Transparency News 9/29/17

Friday, September 29, 2017


Nominations are being accepted for VCOG’s Freedom of Information Awards, to be presented in the fall of 2017. Entries should be submitted by October 9, 2017, by filling out the form linked above or by mailing the same information to VCOG, P.O. Box 2576, Williamsburg VA  23187.

State and Local Stories

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Hampton Roads Transit demoted its chief financial officer Wednesday after learning of a $1.3 million error – the second budget issue this year. Revenue from Elizabeth River Crossings, which was $2.2 million, was over-counted to $3.5 million. The error was revealed through an external audit earlier this month. Cities often make midyear adjustments based on new information, but since HRT’s financial structure doesn’t allow for a rainy day or reserve fund, changes can have a big impact.
Virginian-Pilot

They're lawyers paid by the state to represent children in custody battles, foster care placement and when adults are charged with abuse. In our area alone, they were paid more than $326,000 for one year of work ending in May. Guardians ad litem, or GALs, are required by the Supreme Court of Virginia to perform certain tasks in representing a child. A judge "hires" them on behalf of the Commonwealth, and tax money pays for their work. But despite GALs being the voice for vulnerable children, other adults who work with them in Virginia have little faith that they're fulfilling their role. As part of an investigation, The News Leader obtained an internal survey of 300 CASA volunteers across the state who are also assigned, unpaid, to work with kids in such cases.  The report shows a very low level of confidence — less than 10 percent of those surveyed — that many of the important tasks these paid lawyers are required to perform on behalf of children are actually being done. And The News Leader found there is little to no oversight or auditing of the guardian ad litem invoices.
News Leader

Students at JMU received a personalized text on their phone this week, appearing to be from volunteers working on a local democrat's campaign. Now some are wondering how they found their name and number in the first place. A spokesman at JMU said the student directory is considered public information under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, meaning anybody who lives in Virginia can ask for it. A JMU spokesman said if students want to keep their personal information from being available to the public, they can sign a paper at the university's registrar's office.
WHSV



National Stories
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The Treasury Department reportedly yanked an economic report that contradicted Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s key selling point on the beneficiaries of a corporate income tax cut. The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that the 2012 paper from the Office of Tax Analysis found that “workers pay 18 percent of the corporate tax while owners of capital pay 82 percent.” The report’s breakdown is in line with the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation and Congressional Budget Office, the Journal reported. Mnuchin has reportedly been citing other papers putting more of the burden on labor.
Fox News


Editorials/Columns


Last week, readers were informed about a new find: “The Journal of Proceedings of the Colonization Board of Virginia 1853-1858.” Among other data, the journal included rules and regulations, minutes and most importantly, the names of those free blacks who were transported to Liberia, the date they left, their former owner, the name of the ship and the date it sailed. It is nothing short of fascinating information.The discoveries continue. Facebook can be searched for stories of those who relocated to Liberia; there are a few published books. The American Colonization Society, the National Archives and the Virginia Historical Society also possess a wealth of material. Regrettably, the two major genealogical resources—Family Search and Ancestry.com—do not yet have data beginning as early as 1865 (following Emancipation) that would shed light on the occurrence of those who might have returned to their homes.
Orange County Review