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Delegate Ken Plum met with U.S. Military Veterans during the General Assembly session last week. Pictured with Delegate Plum are C. D. "Doc" Crouch (left), who serves on the VFW's National Legislative Committee, and Harvie L. Spangler (right), Post Commander, VFW #8467, Meadows of Dan, VA.
January 28, 2009 |
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| Commentary
General Assembly Session Blow by Blow
Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
Last Thursday was a special day in the House of Delegates as it was the first day that all 100 members of the House occupied their seats - at least until the House panoramic photo was taken. Then the delegate-elect for the 46th House district, Charniele Herring, had to leave her seat and go to the back of the chamber. Although a certificate of election has been issued by the State Board of Elections, the Republican majority refuses to let her take her seat. State law is clear that a certificate of election should result in a person taking his/her seat, but the Republicans are hoping that a recount of what was a close election might change the results. Meanwhile the citizens of the 46th district are without representation.
As chair of the House Democratic Caucus I announced last week with members of the Caucus an agenda for the legislative session. The Democratic agenda includes measures to reinvigorate the economy, promote renewable energy investment and energy efficiency measures, ensure the best education possible for young Virginians, and meet commitments to our veterans.
We will push for an additional $5 million in the budget for the Governor's Opportunity Fund to allow the Governor to attract more businesses and good paying jobs to the Commonwealth. We support a bill providing tax incentives for businesses hiring honorably discharged veterans.
House Democrats recognize the immense job creation potential in the field of renewable energy. Bills have been introduced to incentivize job growth in renewable energy fields and to direct the Virginia Department of Taxation to recommend options for restructuring the residential electric consumption tax to promote energy efficiency while remaining revenue neutral. I have introduced a bill to mandate a 19 percent reduction in electricity demand by 2025 through efficiency measures.
House Democrats will once again oppose efforts to alter the Standards of Quality funding formula for public schools and place more of a burden on the already cash strapped local governments. We will work to make onetime cuts and to find payments to defer, which do not have lasting negative effects on education funding. Democrats support several bills that respond to the unique needs of veterans including access to colleges and universities.
Proposals to make voting easier and more accessible by providing for an early voting period have been defeated. Likewise, bills to provide for a non-excuse absentee ballot system have been rejected.
For information on legislation that has been introduced and to follow the progress of particular bills, go to http://legis.virginia.gov.
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| "Virginia Report"
Reston Comcast Channel 28
Tonight
Wednesday, January 28 at 10:30 p.m.
Roger Limoges, U.S. Green Building Council - "Greening Our Schools"
Next Week through February 28
Watch this space for new program listings from Richmond as they become available during the 2009 General Assembly session.
Online
Watch this week's show and other "Virginia Report" programs at:
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Climate Change Citizen Action
Ship old videotapes and DVDs to greendisk.com. To connect with e-waste recyclers in your area, contact mygreenelectronics.org.
Yemm and Hart, www.yemhart.com, turns used corks into floor and wall tiles.
Lightweight "peanuts" made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) contain 25 to 100 percent recycled material. The "Peanut Hotline" (800-828-2214) will find local recycling centers. Shippers such as PakMail and The UPS Store take boxes or bags of "peanuts." to recycle large, molded chunks of EPS used to cushion televisions, air conditioners, etc. contact epspackaging.org. |
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Announcements
The Fairfax County Long Term Care Coordinating Council and SeniorNavigator officially launched www.disabilitynavigator.org on Friday, January 9, at the Fairfax County Government Center. Fairfax County's Incentive Fund provided seed money to develop the Web site, a one-stop-shop of services specifically geared toward adults with cognitive, physical, or sensory disabilities in Northern Virginia. Delegate Kenenth R. Plum was among those who participated in the launch.
Education Week's annual "Quality Counts" report once again ranked Virginia's public schools among the best in the nation. The Commonwealth earned the fourth-highest overall grade, compared with the 2008 report in which Virginia ranked fifth.
