August 3, 2016
 
 
Delegate Ken Plum's 
Virginia E-News

I support Governor McAuliffe's efforts to restore the voting rights of felons who have served their time.


Commentary

Clinging to the Past
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
At the same time that the Nation is moving forward with a major political party nominating a woman as candidate for the presidency of the United States, Virginia institutions are clinging to past traditions that should have been abandoned decades ago. The Supreme Court of Virginia ruled that Governor Terry McAuliffe exceeded his authority in a blanket restoration of the voting rights of 206,000 felons who have completed their sentences. There are a number of serious concerns about the Court's 4-3 decision.

While the Chief Justice who wrote the opinion did not dispute the fact that the Governor clearly has the authority to restore voting rights--as Professor A. E. Dick Howard, the chief drafter of the current Virginia Constitution, and other experts testified--he quibbled with the method the Governor chose in restoring the rights. The majority of the Court found that the restoration of rights needed to be an individual action and not a class action although there is no provision in the Constitution requiring it. The Court decided to micromanage the process of the executive in carrying out its authority. If such a decision is extended to other executive actions, the Court could make the Governor powerless. Courts have most often deferred to the legislature and to the executive to carry out the powers that they have under the Constitution.

A second concern is that the Court did not apply a rigorous requirement that the Republican legislators who brought the case show that they would be harmed by the action of the Governor. Of course, we all recognize that new voters coming into the electorate might be intimidating to elected officials who could not be sure how they might vote, but that is not evidence enough that the Court should intervene in an executive action to protect a legislative majority of a particular party. An action like this one raises doubts as to whether the Virginia Supreme Court could be expected to rule fairly in a disputed election outcome.

Finally, the Court used the history of the actions, or in this case the inaction, of previous governors to limit the power of the incumbent governor. The powers of the governor are established in the Constitution and not by history. In fact, if the Justices want to review Virginia's history on voting rights it will find decades of efforts by the parties in power whether Democrat or Republican to limit the electorate as a way to maintain power. Whether it was the poll tax, blank sheet voter registration, literacy test, denying felons the right to vote, or voter identification, Virginia has had them all. One in five African American males are being denied the right to vote until their rights are restored. The Justices should have been more concerned with the voting rights of citizens than the concerns of legislators wanting to hang onto their jobs.

Governor McAuliffe is moving forward in restoring the voting rights of felons as the Court required but not limiting the number restored. Fortunately, Virginia's reputation on the national scene will be enhanced by the nomination of our favorite son Senator Tim Kaine for Vice President who is a champion of civil rights.
  

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, August 3 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Pat Hynes about Fairfax County's proposed Meals Tax
  
Tuesday, August 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, August 10 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Pete Earley about Mental Health Reform

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

Don't Forget
August 5-7 
Details are at Tax Holiday   
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A Simple Gesture - Reston
Next Pickup
Saturday, August 6, 8:30 a.m.

A Simple Gesture - Reston is a bi-monthly (six times a year) food collection program that provides non-perishable food to area pantries to support our neighbors in Northern Virginia. We do not store or distribute any food but take it directly to the pantries on the days that the food is collected. We manage a large group of volunteer donors and volunteer drivers who make it easy for our friends and neighbors to support the neediest and hungriest in our communities. Learn more at www.coolgreenbag.org.  Sign up here.

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Volunteers Needed for
Reston Kids Triathlon This Sunday

Sign up here.

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Registration Now Open for the  
9th Annual Susco 8K: Running with Tim 
The Susco 8k is held each year in memory of Reston native, Timothy P. Susco, who passed away in 2007 from a ruptured brain aneurysm. The race starts and ends at South Lakes High School, where Tim graduated, and runs along the rolling hills of Reston, just like Tim did as a four-year member of the South Lakes track and cross-country teams. Learn more at www.susco8k.com.
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It's Not Too Late 
There's still time to join Cornerstones and Kids R First to help equip nearly 3,500 K-12 children in the Reston-Herndon area (Cornerstones' clients, as well as other local students in need) with brand-new backpacks for the next academic year.

Details for joining the effort are at Back-to-School Drive.

 
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Hunger Free America Launches Virginia Campaign
Hunger Free America has launched a Virginia campaign to make it easier for hungry Americans to obtain food and for anyone to volunteer in the most effective ways to end hunger. Nearly one in ten Virginia State residents and one in six children live in households that can't always afford enough food. The National Hunger Hotline staff connects callers with emergency food providers in their community, government assistance, nutritional assistance programs, and various services that promote self-sufficiency. During summer months, the hotline provides information about meal sites where children 18 years old and under can get free, nutritious meals. Learn more at Volunteer.   


Calendar of Events

Tomorrow: Thursday, August 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. Both cash and credit cards accepted. Details are at Food Truck Thursdays. 

Thursday, August 4, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., Evenings on the Ellipse, free concert at the Fairfax County Government Center at 12000 Government Center Parkway in Fairfax. This week enjoy music from Leonard, Coleman & Blunt (Motown). Concerts are canceled in the case of inclement weather. Call 703-324-SHOW (7469) one hour prior to the start of the show for updates. Visit Evenings on the Ellipse for a full schedule of concerts.

August 5-7, Sales Tax Holiday/Tax-Free Weekend. Details are at Tax Free Weekend.

Saturday, August 6, Slide the City in Tysons Corner, a 1000-foot vinyl water slide and block party, at 7911 Westpark Drive in Tysons Corner. Visit Slide the City to learn more and purchase tickets. 

Saturday, August 6, 7:30 to 10:00 p.m., Reston Town Center Pavilion, Reston Concerts on the Town. The weekly summer concert season presents Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band, Jambalaya On the Bayou, New Orleans Zydeco, High-Energy Rhythm & Blues. Bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets and enjoy live outdoor music at the Pavilion. Free. Rain or shine. Alcohol permitted at restaurants only. See the season's full schedule at Reston Concerts.

Sunday, August 21, Works Sunday. Works Sunday is an annual service event in Northern Virginia that takes place on or about the third Sunday in August, focusing on activities in the Reston, Herndon and Sterling communities. Learn more about this year's projects at workssunday.org.
 

36th District 

Reston, Virginia
 

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In This Issue
Commentary..."Clinging to the Past"
"Virginia Report"
Bulletin Board
Check Your Calendar

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


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