June 3, 2015 


Delegate Ken Plum's 
Virginia E-News


Delegate Plum signed on to the goals of the Represent.Us organization.

Commentary  

 

Fixing Our Corrupt Political System 

Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum    

 

I am an elected public official by career choice. I can continue to serve in my professional occupation only with the concurrence of the voters every two years. Most people refer to me as a "politician" for short. The word politician brings with it negative connotations, and I understand why. I would never defend the actions of some in my chosen profession. I just hope that we will not throw out the whole bushel because of some rotten apples. Some of the most honest and decent people I have known have been dedicated public servants in elective office.

 

Recently the public perception by some of our political system was brought clearly to my attention. I was invited to George Mason University by a group of students concerned about corruption in government who had organized themselves as part of a national group, Represent.Us (https://represent.us/). I was impressed by the sincerity of the group and their desire to make a positive difference. Initially I was taken back by the headline on their handout: "Uniting to Fix Our Corrupt Political System." It sounded as if they thought everyone involved was corrupt, but then I realized they were talking about the system as a whole. As explained in their literature, "The system has been corrupted by money. Instead of solving our nation's problems, our politicians raise money for reelection; instead of listening to the American people, they listen to lobbyists and big donors. Citizens who can't afford to buy access are cut out of the democratic process."

 

The strategy of these GMU students and Represent.Us is to pass a new anti-corruption law that would impose strict lobbying and conflict of interest laws and end secret political money by mandating full transparency and disclosure of all political money and "bundlers" who gather contributions for politicians. A copy of the model bill is available for review or download at AntiCorruptionAct.org. While the ultimate goal is to pass a federal law, the immediate strategy is to pass anti-corruption laws at the city/county and state levels first to build momentum for federal action.

 

Too many activities the bill would outlaw have unfortunately become the way of doing business in legislative halls. Overturning the decision in Citizens United would be an important first step. In Virginia filling in the cracks in the recently passed ethics law is important. The obvious loophole of gifts simply becoming campaign contributions must be closed. Auditing of legislative and campaign accounts is critical.

 

I have met with a couple of the students a second time. It is refreshing to be around young people who have a strong sense of right and wrong and who want to make a difference. To call them idealistic would be to miss the importance of what they are doing. I have agreed to work with them to help fix the system that allows corruption to flourish in my chosen profession.
  

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 (Verizon Channel 1981). Ken interviews state and local leaders who are making news by making a difference. 
  

TONIGHT- Wednesday, June 3 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Sidney Johnson and Ruth Hoffman about "Firearms in Fairfax County"   

  

Tuesday, June 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, June 10 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Adrienne Kay about Lending Circles
 

Virginia Report is also available online at https://vimeo.com/album/1650266 for viewing on your computer or iPad. 

 


Bulletin Board


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Volunteer Opportunity
 
Washington Plaza Church at Lake Anne, Reston, needs volunteers to assist or teach English As a Second (ESL) Language. Classes meet Sundays 2:00-3:30 p.m., Wednesdays 2:00-2:30 p.m. and Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. Contact Director Pam Barr at 703-657-0975.

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Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Now at 

Reston Town Center

 

 

At Reston Town Center, four (4) Electric Vehicle Charging Stations are now installed on the P1 level of the Promenade Garage, located on the right hand side of the Explorer Street entrance of the garage. In order to be a user of the charging station, an account through SemaConnect must be set up by signing up for a SemaCharge Pass card at www.Semacharge.com or calling 800-663-5633 and providing your information over the phone. 

 

The first 4 hours of charging is available at no cost. It will then be $5.00 an hour every hour thereafter that the vehicle is parked at a charging station. All users should move their vehicle at completion of charging. Promenade Garage opens to the public at 10:00 a.m. Monday-Friday and is open 24 hours on the weekends. 



Calendar of Events 
    
Tomorrow: Thursday, June 4, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Food Truck Thursdays at Reston Town Square Park--the first Thursday of each month, through October. A variety of food truck vendors provide lunch and dessert options. Cash and credit cards accepted. More at restontowncenter.com. 

