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36th District
Reston, Virginia
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 | | The General Assembly convenes for its annual session at noon today, January 9. You can contact Delegate Plum at his regular email address, kenplum@aol.com, or by calling his district office number, 703.758.9733, (no long distance charges). |
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Delegate Ken Plum's
Virginia e-News
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Commentary
General Assembly Session Underway
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
The 2013 General Assembly session convenes at noon on Wednesday, January 9. Tracing its beginnings to the colonists meeting in the church at Jamestown to conduct their common business, the General Assembly is the oldest continuous legislative body in the western hemisphere. Using the rules set down in Jefferson's manual, the historic body will tackle a set of challenges seldom rivaled in its annual meetings. The biennium budget for the Commonwealth was passed in 2012 so the budgetary work for this session will be tweaking what was passed last year. Because tweaking should take less time than passing a full budget, the legislature is scheduled to meet for 45 rather than 60 days. Even at that, hundreds of millions of dollars will be moved around in the budget, and several thousand bills and resolutions will be considered in this short session.
Watch daily sessions of the House of Delegates and the Senate and follow specific bills at Virginia Assembly. This site also includes the voting record for each member on all bills and resolutions. Communicate your views to me at my regular email address, kenplum@aol.com, and call my regular office number (703.758.9733) which will ring in Richmond without a long-distance charge to you. Follow me on Facebook at Kenneth R. Plum.
My priorities for the session likely exceed the time available, but I want the General Assembly this session to stop the erosion of public funding for K-12 and higher education and to begin restoring funding that was cut during the recession. I support fully funding the mental health recommendations that were made after the Virginia Tech shootings and that recent events have shown to be so important. I support closing the gun show loophole that allows gun purchases without criminal or mental health background checks. We are past time putting into place reliable, dedicated and continuous funding for transportation needs, and I want additional state cash to go to Phase 2 of the Silver Line that will help keep tolls down. I want us to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation. I do not want us to take undue risks with our environment by lifting the ban on uranium mining. I support ensuring that renewable energy sources of Virginia be developed in Virginia. There are so many issues; if I left yours out send me an email at kenplum@aol.com to learn my position.
If you are in Richmond during January or February, stop by my office at 401, General Assembly Building at Capitol Square. The legislative sessions are generally very stressful; I am always pleased to see a friendly face from back home.
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Virginia Report on
Comcast Channel 28
Tune in to Ken's weekly television program, Virginia Report, on Reston Comcast Channel 28 for public service programming. Ken interviews state and local leaders who are making news by making a difference. Watch these upcoming programs:
TONIGHT - Wednesday, January 9 at 10:30 p.m. - Senator Janet Howell, "General Assembly 2013"
Tuesday, January 15 at 7:30 p.m., and Wednesday, January 16 at 10:30 p.m. - George Braunstein, Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, "Closure of the State Training Centers"
"Virginia Report" is also available online at www.rctv28.com/virginiareport.html for viewing on your computer or iPad.
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Bulletin Board
Winter-time Hot Lines. For real-time traffic updates and road conditions: Visit www.511virginia.org, download the 511smartphone app, or follow @511northernva on Twitter. To report unplowed roads or hazardous conditions: Email novainfo@vdot.virginia.gov or call 1.800.FOR.ROAD (800.367.7623). To see the status of plowing in your
neighborhood go to novasnowplowing.virginia.gov. To report electric power outages, call 1.866.DOM.HELP (1.866.366.4357), or download a reporting app on your mobile device at www.dom.com.
New for 2012 Income Tax Returns:The Virginia Tax Refund Debit Card. The Virginia Department of Taxation is implementing a significant change in the way individual income tax refunds are issued. As required by the 2012-2014 Appropriations Act, there will be two options on 2012 returns for receiving individual income tax refunds: direct deposit or debit card. Both paper and software versions of the individual income tax returns will require that one of these two options be selected. Requesting a paper check in preference to direct deposit or a debit card will not be an option. Direct deposit is still the fastest method for receiving a refund, provided accurate bank account information is entered on the return, so be sure to check your bank information carefully before filing your return. For individuals who prefer not to use direct deposit, the refund debit card offers a more secure and convenient alternative to paper checks that also lets the recipient avoid check-cashing fees. For more information visit: www.tax.virginia.gov. Ask for assistance, file returns, make payments, and access debit card updates and tax information, 24 hours a day.
Five Action Steps to Winter Energy Use. With winter here, you can take some steps to reduce the amount of energy that you're using to lower your bill. Here are some ideas:
--Turn down your thermostat to 68 degrees. For every degree you lower your heat in the 60-degree to 70-degree range, you'll save up to 5 percent on heating costs.
