as political committees:
• A 501(c)(3) environmental organization that places
an ad during this election year criticizing President
Bush for weakening regulations on toxic mercury emissions
from coal-fired plants.
• A 527 organization, affiliated with a 501(c)(4),
that opposes a judicial nominee even though it does not
engage in any partisan political activity.
The proposed rules, if approved, will drastically change
the breadth and scope of how nonprofits operate this year.
It is of great significance that these changes are timed
to go into effect in the heat of an election season when
the voices of nonprofits fill the void on many critical
issues.
The Alliance for Justice intends to participate in this
very important rulemaking, and encourages all nonprofits-advocacy
organizations and foundations alike-to voice their concerns
with the FEC by April 9, 2004. For more information, including
a link to the FEC new rules and information on where to
send your comments, visit our website at:
http://www.afj.org/nonprofit/public_policy/campaign_finance_reform/fec_rule5
27.html
As we continue to analyze these proposed rules and how
they could affect the nonprofit community, we will continue
to inform you through NPAN alerts and updates to our website.
Questions? Contact Liz Towne at the Alliance for Justice
at (202) 822-6070 or ltowne@afj.org
CALENDAR
Mark your calendars and plan to meet with Secretary of
Natural Resources W. Tayloe Murphy, Jr. and state natural
resource agency staff for a presentation on Virginia's
Draft Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategies Tuesday, April
6, beginning at 2 p.m. The meeting will be held at the
Library of Virginia on Broad Street in Richmond. More
details on the meeting will follow.
Draft versions of each of Virginia's five Chesapeake Bay
basin strategies will be available for comment beginning
April 1. Copies of the draft strategies and information
on providing comments will be available at www.naturalresources.virginia.gov
beginning in April.
***************************
VCN's
mission is to protect the Commonwealth's air, lands, and
waters for the benefit of the people, as guaranteed by
the Virginia Constitution.
If you have an item that should be included on this list,
please send it to Ellen Shepard at ellenshepard@yahoo.com.
VCN E-NEWS will be emailed every Friday. Deadline for
submissions is Thursday.
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