Richmond Crusade for Voters Backs Tax Credit Change for School Renovations

I started off intrigued but leery about this proposal to fund school renovations, but the more I hear about it (including a conversation with Terry McAuliffe yesterday), the more I'm starting to like it. It certainly has a wide array of supporters, including George Allen (yes, our old buddy "Felix Macacawitz"), Creigh Deeds (during his campaign for governor), Paul Goldman, Terry McAuliffe, and now the Richmond Crusade for Voters.

Republican Allen joined former Virginia Democratic Party Chairman Paul Goldman and former Democratic National Committee chairman and recent Democratic gubernatorial primary hopeful Terry McAuliffe at a Crusade meeting last night to get the group's support. A majority of about 100 people present voted to back the proposal.

The three speakers say a simple change in the federal tax code would allow the application of a historic-rehabilitation tax credit to renovate aging school buildings. Goldman has said most buildings more than 50 years old can qualify for the tax credit, which can account for up to 20 percent of the cost to update them.

Currently, private investors who renovate school buildings for another use, such as condominiums, can get a tax credit, but it does not apply if the buildings are returned to their prior use.

Under the proposal, private investors would receive credits for rehabbing the schools and then leasing the structures back to localities for a set period of time, Goldman said.

Now, I fully admit I'm no expert on this, but I definitely don't want to see children anywhere in Virginia trying to learn in crumbling, inadequate, unsafe or unhealthy school facilities. Apparently, neither does the Richmond Crusade for Voters, one of the most respected African American political organizations in Virginia. Their support for this proposal means a lot to me. How about you?

Major Virginia Black Voter Organization Endorses McAuliffe for Governor!

This is great news for Terry McAuliffe and also must be devastating to Brian Moran.

Jeff E. Schapiro on endorsements by the Richmond Crusade for Voters:

A black voter organization with a long tradition of backing Democrats, the crusade favors former Democratic national chairman Terry McAuliffe over Creigh Deeds and Brian Moran for the party’s gubernatorial nomination.

What I'm hearing is that the RCV held a candidates' forum a couple of weeks ago, at which Terry had them jumping out of their seats. I'm also hearing that the vote taken last night wasn't even close, that Terry McAuliffe won overwhelmingly. Apparently, Brian Moran's "kiss my ass Barack" radio ad not only isn't helping him in Virginia's African American community, it's hurting him, at least based on this vote. And, by the way, how much money is the Moran campaign paying Lionell Spruill to win votes like this? Hmmmm.

P.S. The RCV also endorsed Jody Wagner for LG. That's gotta hurt Mike Signer, who I strongly support, as Mike's made restoration of voting rights a major part of his campaign. Sigh...