November 4, 2015 
 
 
Delegate Ken Plum's 
Virginia E-News


Thank you for your support. Next week I will discuss election results.

Commentary  

The Chicken and the Egg     
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum 
 
A chicken or egg kind of debate has been going on in Virginia recently as a result of a report from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC). The agency is charged by law with the responsibility of providing an annual report on the growth of state spending over the last ten years while identifying the largest and fastest growing programs and functions in the budget. The most recent report was for the period FY 2006 through FY 2015. Among its other findings was the fact that the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) has overtaken the Department of Education (DOE) as having the largest appropriation of any state agency. The appropriation for DMAS represents 18 percent of the total state budget with DOE being 15 percent, Virginia Department of Transportation at 10 percent, and all the other agencies of state government at under 10 percent each.
 
The largest program increase in total appropriations from FY 2006 to FY 2015 was in the area of medical program services (Medicaid) from $4,672.8 million to $8,148.6, an increase of 74 percent. Some opponents of an expansion of Medicaid have focused on this number as being a reason to not expand Medicaid for presumably it would cost too much.
 
Fortunately the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis has done some research that puts the increase in context. As the Institute points out, "the growth occurred largely during the worst and most prolonged economic recession since the Great Depression and then a sluggish recovery made worse by federal sequestration. Most recently, Virginia ranked 48th nationally in economic growth. When you lose your job, you lose your health coverage if you were lucky enough to have it in the first place. At the same time, the number of Virginians 65 years and older grew more than three times as much as the overall population resulting in a 30 percent increase in enrollment."
 
Beyond these external factors affecting Medicaid costs, state legislators added more than 4,300 waiver slots over the past ten years for long-term care services for people who are intellectually and developmentally disabled. These waivers that are critical to the individuals and families who need them are among the most expensive of medical services. An intellectual disability waiver costs about $71,000 per person per year, and a developmental disability waiver costs nearly $33,000 per person per year. The Institute found that last year alone the waivers added $285 million to the budget. Waivers are not limited to persons of low incomes as the rest of Medicaid programs are.
 
Is it then the chicken or the egg that came first? Did the availability of medical services run up the cost of Medicaid or was it the growing population of older persons and the extension of services to the most needy that added to the cost? In either case, does it not make sense to use 100 percent federal dollars to meet the needs of the working poor and save the 350 million state dollars that are currently appropriated for the indigent? People who need health care come first making an expansion of Medicaid essential.
 

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, November 4 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Kat Toussaint of Around Reston magazine

Tuesday, November 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, November 11 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Joanna and Janelle Grove of Kneaded Nourishment Bakery 
 
Virginia Report is also available for viewing online at https://vimeo.com/album/1650266.


Bulletin Board

Analyzing the Results of the 2015 State Senate Races
After Virginia Votes is organized by the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project and hosted by the George Mason University School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs on Monday, November 9. After Virginia Votes is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Click here to register and find more details.

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Blanket & Children's Winter Coat Drive  
for Refugees Abroad 

Many refugees who escape to Turkey have little with them other than what they carry on their backs. With winter approaching, blankets and coats for refugees are a major need that you can help fill. Over the last two years more than 40,000 blankets and more than $100,000 have been raised to help in this effort, and there is still more to do. This year's Blanket & Children's Winter Coat Drive will take place from November 7 through December 5, with collection locations throughout Northern Virginia. Details on the collection drive and locations can be found at www.helpsyrianrefugees.us. 

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 Public Meetings for IFSP Redesign

During the months of November and December, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services' (DBHDS) staff will be traveling throughout the state to raise awareness and gain feedback as they redesign the Individual and Family Support Program (IFSP) for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Each session will include a short presentation about the proposed changes to the system and discussion. For details about the public meetings, download a flyer here.
   

Calendar of Events  
   
November until March, open daily, Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion. Public ice skating and skate rentals every day, including all holidays. Also available are skating lessons, birthday parties, private and corporate parties. Information on rates, rentals, and schedules: skating@restontowncenter.com,  703.709.6300, or restontowncenter.com/skating. 

