General Assembly Notebook
Items: McDonnell on Gitmo, Arc of Virginia on institution, Mental-health initiative, Senate passes disabled-vet tax relief
Edited by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
McDonnell issues statement on Gitmo trials: Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell today reiterated his longstanding opposition to the detention or trial of any Guantanamo Bay detainee, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, taking place in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He also noted his agreement with Congressional leaders from both parties that all Guantanamo Bay detainees be put before military tribunals, rather than civilian courts as outlined by the United States Department of Justice. Virginia has several locations, including Alexandria and Newport News, that have been suggested as possible civilian trial locations.
“Officials in New York City have made clear they do not want a disruptive civilian trial of 9-11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammad taking place in that city,” McDonnell said in a statement today. “As they are appropriately acting in the best interests of their citizens, today I am doing the same for the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth has been the site of previous terrorism trials, most recently the 2006 trial of Zacarias Moussaoui at the federal courthouse in Alexandria. That trial led to ongoing significant disruptions and potential threats for the citizens of that Virginia community, and local leaders have made clear they do not want to host such a trial again. I strongly oppose any Guantanamo Bay detainees being either held or tried in Virginia.”
Arc of Virginia calls on McDonnell to suspend plans: The Arc of Virginia today released its recent letter calling on Gov. Bob McDonnell to suspend state efforts to rebuild a 75-bed state institution for people with intellectual disabilities in Chesapeake. The Arc’s letter was copied to all members of the Senate and House of Delegates.
The Arc’s request to the Governor is based on the following factors:
- The 75-bed rebuild on the current SEVTC campus is too expensive. The price tag of $23 million, or $306,000 per person, is an imprudent use of taxpayer dollars, especially during a recession.
- The operating cost of state training centers for persons with intellectual disabilities now averages $194,000 per person annually. Community care for persons with similar needs living in community homes costs less than $100,000. The institutional model is not cost efficient.
- A review of current SEVTC residents by a national consulting firm under contract with the state concluded that all residents could live in community homes. The study found that the support needs of SEVTC residents are the same as those of people currently being served in community-based settings.
- Segregating persons with intellectual disabilities is inconsistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The Arc wants Governor McDonnell, as Virginia’s chief executive officer, to suspend rebuilding the 75-bed SEVTC facility and instead propose to the General Assembly that all SEVTC capital dollars be shifted to community housing.
The Arc’s letter can be accessed at www.thearcofva.org.
McDonnell launches mental-health treatment initiative: Gov. Bob McDonnell today announced the launch of a $2 million public/private initiative to provide mental-health treatment through the Virginia Health Care Foundation.
Today’s announcement is the result of a $2 million challenge grant McDonnell made one year ago while Attorney General of Virginia. The launch of the VHCF’s program, “A New Lease on Life,” will provide mental health care to uninsured Virginians all across the Commonwealth.
As attorney general, McDonnell issued a $1 million challenge grant to the Virginia Health Care Foundation. The money was a result of two successful multi-state settlements in 2008 secured by Virginia’s Attorney Generals office, and attorneys general from other states, with two national pharmacy benefits management companies. Money from this challenge grant will underwrite nine grants throughout the state that will enable health safety net providers to treat uninsured Virginians suffering from basic mental health conditions, and provide primary health care for seriously mentally ill Virginians who are uninsured.
More information about last year’s challenge can be found here: www.vaag.com/PRESS_RELEASES/NewsArchive/021809_Challenge_Grant.html.
Speaking about today’s announcement, McDonnell noted, “It is remarkable that in these tough economic times the Virginia Health Care Foundation was able to rise to the challenge and raise $1 million to fund a critical program. With unemployment up and more people without health insurance, we must turn to public/private programs like ‘A New Lease on Life’ to provide critical health services to uninsured Virginians. Mental illness is treatable, but too many people go without care. The pilot programs being launched today will help to close the treatment gap and provide much needed help to people all across the Commonwealth.”
Gil Minor, chairman of the Virginia Health Care Foundation’s Fund Development Committee, remarked, “We conceived this challenge grant during better economic times, yet it was approved in the midst of the steep economic decline that we have all experienced. Although we knew that it would be very difficult to raise $1 million, we pressed on. The recession and its devastating effects have created an even greater need for services to treat serious depression and anxiety disorders in the uninsured. We are very grateful to the many companies, individuals and foundations which stepped up to help us meet this challenge.”
For more information about the Virginia Health Care Foundation’s Challenge Grant, please visit: www.vhcf.org/about/MentalHealth.php.
Senate passes constitutional amendment to exempt disabled vets from real-estate taxes: The State Senate today unanimously passed a constitutional amendment to exempt severely disabled veterans from real property taxes on their homes.
Under SJ13, any veteran who is determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs to have a one hundred percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability will be exempt from property taxes on their home.
The measure was introduced by Sen. Linda T. “Toddy” Puller (D-Prince William) and co-sponsored by legislators of both parties in the House of Delegates and Senate.
“This amendment will provide tangible and needed support to severely disabled veterans so they can afford to stay in their homes,” said Puller. “The disabled veterans who will benefit from this tax exemption have made tremendous sacrifices in defense of their country and deserve this modest measure of relief.”
The constitutional amendment has wide support from the veterans’ community and was the top legislative priority for many veterans’ advocates groups. Under the proposed amendment, the tax exemption would also apply to the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran as long as they remain unmarried and live in the house.
The amendment previously passed the General Assembly in the 2009 session as required for constitutional amendments, and will now be placed on the ballot for consideration by Virginia voters on Nov. 2, 2010. If passed, it will become law on Jan. 1, 2011.