Don't take firewood outside of Fairfax County. Residents who do so may face state and federal fines. State and federal quarantines for the emerald ash borer ban the transport of firewood to prevent the spread of this insect. For more information, call 703.324.3187, TTY 711. |
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Countywide Special Election on February 3, 2009
There will be a Special Election for Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Sueprvisors on Tuesday, February 3, 2009. All qualified voters in Fairfax County are eligible to vote in this election. The polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Absentee Voting Schedule:
Monday through Friday
Fairfax County Government Center, Fairfax
Through January 30: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 31, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
Calendar of Events
The William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review's 2009 Symposium, "It's Not Easy Building Green: Legal and Political Issues Related to Green Building Standards and Sustainable Development Legislation," will take place Friday and Saturday, January 30 and 31, at William & Mary Law School in Wiliamsburg. The Symposium will feature leading green building professionals from the fields of law, academia, and government. To register, visit www.elpr.org (click "Symposium" to access the registration form).
Reston Environmental Action (REACT) will offer a meeting to promote healthy soil, native plants, and rain barrels on Saturday, January 31, 3:00 p.m. at 12132 Quorn Lane. Synthetic pesticides, their impact on the environment, and alternatives will be discussed along with the effect of invasive plants, composting benefits, and saving money by using rain barrels will be discussed. Email your attendance to dblust@comcast.net.
Learn about green careers in fields such as green investment, renewable energy, green building architecture, environmental research, waste management, and transportation at the Green Jobs Expo, February 5, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. The Expo opens at 9:00 a.m. and runs through 6:00 p.m. Go to www.greenjobsconference.org for more information.
Don't forget to VOTE! The Special Election for Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is Tuesday, February 3.
A free 1-day driving class for citizens ages 55 and older will be held Saturday, February 7, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Fairfax County Police Department's Fair Oaks District Station, 12300 Lee Jackson Highway, Fairfax. The class is designed to help older drivers adjust driving habits to accommodate declining vision, reflexes and flexibility. The course is free and all materials are provided. Students receive a certificate upon completion of this course that may entitle them to a discount with many insurance companies (contact your agent for information). Bring a lunch. to register, for more information, or to request reasonable ADA accommodations, call Officer Wayne Twombly at 703.352.2163.
Nominations are now being accepted for the Fairfax County Federation of Citizen's Association's Annual Citizen of the Year awards. Deadline to submit a nomination is February 7. An electronic nomination form is available at www.FairfaxFederation.org.
Take your recyclable electronics to the I-66 Transfer Station, 4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax, on Sunday, February 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This free "Electric Sunday" recycling event is hosted by the Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program and is limited to the collection of televisions, computers, and peripheral electronic devices including keyboards, speakers, printers, external drives, and other such materials.
Attend an Open Forum Public Hearing on Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway/John Mosby Highway (Route 50)hosted by the Virginia Department of Transportation on Thursday, February 26 (inclement weather date is Thursday, March 5), 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Learn about the proposed widening of Route 5p from four lanes divided to six lanes divided to increase capacity along the roadway. The proposed improvements are located on Route 50 (Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway) between Route 742 (poland Road) and Route 28 (Sully Road). the 3.6-mile widening would also include improvements at cross streets and stream crossings.
Great Energy Efficiency Day 2009 - Keys to Unlocking Energy Efficiency - will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room G-50, Washington, D.C.. For more information visit www.ase.org/geed.
Take your recyclable electronics to the I-66 Transfer Station, 4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax, on Sunday, March 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This free "Electric Sunday" recycling event is hosted by the Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program and is limited to the collection of televisions, computers, and peripheral electronic devices including keyboards, speakers, printers, external drives, and other such materials.
Attend "How to Win an Election," a 2-day strategy seminar open to candidates, their spouses, and campaign managers March 17-18, 2009, 9:00 a.m., 12580 West Creek Parkway, Richmond, VA. The seminar is sponsored by the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Co-Ops and the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. A fee is required. Call 804.290.1021 or 804.968.4091 to learn more.
The 20th Annual Environment Virginia Symposium, "Sustainability - The Nexus of Economic Prosperity & Environmental Stewardship," will be held March 31-April 2, 2009, at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA. For more information visit www.environmentva.org.
The Virginia Guardianship & Elder Rights Conference will be held April 27-28 in Richmond. The Conference will focus on activities of special interest to individuals with disabilities and their family members, caregivers, service providers, advocates, and decision-makers. Limited scholarships are available for individuals with disabilities to attend. For more information visit www.vgavirginia.org/conferences.asp.
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| Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News.
Authorized by Kenneth R. Plum. Paid for by Friends of Delegate Ken Plum. |
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