June 15, 2016
 
 
Delegate Ken Plum's 
Virginia E-News

Dulles Corridor Rail Association gave recognition to Fairfax County's ongoing efforts on transit-oriented development in the Dulles Corridor. Accepting were Sharon Bulova, Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and Cathy Hudgins, Hunter Mill District Supervisor.

Time to Act

In the wake of the tragic massacre of 49 people in Orlando, we have the opportunity and responsibility to do what we can to prevent this kind of outrage from happening again. Just last week a federal appeals court ruled that the Second Amendment does not include a right to carry concealed firearms in public. This is a victory for the Gun Violence Prevention (GVP) effort. Learn more about what you can do to work toward prevention of mass shootings by visiting The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. A variety of vigils are scheduled locally to remember the victims. More is at vigil schedule.
 
Commentary

Selective Accounting     
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum

The Commonwealth of Virginia prepares its budget on a biennial schedule. The budget proposed this year by the Governor and adopted by the General Assembly will become effective July 1, 2016, and extend to June 30, 2018. Although technically the General Assembly does not pass a new budget in odd-numbered years, practically there are many adjustments that are made mid-course in the biennium budgets based on changes that may have occurred in revenues or expenses. While this system of budgeting over two years may reduce some administrative paperwork, it also presents some challenges. Essentially, the governor and the General Assembly must estimate revenues 30 months into the future. These are not simply planning projections; these are actual numbers upon which budgeted expenditures are based. Economists in government and in business are consulted in coming up with revenue estimates.

The challenge of estimating government revenue has been obvious over the last few years. Two years ago there was a revenue shortfall of $439 million coming almost entirely from a huge drop in estimated payments of income taxes that are not withheld from payroll but paid on stock gains by investors who chose to cash in on their investments. A projection of that shortfall from the end of fiscal 2014 led to a projected $2.4 billion shortfall through this biennium. Fortunately, revenues recovered last year, and the state ended the year with its biggest surplus ever.

Revenues collected through April of this year were trailing projections by 1.9 percent, or $347 million, after declining 6.7 percent from the previous April. If by the end of the fiscal year revenue collections are one percent under the annual forecast, or $169 million, the state is required by law to reforecast revenues for the new two-year budget. Also, state employees who were promised a raise based on the higher revenues may not get them.

Virginia gets top marks on the handling of its finances by all the outside entities that evaluate these kinds of things. It is one of only about a half dozen states with the highest AAA bond rating. A volatile economy is challenging to predict; we should take pride in our high rating.

My concern continues to be the selective accounting that the General Assembly follows in ignoring federal monies that are available that would free up several hundred million dollars in state general funds for appropriation while providing health care to as many as 400,000 working Virginians. Governor McAuliffe's proposed budget included these funds, but the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees took them out. They refer to these funds as Obamacare as though that term alone should be enough to refuse the money. Virginia turns its back on $4.4 million per day and has refused more than four billion dollars in Medicaid funds the last several years. As careful as the state is in its budgeting and counting its pennies, how can it selectively leave these monies out of its budget? It's selective accounting, bad economics, and in my view, immoral!
 
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 15 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Aditi Takle about Girls Learn International 
  
Tuesday, June 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, June 22 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Kate Mattice of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC)

Virginia Report is also available for viewing online at
www.youtube.com/watch. Previous shows can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/album/1650266. 


Bulletin Board
 
 
Download a flyer here. Visit Friends of Reston for more about what the funds will benefit. 
 
____________________
 
Remote Area Medical's Health Wagon


For more information visit ramusa.org/event/wise-va/  
 

Calendar of Events  
    
Today: Wednesday, June 15, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Medicare 101, Training for individuals who will soon be eligible for Medicare and want to learn about their options. The session will provide an overview of the many components of Medicare: Part A (inpatient hospitalization/skilled nursing), Part B (outpatient hospital/ doctors/labs/radiology), Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans), and Part D (prescription drugs), as well as how to cover the gaps in Medicare benefits through Medicare Supplement Plans. Free but registration is required. Register here.  
 
