Status-Quo Appropriations

This will be an easier week with Congress out for an Independence Day recess. Once they return, we will continue touching bases with members and staff to reassure them that all is going well with the programs and to make sure nothing unexpected happens with our programs in the 2010 appropriations process.

We don’t expect to be surprised. We have been told since March that the budget will not increase or decrease from the 2009 pre-stimulus budget. I think this is logical, as we need to make sure the money we have already received is spent properly.

There is a lot of smoke surrounding the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. More may be needed than is called for in Obama’s budget. NCAF will walk a fine line on this one. I am confident that our Community Action champions and key LIHEAP supporters, House Appropriations Chairman David Obey, D-Wis., and Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, will do the best they can for the program.

-- David Bradley, NCAF Executive Director, Washington

NCAF Upgrading Communications

It is a time of opportunities, challenges and a lot of work. This is an exciting time, but professionally, I have never been busier.

I am in constant communication with the network through a hectic travel schedule and a plethora of phone calls each week. However, because of my busy schedule, I am behind in communicating with the Community Action network via the CAP-FACTS. With new NCAF Legislative Policy Analyst Caitlin Wolf on board to help, we will resume weekly written communications to the network.

In mid-July, NCAF will be upgrading its web site and this blog as well.

I am also attempting to answer my own e-mails. I prefer more personal communication, but I realize that it is impossible to conduct all business in person or over the phone.

Going through the hundreds of e-mails I receive in a day has not yet become a time-saver for me. However, on a positive note, through e-mail I have met this nice man in Nigeria who wants to give me $10 million. All he needs is my bank account number. I’ll let you know how that works out.

It is my personal goal to keep you as current and educated as any network in the country. So, stay tuned.

-- David Bradley, NCAF Executive Director, Washington

Looking to 2010

Health care, education, energy and appropriations remain high on the congressional agenda, yet there is a small window for focusing on these big issues. Issues affecting Community Action programs may be best addressed in 2010.

Recently, I have been having quite a few interesting political discussions with congressional members. Many of the key campaign people are wanting to begin talking through the current political environment. There are races starting to pop up on the radar screen that I didn't expect.

If the economy doesn't recover, or sinks again, Democrats are very worried what that might mean for them politically in the fall of 2010.

Stay tuned for more.

-- David Bradley, NCAF Executive Director, Washington