Governor McDonnell’s Budget to Provide $55 Million in Funding for Public Safety

English: Governor of Virginia at CPAC in . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Investment of $22.2 Million for Sheriffs, Commonwealth’s Attorneys and County Clerks Deputies

$21.3 Million in New 599 Funding Will Support Local Public Safety Services in Virginia

RICHMOND - Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that his biennial budget will provide $55.3 million in targeted funding to support public safety around Virginia.  The governor’s budget proposals include $22.2 million for sheriffs, Commonwealth’s Attorneys, and Circuit Court Clerk Deputies to fund new hires, reduce overcrowding in jails, fund long overdue pay increases and support other critical operations. Governor McDonnell also proposed $21.3 million in additional funding to assist local law enforcement through the “599” program.

            Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McDonnell said, “Local law enforcement plays a critical role in ensuring that Virginia’s streets and communities are safe.  I began my career in public service as a prosecutor in the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office. I know firsthand how hard the men and women who serve as Sheriffs, Commonwealth Attorney’s and in clerk’s offices work day in and day out to protect their communities and preserve justice for their fellow Virginians.  These funds will provide the critical resources necessary to better serve the public and will play a vital role in ensuring a safe and prosperous Commonwealth in the years ahead.”

            Governor McDonnell continued, “Additionally, 599 funding is an important way to provide local departments with the tools, facilities and support necessary to do their job and do it well.  Over the last four years we have advanced legislation and provided funding for important public safety initiatives that support law enforcement, keep offenders off the street, and help transition those who have served their time back into their communities.  This is good government.  The additional 599 funding I have appropriated for the next biennium will help support local public safety services so that Virginia continues to be a safe place to live, work and raise a family. ”

The governor’s budget proposals include the following funding:

Sheriffs: 

·         Provide $3.2 million in funding for 48 temporary corrections officers for local and regional jails that are experiencing jail overcrowding issues through the Compensation Board.  This funding is to help alleviate some of the overcrowding issues some localities are experiencing. Localities experiencing overcrowding will be identified by the Compensation Board.  ($1,536,315 the first year and $1,679,216 the second year).

·         Provide $3.0 million in funding to support 29 law enforcement deputies FY15 and 33 additional law enforcement deputies in FY16, for a total of 62 positions.  These positions represent 25 percent and 50 percent of the necessary law enforcement deputies to meet the current requirement of 1:1,500 ratio.  The Compensation Board will distribute these positions to sheriff’s offices with law enforcement responsibilities. ($928,203 the first year and $2.1 million the second year).

·         Provide $1 million in funding to expand the Career Development Programs for certain constitutional officers, including Sheriff’s and Commonwealth’s Attorneys, as well as members of their staff.  This funding is targeted for those individuals who have already qualified but have been waiting to participate in career development programs due to insufficient funding. (Total of $770,513 each year).

·         Provide $9.3 million to support a two percent salary adjustment for entry level (grade 7 and 8) sheriff deputy positions working in a sheriff office and regional jail.  (Total $4.7 million each year).

·         Provided $12.4 million over the biennium to support the opening of Rappahannock/Shenandoah/Warren (RSW) Regional Jail on October 1, 2014, and Southwest Virginia Regional Jail on November 1, 2014. (Total $4,589,971 the first year and $7,767,497). This covers funding positions to staff the new jails.

Commonwealth’s Attorneys:

·         Provide $4.2 million in funding to support the second phase of assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney’s salary increase to achieve a starting salary level of $52,000 per year ($2.1 million each year).  The first phase was provided in the 2013 Session of the General Assembly. Each of the 577 full-time assistant Commonwealth’s attorneys will receive a $3,308 increase and the 11 part-time assistant Commonwealth’s attorneys will receive a $1,654 increase. 

Circuit Court Clerks Deputies:  

·         Provide over $860,000 in funding to support a four percent salary adjustment for Circuit Court Deputy Clerk I positions, and a two percent salary adjustment for Circuit Court Deputy Clerk II positions.  (Total $430,789 each year). 

