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Delegate Ken Plum's
Virginia e-News
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Commentary
A Breach of Trust
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
In a Tom DeLay, Texas-style move, Republicans in the Virginia State Senate redrew the legislative district lines without public notice or involvement. This action in the 20-20 divided body came on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday when Democratic Senator Henry Marsh who is one of Virginia's most prominent civil rights leaders was away attending President Obama's inauguration. The new map, if passed by the Republican-controlled House of Delegates and signed by the Governor, would give Republicans an advantage in taking back control of the Senate which they hold now only by virtue of the Lieutenant Governor who is the presiding officer and tie breaker being a Republican. "Count this as a new low for hyper-partisanship, dirty tricks, and the unaccountable arrogance of power," is the way one newspaper editorial described the action.
Events that will occur after this column is written will dictate the final outcome. The Speaker of the House could declare their new map to not be germane to the House bill to which it was attached because it clearly violates House rules that a bill encompass a single object. The Governor could veto the bill because he has already expressed publicly that it is not the way to do business. The courts or the U.S. Justice Department under the Voting Rights Act could intervene and invalidate the plan. Or voters could be left in districts with senators who would not be representing them after senatorial elections in 2015. Whatever the outcome, voters will once again find themselves selected by legislators rather than voters selecting legislators under the current approach to legislative redistricting. At the same time, there are bills being considered to suppress voting through new identification requirements, and bills including mine to make voting more accessible are being defeated.
Most damaging to the legislative process is the loss of trust that comes from the secretive and contrived way the action was taken. While the House of Delegates has become entirely too infamous for political skirmishes, the State Senate has been relatively free of partisan controversy. There are numerous examples of bipartisan cooperation in the Senate in the past that have led to better government for Virginia. That spirit of cooperation has been badly damaged if not destroyed. Efforts to expand Medicaid and to establish a system for transportation funding have been put in serious jeopardy by this power move. Last year the House of Delegates was prominent on late-night comedy programs for its antics; now the State Senate is there.
If voters choose to return me to the House of Delegates next year I will re-introduce a bill I have introduced many times since 1982. It would establish an independent redistricting commission. There is too much interest in self-preservation for legislators to do legislative redistricting fairly. In the meantime, legislators need to act in a way that will not breach the public trust.
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Virginia Report on Comcast Channel 28
While Delegate Plum is in Richmond, look for a special edition of Virginia Report aired on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m. on Reston Comcast Channel 28 for public service programming.
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Conversations with Delegate Plum
Saturday, February 9
Delegate Plum has scheduled two sessions for constituents to share with him their thoughts and concerns about issues being proposed and voted on at the General Assembly in Richmond. Both conversation sessions will be held on Saturday, February 9.
McNair Elementary School in Herndon
from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Jo Ann Rose Gallery in the
Reston Community Center
at Lake Anne from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
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General Assembly Information
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The Board of Health is seeking public comment on legislation affecting women's health centers. January 28 marked the start of the 60-day public comment period on new regulations (also known as TRAP regulations) for women's health centers that provide abortion care. If approved as written, these regulations could force the majority of women's health centers in Virginia to close their doors. To express your views, visit enter a comment.
Friday, February 1, at 5:00 p.m. is the deadline for filing as a candidate for the 2013 election of the Reston Association Board of Directors. For more information visit Board Elections.
The Virginia Corporation Commission says that now is a great time to review your home inventory and make sure your homeowners or renters policy is up-to-date. If you are starting a home inventory from scratch, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) offers a free smartphone app at MyHome Scr.APP.book that can facilitate the process. Download the app from iTunes or Google Play For more information about creating a home inventory or to download a paper home inventory checklist, visit the NAIC website at inventory checklist.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
(Metro) is seeking artists to contribute public art works at Phase 2 Silver Line Metro stations. Metro's Art in Transit Program, funded by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), will place works at six future Silver Line stations. The art will promote transit use, enhance travel by Metro, and highlight the cultural vitality of the National Capital region. Deadline for submissions is Feb. 15. For more details on submissions, including a timeline for selections, click here.
Join the Garlic Mustard Challenge: Reston Association will be hosting a Garlic Mustard Challenge during the spring of 2013. Your help is needed to remove as much invasive Garlic Mustard from Reston as possible in order to preserve ecosystem health and habitat. The challenge will culminate on Virginia Invasive Plant Removal Day and at the Spring Festival celebration on May 4. For more information, visit Garlic Mustard Challenge.
RCC's Diva Central Needs Your Dresses. Have a prom dress, bridesmaid dress, or other party clothes taking up space in your closet? Reston Community Center's annual Diva Central Dress Drive is underway. The community center is collecting items that high school students can use for free to attend their school's gathering. The drive needs formal dresses, shoes, jewelry, handbags, scarves and shawls, and accessories. RCC has been sponsoring Diva Central since 2003. Its mission is to promote confidence and self-esteem by providing high school students a free prom dress and other accessories. Drop off donations at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. daily through March 4. The items will be available to teens April 6 at Reston Community Center Lake Anne.
