Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News, December 17, 2008

Delegate Ken Plum's

Virginia E-News

Delegate Ken Plum (right) and Senator Janet Howell met in Reston with a delegation of Russian citizens to discuss the outcome of the Presidental Election and other current events important to Americans and our way of life. The visit was organized by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and facilitated locally by Marilyn Silvey of Reston.

December 17, 2008

Commentary

Virginia, Is There a Santa Claus?
Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum

         My column next week will be a reprint of the famous 1897 New York Sun editorial, "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus." In it editor Francis P. Church responds to young reader Virginia O'Hanlon's question about the existence of Santa Claus. More recently a question is being asked throughout Virginia as to whether the state can meet its obligations in a compassionate way. Is there a Santa Claus for state government, and if so, will he come this year?

        The economic crisis being felt by most households and certainly by the business community as a whole is wreaking havoc on the state budget as well. What appeared initially to be a couple of billion dollars shortfall will certainly exceed three billion dollars, and the only remaining question is by how much. No areas of the state budget will escape reductions. The challenge will be to keep minimally funded programs alive when they provide vital services.

        Your assistance is needed in establishing priorities for our funding. All voters should receive a newsletter from me in the next week that includes a Voter Survey. If you have not received a copy by next week, call my office at 703.758.9733 in the mornings to request a copy be sent to you. Complete the written survey and return it to me, or complete the survey online at www.kenplum.com.

        Please plan also to participate in public hearings I will be holding on Monday, January 5, 7:30 p.m. at Fox Mill Elementary School with Senator Mark Herring, or on Tuesday, January 6, 7:30 p.m. at the Reston Community Center at Lake Anne with Senator Janet Howell. This is an opportunity to meet with your elected representatives to state government before we leave for Richmond for the annual legislative session. Pre-registration is not required. Written testimony is appreciated but not required.

        Wishful thinking or fantasies will not solve the Commonwealth's challenges. Nor will Santa Claus provide a solution. Tough decisions will need to be made. I would really appreciate hearing from you on your priorities.

"Virginia Report"
Reston Comcast Channel 28

Tonight

Wednesday, December 17 at 10:30 p.m.

Jody Keenan, State Director, Virginia Small Business Development Center - "Strategies for an Economic Downturn"

Next Week

Tuesday, December 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, December 24 at 10:30 p.m.

Patty Nicoson, President, Dulles Corridor Rail Association - "The Reality of Rail to Dulles"

Online

Watch this week's show and other "Virginia Report" programs at:

http://www.rctv28.com/video

Pre-Session Public Hearings with Delegate Plum Scheduled for Reston and Oak Hill

Please plan to participate in one or both of the Public Hearings below as we prepare for the 2009 General Assembly session that convenes in Richmond on January 14. Speak to us about issues of interest or concern to you. All are welcome, and pre-registration is not required. Written testimony is helpful but not required.

Delegate Ken Plum and Senator Janet Howell will host a Public Hearing on Tuesday, January 6, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Reston Community Center at Lake Anne, 1609-A Washington Plaza, Reston.

Delegate Ken Plum and Senator Mark Herring will host a Public Hearing on Monday, January 5, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. at Fox Mill Elementary School, 2601 Viking Drive, Herndon.

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Pre-Session Public Hearing for Fairfax County Residents on January 10

The Fairfax County Delegation to the General Assembly will hold its annual pre-session Public Hearing on Saturday, January 10, 9:00 a.m. to close, at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax.

Climate Change Citizen Action

The State Corporation Commission (SCC) has approved voluntary renewable energy options for customers of Dominion Virginia Power. Customers will have the opportunity to purchase renewable energy certificates (RECs) for some or all of the electricity that they consume, from renewable sources such as wind, solar, falling water, biomass, energy from waste, wave motion, tides, and geothermal power. Dominion will purchase RECs procured from "green" power sources equivalent to the amount of renewable energy purchased through customer contributions. A customer will see a separate line item on his or her monthly bill that will show the additional costs for participating in the renewable energy program. Details on the program are expected in the near future.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, last year the amount of saved energy from recycling was equivalent to:

41 million automobiles from the road
252 million barrels of oil or 11.7 billion gallons of gasoline
Energy consumption of 7.7 million households

Recycling can be part of the solution to climate change. We need to increase the volumes and types of materials we divert from disposal in order to realize the environmental, resource conservation, and climate change benefits. For more information, go to www.nrc-recycle.org.

Announcements

Help a young person go to college by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Cultural Foundation Scholarship Fund. For more information go to www.mlkculturalfoundation.org. The Foundation is based in Reston.

Help restore homes in Mississippi and Louisiana damaged by recent hurricanes by contributing to the Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders (formerly Project REHAB), P.O. Box 8940, Biloxi, MS 39535. Ken and Jane Plum work with this group and can attest to their effectiveness and worthiness.

For information on programs and services available for wounded, ill, and injured service members, Veterans, their families, and those who support them, go to www.nationalresourcedirectory.org. For local assistance through the Wounded Warrior Program, call Jim Thur at 571.294.0360 or email James.Thur@dvs.virginia.gov.

A new booklet is available, "Each Be Smart Virginians! Know Your Medicare Rights - Detect and Report Healthcare Fraud," a toolkit for seniors that contains:

questions for beneficiaries or family members to ask salespeople
facts on healthcare benefits options
things to look out for when considering a healthcare plan
four steps to safeguard their Medicare
a contact list of helpful Virginia health and consumer agencies

Families and older adults who are interested in receiving a toolkit should contact the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging at 703.324.5411. For additional information, call the Virginia Department for the Aging at 1.800.938.8885 or 1.800.552.3402.

On February 17, 2009, the United States will transition free over-the-air television broadcasting from an analog to an all-digital format. All full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. Digital broadcasting will allow stations to offer improved picture and sound quality and additional channels. An educational video on the change can be viewed at www.dtv.gov/video_audio.html.

To stem the foreclosure crisis, Fairfax County is training lawyers and paralegals to help residents in danger of losing their homes. Once trained, these legal professionals will donate their time on a volunteer or pro bono basis to counsel clients facing foreclosure and assist them in exploring viable alternatives. For more information contact Maichi Halley, Office of Public Private Partnerships, at 703.324.5491, TTY 711.