C.L.I.C.K. for Justice and Equality is an agent of communication alerting our social community of injustices and inequalities among the socially disadvantaged and disenfranchised individual. C.L.I.C.K. developed and created this website to assist the socially disenfranchised or disadvantaged individual in litigating their issues in Federal and State courts.

Friday, February 27, 2009

RPC Newsletter 2.27.09




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Reentry Policy Council Spotlight Announcement
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Reentry Partnerships Guide

The Justice Center recently released a guide that offers practical recommendations for how state government officials and community-based service providers can better use limited resources to help people released from prisons and jails successfully and safely rejoin neighborhoods and families.
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February 27, 2009

Solicitation for Second Chance Act Grants to State and Local Governments Released Today

On February 27, 2009, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), U.S. Department of Justice, released the solicitation for Second Chance Act grants to state and local governments for adult reentry demonstration projects (Section 101). Funding under this section is available to help state and local agencies implement programs and strategies to reduce recidivism and ensure the safe and successful reentry of adults released from prisons and jails.
To download the solicitation, or find out more about the grant program, click here
The deadline for applications is 8:00 p.m. EST on April 20, 2009.
Inquiries about the solicitation should be directed to Gary L. Dennis, Senior Policy Advisor, Bureau of Justice Assistance at 202-305-9059 or gary.dennis@usdoj.gov.
For more information about downloading the solicitation, applicant eligibility requirements, instructions on registering for the online grant application system, and other application materials, click here
The solicitation for the nonprofit grants (Section 211) will be released by BJA at a later date. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) will issue a separate solicitation in the coming weeks for Juvenile Demonstration Project grants for state and local governments and Indian tribes.

Coming soon: The Justice Center's Second Chance Act Toolkit
The Council of State Governments Justice Center is working with its reentry partners to develop a toolkit to help potential applicants. This toolkit will include a number of useful materials:
  1. A checklist that will help state and local governments meet application requirements
  2. FAQs about the Second Chance Act and Section 101
  3. Fact sheets about the grant programs authorized by Section 101, Section 211, and Section 212 of the Second Chance Act
  4. A resource guide listing other publications, reports, and tools that may be helpful in developing a successful reentry initiative
This toolkit will be available in the coming weeks on the Reentry Policy Council website. The Justice Center also is planning a series of webinars to help potential applications understand the solicitation for Second Chance Act grants and answer common questions. The dates and times for these webinars will be released in an upcoming announcement.
To sign up for the Reentry Policy Council listserv to receive announcements about SCA and reentry resources developed by the Justice Center, click here
.
U.S. House of Representatives Approves Over $133 Million for Prisoner Reentry in FY 2009, including $25 Million for the Second Chance Act
On February 25, 2009, the House of Representatives passed an omnibus appropriations bill for the remainder of fiscal year 2009, which includes funding for the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services. The omnibus bill (H.R. 1105) is now under consideration in the Senate. Democratic leaders hope to take action on this bill by the end of next week, as the continuing resolution currently providing funding expires on March 6, 2009.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
On February 17, 2009, the President signed into law H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This stimulus bill provides nearly $4 billion for criminal justice grant programs.
To read more about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, click here.

President Obama Requests $75 Million for the Second Chance Act in FY 2010
In the preliminary budget for fiscal year 2010 released on February 26, 2009, President Obama requested $109 million for prisoner reentry programs, including $75 million for Second Chance Act programs. "I am indeed pleased that the President's proposed budget includes $75 million for Second Chance and I applaud him," said Second Chance Act sponsor Rep. Danny Davis (IL). "This investment of $75 million will bring tremendous returns. However, throughout the budget and appropriation processes, I shall be advocating and working for more."
For more information about the Second Chance Act, visit the Reentry Policy Council website.

Sign Letters to Support Second Chance Act Funding
A national reentry working group is leading the effort to secure funding for the Second Chance Act for fiscal year 2010, which begins on October 1, 2009. The working group is circulating a sign-on letter asking Congress to fund Second Chance Act programs in FY2010.

"We have all worked so hard to get this legislation passed, but we know it will not accomplish what it is intended to do without sufficient funding. We must encourage policy makers to appropriate the needed funds," said working group member Jane Browning of the International Community Corrections Association. According to fellow working group member Gene Guerrero of the Open Society Policy Center, "it is important for organizations that support the Second Chance Act and federal funding for reentry programs to sign this letter of support."

