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Delegate Ken Plum's
Virginia e-News
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Commentary
Smoke and Mirrors
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
One of my mentors in my earliest years in the General Assembly was Delegate Dorothy McDiarmid who served off and on from 1960 to 1989. First elected on a platform of keeping the public schools open during racial desegregation, the Gentlelady from Fairfax Mrs. McDiarmid went on to successfully add kindergarten to the public school system of the state and to chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee. Her supporters gave her the campaign slogan, "The Lady Has Clout." Delegate McDiarmid taught me to look carefully at political proposals, many of which lacked substance and were simply "smoke and mirrors."
I thought of Delegate McDiarmid as I reviewed Governor McDonnell's transportation funding proposals last week. I was delighted at the Governor's clear statement that more revenue is needed to support our highway construction and maintenance needs. He even proposed $300 million more in much-needed state support of Phase 2 of the Silver Line. Unfortunately, his proposed funding solutions seemed to me and many others to be smoke and mirrors.
Estimates of the needed funding for transportation in the Commonwealth range from one to one and a half billion dollars. The Governor's proposal is projected to increase to just over $800 million in 2018, but the projection is open to question. It assumes that the U.S. Congress will pass the Marketplace Equity Act to provide a sales tax on internet sales. The bill has been in the works for about a decade, and its prospect for passage in the current climate in the Congress is not an assumption that I think is safe to rest Virginia's highway building program on.
At a time when taxation is at its height of unpopularity the Governor proposes to shift taxation from the users of the road by eliminating the gas tax and shifting it to all Virginia consumers through the sales tax. The gas tax could be equated to a user fee that comes from Virginia drivers and those passing through the state, but the regressive sales tax will be paid regardless of how much you use the roads. The theory of the change is that with the better gas mileage that cars now get gas tax revenue will continue to decline. Virginia's current gas tax rate--one of the lowest in the country--has not been changed since 1986.
Another questionable element in the proposal is that additional general funds would be transferred to transportation use. Already the demands on the general fund exceed the availability of monies. Reductions continue to be made in education, mental health and other important programs because of scarce general funds.
The legislature needs to act this year to provide funding for transportation, and I am prepared to vote for additional revenue. When I strain to see through the smoke and distorted images that surround the Governor's proposals, I think his plan comes up short of being the best we can and must do.
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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 16 at 10:30 p.m. - George Braunstein, Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, "Closure of the State Training Centers"
Tuesday, January 22 at 7:30 p.m., and Wednesday, January 23 at 10:30 p.m. - Jeff Connor-Naylor, "Updates from The Commonwealth Institute"
"Virginia Report" is also available online at www.rctv28.com/virginiareport.html for viewing on your computer or iPad.
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Constituent Conference Call
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.
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General Assembly Information
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Congratulations to the 2013
Best of Reston award winners!
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The White House Internship Program provides a unique opportunity to gain valuable professional experience and build leadership skills. This hands-on program is designed to mentor and cultivate today's young leaders, strengthen their understanding of the Executive Office and prepare them for future public service opportunities. The White House Internship Program's mission is to make the "People's House" accessible to future leaders from around the nation. The application for the Summer 2013 White House Internship Program is now open. To apply for the White House Internship Program, please see Apply Here. For application deadlines and program dates, please see InternshipTimeline and FAQs.
A partnership between Captial One Bank, the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) and Kiva, a global microlending organization, provides small business owners in the D.C. region access to capital through Kiva's proven crowd-funded microloan program. Sponsored by Capital One Bank, Kive City D.C. is a new online portal that connects Washington, D.C.-area small businesses with Kiva's global network of 870,000-plus individual lenders, giving small business owners the opportunity to apply for additional funding to help start, sustain, and grow their businesses. Through Kiva City D.C., anyone with an Internet connection and $25 can help to fund loans to small businesses in the area by visiting Kiva City D.C.. Since its inception in 2005, Kiva lenders have funded more than $390 million in loans with a 98.9% repayment rate. Visit Kiva for more information.
The Reston Community Orchestra (RCO), one of nine recipients of a grant from the Arts Council of Fairfax County, will construct a new website promoting RCO's mission of providing classical music enjoyment and education in the community. The RCO is a not-for-profit organization, which is funded through advertising, contributions from members and the public, and grants such as the award provided by the Arts Council. The Orchestra has member players representing all ages and professions including retirees, advanced high school students and recent graduates. New players, especially qualified string players, are always welcome for the director's consideration in maintaining a balanced sound. Volunteer board members and staff from the community are very much needed. Participation at any level is welcome and greatly appreciated.
The George Mason University Observatory at the Fairfax Campus building Research Hall officially opened in January of 2007. While the main purpose of the observatory is to meet the educational needs of GMU's students, it is also a special place shared with the Washington D.C. community. Evenings "under the stars" and other special events are offered to the region's residents. Attendance at these sessions is free and open to all students, faculty, staff and the interested public. For more information, visit Observatory. |
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Calendar of Events
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.
Medicaid Expansion Legislative Day - January 23. This is the biggest opportunity to cover uninsured Virginians in over 50 years. We could decrease the number of uninsured Virginians by 400,000 (40%) simply by enacting the Medicaid expansion. Medicaid Expansion Legislative Day is designed to provide a focal point for those organizations that want to advocate for the expansion but do not have their own legislative day. Register by clicking on Register Now!
Wine Tasting, January 26 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Sponsored and hosted by Lake Anne Florist/Virginia Wine and Gourmet at 11426 Washington Plaza, Lake Anne Center in Reston. All proceeds will benefit the HIV/AIDS-affected children at Global Camps Africa's Camp Sizani in South Africa.
Useful Services Exchange(U.S.E.), a barter organization open to Reston and Herndon residents, will hold its annual winter potluck and business meeting on Saturday, January 26, at 5:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 1625 Wiehle Ave., Reston. Current and prospective members are invited. U.S.E. is a time bank through which neighbors trade services without exchanging money. RSVP to MediaVIP@aol.com or 703-860-5141.
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 information, 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
Save the date for the 10th Annual Nature House 5K Fund Run/Walk on Saturday, April 20. Pre-register or register the morning of beginning at 7 AM! Enjoy the amazing Nature House facility, and the place for environmental education in and around Reston! For more information, visit 10th Annual 5K Run.
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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