·         State Aid to Localities with Police Departments (“599” Program)

·         Provide $21.3 million over the biennium to assist localities with qualified law enforcement departments through the “599” program.    The Department of Criminal Justice Services administers the program to enhance public safety efforts across the Commonwealth. To be eligible for “599” funds, a locality must have a police department as defined in §9.1-165, and all of the department's law enforcement personnel must meet the state's minimum training requirements.

Public Safety Accomplishments during McDonnell Administration

·         In 2012, successfully spearheaded the most aggressive tough-on-crime legislative agenda by a governor since the abolition of parole in 1995, including: tougher penalties for violent sex offenders and repeat drug dealers; mandatory minimum life sentences for rape or forcible sodomy of a child under 13

·         Successfully advanced legislation to add 19 additional felonies to the gang predicate criminal statute, including burglary, grand larceny, aggravated malicious wounding, and violations of manufacturing and distributing a controlled substance or marijuana

·         Established first statewide prisoner re-entry plan and re-entry coordinator, contributing to Virginia having the second lowest recidivism rate in the country at 23%

·         Managed state response, recovery, and mitigation activities associated with 7 federally declared natural disasters

·         Along with the Secretaries of Education and Health and Human Resources, convened the Governor’s School and Campus Safety Taskforce to identify legislative and policy enhancements for school and campus safety and increase effectiveness of training and programs, and implemented multiple legislative and budget policies

·         Established first statewide anti-gang plan and appointed first statewide anti-gang coordinator

·         First Department of Forensic Science implementation of familial DNA searching

·         Completed state-of-the-art Virginia State Police driver training center at Fort Pickett

·         Improved Virginia’s laws against human trafficking resulting in Commonwealth going from bottom (red) to top (green) in Polaris project rankings

·         Directed the Department of Social Services to develop plan for providing services to victims of human trafficking and increased penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony for soliciting prostitution from a minor

·         Established the Domestic Violence Prevention and Response Advisory Board to reduce domestic and sexual violence, improve services to victims, and hold offenders accountable; the advisory board made 33 recommendations to enhance policies and procedures

·         Initiated the public safety compact: a local, state and federal partnership designed to prevent and reduce crime, and increase inter-agency cooperation and coordination

·         Opened the new state-of-the art River North Correctional Center in Grayson County

·         Developed and opened the public safety training center at the site of the former Hanover Juvenile Correctional Center

·         Partnered with localities to implement Operation Rolling Thunder: a strategic law enforcement initiative to reduce violent crime and property crime

·         Eliminated an agency and merged core services into two other public safety agencies

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Bone Broth—One of Your Most Healing Diet Staples

Broth (Photo credit: beautyredefined)

By Dr. Mercola

According to an old South American proverb, "good broth will resurrect the dead." While that’s undoubtedly an exaggeration, it speaks to the value placed on this wholesome food, going back through the annals of time.

The featured article by Dr. Amy Myers1 lists 10 health benefits of bone broth. Sally Fallon with the Weston A. Price Foundation2 has previously published information about this healing food as well.

First and foremost, homemade bone broth is excellent for speeding healing and recuperation from illness. You’ve undoubtedly heard the old adage that chicken soup will help cure a cold, and there’s scientific support for such a statement.

For starters, chicken contains a natural amino acid called cysteine, which can thin the mucus in your lungs and make it less sticky so you can expel it more easily. Processed, canned soups will not work as well as the homemade version made from slow-cooked bone broth.

For best results, you really need to make up a fresh batch yourself (or ask a friend or family member to do so). If combating a cold, make the soup hot and spicy with plenty of pepper. The spices will trigger a sudden release of watery fluids in your mouth, throat, and lungs, which will help thin down the respiratory mucus so it's easier to expel.

But the benefits of broth don’t end there. As explained by Sally Fallon:3

“Stock contains minerals in a form the body can absorb easily—not just calcium but also magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulfur and trace minerals. It contains the broken down material from cartilage and tendons--stuff like chondroitin sulphates and glucosamine, now sold as expensive supplements for arthritis and joint pain.”