Organizations that want to sign the letters should email scainfo@csg.org by March 13, 2009.
Smart on Crime Policies: Increase Public Safety, Reduce Costs, and Improve Lives
Hosted by the Hon. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA),Chair, House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security
March 3, 2009
Washington, DC
First Tuesdays Forum: Forensic Failure: Case Reopened
The Urban Institute
March 3, 2009
Washington, DC
Second Chance Act Prisoner Reentry Initiative
The Second Chance Act will help ensure the transition individuals make from prison or jail to the community is safe and successful. Section 101 provides grants to state and local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes that may be used for demonstration projects to promote the safe and successful reintegration into the community of individuals who have been incarcerated.
Application Deadline: April 20, 2009

Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program
The Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program seeks to increase public safety through innovative cross-system collaboration for individuals with mental illness or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders who come into contact with the criminal justice system. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is seeking joint justice and mental health applications from eligible applicants to plan, implement, or expand a justice and mental health collaboration program.
Application Deadline: March 12, 2009

Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program (IASAP)
The Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program (IASAP), administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), provides funding and technical assistance to federally recognized tribal governments to plan, implement, or enhance tribal justice strategies to address crime issues related to alcohol and substance abuse. Priority will be placed on law enforcement-led strategies which focus on controlling and preventing alcohol and substance abuse in Indian Country.
Application Deadline: March 12, 2009

Adult Drug Court Planning and Training
The Bureau of Justice Assistance's (BJA) Adult Drug Court Planning and Training Program supports the Adult Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program (42 U.S.C. 3797u et seq.), which assists communities to develop effective drug court strategies for nonviolent1 substance-abusing offenders through two components. The first component, the Adult Drug Court Initiative, assists jurisdictions in the planning and development of new drug court programs; the second component, the Adult Drug Court Training Initiative, offers a menu of training options to access and incorporate into local, regional and, statewide drug court training events.
Application Deadline: March 26, 2009


This announcement was sent to subscribers of the Reentry Policy Council Newsletter.
Please send your comments and suggestions to editors@reentrypolicy.org.



 
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Blueprint for America and our future




Organizing for America
Fred --

Yesterday, President Obama submitted his first budget to Congress.

As the President said, the budget isn't just numbers on a page. It establishes our plans and priorities as we confront some of the longest-standing challenges this country has ever faced.

Watch a short video of President Obama introducing his budget and share it with your friends:

Watch the video

With this budget, President Obama is asking Washington to do something it rarely does -- look beyond the next election and take the long-term steps to ensure America's future strength and prosperity.

It will involve sacrifices and difficult decisions. But it will also boldly invest in the three areas most critical to our economic future: energy, health care, and education.

Investing in a clean energy future will put America at the forefront of industry in the 21st century and create the jobs that will form a new foundation for the middle class.

Confronting the mounting cost of health care will put America back on a solid foundation so businesses can thrive and families can prosper.

Reforming and strengthening our education system will ensure American innovation and competitiveness well into the next century.

Watch the brief video now:

http://my.barackobama.com/thebudget

This budget isn't just a reflection of President Obama's priorities. It's a reflection of yours.

This is the change you worked for and Americans demanded. But to make sure it succeeds, the President will need your help.

In the coming weeks, we'll be asking you to talk directly to people in your community, to build momentum and demonstrate the broad support President Obama has for this new direction.

Thank you for your continued commitment,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America



Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

 

Thursday, February 26, 2009

President Obama Requests $75 Million for Second Chance Act





Justice Center
February 26, 2009
U.S. House of Representatives Approves Over $133 Million for Prisoner Reentry in FY 2009, Including $25 Million for the Second Chance Act
On February 25, 2009, the House of Representatives passed an omnibus appropriations bill for the remainder of fiscal year 2009, which includes funding for the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services. The omnibus bill (H.R. 1105) is now under consideration in the Senate. Democratic leaders hope to take action on this bill by the end of next week, as the continuing resolution currently providing funding expires on March 6, 2009.
The omnibus bill passed by the House includes funding for the following criminal justice priorities:
  • $25 million for the Second Chance Act, including $15 million for state and local demonstration grants and $10 million for nonprofit grants
  • $108,493,000 for Department of Labor ex-offender activities
  • $10 million for the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (which represents a $3.5 million increase over the FY08 appropriation)
  • $532 million for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program
  • $30 million for the Byrne Competitive Grant Program
  • $40 million for drug courts
  • $400 million for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP)
  • $10 million for Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT)
The Justice Center will send out an update on the omnibus bill when it passes in the Senate.
President Obama Requests $75 Million for the Second Chance Act in FY 2010
In the preliminary budget for fiscal year 2010 released on February 26, 2009, President Obama requested $109 million for prisoner reentry programs, including $75 million for Second Chance Act programs. "I am indeed pleased that the President's proposed budget includes $75 million for Second Chance and I applaud him," said Second Chance Act sponsor Rep. Danny Davis (IL). "This investment of $75 million will bring tremendous returns. However, throughout the budget and appropriation processes, I shall be advocating and working for more."
For more information about the Second Chance Act, visit the Reentry Policy Council website.

