March 2, 2016
 
 
Delegate Ken Plum's 
Virginia E-News

Delegate Plum was awarded the Joseph V. Gartlan Award for Community Service by the 11th Congressional Democratic Committee. (L-R, Congressman Gerry Connolly, Del. Plum, Senator Janet Howell, Committee Chair Robert Haley, photo credit: Mike Beaty)

Commentary  
 
Bills and More Bills
 
  
 
  
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum 
 
If past history provides any indication, the 2016 session of the General Assembly will have considered nearly 3,000 bills and resolutions before its 60-day session adjourns in early March. While the figure is impressive, it can be deceiving without a break-down of the total number. For example, in 2014 which was also a 60-day "long" session, the 100 members of the House of Delegates introduced 1,950 bills and resolutions, and the 40 members of the Senate introduced 938 bills and resolutions. Of the 2,888 total bills and resolutions, resolutions accounted for 942. Most resolutions are memorial in that they recognize someone noteworthy in a delegate's district who had died the previous year, or they commend in offering praise to a person, sports team, organization, or entity for a noteworthy accomplishment or event. It is seldom that memorial or commending resolutions do not pass. Other resolutions may propose to express the sense of the General Assembly on an issue or provide guidance to another branch or level of government. Some of these resolutions can be very controversial especially when members propose to send a message to the big bad federal government. No resolution carries the force of law.
 
In 2014, 1,946 bills that proposed new laws were introduced by the House and Senate members. By the end of the session that year 825 bills or 42 percent passed the House and Senate with only 10 of these not being signed by the governor. If more than 800 new laws seems like a big number, a further analysis will put it in perspective. Many bills are double-counted in that they have been introduced in both houses and passed by both houses. About two-thirds of the legislation passed are duplicates of other bills. Some bills are local in that they apply to only a single jurisdiction. As a Dillon Rule state--meaning that local governments have only the power granted to them by the state--local governments must come to the state for enabling legislation to take on a new power or activity if it is not granted by the locality's existing charter or general law. These bills are generally not controversial unless the locality is asking for power not ever given to another local government. Agency bills are introduced by members on behalf of the governor and state agencies related to the functions of state government. Housekeeping bills are introduced to correct or clarify legislation that has been introduced in the past. A high percentage of bills relate to crime and punishment and civil actions.
 
When these clarifications distill down the total number, you get to the couple of dozen bills about which you read in the newspapers and by which you might be directly impacted. They are the bills that are controversial and sometimes partisan. Little legislation will threaten the stability of the Commonwealth. When change is needed, however, we need to be willing to make that change. I will address the most significant pieces of legislation from this session in future columns.

Virginia Report on Comcast Channel 28
  
Tune in to Ken's weekly television program, Virginia Report, Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m. on Reston Comcast Channel 28 for public service programming (Verizon Channel 1981). During the General Assembly session, Ken talks with Woody Evans of VCTA about legislative issues. 


Previous Virginia Report shows are available for viewing online at vimeo.com.    

Bulletin Board  
Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) and Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) are hosting several public meetings during the month of March on projects affecting residents in Fairfax County. Do not miss the opportunity to provide input on these projects!  
For more information on the projects or to submit comments,
visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/transportation_projects.htm or call FCDOT at 703-877-5600, TTY 711. 

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Children's Book Drive

Starting now and through March 10th, donations of gently used books for the children of Aldrin Elementary School are being collected at the HoneyBaked Store at North Point Village Center. 

Donate your gently used books for kids in Grades K-6 to the Aldrin Elementary and HoneyBaked Ham of Reston Partnership Book Drive. Donation bins are located in the main portion of the store. Call the store at 703-733-3860 with questions. 
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Empty Bowls


Friday, April 8, 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Empty Bowls fundraiser to help fight hunger and food insecurity in our community. At Floris United Methodist Church, 13600 Frying Pan Road in Herndon. Tickets: $25 for adults in advance; $30 adults at door; $15 for children under 12. Buy tickets online. Checks can be made out to Food for Others and sent to: The Giving Circle of HOPE, PO Box 8832, Reston, VA 20195. Further details are at Empty Bowls.


Calendar of Events      

Saturday, March 5, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Grow Your Health Festival: Gardening, Local Food & Wellness, at Fairfax High School, 3501 Rebel Run, Fairfax. Meet local farmers, learn about organic gardening, food, and healthy options, buy local food products, see the film, "Growing Cities," and more. Ticket information is at www.GrowYourHealthnova.com. Admission includes all activities, classes, and demonstrations. 

Saturday, March 5, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Robert E. Simon, Jr. Children's Center Barnes & Noble Bookfair, at the Tysons Corner Barnes & Noble (upstairs, Children's Department). Download a flyer here. 

Saturday, March 5, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Making Justice Work Part II: Police Practices, a Community Forum for Fairfax County at United Christian Parish, 11508 North Shore Drive, Reston. Download a flyer here. 