The Healing Influence of Broth on Your Gut

In later years, medical scientists have discovered that your health is in large part dependent on the health of your intestinal tract. Many of our modern diseases appear to be rooted in an unbalanced mix of microorganisms in your digestive system, courtesy of an inappropriate and unbalanced diet that is too high in sugars and too low in healthful fats and beneficial bacteria.

Bone broth is excellent for “healing and sealing” your gut, to use Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride term. Dr. Campbell’s GAPS Nutritional Protocol, described in her book, Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS), centers around the concept of “healing and sealing” your gut through your diet.

Broth or “stock” plays an important role as it’s easily digestible, helps heal the lining of your gut, and contains valuable nutrients. Abnormalities in your immune system are a common outcome of GAPS, and such immune abnormalities can then allow for the development of virtually any degenerative disease...

The Healing Benefits of Bone Broth

As the featured article states, there are many reasons for incorporating good-old-fashioned bone broth into your diet. The following health benefits attest to its status as “good medicine.”

Helps heal and seal your gut, and promotes healthy digestion: The gelatin found in bone broth is a hydrophilic colloid. It attracts and holds liquids, including digestive juices, thereby supporting proper digestion.	Inhibits infection caused by cold and flu viruses, etc.: A study4published over a decade ago found that chicken soup indeed has medicinal qualities, significantly mitigating infection
Reduces joint pain and inflammation, courtesy of chondroitin sulphates, glucosamine, and other compounds extracted from the boiled down cartilage	Fights inflammation: Amino acids such as glycine, proline, and arginine all have anti-inflammatory effects. Arginine, for example, has been found to be particularly beneficial for the treatment of sepsis5 (whole-body inflammation). Glycine also has calming effects, which may help you sleep better
Promotes strong, healthy bones: As mentioned above, bone broth contains high amounts of calcium, magnesium, and other nutrients that play an important role in healthy bone formation	Promotes healthy hair and nail growth, thanks to the gelatin in the broth

Making your own bone broth is extremely cost effective, as you can make use of left over carcass bones that would otherwise be thrown away. And while the thought of making your own broth may seem intimidating at first, it’s actually quite easy. It can also save you money by reducing your need for dietary supplements. As mentioned above, bone broth provides you with a variety of important nutrients—such as calcium, magnesium, chondroitin, glucosamine, and arginine—that you may otherwise be spending a good deal of money on in the form of supplements.

Easy Chicken Broth Recipe

Both featured articles include a sample recipe for homemade chicken broth. The following recipe was provided by Sally Fallon, writing for the Weston A. Price Foundation.6 Her article also contains a recipe for beef and fish broth. (You could also use turkey, duck, or lamb, following the same basic directions.) For Dr. Myers’ chicken broth recipe, please see the original article.7

Perhaps the most important caveat when making broth, whether you’re using chicken or beef, is to make sure they’re from organically-raised, pastured or grass-fed animals. As noted by Fallon, chickens raised in confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) tend to produce stock that doesn’t gel, and this gelatin has long been valued for its therapeutic properties.8 As explained by Fallon:

“Gelatin was universally acclaimed as a most nutritious foodstuff particularly by the French, who were seeking ways to feed their armies and vast numbers of homeless in Paris and other cities. Although gelatin is not a complete protein, containing only the amino acids arginine and glycine in large amounts, it acts as a protein sparer, helping the poor stretch a few morsels of meat into a complete meal.”

Besides that, CAFO animals are fed an unnatural diet that is not beneficial for their intestinal makeup, and they’re also given a variety of veterinary drugs and growth promoters. You don’t want any of these potentially harmful additives in your broth, so make sure to start off with an organically-raised product.

