 National Association of Counties * Washington, D.C. Vol. 32, No. 23 * December 18, 2000 Previous story | Table of Contents | Next story NACo 2001 Legislative Priorities
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Critical Funding Issues Increase funding for the Rural Community Advancement Program (RCAP) to meet the needs of rural counties. Key Priorities Economy of Agricultural Counties: Support changes to the 1996 Farm Act that will help restore the economy of agricultural counties affected by low prices, increased food imports, loss of export markets and natural disasters. Community and Economic Development Critical Funding Issues • Increase funding for the Community Development Block Program (CDBG), while minimizing set-asides that may reduce formula funding. • Enhance the Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) through additional funding and improved flexibility for local governments. Other Priorities • Support public/private efforts designed to increase home ownership opportunities and lower the cost of housing. (For low income tax credits and private activity bonds see “Taxation and Finance.”) Environment, Energy and Land Use Critical Funding Issues • Full funding for modernization of the nation’s flood hazard mapping program, including a partnership program with local governments. • Funding for state and local governments from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, from legislation like the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA). Key Priorities Oppose legislation that preempts county authority such as land-use authorities, franchising of cable and telecommunications services; siting of facilities and other regulatory functions. Other Priorities • Support a diversified energy policy, including legislation that provides market- and performance-based incentives for investment in energy-efficient technologies. • Support legislation that increases federal funding for water infrastructure. • Support legislation to revise or delay Clean Air Act standards for ozone and particulate matter, and to ensure that air quality conformity rules do not lead to a loss in transportation funding for counties. • Support changes to the Endangered Species Act to provide both rural and urban counties with enhanced opportunities for consultation, regulatory flexibility, incentives for pre-listing protection measures, and funding for compliance and mitigation activities. Health Key Priorities Improve access to all health services, including those funded by Medicare and Medicaid, for all people without increasing the burden on county government. Human Services and Education Critical Funding Issues Support enhanced federal funding for the Social Services Block Grant and the Older Americans Act of 2000. Key Priorities Reduce Child and Family Poverty: Support legislation to reauthorize the 1996 welfare reform law that ensures the well-being of children; helps low-income families get out of poverty; addresses the needs of individuals with multiple barriers to employment; provides adequate funding; and ensures continued flexibility and program simplification, including giving counties the authority to blend funds. Other Priorities Enhance Services to Children and Families: Enhance comprehensive and preventive services to children and families that address abuse, neglect and violence, especially those programs that promote early childhood development and health care. Justice and Public Safety Critical Funding Issues Block grant and reimbursement programs, such as State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, for adult and juvenile justice systems. Key Priorities Support major crime legislation that facilitates diversion of mentally ill from county jails to intervention programs; provides incentives for comprehensive community strategies to prevent jail overcrowding; and restructures existing programs into a local criminal justice block grant that covers all functions of the local justice system. Other Priorities Juvenile Accountability Block Grant: To expand the use of expenditure data in the juvenile accountability block grant formula to better reflect county responsibilities in the juvenile justice system and with special emphasis given to primary prevention. Labor and Employment Critical Funding Issues Support enhanced funding for youth, adult and dislocated workforce development programs, including increased flexibility to combine funds of those programs represented in one-stop career systems. Other Priorities • Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Technical Amendments: Support WIA technical amendments that would grant counties greater authority and discretion over the development and implementation of local workforce development programs. • Pension and Social Security Reform: NACo supports efforts to streamline and reform the nation’s pension and retirement laws, but opposes any efforts to require participation in the Social Security system by currently exempt county employees. Public Lands Critical Funding Issues Support increased payments to counties related to federal public lands. Other Priorities • Support continued access to federal public lands, including roads, R.S.2477 corridors, etc. • Support legislative initiatives to improve landscape health on public lands. • Support changes to the Endangered Species Act to provide both rural and urban counties with enhanced opportunities for consultation, regulatory flexibility, incentives for pre-listing protection measures, and funding for compliance and mitigation activities. Taxation and Finance Critical Funding Issues Oppose unfunded mandates from Congress and the Administration. Key Priorities Remote Sales Tax: Support the collection and distribution to counties of current sales taxes due on purchases made over the Internet. Support the Streamlined Sales Tax System for collecting sales from Internet and other remote sellers. States are urged to pass necessary enabling legislation to join the new plan. Other Priorities • Tax Exempt Bonds: Support legislation to increase state volume caps for private activity bonds, increase the low income housing tax credit and provide an exemption or “safe harbor” from complex arbitrage rules. • Bankruptcy Reform: Support enactment of bankruptcy reform legislation that conforms to state and local law regarding tax liens in bankruptcy proceedings. Telecommunications and Technology Key Priority Oppose legislation that preempts county authority such as land-use authorities, franchising of cable and telecommunications services, siting of facilities, and other regulatory functions. Other Priorities • Advanced Telecommunications: Support the deployment of advanced telecommunications services/broadband for rural and inner city communities to respond to “digital divide” concerns. • Privacy: Support the voluntary adoption of “Fair Information Practices” by county governments for collection and distribution of information via electronic means. These policies would be implemented to forestall federal or state action to mandate privacy actions to be taken by counties. Transportation Critical Funding Issues • Support enhanced funding for highway, transit, airport, and rail service and advocate any changes in current law that will target federal funding to counties and other local governments. Other Priorities • Federal Highway and Transit Programs: Undertake a multi-year legislative effort to reauthorize the highway, transit, and safety programs in TEA-21. • Rail Service and Safety: Support legislation to improve national and regional rail service and address safety concerns surrounding grade-crossings. (For information, contact Ed Rosado, NACo legislative affairs director at (202) 947-4271 or erasado@naco.org) |
