|
|
|
Delegate Ken Plum's
Virginia e-News
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commentary
Back in Richmond
Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
I have moved to Richmond - at least for the weekdays for the next two months the General Assembly is in session. While the session will present enormous challenges, the relocation of one's workplace for a couple of months each year causes disruption and anxieties. I am fortunate to be returning to a small apartment in a townhome in the Church Hill section of Richmond just a block from St. John's Church where Patrick Henry gave his famous "Give me liberty or give me death!" speech. My early morning walks take me past the Church; and as the name of the community suggests, up and down the hills and streets of beautiful townhomes. I have my morning breakfast of Cheerios, blueberries, bananas, and orange juice in my apartment. My drive to the General Assembly Building is less than five minutes.
The days begin early with some meetings scheduled as early as 7:00 a.m. Certainly the place is filled with people by 9:00 a.m., and meetings often overlap and fill the day. Mornings and afternoons are filled with subcommittee and committee meetings. At noon the House and Senate go into session. Lunch is most often eaten at one's desk on the House floor. Depending upon the bills that have been reported from committee, the daily floor session can go from less than an hour to most of the day. There are galleries in the House and the Senate where the public can view the sessions. The basic rules governing the conduct of business are taken from Jefferson's Manual. Committee sessions where most of the work is done on bills are open to the public. Members of the public are invited to testify on proposed legislation.
Considering that more than 3,000 bills and resolutions and a biennial budget will be considered during the session, the pace of activity is brisk. That means that the need for legislation must be clear and immediate, or the bill will probably not pass. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is one of the controlling principles. Another consideration that carries a lot of weight is whether the bill will lead to more and bigger government. It's the "camel's nose under the tent" or a "multiflora rose" as bills that have the potential to expand government are described.
The legislative process is a three-legged stool. Before a bill can become a law, it must be passed in identical form by the House of Delegates and the Senate and signed by the Governor. Each body and the Executive branch bring unique perspectives to the process. And from time to time partisanship has been known to slip into the discussion. Both major parties have caucus meetings daily to keep their members informed. I chair the Democratic Caucus in the House of Delegates.
When meetings end in the late afternoon there are numerous opportunities to meet with constituents and representatives at various receptions, dinners, and meetings. While the social aspects of these gatherings are most often emphasized, they are educational as well to learn about issues and to meet knowledgeable people. And then back to the apartment. I appreciate its quiet and privacy. I turn in fairly early because 5:30 a.m. comes around quickly.
Contact me in Richmond through my regular email address, kenplum@aol.com, or call my local legislative office number, 703.758.9733. Your call will be forwarded to my Richmond office without a long distance charge to you. You can write to me at P.O. Box 406, Richmond, VA 23218. |
Thank You for Sharing Your Views
Senator Howell and I hosted a Public Hearing last week at the Reston Community Center at Lake Anne. We enjoyed talking with constituents and listening to their views about issues important to our community. Thank you to all who attended and especially to those who spoke about a large variety of interests and concerns prior to the opening of the 2010 General Assembly session. Thank you also to all those persons who participated in my Telephone Community Meeting. I hope you found it as interesting and informative as we did. | |
|
|
|
|
"Virginia Report"
Reston Comcast Channel 28
Tonight - Wednesday, January 13 at 10:30 p.m. - Kerrie Wilson, Executive Director, Reston Interfaith - "The Needs of Our Community in 2010"
Tuesday, January 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, January 20 at 10:30 p.m. - Bob Chase, Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance - "Is There a Transportation Crisis?"
Online Viewing
|
Take the Survey!
My annual "Constituent Survey" is available online at www.kenplum.com. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share your views with me as the 2010 General Assembly session begins. Call my office at 703.758.9733 to request a paper copy of the survey to be mailed to you. |
Climate Change Citizen Action
What is the difference between "global warming" and "climate change?"
Global warming often refers to the warming that can occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Global warming can occur from a variety of natural and human causes.
Climate change refers to any significant change in measures of climate (such as temperature, precipitation, or wind) lasting for an extended period, decades or longer.
"Climate change" is often used interchangeably with "global warming." But according to the National Academy of Sciences, "the phrase 'climate change' is growing in preferred use to 'global warming' because it helps convey there are other changes in addition to rising temperatures." |
Announcements
Track legislation, view daily schedules of standing committees and subcommittees, and find contact information for General Assembly members at http://legis.virginia.gov. This highly informative website also contains a virtual tour of the Virginia State Capitol and helpful information about your state government. |
Calendar of Events
The first day of the 2010 General Assembly session is TODAY, January 13. Contact Delegate Plum by email at kenplum@aol.com or by calling his Reston number, 703.758.9733. Your call will be forwarded to his Richmond office at no cost to you. Visit http://legis.virginia.gov for up-to-date action by the General Assembly.