Ingredients for homemade chicken broth9

1 whole free-range chicken or 2 to 3 pounds of bony chicken parts, such as necks, backs, breastbones, and wings

Gizzards from one chicken (optional)

2-4 chicken feet (optional)

4 quarts cold filtered water

2 tablespoons vinegar

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

2 carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped

3 celery stalks, coarsely chopped

1 bunch parsley

Please note the addition of vinegar. Not only are fats are ideally combined with acids like vinegar, but when it comes to making broth, the vinegar helps leech all those valuable minerals from the bones into the stockpot water, which is ultimately what you’ll be eating. The goal is to extract as many minerals as possible out of the bones into the broth water. Bragg’s raw apple cider vinegar is a good choice as it’s unfiltered and unpasteurized.

Cooking Directions

There are lots of different ways to make bone broth, and there really isn’t a wrong way. You can find different variations online. Here, I’ll offer some basic directions. If you’re starting out with a whole chicken, you’ll of course have plenty of meat as well, which can be added back into the broth later with extra herbs and spices to make a chicken soup. I also use it on my salad.

1. Fill up a large stockpot (or large crockpot) with pure, filtered water. (A crockpot is recommended for safety reasons if you have to leave home while it’s cooking.)
2. Add vinegar and all vegetables except parsley to the water.
3. Place the whole chicken or chicken carcass into the pot.
4. Bring to a boil, and remove any scum that rises to the top.
5. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting and let simmer.
6. If cooking a whole chicken, the meat should start separating from the bone after about 2 hours. Simply remove the chicken from the pot and separate the meat from the bones. Place the carcass back into the pot and continue simmering the bones for another 12-24 hours and follow with step 8 and 9.
7. If cooking bones only, simply let them simmer for about 24 hours.
8. Fallon suggests adding the fresh parsley about 10 minutes before finishing the stock, as this will add healthy mineral ions to your broth.
9. Remove remaining bones from the broth with a slotted spoon and strain the rest through a strainer to remove any bone fragments.

Bone Broth—A Medicinal ‘Soul Food’

Simmering bones over low heat for an entire day will create one of the most nutritious and healing foods there is. You can use this broth for soups, stews, or drink it straight. The broth can also be frozen for future use. Keep in mind that the "skin" that forms on the top is the best part. It contains valuable nutrients, such as sulfur, along with healthful fats, so just stir it back into the broth.

Bone broth used to be a dietary staple, as were fermented foods, and the elimination of these foods from our modern diet is largely to blame for our increasingly poor health, and the need for dietary supplements.

Both broth and fermented foods, such as fermented veggies, are simple and inexpensive to make at home, and both also allow you to make use of a wide variety of leftovers. When you add all the benefits together, it’s hard to imagine a food that will give you more bang for your buck.

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Gloucester, VA Officials Continue To Ignore The Will of The People

Right in this weeks Gloucester Mathews - Gazette Journal newspaper, Thursday December 12th, 2013, page 9A at the top left hand side is an article titles as follows; "County Asks Legislators For Ability To Compel Residents To Tie Into Utilities".  County officials are seeking state legislators, Keith Hodges, Delegate and Tommy Normant, Senator, to consider putting forth legislation to force Gloucester County residents to pay for services it neither wants nor wants to hook up into.

  A water and sewer system that the county sued the citizens over to have built and put into place to begin with.  The county is asking the state to legalize theft from the citizens in our view.  County officials claim it is for the support and viability of that system and would serve to protect public health and safety.

  Could someone please explain to us how forcing citizens to pay for a service they neither need nor want and still will not be using but still forced to pay for is protecting public health and safety?  Is this new math or something?  Or are county officials just looking to take more money out of the pockets of it's citizens?  And who's pockets will all that extra money go into?  We think that is a very fair question.

  Have county officials forgotten that government is at the will of the people?  How can these people even think about forcing it's citizens to pay for something they do not want or need?  Guess we have become the servants to the masters of the county?  One of the many last great acts of some of the criminals that have served on the board of supervisors?  What is the kickback for any of them if this is pushed through?

  Let's hope the new board members put a stop to this insanity and start getting rid of the enemy from within this county.