Thursday, June 4, 6:30 p.m., Why Redistricting Matters, a special public forum hosted by George Mason's School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs. At Mason's Arlington Campus, Hazel Hall Room 120. Free. Seating is limited. Click here to reserve your seat.    

 

Friday, June 5 through Sunday, June 7, Celebrate Fairfax!, at the Fairfax County Government Center. Get all the details at Celebrate Fairfax! 

 

Saturday, June 6, 9:00 a.m. to noon, Reston Hospital Center's Pediatric ER Grand Opening Celebration, at Reston Hospital Center, 1850 Town Center Parkway, Reston. This celebration to introduce Western Fairfax's only Pediatric ER to the community is a free, family fun event, open to the public and featuring Disney's Doc McStuffins and friends, Lambie, Hattie, and Stuffy, for meet and greet and photos. Free parking is available in the garage on the Reston Hospital Center campus. For more information, visit Grand Opening. 

 

Saturday, June 6, 7:30 to 10:00 p.m., Reston Concerts on the Town Series - 25th Anniversary Season! Reston Town Center Pavilion, Hard Day's Night performs their tribute to the Beatles. Alcohol permitted at restaurants only. Free. Rain or shine. Full schedule is at Reston Town Center Events

 

Sunday, June 7, 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., 9th Annual Northern Virginia Multifaith Pride Worship Service, at Commonwealth Baptist Church, 700 Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandria. Sponsored by the Northern Virginia Network/People of Faith for Equality in Virginia, the service is part of the celebration of Capital Pride. More information is at Multifaith Pride Worship.

 

Monday, June 8, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Transforming Tysons Open House, at Freedom Hill Elementary School, 1945 Lord Fairfax Road, Tysons. Attendees will learn more about proposed development activity, ongoing transportation and transit improvements, potential comprehensive plan changes, and park and public facility plans for Tysons. More information is at Tyson's Open House.

 

Wednesday, June 10, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., Age in Place - Home Modifications (55 years and older), at RCC Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Cost: $5 (Reston) $10 (Non-Reston) (500407-5A, Registration Required). Learn the options available to seniors and others with mobility limitations to remain in their home and to be able to maintain their lifestyle. Details are at Age in Place.

 

Wednesday, June 10, 7:00 p.m., free screening of The Hunting Ground, a film about rape crimes on U.S. college campuses, institutional cover-ups, and the toll they take on students and their families. On the campus of George Mason University, at the Johnson Center Cinema. Panel discussion after the screening. Seating is limited; RSVP to 571-249-3453 or eileen@eileenfillercorn.com. 

 

Sunday, June 14, 2:00 p.m., Gun Violence Awareness Vigil at National Rifle Association headquarters, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Please DO NOT park in the NRA's parking lot. There is plenty of free parking in the office building lot on Fairfax Ridge Drive across Waples Mill Road. Join us to commemorate the 26 children and educators killed 30 months ago at Sandy Hook Elementary School. We will be filmed by a media crew for a documentary on gun violence prevention activists produced and hosted by Katie Couric. Signs and flags will be provided. 

 

Sunday, June 14, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Reduced-Cost Rabies Clinic, at the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, 4500 West Ox Road, Fairfax. The cost is $15.00. Dogs, cats, and ferrets are eligible for vaccinations. Dogs must be on leashes. Cats and ferrets must be in carriers. More information is at Rabies Clinic.

 

 

36th District 

Reston, Virginia
 

June is Children's Awareness Month. Donations to Cornerstones on June 4th through the DoMore24 fundraiser will help provide a healthy snack, breakfast or lunch for a hungry child who typically receives one during the school year. 

 
In This Issue
Commentary..."Fixing Our Corrupt Political System"
"Virginia Report"
Bulletin Board
Check Your Calendar

Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News


Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia e-News is authorized by Kenneth R. Plum
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