The Council of State Governments Justice Center is a national nonprofit organization that serves policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels from all branches of government. It provides practical, nonpartisan advice and consensus-driven strategies-informed by available evidence-to increase public safety and strengthen communities.


.




 

Obama promises to slash spending by $2 trillion

Obama promises to slash spending by $2 trillion

Obama submits budget blueprint - CNN.com

Obama submits budget blueprint - CNN.com

Tuesday, February 24, 2009



CHICAGOBUSINESS

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CRAIN'S LISTS SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MULTIMEDIA WEEKLY JOB CHANGES

TOP HEADLINES Tuesday, February 24, 2009

· Durbin asks Burris to resign; he refuses

· Northern Trust sponsorship prompts legislative action

· Local home prices hit five-year low

· Citadel allows some fund withdrawals

· Stocks up after steep selloff

· Chicago test market for Panera catering push

· Navigant cutting jobs; reports profit growth

· Chicago sees smallest raises on record: report

· Northern Trust names first investment strategist

· General Growth's fourth-quarter profit lower than expected

· Huron shares hit as profit comes up short

· Heidrick & Struggles posts narrow profit 

· Obama needs to offer hope: Greg Hinz blog

· Northern Trust under fire: Biz of Sports blog 

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OTHER HEADLINES

· U of I gets $14M to study Brazil Daily Herald

· Fed chief says recovery may take wait until 2010 or later New York Times

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Holocaust-denying bishop flies back to Britain after Argentina orders him out

Holocaust-denying bishop flies back to Britain after Argentina orders him out - Telegraph


Holocaust-denying bishop flies back to Britain after Argentina orders him out.

Richard Williams, the British bishop whose denial of key facts of the Holocaust provoked a crisis in the Catholic Church, will arrive in London on Wednesday after being expelled from Argentina.

ABC7 eNews




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Top Stories

Tuesday, February 24, 2009


Six CPS schools to stay open | VIDEO
Chicago Public Schools officials have changed their minds about the fate of six schools scheduled to close. Those schools will stay open because of the reaction from parents and community leaders.

Crews rescue two from burning home | VIDEO
Seven Chicago police officers are being credited for saving the lives of two people from their burning home in the Back of the Yards neighborhood.

Burris returns to DC to face colleagues | VIDEO
Roland Burris was back at work Tuesday morning in his office in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington D.C., apparently ignoring calls for his resignation, including one last week by the governor of Illinois.

Former jail inmates win strip search lawsuit
A federal judge has ruled that several thousand former Cook County Jail inmates had their rights violated when they were strip-searched in humiliating conditions.

Teacher charged with alleged sex with student
A teacher at a not-for-profit treatment center for at-risk youth in Chicago is charged with having sex with one of her students.

MORE STORIES

Strange

Ghost hunters staking out Pa. university

Couple selling underground house

Beijing teen hot-wires bus, causes chaos

No luck for Santa in parking ticket fight

Tanked soldier takes 2 joyrides in tank

Consumer

Ticketmaster to change online ticket sale procedures

Oil well below $40; consumer confidence plunges

Bernanke: Economy suffering 'severe contraction'

Ex-DOT official: US slow in improving air safety

Home prices post record annual decline in 4Q

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Calcium tied to lower cancer risk in older people

Study: B vitamins can prevent vision loss

Could anger cause heart trouble?

Discovery could bring end to annual flu shot

Brain injury may boost epilepsy risk

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Thursday, February 19, 2009

Economic Stimulus Package




Here is a partial breakdown of the Economic Stimulus Package:

What's In It for You and Your Family?