A group show of works by 12 artists entited "New Year, New Work" is at the Reston Art Gallery & Studios (RAGS) through January. Open every weekend, noon to 5:00 p.m., or by chance or appointment. Call 703.481.8156 for more information.
An exhibition of works by Thuy (Tweety) Dong entitled "Phototherapy" will run daily until February 1 at the Jo Ann Rose Gallery, Reston Community Center at Lake Anne. Receptions in the Gallery will be held Sundays, January 17 and 24, from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. All are welcome.
Reston Association Members are invited to attend an Election Information Session tonight, January 13, 2010, at 7:00 p.m., at the RA offices at 1930 Isaac Newton Square. RA is seeking candidates to fill three open positions on the Board of Directors this spring. Board members determine the Association's goals and policies and make a significant and lasting contribution to the community. For additional infornmation log on to RA's website, www.reston.org, or call 703.435.6512.
Lake Anne Florist and Virginia's Finest Wine & Gourmet Foods will host a Virginia Wine Tasting on Thursday, January 14, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Lake Anne Village Center.
An exhibition of Handweaving by Reston artist Jane Kinzler Anthony will begin on Thursday, January 14 and continue with an opening Reception on Friday, January 15, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Reston Museum & Shop, Lake Anne Village Center. Meet the artist and see an array of wallhangings, pillows, scarves, vests, table pieces, and more, all for sale. Learn more about her work at http://web.me/com/janeanthony. Ms. Anthony's exhibit runs through February 26.
All are invited to attend the Reston Historic Trust Annual Meeting on Thursday, January 14, 5:00 p.m. at the Reston Museum & Shop, Lake Anne Village Center. Meet the board of directors and others interested in preserving local history. Visit www.restonmuseum.org or call 703.709.7700 for more information.
Reston's Used Book Shop at Lake Anne will host "Open Readings," poetry readings by professional and amateur writers, beginning Friday, January 15, 7:30 p.m. Poets interested in participating should contact Neal Warren at AFoggyWord@yahoo.com. Listeners are welcome. The ongoing schedule for "Open Readings" is the third Friday of each month.
The Inauguration of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General of Virginia will take place at the State Capitol at noon on Saturday, January 16.
The Reston Community Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Dingwall Fleary will present "A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." on Saturday, January 16, 6:00 p.m. at the Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. This special concert features Jasmine Muhammad, soprano; Beverly Cosham, song stylist; and MetroSingers, an outstanding choral ensemble based in suburban Maryland. The program includes Symphony No. 1 by Adolphus Hailstork, The Bamboula (Rhapsodic Dance) by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and a medley of Duke Ellington tunes. Admission to the concert is complimentary; your generous free-will donation in support of the orchestra is appreciated.
A performance by "The Capitol Steps" on January 24, 7:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Reston will kick off Reston Interfaith's fortieth year of support for our community. It comes at a time when there has never been greater need for all of RI's substantive programs that give people the means to learn to help themselves. Go to www.restoninterfaith.org or call 571.323.9555 for more information.
The American Association for Retired Persons (AARP) will offer its Driver Improvement Course on Thursday and Friday, January 28 and 29, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Falls Church Community Center, 223 Little Falls Street. This course will provide information on safe driving strategies and a thorough review of the "rules of the road." There are no tests. Cost is $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonmembers (bring your AARP membership card with you). Participants also may be eligible to receive a discount through their auto insurance. Preregistration is required, and class size is limited. Students must attend both days of class to complete the course. Call 703.248.5020 to register.
A Fairfax County license is required by law for all dogs four months old or older. Licenses are $10 for each dog, are valid for 1 year, and must be purchased by January 31. License tags are issued free to charge to the owners of trained service dogs. Those who have bought tags in prior years automatically receive application forms in the mail in October. You may obtain a license in person, by mail, or online. Applications must include a $10 check payable to fairfax County and a copy of a current rabies certificate. Licenses also may be obtained in person at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, 4500 West Ox Road, Fairfax. For more information call 703.222.8234, TTY 703.222.7594.
|
| Go Green |
 Go Green - consider the environment! Please print this newsletter only if necessary. | |
|
|
|
| Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia e-News.
Authorized by Kenneth R. Plum. Paid for by Friends of Delegate Ken Plum. |
|
|
|
|
