NH Council of Churches - Policy Alert: Protect TANF

The NH House Finance Committee next week will hear a bill that would limit financial assistance for poor families who have additional children while receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). 

 

This is a morality question. What happens when a family depending on TANF to get by has an infant who needs things that WIC or food stamps can't buy - bottles, pacifiers, diapers, crib sheets, car seat - but can't receive any additional TANF cash assistance to accommodate the infant's needs? Either the other children do without - Toothpaste and toilet paper? Heat? A home? Or the baby does without?  

 

According to the Fiscal Note on this bill, this law would affect fewer than 75 poor families a year in NH, who each receive an average of $72.50 a month in additional cash assistance when a newborn arrives. Implementing this law would cost the state $200,000 initially in systems eligibility adjustments. From there, the assumption is local welfare would take up the slack and filling the gaps. The problem hasn't been eliminated, the cost of meeting it just shifts to local property tax payers.  

 

If we can't find $72.50 a month for 75 poor families in 2012 to ensure their infants and children are safe, healthy, nourished and housed, it will say a lot about the state we have become.

House Finance Committee Members legislative email: <~HouseFinanceCommittee@leg.state.nh.us>

Individual Members (with links to contact info) at:

<http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/committeedetails.aspx?code=H34>

Full text at:

<http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2012/HB1658.html>

HB1658-FN
Session Year 2012
Bill Title: limiting financial assistance for mothers who have additional children while receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).
Public Hearing: HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE, 01/12/2012 at 10:00 AM, Legislative Office Building, Rooms 210-211  

CPR - 200 SHOW UP TO CHURCH SPONSORED CANDIDATES FORUM!

Large turn-out indicates the NH church will be active in this year's elections

CONCORD – In what was a historic evening, nearly 200 people packed Word of Life Christian Fellowship Church in Concord last night for a chance to get to know the candidates for US Congress, US Senate, and Governor, a little bit better.  It was the first time in memory that a church in New Hampshire sponsored such an event.  The forum comes on the heels of a conference last week, the New Hampshire Renewal Project, in which over 250 pastors and faith leaders gathered in Nashua to listen to speakers, such as former Speaker of the US House, Newt Gingrich, author and activist, David Barton, and former US Congressman, Bob McEwen.  The conference was aimed at getting pastors more involved in the political process in the state.

Commenting on the candidate's forum last evening was Cornerstone's Executive Director, Kevin Smith:

"The rumors of the churchs' demise in New Hampshire have been greatly exaggerated.  The fact that nearly 200 people of faith showed up at church on a Tuesday evening, to meet the candidates running for office, is a strong indication that not only is the church alive and well... but its getting active too!  I would not be surprised if more churches followed suit in the months to come."

Smith added, "Any candidate who thinks they can write off this voting bloc is going to sadly regret doing so this fall." 

Though not all candidates attended, the event had a bi-partisan tone to it as candidates from every party were invited to particiapte.  Candidates who did participate were:

2nd Congressional District

Charlie Bass (R)

Bob Guida (R)

Jennifer Horn (R)

Howard Wilson (L)

US Senate

Jim Bender (R)

Ken Blevens (L)

Dennis Lamare (R)

Ovide Lamontagne (R)

Governor

John Babiarz (L)

Jack Kimball (R)

Karen Testerman (R)

Cornerstone-Action is the legislative advocacy arm of Cornerstone Policy Research. 

Cornerstone-Action is a non-partisan, non-profit education and advocacy organization dedicated to the preservation of strong families, limited government and free markets.

News from New Hampshire Council of Churches - Haitian Relief Info

The tragic earthquake in Haiti has brought pain and suffering to the hundreds of thousands of victims and their families around the world.  New England is home to one of the largest Haitian immigrant communities in the United States.  We extend our deepest condolences and prayers to our brothers and sisters in the local Haitian community and to their families abroad.
 
The faith community is reaching out to provide support and resources to help recovery on the ground in Haiti and here in New England.  We urge you to help the people of Haiti in their time of need.
 
Contribute
 
There are a variety of ways that you can do this through your faith community:
 
International
 
-  International Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/ or donate $10 to be charged to your cell phone bill by texting "HAITI" to "90999."
 
 -  Catholic Relief Services: www.csr.org
 
-  American Jewish Committee (IsraAID) - www.ajc.org/haitifund.  The AJC has established a Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund to support IsraAID -100% of your donation goes directly to help relief efforts in Haiti.  IsraAID has already dispatched a 12 person team to the region.
 
-  Church World Service- You can donate to CWS's emergency relief fund at www.churchworldservice.org.
 
 
Do you need help locating family members in Haiti?

The State Department Operations Center has set up the following number for individuals seeking information about family members living in Haiti: 1-888-407-4747. Press zero (0) to speak to a customer service representative.
The White House is also directing people to www.whitehouse.gov for general information about the earthquake and relief efforts in Haiti.
 
Are you looking for a way to help?

The immediate need is for money that can be used by an established relief organization to best aid victims of the devastating earthquake. Visit www.interaction.org to get a list of credible responding organizations for international emergencies. Reputable organizations include:
- Partners in Health: www.pih.org
- International Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/ or donate $10 to be charged to your cell phone bill by texting "HAITI" to "90999."
- Catholic Relief Services: www.csr.org

Tips for taking care of yourself and your family during these difficult times

● Support each other. Parents and caregivers should take time to talk together and find ways to meet each other's needs.
● Monitor adult conversations. Be aware of what adults are saying about the earthquake or the damage. Children listen to adults' conversations and may misinterpret what they hear, becoming unnecessarily frightened.
● Limit media exposure. Protect your child from too many images and descriptions of the earthquake, including those on television, on the Internet, on radio, and in the newspaper.
● Reassure children that they are safe.
● Take care of yourself physically. Eat healthily, get enough sleep, drink plenty of water, and get proper medical care.