Unemployment Benefits

Ø       Extends Unemployment Benefits:  Helps an additional 3.5 million jobless workers by providing up to 33 weeks of extended benefits until the end of December 2009.  This will help approximately 145,000 Illinoisans.

Ø       Increases Unemployment Benefits:  Provides the first-ever federal increase of unemployment benefits of $25 per week.  This change could provide nearly an additional $1000 for an individual unemployed for the remainder of this year, helping approximately 20 million people in the nation and over 800,000 Illinoisans.

Ø       Encourages States to Expand Coverage to More Workers:  Provides incentives to states to improve coverage for low-wage, part-time, and other workers who can now be unfairly denied benefits when they lose their jobs.

Ø       Suspends Taxes on Unemployment Benefits:  Suspends temporarily the current law that taxes all unemployment benefits so that only unemployment benefits received in 2009 exceeding $2400 are taxable.

Ø       Extends Benefits to Railroad Workers:  Provides 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits for railroad workers.

Ø       Extends Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA):  Extends TAA through the end of 2010 for workers who lose their jobs because of increased imports or factory shifts to any foreign countries, helping at least 160,000 new workers.

Health Benefits

Ø       Helps Unemployed Workers Maintain Health Coverage:  Helps cover 65% of the cost for COBRA premiums for up to 9 months for workers who are involuntarily separated from employment between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009.  Unemployed workers currently may continue coverage for themselves and their families under their former employer's health plan if they pay 102% of the costs.  This change will help 7 million workers keep their health coverage.  The subsidy is only available if your adjusted gross income is below $125,000 for individuals ($250,000 for joint filers).  The subsidy also will end if you are offered new employer-sponsored health care coverage or become Medicare eligible. 

Ø       Improves the Health Coverage Tax Credit:  Expands the Health Coverage Tax Credit for workers who are eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance and individuals who receive their pensions through the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.  The changes will cover 80% of the premium cost of private insurance and allow TAA recipients who receive unemployment benefits to qualify for the credit.

Ø       Protects Health Care Coverage for Millions through Medicaid:  Protects health care coverage for millions of Americans by providing an estimated $87 billion over the next two years in additional federal matching funds to help states maintain their Medicaid programs in the face of massive state budget shortfalls.

Assistance for Struggling Families

The Recovery bill provides additional funding to government programs that provide critical support to struggling families.  Depending on your economic circumstances, you may qualify for assistance.

Ø       Food Assistance: The bill provides: $19.9 billion for additional Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly food stamps) to increase benefits by 13.6% for more than 31 million Americans (half of whom are children); $100 million for grants to provide emergency food and shelter; $100 million for formula grants to states for elderly nutrition services such as Meals on Wheels; and $150 million for the Emergency Food Assistance Program to restock local food banks.

Ø       Housing Assistance:  The bill provides:  $2 billion for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to help communities purchase and rehabilitate foreclosed, vacant properties; and $1.5 billion for the Emergency Shelter Grant program to provide short-term rental assistance and other aid for families during the economic crisis.

Ø       Employment Assistance:  The bill provides:  $3.95 billion for job training for adults, dislocated workers, and youth (with $1.2 billion to create up to one million summer jobs for youth) through local Workforce Development Boards and organizations; $500 million for Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants to help persons with disabilities prepare for gainful employment; $500 million to match unemployed individuals to job openings through state employment agencies; and $120 million to provide community service jobs to an additional 24,000 low-income older Americans.

Ø       Temporary Assistance for Needy Families:  The bill provides: $2.4 billion to states to provide emergency income assistance and work support services to needy families; and $319 million to provide supplemental TANF grants to states.

Ø       Education and Child Care Assistance:  The bill provides:  $15.6 billion to increase Pell grants for college to $5,350 in 2009 and $5,550 in 2010; $200 million to expand Work-Study Program; $1.1 billion for Early Head Start and $1 billion for Head Start to provide comprehensive development services to low-income infants and preschool children, expanding services for 124,000 additional infants and children; and $2 billion for the Child Care Development Block Grant to provide child care services to an additional 300,000 children in low-income families while their parents go to work.

