January 20, 2016
 
 
Delegate Ken Plum's 
Virginia E-News

Delegate Plum with a delegation from New Virginia Majority

Commentary  
 
General Assembly 2016 Session Underway 
  
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum 
 
After the usual business of organizing for a new legislative session, the General Assembly got underway without major incident. The House of Delegates has 11 new members with Republicans clearly in power with 66 members and Democrats 34. The House leadership remains the same with Speaker William Howell in charge. The Senate moved to Republican control 21-19. As is the custom, the Governor spoke to a joint session of the House and Senate in the evening of the opening day.
 
Among the very likeable traits of Governor Terry McAuliffe are his enthusiasm and positive outlook, and these were never more evident than in his speech to the General Assembly. A recovering economy that is providing more money for programs and services helps fuel the Governor's optimism. But the members of the General Assembly can be a tough sell. For some, the Governor is just another politician with his own agenda. While the members of the majority party were polite, their response to his speech was subdued. Of course, some of his proposals are in direct contradiction to positions they have taken. Disappointingly, his factual, logical appeal to expand health insurance for the working poor seemed to fall on deaf ears. Hopefully some behind the scenes dealing can allow Virginians to access the billions of dollars in federal funds that are available to them.
 
The main thrust of the Governor's address to legislators was that "we put partisan battles aside, and we get the job done." At the same time we have to run the government today, we must make wise decisions for the future. "We must maintain that balanced budget while making strategic investments."
 
Education is among the Governor's highest priorities with more than a billion dollars recommended in new funds across all levels of education. He is proposing a fundamental change in Virginia's approach to high school education to place a greater emphasis on hands-on learning, internships, early college courses, and industry credentials, rather than classroom seat time. "I believe that education is a prime example of the opportunity that we have this session to work together to strengthen our economy and make our state a better place to live. We all agree that is what Virginians sent us here to do."
 
With all the talk on cooperation and bipartisanship, the Governor also made his position clear on a number of issues. "I am prepared," he said, "to veto bills that roll back the progress that we have made on marriage equality and women's access to health care." And he added, "I will also reject proposals that limit this Commonwealth's ability to keep Virginians safe from gun violence or to react to the very clear and present danger of climate change and sea level rise."
 
The speech reflects the Governor's thoughts on where we are in Virginia and where we need to go. Over the next 60 days the 140 members of the General Assembly will be making their decisions. For the full text of the Governor's speech read here. Video is available at watch here. 
      

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- January 20 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Karen Brutsche of NV Rides Reston
    
Tuesday, January 26 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, January 27 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Rachel Wood of Scrawl Books

Virginia Report is also available for viewing online at https://vimeo.com/album/1650266 
   

Bulletin Board  

33rd Annual Capitol Steps Performance


Don't miss the 33rd Annual Capitol Steps Benefit Performance benefiting Cornerstones being held at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 31 at the Hyatt Regency in Reston Town Center. This annual tradition is known as an evening of fun, politically-driven satire which includes sips and sweets, all for a good cause.

Cornerstones is a nonprofit organization that provides support and advocacy for those in need of affordable housing, quality childcare, food and shelter, to help empower their clients towards self-sufficiency. "The Capitol Steps Benefit provides critical funding for our programs with last year's event raising more than $120,000 for our organization," said Kerrie Wilson, chief executive officer of Cornerstones. "We are very thankful for Long & Foster as our Presenting Sponsor and for Delegate Ken Plum as our ever enthusiastic auctioneer of this annual event."

Tickets for the event are still available and can be purchased on the Cornerstones website at http://www.cornerstonesva.org. Tickets start at $75 per person. 

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Leadership Fairfax is Now Accepting Applications


Leadership Fairfax is now accepting applications for its Lifetime Leadership Program (LLP) Spring semester, beginning on March 30. The tuition-based program is designed for seasoned professionals with a lifetime of experience who are nearing retirement or already retired and looking for the next step in their leadership journey. Informational sessions will be held at Leadership Fairfax's headquarters (8230 Old Courthouse Road, Suite 100, Vienna) on the following dates:
  • January 20, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
  • February 10, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
  • February 24, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
To RSVP for an information session, contact Leadership Fairfax at LLP@leadershipfairfax.org or 703-752-7555.

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A Simple Gesture

Want an easy way to help stop hunger in Northern Virginia? Try the cool green bag provided by A Simple Gesture. All you do is fill a cool green bag and someone comes to your door to pick it up. No muss, no fuss, just helping your neighbors have food on their table every day. 

Learn more about the national program and how you can help at  A Simple Gesture. To become involved in Reston, contact Bob Schnapp at ASimpleGestureReston@gmail.com. Sign up and a cool, green bag will be delivered to your house.

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 Energy-Saving Tips for Homeowners


Read or download a do-it-yourself guide here.

An energy saving tip sheet is available here.

Visit the Virginia Energy Sense website here. 



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2016 First Amendment Gerrymander Standard Writing Competition Deadline March 27, 2016


The Supreme Court has long suggested there is a limit for what is acceptable partisan gerrymandering, but like obscenity, so far the line is undefined and left to courts to know it when they see it. The Court has said that it is willing to hear constitutional challenges to partisan gerrymandering, but existing legal theories have been insufficient to empower citizens and advocates with the tools they need to overturn partisan gerrymanders in court. Common Cause's 2016 "Gerrymander Standard" Writing Competition is your chance to change that.

Winning Authors Receive: 
  • Prize money: 1st place: $5,000, 2nd place: $3,000, 3rd place: $2,000
  • Publication in a leading academic journal
  • Payment of travel expenses to present papers at a national redistricting reform symposium
See submission requirements here. Contact Dan Vicuna at 213-623-1216 or contest@commoncause.org with questions.


Calendar of Events     

Tuesday, January 26, 9:30 a.m. to noon, Community Ambassador Program Orientation, at the Pennino Building, 12011 Government Center Parkway, Suite 206 in Fairfax. Registration deadline is Wednesday, January 20. Register here.

Sunday, January 31, Three sessions (11:30-1:30 p.m., 2:00-4:00 p.m., and 4:30-6:30 p.m.), Vale Church STOP HUNGER NOW Packaging Event. For details and to sign up for a session, visit www.valechurch.org or contact program coordinator Mike Martin at memartin213@gmail.com or 703-371-7665. Kids ages 8 and up and accompanied by a parent are welcome to participate. 

Monday, February 1, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Reston Network Analysis Community Meeting. The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) and Hunter Mill District Supervisor Catherine M. Hudgins will be hosting a community meeting on the Reston Network Analysis study at Lake Anne Elementary School Cafeteria, 11510 North Shore Drive, Reston. Residents will be able to learn more about the study, which seeks to evaluate the conceptual grids of streets and road elements in the areas surrounding the Reston Metrorail Stations (Reston Transit Station Areas (TSAs). Staff will be on hand to answer questions during the meeting. To learn more or to contact the project team, visit 
Saturday, February 6, Virginia Polar Dip 2016: Freezin' for a Reason. Registration at noon, Dip at 2:00 p.m., at Reston Community Center, Lake Anne Village Center, Reston. The goal is to send many more children with life-threatening illnesses and their families to Camp Sunshine, a one-of-a-kind retreat in Casco, Maine. Click here for details. 
 

36th District 

Reston, Virginia
 

Annual Legislative Survey
 
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In This Issue
Commentary..."General Assembly 2016 Session Underway"
"Virginia Report"
Bulletin Board
Check Your Calendar

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


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