Have a customer-service complaint? To contact Ron Burley, AARP's consumer advocate, go to Ron Burley.
Are you a woman who is 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. 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. For more information, call: Chris Davies at 703-704-6727.
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Calendar of Events
Many people continue to go hungry in our community. Local, nonprofit food pantries often see their donations drop early in the year. To help address this need, Fairfax County is promoting "Stuff the Bus: Feeding Fairfax Families," at 10 locations through February 18. Each week a Fastran bus staffed by MV Transportation personnel will park at a different location to collect food donations. The campaign kicked off on the Martin Luther King Day of Service and will run each weekend until President's Day, February 18. OnFebruary 2, Stuff the Bus will be at the Fairfax Walmart, 11181 Lee Hwy., Fairfax. Donation hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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. Details and sign up here: www.crowdrise.com/virginiapolardip/event/join
A seven-session course on the history of African American spirituals and their impact on Christianity worldwide will begin Sunday, February 3, at 9:50 a.m. at the United Christian Parish, 11508 North Shore Drive, Reston. All are welcome. Instructor will be Rev. LaVerne M. Gill, United Church of Christ minister and member of the United Christian Parish and the Mosaic Harmony gospel choir. The course is based on an article she wrote for a conference held in Ethiopia by the World Council of Churches and the Vatican on the origins of African American sacred music. For more information, call the church office at 703-620-3065.
Reston Garden Club will meet at the Reston Community Center of Lake Anne at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday Feb. 5, 2013. The address is 1609 Washington Plaza North in Reston. The program will be given by club members creating floral, fruit and vegetable interpretations of the Oscar nominated shows in the best picture category. Visitors are welcome. For information about the organization, visit therestongardenclub.org.
The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will hold six public meetings and one Ask Fairfax! online chat to discuss a Fairfax Connector proposed bus service plan that will coincide with the start of service on Dulles Rail, Phase 1, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) new Silver Line. The plan includes the creation of 12 new routes, the restructuring of 20 existing routes and the elimination of six routes. The complete bus service plan will be discussed at each meeting, with special emphasis placed on area service changes for the general vicinity of each meeting location. Among the meetings scheduled are:
Questions can be submitted online starting January 31.
-- Wednesday, Feb. 6: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., (Herndon Service Discussion), Town Council Center, 765 Lynn Street, Herndon Transit: Fairfax Connector RIBS 5-- Thursday, Feb. 7: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., (Reston Service Discussion) Reston Community Center at Lake Anne, JoAnn Rose Library 1609A Washington Plaza, Reston. Transit: Fairfax Connector routes 552, 574, RIBS 1 and RIBS 3-- Monday, Feb. 11: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., (Reston Service Discussion) Lake Anne Elementary School, 11510 North Shore Drive, Reston. Transit: Fairfax Connector routes 552, RIBS 1 and RIBS 3
A community drive to collect used clothing and other items for Syrian children and women in refugee camps will be held Feburary 8-10 at the United Christian Parish, 11508 North Shore Drive, Reston. Besides used and new clothing, items needed are boots and shoes, blankets, towels, sleeping bags, tents and cooking pots. It would be helpful if items are wrapped in large plastic bags. Financial donations for shipping costs are also needed. Checks may be made out to UCP and marked "For Syrian Relief." Hours of the drive will be from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8; Saturday, Feb. 9; and Sunday, Feb. 10. Donations will be received at an exterior door off the back parking lot.
When Your Belly Hurts but "Nothing is Wrong" will be held February 11, 7:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m., at RCC Lake Anne,1609 Washington Plaza N # A, Reston; Free, but registration required (505405-3C Mon). Many people have mysterious aches and pains in their belly but everything checks out fine at the doctor. After a brief overview of gastrointestinal anatomy, this seminar will explore common causes of abdominal pain such as food allergies, food sensitivities and the "mysterious gray areas" of science. Dr. Peter Jo, a Reston area chiropractor who emphasizes nutritional health, will discuss why a healthy gut is absolutely essential for a healthy body and how diet and lifestyle practices can lead to better health.
Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine will be shown at United Christian Parish on Friday, February 15 at 7:00 p.m. Discussion following the film; refreshments will be served. Location information is at map and directions.
Washington Monuments Behind the Scenes, February 23, 6:00 p.m.- 11:00 p.m.; Cost: $15 Reston/$30 Non-Reston. Celebrate Black History Month by joining family, friends and neighbors of all ages on this behind the scenes guided tour of the city. A guide will explain the inside secrets of our nation's capital, allowing time to get off the bus and visit famous monuments and memorials. All participants must register. Trip fee includes transportation and tour guide. Visit Reston Community Center to register.
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.
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 7:00 a.m.! Enjoy the amazing Nature House facility, and the place for environmental education in and around Reston! For more information, visit 10th Annual 5K Run.
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