--Replace or clean your heating system's filters once a month. Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase energy use.
--Reduce hot water temperature. Set your water heater to the "normal" setting or 120-degrees Fahrenheit, unless the owner's manual for your dishwasher requires a higher setting.
--Seal up the leaks. Caulk leaks around windows and doors.
--Consider replacing your old appliances with an ENERGY STARŪ.
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Reston Association recently updated its map of the area. The maps are available at RA headquarters (Member Services), the Central Services Facility and the Nature House. The Initiative for Public Art - Reston ( IPAR) partnered with RA in helping produce the enhanced map, which now includes locations of public art displays as well as schools, RA trails, shopping centers and much more. Click here to download the map: Reston Map Call Member Services at 703-435-6530 for more information about obtaining the Reston map. |
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Calendar of Events
"Addiction Incorporated," a documentary film will be featured at South Lakes High School in Reston on Friday - January 11, 2013 starting at 7:00 p.m. in the Little Theatre. This Reston community film screening event is sponsored by the South Lakes High School Parent Teacher Student Association and Student Government Association Leadership Class, and co-sponsored by the Partnership for a Healthier Fairfax. The film screening will be followed by a discussion and Q&A session with esteemed panelists. This event is free of charge and open to the public. Seating is limited; please reserve your seat at: tinyurl.com/addictioninc
Electronics Recycling: The county's Electric Sunday e-cycling program will continue in 2013. The first event will take place on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the I-66 Transfer Station (4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax). Residents may bring old televisions, computers, printers, speakers and other electronics, along with unbroken fluorescent lights, to be recycled at no charge. For more information about these events and other recycling opportunities in Fairfax County, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/recycling.
Delegate Plum will have a telephone conference call with constituents on Thursday, January 17, beginning at 8:00 p.m. When he calls, please stay on the line for a discussion of the 2013 General Assembly session.
Winter Concert: The Reston Community Orchestra presents a musical program honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Saturday, January 19, 4:00 p.m. at Reston Community Center at Hunter's Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston.
2013 Reston Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration: Reston Community Center will hold the 28th Annual Reston Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration on January 19 and 20, 2013. The focus of this year's Celebration will be on community service. Sunday, January 20, 2013, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
RCC Hunters Woods, Keynote Address by Julian Bond and Community Lunch following. Please note that there is a limited number of seats for this address and luncheon.
FREE, but registration is required using Reg. #704717-3A. Please register in person at RCC Hunters Woods or RCC Lake Anne, or by fax at 703-476-2488.
January 20. 2:00-3:00 p.m. Creatures of the Chesapeake Bay. Join a marine biologist from Under the Sea (a specialized entertainment company) to meet and touch live creatures native to the bay, such as a horseshoe crab, flounder, and an American eel. Learn about bay ecology and how the way we treat water at home affects the water quality and wildlife found in the bay. Reservations are required by January 17. Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Dr., Reston. $7/Reston Association members, $10/non-members. Call 703-476-9689 or email naturecenter@reston.org.
Are you a woman who is currently experiencing or has previously experienced domestic abuse? The Office for Women & Domestic and Sexual Violence Services offers a free, confidential support group for adult women who are currently experiencing or have previously experienced domestic abuse (physical, emotional, or verbal). The group meets for eight weeks and promotes understanding and healing from abuse trauma and builds a sense of community with other survivors.
When: Wednesdays starting Jan. 30, 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Where: Annandale Area. For more information or to join call Heather McMillen at: 703-704-6729
Men's Survivors' Group: A support group for men who were sexually abused as children meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. at the Pohick Regional Library (private conference room) 6450 Sydenstricker Road, Burke, VA 22015. For more info, call: Chris Davies at 703-704-6727.
Virginia Polar Dip Fans: February 2 is Dip Day! Lake Anne Plaza at 2:00 p.m. Get your bathing suits and costumes ready, invite all your friends to join in jumping and to come watch and cheer! Goal is 200 jumpers and $100,000 raised to send children with life-threatening illnesses and their families to Camp Sunshine. Event details and sign up here: www.crowdrise.com/virginiapolardip/event/join
2013 Signature Conference The American Civil War at Home, Saturday, April 20, 2013, at the College of William and Mary. This Signature Conference--the fifth in an annual series--brings together noted Civil War historians to consider how the Civil War changed Virginia and the nation 150 years ago in the year of the war's turning point, 1863. For more information on the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission, visit www.VirginiaCivilWar.org.
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Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" PlumDelegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News
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Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia e-News is authorized by Kenneth R. Plum
and paid for by Friends of Delegate Ken Plum. |
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