Tonight: Wednesday, June 15, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Public Information Meeting on the Soapstone Connector Project, in Room 333A at South Lakes High School, 11400 South Lakes Drive, Reston. The meeting will begin at 6:30, with a short presentation at 7:30 p.m. to update residents on the project. Staff will be present to discuss the project and answer questions. For more information on the project, contact Audra Bandy at 703-877-5600, or visit Soapstone Connector. 

Tonight: Wednesday, June 15, 8:00 to 9:30 p.m., Reston Soccer Town Hall Meeting about an exciting potential Reston field improvement project, in the multi-purpose room at the Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston. The meeting will begin at 8:00 p.m. with a presentation by the Reston Soccer Association Board President, followed by a Q&A session. Contact Margaret Perry (Dover), Reston Soccer Administrator, 703-859-6267.   
 
Thursday, June 16, 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., Route 7 Corridor Improvements Fairfax County Public Information Meeting, at Colvin Run Elementary, 1400 Trap Road, Vienna. Find out about plans to widen Leesburg Pike (Route 7) from four to six lanes between Reston Avenue and the west end of the bridge over the Dulles Toll Road to increase capacity, decrease congestion, and improve safety. Review project information at the meeting or www.ConnectRoute7.org. Give your written comments at the meeting or submit them by June 30, 2016 to Mr. William Dunn, P.E., Virginia Department of Transportation, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030 or email ConnectRoute7@VDOT.virginia.gov with "June 16 Public Information Meeting" in the subject line.

Friday and Saturday, June 17 and 18, Taste of Reston, at Reston Town Center. Details are at Taste of Reston.

Saturday, June 18, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., North County Governmental Center Grand Opening and Open House, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston. Family-friendly event includes public safety interactive displays, vehicles to explore and tours of the police station. For more information and to RSVP by email contact huntermillRSVP@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-478-0283.

Thursday, June 23, 6:30 p.m., Screening of the documentary SOLITARY on solitary confinement that offers a window into life on both sides of the bars and prompts challenging core questions about punishment in America today, at Landmark 6 Theater, 555 11th ST, NW Washington, DC. Tickets for the screening are available here.

Tuesday, June 28, 8:00 to 9:00 a.m., Delegate Plum's State of the Commonwealth Breakfast, at Hidden Creek Country Club, 1711 Clubhouse Road, Reston. Register at SOC Breakfast.
 
Tuesday, June 28, noon to 7:00 p.m., INOVA Blood Drive, Reston Town Center beside Pavilion. Schedule appointments at 866-256-6372 or inova.org/donateblood. On-site registration available as well.  

Sunday, July 10, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., Sunday Afternoon Dance, at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. Dancers (55 years and older) of all skill levels are welcome to foxtrot, swing, cha-cha, and waltz. Includes three mini-lessons, door prizes and light refreshments; partners are not required. Cost is per session and payable at the door ($5 Reston/$10 Non-Reston). For more information, contact Karen Brutsché, 55+ Program Director at 703-390-6157. See more at Sunday Afternoon Dance.

Tuesday, July 12, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Navigate the Local Transit System (55 years and older), Reston Community Center Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Free but registration required (500400-7A). An innovative transportation experience to become familiar with the regional transit systems. The bus, called MATT (Mobile Accessible Travel Training), is used to educate older adults. Through a hands-on learning experience, participants will be taught "travel training" tips, such as reading the bus schedules and route maps, paying fares, loading SmarTrip cards, and signaling the driver to stop. The bus will stop at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro to allow passengers to experience these points.
 

36th District 

Reston, Virginia
 
June 17-18
Learn more here.
In This Issue
"Virginia Report"
Bulletin Board
Check Your Calendar
Commentary..."Selective Accounting"

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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