(Va. AG) Cuccinelli: Some state payments to Va. charities were unconstitutional

[Newsjock]

Source: Washington Post

Virginia officials have quietly weighed for months whether to cancel payments to dozens of nonprofit organizations — including free clinics and childhood health organizations — fearful they might run afoul of a recent legal opinion by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II that charitable funding by the state is unconstitutional.

... On Friday, Cuccinelli’s office informed state officials that it has completed its review of a number of charities funded through the Virginia Department of Health, deeming some payments unconstitutional.

... But the decision could endanger millions in funding slated for groups that work with some of the state’s neediest residents. The agency said it would not release the names of the groups affected until next week, as allowed under public information laws, to give time for its officials to deliver the news to affected groups.

While the review has been underway, suspended payments have included more than $500,000 to the Virginia Association of Free Clinics, a network of 60 medical clinics that served 72,000 patients last year.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/politics/cuccinelli-some-state-payments-to-va-charities-were-unconstitutional/2011/04/14/AFmyqtjD_story.html?wpisrc=al_excl

[No Elephants]

1. States "donating" tax money to private entities? No thank you.