Today: Wednesday, November 4, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., DMV2Go at the Pavilion in Reston Town Center. With the DMV wireless office on wheels, apply or renew an ID card and driver's license; get driving records; obtain vehicle titles, license plates, decals, order disabled plates, and more. Information on all services is at http://re.ston.tc/P9HLkh.

Wednesday, November 4 and Thursday, November 5, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Ice Skating Fundraiser for Character Counts! Reston, at the Pavilion, Reston Town Center. Character Counts! Reston will receive 50% of ice skating proceeds to support character and citizenship development in schools and the community. Rain dates: November 11 & 12. Skating rates and schedules: 703.709.6300, restontowncenter.com/skating.

Wednesday, November 4, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Reston Town Center North-Library/Homeless Shelter Community Meeting, at South Lakes High School, 11400 South Lakes Drive, Reston. Learn more at RTC North.

Friday, November 6 through Friday, November 20, Thanksgiving Food Drive. In support of the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive for local families and individuals served by Cornerstones and in partnership with Reston Community Center Reston Town Center is collecting donations of non-perishable food in building lobby boxes. More is at restoncommunitycenter.com.

Saturday, November 7, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., First Annual Art and Craft Fair, at United Christian Parish, 11508 North Shore Drive, Reston. Visit Art and Craft Fair for details. Download a flyer here. 

Saturday, November 14, 10:00 a.m., monthly vigil for gun violence prevention at the National Rifle Association (NRA) headquarters to remember the Newtown, CT shootings that killed 26 children and adults. Meet at 11250 Waples Mill Road in Fairfax (where Waples Mill Road crosses I-66). Signs provided. 

Sunday, November 8, 7:00 p.m., free screening of Living for 32, the inspirational story of Colin Goddard, a survivor of the tragic Virginia Tech massacre, a powerful film on the need for sensible measures to prevent gun violence. Hosted by Emmaus United Church of Christ, 900 Maple Avenue, East, Vienna. Download a flyer here.

Friday, November 13, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., TGIF - Free Fridays at Greater Reston Arts Center. An evening of family art-making and storytelling. For more information, call 703.471.9242 or visit TGIF.

Saturday, November 14, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Congressman Gerry Connolly's Open Season Workshop for Federal Employees and Retirees, at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Representatives of various health plans, OPM, and Medicare will be available to discuss their programs with participants. Call 703-256-3071 for more information.

Sunday, November 15, 4:00 p.m., Salute to Pavarotti, Reston Community Orchestra opens its 28th season with a tribute to the opera legend. This family-friendly concert features pianist-tenor Carlos Alberto Ibay. Reston Community Center Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Free Admission. Please bring canned goods for Thanksgiving Food Drive. For more information, visit www.restoncommunityorchestra.org or call 571-449-7095.

Monday, November 16, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Public Meeting with Commonwealth Transportation Board, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax. Find out more at Public Meeting.

Monday and Tuesday, November 16 and 17, Solar Focus 2015: Resiliency for the Future conference, at Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel, 999 Ninth Street NW. Details and ticket prices at Solar Focus 2015.

Tuesday, November 24, noon to 7:00 p.m., INOVA Blood Drive, beside the Pavilion in Reston Town Center. Schedule an appointment by calling 866.256.6372, visit inova.org/donateblood or register on site.  

Friday, November 27, 11:00 a.m., "Home Sweet Home," 25th Annual Reston Holiday Parade, Market Street, Reston Town Center. See Macy's-style balloons, marching bands, dancers, antique cars, community groups, costume characters and more welcoming the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus in a horse-drawn carriage. Visit restontowncenter.com/events/signature-events/ for details on the parade and other holiday events.   
 

36th District 

Reston, Virginia
 
Click here for information and resources.

In This Issue
Commentary..."The Chicken and the Egg"
"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
 and paid for by Friends of Delegate Ken Plum.