Our Fair Share

Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum 

In the decade-long debate on funding transportation improvements, many simple solutions have been offered.  Endless demands for auditing the Department of Transportation resulted in about a dozen audits, none of which alleged waste, fraud, or abuse.  No new funds were identified.  One audit suggested that reserves on projects could be reduced, freeing up money to be spent quicker.  Hopefully the added risk will not leave the department unable to pay its bills.  Another frequent suggestion has been the expanded use of public-private partnerships whose popularity seems to have diminished with the realization that the projects are not free but are funded with high tolls like the Greenway.

The simplest solution proposed by many especially in election years is revising the highway funding formula to bring more money to one's region.  "Change the formula; get our fair share back to Northern Virginia," is the promise.  Accomplish the task by putting together a coalition of "legislators from the parts of Virginia that have the greatest transportation needs and gather the votes to change the formula."  The results of a recent study seem to throw cold water on this idea.  While we contend that we do not get our fair share in Northern Virginia, the results of a study by the Senate Finance Committee staff found that Northern Virginia actually gets back more in transportation funding than it pays in transportation taxes.  Certainly we do not get back as much as we want or need, but the study found that the Northern Virginia region with 27.9 percent of the state's population pays 27.7 percent of the state's transportation taxes but gets back 32.5 percent of the state's expenditures for transportation.  In contrast, the Richmond region pays 15.9 percent of the state's transportation taxes and gets back 11.2 percent.  Hampton Roads is about even with 20.2 percent of the taxes and 20.1 percent of the expenditures.  The small district of Bristol is the only other region of the nine regions in the state to get back more than it put in.  Now who is going to join the coalition to send even more money to Northern Virginia?  Seems that another simple solution has bitten the dust.

I voted with others for Governor McDonnell's borrowing scheme to put more money into transportation.  For support for his proposal from business organizations and legislators, Governor McDonnell pledged to propose a sustainable and dedicated source of revenue for transportation.  I look forward to his proposal as being a serious one and not another ABC sales idea.  I will support it if it produces real revenue and if, of course, we in Northern Virginia get our fair share.  

for Re-Election

by the Virginia AFL-CIO

At its Twentieth Biennial State Conference and 2011 Political Convention the delegates to the Virginia AFL-CIO voted to endorse Ken's candidacy for the Virginia House of Delegates.

"We look forward to working with you in Richmond so together we can support the working families of Virginia," said Doris Crouse-Mays, President of the Virginia AFL-CIO.

Contact Ken with your questions about this important endorsement at kenplum@aol.com.

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Other endorsements of Ken's re-election:

• Virginia Education Association
• Fairfax Education Association
• Virginia Chapter - Sierra Club

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ACS Road to Recovery Needs Volunteers

The American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery program is looking for volunteer drivers to drive patients to and from treatment centers.  The hours and days are flexible.  Contact Brenda Silvia-Torma at 703.938.l5550 or Brenda.Silvia-Torma@cancer.org for more information about how you can help.

Meals on Wheels Needs Drivers

Fairfax County's Meals on Wheels program needs drivers in Reston/Herndon and for the Korean and Vietnamese routes.  Meals are delivered Monday through Friday between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.  Volunteers may choose to drive weekly, biweekly, monthly, or be a substitute.  For more information, call the Volunteer Intake Line at 703.324.5406; TTY 711; or e-mail DFSAAAvolunteer@fairfaxcounty.gov or go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices/volunteersolutions.htm.

Senior Olympics Coming Soon

The Northern Virginia Senior Olympics will take place September 17-28 with many events such as tennis, table tennis, chess, eight ball pool, racquetball, bowling, team line dancing, and more being hosted at Fairfax County venues.  Over 25 events will be held at locations throughout Northern Virginia.  Fairfax County residents 50 years of age and older are eligible to participate.  The deadline to register for events with no onsite registration is September 1; over a dozen events do have onsite registration.  Registration fee is $10 plus $1 per event.  Registration forms are avialable at senior centers, senior residences, community centers, and online at www.nvso.us.  All events are open to the public at no charge.  For more information, ccall 703.228.4721, TTY 711.