Tax Relief for Individuals and Families

Ø       Making Work Pay Tax Credit:  Provides tax relief to 95% of American workers by giving a tax credit of up to $400 per worker ($800 per couple filing jointly) for individuals earning less than $75,000 ($150,000 for joint filers).  If you earn between $75,000 and $95,000 as an individual ($150,000 and $190,000 for joint filers), you should qualify for some level of credit but not the entire amount.  You (or your spouse if filing jointly) must have a Social Security Number to qualify for this credit.  Because this tax credit is "refundable," you may still qualify for the credit if you don't owe any taxes. You can only receive one $250 Economic Recovery Payment.  If you qualify for any payment to retirees described below, your Making Work Pay Tax Credit will be reduced by $250.  You can either claim this credit next year on your 2010 tax return or chose to reduce the amount of income tax that is withheld from your paycheck in 2009 by changing your tax withholdings on your W-4 with your employer.   To help determine what level set your withholdings, you can use the IRS Withholding Calculator:  www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96196,00.html

Ø       Payments to Retirees and Persons on Disability:  Provides a one time payment of $250 to recipients of Social Security, Social Security Income (SSI), Railroad Retirement, and Veterans Disability Compensation Benefits.  Both you and your spouse can receive payments if you are both eligible. The Treasury should send your check within 4 months.  You can only receive one $250 Economic Recovery Payment, even if you qualify as a retiree in multiple categories.  If you also qualify for the Making Work Pay credit, that credit will be reduced by $250 if you qualify for the retiree payment.  You are not eligible for this credit if you get SSI and live in a Medicaid institution or if your federal program benefits have been suspended because you are in prison or jail, if you have committed fraud, or if you are in violation of probation or parole.  

Ø       Tax-Free Transit Benefits:  Increases the tax-free benefit employers can provide to employees for taking public transportation up to $230 a month during 2009 and at the same level as parking benefits in 2010.

Ø       Tax Credit for Certain Federal and State Pensioners:  Provides a one-time $250 tax credit on your 2010 tax return to government retirees who are not eligible for Social Security benefits and who received a pension or annuity during 2009 for service performed while employed by federal, state, or local governments.  This payment will count as a deduction to your allowable Making Work Pay Credit.  Both you and your spouse can qualify for the credit if you are both eligible.  You can only receive one $250 Economic Recovery Payment.  If you also qualify for the Making Work Pay credit, that credit will be reduced by $250 if you qualify for the pensioner credit.

Ø       Child Tax Credit:  Cuts taxes for the families of millions of children by allowing families to begin qualifying for the child tax credit with every dollar earned over $3,000 starting on your 2010 tax return.   Families can receive a maximum credit of $1000 per each eligible child. This credit starts to decrease for taxpayers whose adjusted gross income exceeds $75,000 ($110,000 for joint filers). You may qualify for this credit even if you don't owe any taxes.

Ø       Earned Income Tax Credit:  Eases the marriage penalty and also provides tax relief to families with 3 or more children on your 2010 tax return. For married couples filing jointly, the bill eases the marriage penalty, increasing the credit for joint filers by $1,880.  For working families with 3 or more children, it provides greater tax relief by increasing the credit to 45% of the family's first $12,570 of earned income.  The credit starts to decrease for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $16,420 ($19,540 for married couples filing jointly).

Ø       American Opportunity Education Tax Credit:  Increases the higher education tax credit to a maximum of $2,500 to cover tuition, fees, and course materials.  Extends this credit to nearly 4 million low-income students who were not eligible in the past by making it partially refundable. The credit will start to decrease for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income exceeds $80,000 ($160,000 for joint filers).  This change applies to your 2010 and 2011 tax returns.

Ø       Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT):  Protects 26 million middle-class families from this tax by increasing the AMT exemption amount by $46,700 for individuals and $70,950 for joint filers.  This will apply to your 2010 tax return.

Ø       529 Plans:  Includes computers as a qualified education expenses under 529 plans on your 2010 and 2011 tax returns.

Ø       First-Time Homebuyer Credit:  Helps first-time homebuyers by increasing the current credit up to $8000 for first-time home purchases between April 9, 2008 and December 1, 2009 with the removal of the repayment requirement for homes purchased after January 1, 2009.  You must repay the credit if you sell the home within three years of the purchase date.  This credit decreases for taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes over $57,000 for individuals ($150,000 for joint filers). 

Sales Tax Deduction for Vehicle Purchases:  Provides incentives during 2009 to buy new cars, light trucks, or SUVs by allowing you to deduct State and local sales taxes paid on the purchase on your 2010 tax return. The deduction starts to decrease for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income over $125,000 for individuals ($250,000 for joint filers).