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God And Gun Control - What You Might Not Know

For Christians wondering about what faith says about gun control, well we thought we would share his words with you and allow you to see for yourself.  

Luke 22:35-38

New International Version (NIV)

35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”

“Nothing,” they answered.

36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’[a];and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”

“That’s enough!” he replied.

For those seeking to destroy 2nd Amendment rights?  Not a good idea.  For even God tells us to maintain our weapons.  For those wishing to argue this on the level that he was talking about a sword?  That was the weapon of mass destruction in those days.  They did not have guns.  If they had guns, then Jesus would have told them to buy and hide their guns.  In other words, for those seeking to control the masses against the wishes of the masses?  Not happening.

Second Amendment:  "A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

What is it that those seeking to steal rights do not understand about the above rights?  The language is very simple and straight forward, so it is clear that those seeking to control guns are seeking to infringe on our rights and take those rights away for their own self interest and also in violation of God's law.  

"The United States Constitution was written for a Christian People and will serve no other."  John Adams  

Governor McDonnell’s Biennial Budget to Continue Commitment to Improving Foster Care Adoption

Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell speaking at CPAC. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Nearly 1,000 Virginia Foster Children Matched with Adoptive Families so far this year

Governor McDonnell and Governor-elect McAuliffe to Attend Virginia Adopts: Campaign for 1,000 Recognition Event Monday Afternoon

**VIDEO: Governor McDonnell and Governor-Elect McAuliffe PSA on Adoption**

RICHMOND - Continuing his administration’s commitment to children in the foster care system and adoption efforts, Governor Bob McDonnell today announced his biennial budget will include $27.7 million in new funding for four initiatives targeted at improving foster care adoption.  Governor McDonnell also announced today that Virginia has successfully matched 977 children in foster care with adoptive families towards the goal of 1,000 by the end of his administration.

  Additionally, Governor McDonnell announced that Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe will join him at the Virginia Adopts: Campaign for 1,000 Recognition Event on Monday, December 16, 2013 at 3 p.m. at the Patrick Henry Building in Richmond.  The event will recognize the success of the campaign and its many contributors, and at the same time, transition the campaign to Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe’s administration. 

            

           Speaking about Virginia Adopts, Governor McDonnell said, “Last year, the General Assembly approved $1.5 million to fund Virginia Adopts: Campaign for 1,000. Since then, 977 children have been matched with permanent families. This is a tremendous accomplishment and huge step towards creating a new culture around adoption and foster care in Virginia.  We have made significant strides, but there is still a great deal more to be done. The funds included in my budget are a substantial step towards aligning smart evidence-driven policies with the resources necessary to make a difference. We are nearing our goal of 1,000, but there are still children in need of a permanent home. Every child in foster care is there through no fault of his own and deserves a forever family. I encourage all Virginians considering adoption to seek out more information. You can make an extraordinary difference in a child’s life.”

“Finding permanent loving homes for kids in VA’s foster care system is a bi-partisan goal,” Governor-Elect Terry McAuliffe added.  “I look forward to celebrating the successes of this important initiative.”

Speaking about the new funding for the foster care system and adoption initiatives, Governor McDonnell said, “Historically, the child welfare system has focused primarily on protecting children.  While protection remains of paramount importance, for those children in permanent state custody, protection is not enough.  We have to make our best efforts to get these children on the path of becoming productive citizens.  This package of proposals does just that.”

Speaking about the proposals, Secretary of Health and Human Resources Bill Hazel said, “Youth who stay in care until 21 are less likely to end up homeless, in jail, or pregnant when compared to peers who leave foster care at the age of 18.  Youth who stay in care until the age of 21 are more likely to graduate from high school, earn a GED or attend college, and/or trade schools. Since diplomas and higher education are linked to increased wage earnings, youth staying in foster care until 21 are more likely to earn a decent wage, more likely to contribute to the economy and pay taxes and will be less likely to need TANF, SNAP, or other government assistance programs.”

