May 31, 2001 Vol. 3, No. 15

This Week in Washington...

For more information, contact Reva Price, Washington Representative at rprice@thejcpa.org

Tax Exemption for Holocaust Assets Restitution: While the media and pundits have focused on the estate tax, tax cuts for married couples and the tax rate, relatively little attention has been paid to section 803 of the tax cut legislation which rules that no federal income tax should be paid on restitution received by victims of the Nazi regime, their heirs or estates. The amendment passed the Senate last week and was included in the final conference version of the bill championed by Senator Fitzgerald (IL) and signed by the President Bush. Section 803 reiterates the provisions of the 1994 law stating that "Any excludable restitution payment shall be disregarded in determining eligibility for, and the amount of benefits or services to be provided under any Federal or federally assisted program which provides benefits or service based, in whole or in part, on need." JCPA has been alerted that some Jewish Family Service agencies and local government offices are unaware that restitution payments are exempt from determining eligibility for means tested benefits. JCPA Member agencies are urged to be in immediate contact with appropriate community institutions to make them aware of these provisions.

Musical Chairs: Last week’s surprise announcement that Senator James Jeffords (VT) would be switching parties has added to the never-ending rollercoaster that is the 107^th Congress. On its return from recess next week, the balance of power in the Senate will shift as Sen. Jeffords moves from the Republican side of the aisle and votes, as he indicated in his announcement, to organize with the Democrats. The change will bring a new Majority Leader, Senator Tom Daschle (SD), fifteen new Committee Chairs and five Senators poised to be chairs for the second time. This will be the first time since 1881 that partisan control of Senate committees has shifted as a result of an event other than an election. The main impact of the change will likely be on agenda and priority setting. Warning: predicting the future of the 107^th Congress and the narrowly divided Senate is risky business and may prove hazardous to your health.

This Week in New York

For more information, contact Benita Gayle-Almeleh, Director of Community Relations and Special Projects at bga@thejcpa.org

Rally for Israel: JCPA Chair Dr. Leonard Cole will represent the organized Jewish community at the Sunday, June 3rd rally in solidarity with Israel, which is scheduled for 11:00 AM in New York City, across from Israel's consulate and UN mission (Second Avenue between 42nd and 43rd Streets). This rally is a regional event and is not intended to replace a possible national rally under consideration by United Jewish Communities. The JCPA encourages its member agencies in the tri-state area to promote participation in this event. Contact mraffel@thejcpa.org for more information.

Remember to Register! Please be sure to register in advance of the June 10-11^th JCPA meetings in New York City. JCPA’s Task Forces will meet on Sunday, June 10, and the Board of Directors on Monday, June 11^th. Rep Christopher Shays (CT) will speak at the Monday Board meeting. At Sunday’s meeting of the Equal Opportunity and Social Justice Task Force, William Moran, Regional Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services; Victoria Dougherty, Connecticut Policy and Economic Council; and William E. Rapfogel, Executive Director, Metropolitan Coordinating Council on Jewish Poverty will initiate the first of several discussions on welfare reauthorization to be held over the next several months. The Task Force on Israel and International Concerns will hear a journalist’s perspective on the Middle East crisis by Aluf Benn, Ha’aretz diplomatic correspondent, as well as a discussion of the current situation by Ambassador Alon Pinkas, Israel's Consul General in New York, and Aaron David Miller, a senior Middle East official at the U.S. Department of State. Contact twallace@thejcpa.org for registration information.