Retail @ngles

Virginia Retail Federation Leads Coalition to Reform WIC
Last month, Delegate Harvey Morgan (R-Gloucester) contacted the Virginia Retail Federation (VRF)

concerning several small grocers in his district notified by the Virginia Department of Health that they could no longer accept the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) vouchers from customers qualified for the program. These grocers were told to let the WIC customers know they no longer offer WIC even though they had not been through the appeals process. Moreover, the grocers are facing substantial revenue losses by being eliminated from the program.

The VRF convened a meeting with Delegate Morgan, the grocers and partner organizations including the Virginia Petroleum Convenience and Grocery Association (VPCGA). Subsequently, the associations were invited to participate, for the first time, in the WIC Retail Advisory group meeting hosted by the WIC vendor manager. At this meeting, the vendor manager was challenged by VRF concerning internet requirements for small retailers that do not have operational support, and transportation issues that WIC recipients will face travelling further distances to authorized stores. Mike O'Conner, VPCGA, asked about a requirement giving authorization preference to stores with greater square footage as well as the requirement to serve a minimum of 60 WIC participants. As the authorization process was peeled back, it became clear that the vendor manager had considerable autonomy to designate which stores in Virginia can offer WIC.

Subsequently, the VRF requested hearings at the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules (JCAR), a bi-partisan legislative body chaired by Senator Frank Wagner, (R-Virginia Beach). Three Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests were made to determine the number of stores dropped from WIC authorization. At the hearing, the JCAR commission learned that since 1996, the number of WIC authorized stores had decreased statewide from 1600 to 780. In the meantime, the WIC agency's

budget has increased $5 million.

The commission also learned that the "slotting" system used to grant authorization in Virginia is unfair and arbitrary for both small and large grocers. The associations and government affairs representatives for the Virginia grocery industry will work to eliminate the "slotting" system at the 2009 General Assembly session.

Progress on Plastic Bag Recycling
The Virginia Plastic Bag Coalition, spearheaded by the VRF and Isle of Wight County, completed its action plan for in the county and statewide. The plan has been submitted to all members of the Virginia General Assembly.
The VRF is proud of the work that came out of this coalition, a broad spectrum of businesses, consumer groups, government officials, environmental and industry representatives. The action plan implements:
�   An aggressive education and recycling effort created by the Isle of Wight that can be replicated in communities throughout the state,
�   A renewed effort by Trex, Inc. (Winchester, VA) to capture more recyclable plastic in Virginia,
�   A recommendation that plastic bag use gradually decrease through the introduction by retailers of alternatives and recycling opportunities,
�   A recommendation that municipalities encourage multi-store developments to include recycling opportunities for tenants and customers,
�   Creation of parking lot and store signage by the Virginia Retail Federation for merchants to encourage the use of plastic bag alternatives and recycling.

Strategy Shifts for Norfolk BPOL Tax
As the advocate for Norfolk business members that are undergoing audit by the Norfolk Commissioner

of the Revenue, representatives from Retail Alliance and the VRF met last week in Richmond with Sandy Rowe, of the law firm of Hunton and Williams. Mr. Rowe, a highly respected BPOL specialist, stressed that the definition of retail revenue for BPOL purposes rests with the Virginia Commissioner of the Department of Taxation. Consequently, the VRF has retained Rowe to further research past appeals and information needed to communicate appropriately to Commissioner Janie Bowen. In the meantime, the coalition will continue to meet with members of the Norfolk General Assembly Delegation in the event legislation is needed to correct the retail definition in the BPOL Guidelines.

Hearings on Scott Bill Start Next Week
The "E-fencing Enforcement Act of 2008," sponsored by U.S. Congressman Bobby Scott (D-Newport News), is scheduled for hearings in the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security starting Monday, September 22. Congressman Scott chairs the subcommittee.

His legislation, H.R. 6713, goes after online sales of stolen products. Retailers verify that millions of dollars in stolen goods are sold over internet auction sites on a daily basis.