Monday, March 7, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., I-66 Inside the Beltway: Design Public Hearing, at Washington-Lee High School Cafeteria, 1301 N. Stafford Street, Arlington. Details are at Design Public Hearings.

Tuesday, March 8, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., I-66 Inside the Beltway: Design Public Hearing, at Eagle Ridge Middle School Cafeteria, 42901 Waxpool Road, Ashburn. Details are at Design Public Hearings.

Wednesday, March 9, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., I-66 Inside the Beltway: Design Public Hearing. Visit Transform66.org to view a live stream beginning at 6:30 p.m., VDOT Northern Virginia District Office, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax. Details are at Design Public Hearings.

Thursday, March 10, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., Rescue Reston Paint the Town Green Paint & Sip Event, Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Enjoy appetizers, beverages, and camaraderie while being led in painting a 16x20 painting of a weeping willow tree. No experience necessary. $20 of the admission fee will be donated to the legal defense fund to protect the 166 acres of green recreational space at Reston National Golf Course. Find details and register here . 

Thursday, March 10, 7:00 p.m., Reston Association Candidates' Forum, at Reston Association (RA) headquarters, 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive. The forum to help members learn more about the candidates for open Board of Directors seats will also be streamed live on the RA YouTube channel. Visit Board Election for more information, call 703-435-6512, or email questions to electionscommittee@reston.org.

Sunday, March 13, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 3rd Annual NoVa Mini Maker Faire, at South Lakes High School and Langston Hughes Middle School, Reston. Details are at NoVa Mini Maker Faire. 

Sunday, March 13, 4:00 p.m., The Reston Chorale presents Choral Splendor II at Saint Luke Catholic Church, 7001 Georgetown Pike, McLean. The concert will feature a rare performance of Charles-Marie Widor's magnificent Mass, Op. 36, as the composer intended: with two organs and two choirs. Also included: works by Dupré, Fauré, Franck, Messićn and Sweelinck. Tickets may be purchased online or at the door. For more, visit 

Saturday, March 19, Earth Hour, A worldwide celebration uniting people to protect the planet. Find out more at Earth Hour 2016. 

March 22-23, 2016 Resilient Virginia Conference, Richmond. Learn more at http://resilientvirginia.org/. Register here. 

Wednesdays, March 23 to May 11, 2:15 p.m. to 3:40 p.m., Aging Well in Reston (55 years and older), at RCC Lake Anne, 1609-A Washington Plaza North, Reston. Cost: $45 (Reston) $90 (Non-Reston) (500452-6A * Registration Required). This lecture series helps residents discover why to stay in or move to Reston as you enjoy your retirement years. Some of the topics will include resources for remaining in your own home, opportunities for intergenerational community involvement, and the village living concept. Register at www.restoncommunitycenter.com. 

Saturday, March 26, Last day to donate formal dresses, shoes, jewelry, handbags, scarves, shawls, and accessories to Diva Central. Drop off at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. Download a flyer here. 

Thursday, March 31, 11:00 a.m., "Destination Rides" Information Session, NV Rides-Reston will host a one-hour information session to learn about issues facing non-driving seniors in our community, at Reston Community Center, Lake Anne, 1609-A Washington Plaza, Reston. This is a free event; you will not be asked to make a financial contribution. For information or to RSVP, contact NV Rides at 703.537.3070 or GinaC@NVRides.org. More is at www.NVRides.org.

April 5-7, Environment Virginia Symposium, at VMI's Center for Leadership and Ethics, one of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's Virginia Green Convention and Conference Centers. Find more information about the symposium and register at Environment Virginia Symposium.

Saturday, April 16, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Living Well, Aging Well Summit, at Fairfax County Government Center 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Free event, for older adults & people with disabilities. Download a flyer here. Register here.

Saturday, April 23, noon to 6:00 p.m., Diva Central Event, at Reston Community Center Lake Anne, 1609-A Washington Plaza. The one-day event is open to any current high school student who is in need of a prom dress and other accessories. Everything is absolutely FREE. Limit one dress per person. Download a flyer here. 
April 23 to 30, Historic Garden Week, House & Garden Tours Offered Statewide. Learn more at vagardenweek.org

April 25-26, National Reduce Tobacco Use Conference, showcasing the latest in tobacco-use prevention, reduction, and cessation with youth and young adults. For more information, visit reducetobaccouse.org. 

Saturday, April 30, Fairfax CASA Run for the Children Race, Starting Time: 8:00 am., at the Fairfax County Courthouse complex. Features music, food, prizes and raffle items. Raises money to help Fairfax CASA volunteers advocate for those children under the court's protection. Details are at Run for the Children.   

May 21 to 22, 1:00 to 7:00 p.m., Relay For Life of Reston, at South Lakes High School. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life movement symbolizes hope and our shared goal to end a disease that threatens the lives of so many people we love. More information is at Relay for Life. 
 

36th District 

Reston, Virginia
 


Metro faregates to accept SmarTrip® only starting March 6. 
Visit Metro News for details.

In This Issue
Commentary..."Bills and More Bills"
"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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