 

Fraud Alert

The FBI has reminded us that you may receive other appeals to donate money. Past tragedies and natural disasters have prompted individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organization and/or a good cause.

Therefore, before making a donation of any kind, consumers should adhere to certain guidelines, to include the following:
·                Do not respond to any unsolicited (SPAM) incoming emails
·                Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as surviving victims or officials asking for donations via e-mail or social networking sites.
·                Verify the legitimacy of nonprofit organizations by utilizing various Internet-based resources that may assist in confirming the group's existence and its nonprofit status rather than following a purported link to the site.
·                Be cautious of e-mails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from know senders.
·                Contribute directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf to ensure contributions are received and used for intended purposes.
·                Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone who solicits contributions: Providing such information may compromise your identity and make you vulnerable to identity theft.
Anyone who has received an e-mail referencing the above information or anyone who may have been a victim of this or a similar incident should notify the IC3 via

www.ic3.gov.

There will be additional opportunities to participate as the crisis unfolds. 

E-News from New Hampshire Council of Churches, 11 January 2010

NH Legislature Re-Convenes
Heating Aid Attempt Fails; House Kicks Payday Lending Down the Road

The Senate attempted but ultimately failed to temporarily shift funds now dedicated to energy efficiency to the state's Electric Assistance Program. The move was expected to assist an estimated 8,000 low-income NH residents on a waiting list for help paying energy bills this winter. 

In a dramatic vote over in the NH House, lawmakers last week overturned a committee recommendation to kill SB193 - a bill which would extend New Hampshire's 36% interest rate cap on payday and car title loans to cover all small loans. It didn't pass that day but it survived to see another day - January 20 - when another House vote will be taken.  The bill is supported by a number of organizations as well as NH Banking Commissioner Peter Hildreth. More information about this bill and what it would do from Sarah Mattson or Jon Baird, NH Legal Assistance, 206-2214. Because of the tight vote, your calls in support of capping the interest rate on small loans to your House members over the next week are important. Click here to find contacts for your state representatives.

This Wednesday, the House will vote on other bills carried over from 2009 that may be of interest. HB 304, an assisted suicide bill, is recommended inexpedient to legislate. Against the backdrop of the spread of H1N1 and a tough economy, the Committee studying paid sick leave for workers has  recommended the idea be referred for further study. A bill to ban all live dog racing in the state - with both NH dog tracks now closed - is recommended to pass. HB 642, which would establish a flat rate education income tax, while reducing statewide property, business and other taxes has been rejected by the House Ways & Means Committee, which is asking the House to agree and kill the proposal.

Legislation to expand gaming in NH, for and against new forms of taxation, for and against expanding healthcare for low and moderate-income children through Healthy Kids, same-sex marriage, abortion and other measures are proposed in what is shaping up to be a busy year for policy makers. We will report on matters of priority to Council members. If you work on policy matters for your denomination, please contact Policy Associate Laurel Redden with news of your work at 894-5931 or Laurel@nhchurches.org.

E-News from New Hampshire Council of Churches, 19 December 2009

The Winter Solstice.   The First Night of Winter.   The Longest Night of the Year. Please plan to spend a short part of it with us, in a candlelight vigil for our brothers and sisters who have died this year because of homelessness.  Let us gather our hearts in prayerful reflection on the gift of their lives and the tragedy of homelessness in a land of great wealth.   There are vigils planned in at least three communities-Concord, Manchester and Lebanon. These coincide with vigils in all 50 states on the same evening. More may be planned in Keene and Nashua. Contact Maggie Fogarty 224-2407 or mfogarty@afsc.org for more info. Scheduled vigils are: Concord: 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. State House Plaza Bring a non-perishable food item to share with a local food pantry Contact:  Maggie Fogarty, 224-2407 or mfogarty@afsc.org   Manchester: 6:00 p.m. Veterans Park, Elm Street Bring a candle Contact:  Cindy Carlson nhunderthebridge@gmail.com   Lebanon: 5:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. First Congregational Church, Lebanon (across from the Green) Bring a non-perishable food item Contact:  Jeremy, 443-6150 or tccapjerem@gmail.com Get On the Bus! Ecumenical Advocacy Days Delegation Forming March 19 - 22, 2010 Washington D.C. "A Place to Call Home: Immigrants, Refugees, and Displaced Peoples" And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.' -Luke 9:58 Jesus had no place to lay his head. Neither do tens of millions of migrants, refugees and displaced persons. Be a part of an action weekend addressing this global injustice. Join hundreds of faith-based advocates in taking action on U.S. legislation that will welcome immigrants, protect refugees, and prevent displacement of millions. Worship, study and dialogue with hundreds of people of faith at the annual Ecumenical Advocacy Days. Then join us as we go to Capitol Hill to advocate for our members of Congress to remedy these global injustices. NH delegation is forming now! Please contact Laurel Redden at 894-5931 or laurel@nhchurches.org with your interest. More information and registration here. Quick Takes: New Hampshire Senate and House reconvene Wednesday, January 6. The House takes up carry-over bills from 2009 session. Work begins on new legislation. US House reconvenes January 12 US Senate reconvenes January 18

The New Hampshire Council of Churches consists of 10 member denominations, dedicated to working together as New Hampshire's religious voice for peace, for the poor, and for the planet.