Secretary of the Commonwealth Janet Kelly who helped lead the Virginia Adopts effort with her husband, Ryan, remarked, “In the general population, we are seeing more and more ‘boomerang’ youth. This term refers to young adults who graduate from high school and/or college, leave the home for a short time but then return. Some estimates are that over 50 percent of young adults under the age of 26 will end up back with parents at least one time. With no family, any ‘boomerang’ foster children have no place to turn in crisis and may end up homeless or making questionable decisions to secure housing. Foster care through the age of 21 will provide additional structure to allow these youth to safely navigate young adulthood without catastrophic consequences.”

The governor’s budget proposals include initiatives aimed at further enhancing Virginia’s child welfare system:

Add $16.2 million to cover child welfare costs, including a 3% increase for payments to foster and adoptive parents

·         The introduced budget includes $12.2 million total funds (including $6.5 million from the General Fund) in each year of the biennium to cover the projected cost of providing foster care and adoption subsidy payments. 

·         Additionally, $4.0 million total funds (including $2.4 million from the General Fund) are added to raise the family foster care maintenance payment amount by 3% beginning in FY 2015.

Provide foster care and adoption payments for young adults up to age 21

·         The Governor’s introduced budget makes $10.3 million total funds ($1.9 million general fund) available to expand foster care and adoption subsidies to age 21 per federal Fostering Connections provision beginning in FY 2016. 

o   Under current law, most child welfare payments end when a youth turns 18 in the foster care and adoption programs. 

o   The federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (FCA) created an optional provision that allows states to receive federal matching funds when extending assistance to certain young adults aged 18 to 21.

o   Under FCA, states can receive reimbursement for young adults in the following programs:

§  Foster care: Youth who turn 18 while in foster care can continue to receive support and services until their 21st birthday.

§  Adoption Assistance:   Individuals adopted at age 16 or older can continue to receive assistance until their 21st birthday.

§  Youth in either program must also meet educational and work requirements, such as working on a degree or working at least 80 hours per month.

o   Adopting the provisions of the FCA is expected to promote increased permanency and improved outcomes for youth in Virginia’s child welfare system.

·         In addition, $0.1 million is provided in FY 2015 to develop a plan for implementing provisions of the federal legislation.

Negotiate adoption subsidies for local departments of social services

·         The Governor proposes that the state Department of Social Services (DSS) negotiate all adoption assistance agreements with both existing and prospective adoptive parents on behalf of local departments of social services. 

·         The legal responsibilities of local departments of social services or rights of the adoptive parents will not be changed.

o   This proposal moves the responsibility for negotiating adoption agreements, including the subsidy amount from local departments to the state department.

o   DSS is provided with five positions and $1.1 million total funds ($0.7 million general fund) to implement this new state function.  These positions will have the specific training necessary to handle adoption contracts and subsidy negotiations.

o   It is expected that these positions will improve the statewide constancy of adoption agreements and slow the growth in costs per child.  Moreover, it will ease the current burden that is being placed on local departments.  

Study the impact of state assuming full responsibility for the adoption program

·         The Governor’s budget requires the Department of Social Services, in cooperation with local departments of social services, to prepare a report that examines the financial, programmatic and policy implications of the state assuming full responsibility for all aspects of the adoption program. 

·         This study will provide data necessary to determine the advantages and disadvantages of moving from a locally administered to a state run adoption program.

·         The agency will be conducting this study without any additional resources.

About Virginia Adopts

Virginia Adopts: Campaign for 1,000 is an initiative to match 1,000 children in foster care with adoptive families. Governor McDonnell launched the campaign on May 17, 2013 during Virginia's Foster Care Month. From January 1^st to December 13^th, 977 children have been matched with permanent families. The Campaign featured two prominent social media campaigns: “100 Kids, 100 Days” and “#IHeartAdoption.” The first campaign shared the story of 100 children in the foster care system waiting for a family, over the period of 100 days. #IHeartAdoption encourages adoption supporters to share photos describing why they support adoption on Facebook and Twitter. View the new Virginia Adopts PSA here.

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