Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News – January 10, 2007

Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News – January 10, 2007 COMMENTARY Assembly Challenged to Act Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum Last week Governor Timothy M. Kaine came to Northern Virginia, site of some of the worst traffic congestion in the country, to outline his plan for funding transportation improvements. There was not much new in his proposals; many were debated by the General Assembly last year. After nine months of debate members of the Republican majorities in both houses of the General Assembly could not agree on a plan. Will it be any different this year? Traffic problems have not gone away; they only get worse. An independent university study pegs our regional congestion as second worst in the country. Thousands of commuters whose travel to and from their work takes hours from their days and from their families can attest to the need. The debate continues to be what to do. Some believe if we organized the Department of Transportation differently it would solve the problem. The organizational charts for VDOT have been redrawn so many times in recent years that the problem may be that bureaucrats are so busy figuring out to whom they report that they cannot get their work done. And the suggestion overlooks the fact that VDOT has some of the best efficiency ratings among such agencies nationally. But the Governor promises to do more to ensure that the agency is efficient. Others argue that there is plenty of money in the state budget; it just needs to be shifted to transportation. Those persons should have been present last week for the money committee hearings in Northern Virginia. Dozens of individuals and representatives of advocacy groups testified to the unmet needs in mental health, mental retardation, nursing homes, senior care, education, and others. There is no getting around the arithmetic that says that about a billion dollars in new revenue is required statewide for transportation. The Governor is not proposing any general tax increases. Instead he proposes that several user-related fees be increased. He recommends that the two percent discount on the sales tax on new vehicles be eliminated. And he says that those who abuse the roads and cause accidents should pay higher fines. The debate on transportation also includes concerns about growth. Of course, growing communities that have not had funds for infrastructure improvements are going to experience increased traffic and congestion. The Governor proposes greater coordination between land use and transportation planning. Home builders are already opposing this part of his plan. As the Governor points out, the General Assembly needs to take action in all three areas: improved accountability, additional funding, and land use. Those attending his presentation at the Center for Innovative Technology were impressed with the Governor’s firm grasp of the issue, his clear designation of the things we should do to deal with it, and his commitment to getting the job done. He says he has no “reverse gear.” I support his plan, and my plea to the majority party in the House of Delegates is to give me an opportunity to vote for it. While I am in Richmond you can continue to call my Reston office at 703.758.9733 and your call will be forwarded without cost to you, or you can e-mail me at kenplum@aol.com. *** Thanks to the many citizens who attended the pre-session Public Hearing hosted by Senator Janet Howell and me last Thursday night at the Reston Community Center. We heard some excellent testimony by many of our fellow Restonians, and we appreciate the interest our constituents take in matters of state government. It is an honor to serve you. Delegate Ken Plum’s Weekly “Virginia Report” on Reston Comcast Channel 28 Please note that “Virginia Report” will resume its weekly schedule in March after the 2007 session of the General Assembly adjourns. Check this section for dates and times occasional “Special Reports” from Richmond will be aired between now and March 1. *** ANNOUNCEMENTS Today the General Assembly will convene at Jamestown Settlement at 6:30 p.m. The Joint Assembly will receive Governor Kaine at 7:00 p.m. for his annual State of the Commonwealth Address. News Channel 8 will be covering this historic occasion; check local listings for other viewing opportunities. The Commonwealth of Virginia has an interactive Web site that allows citizens to review measurable performance targets for state agencies and institutions, and to monitor how the Commonwealth measures up from region to region and compared to other states. The site, www.VAperforms.virginia.gov, focuses on seven key areas and outlines the state’s long-term goals for each: Economy, Education, Health and Family, Public Safety, Natural Resources, Government and Citizens, and Transportation. Within each area, selected societal indicators are used to help answer the question, “How is Virginia doing?” Approximately 50 indicators are used, ranging from third grade reading scores to cancer incidence. Where available, data is used to compare Virginia to nearby states and national rates. In addition, users can get a detailed demographic profile at the state, regional or locality level. A mapping feature allows users to create custom reports on dozens of measures at the local or regional level. The Jamestown Commemorative coin, developed by the U.S. Mint in partnership with Jamestown 2007, APVA Preservation Virginia, the National Park Service, and the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, will be released for sale at Jamestown Settlement this Thursday, January 11. The public can buy the coins from the U.S. mint by calling 1-800-USA-MINT or by visiting http://catalog.usmint.gov. Please note a special pre-issue pricing for 30 days. Coin options are a Silver Dollar (commemorative proof), Silver Dollar (commemorative uncirculated), Gold $5.00 Coin (commemorative proof), and Gold $5.00 Coin (Commemorative Uncirculated). Prices are listed at the website. A Proof is a carefully struck, high quality, polished and brightly finished coin. An Uncirculated Coin is standard coin quality as for general use and distribution which has not been in circulation in the public arenha. It is a new coin but struck as if it were going to be used. The Virginia Department of Health restaurant inspection Web site www.healthspace.ca/vdh provides the names of restaurants that are listed as having no critical violations and exposing those that show excessive critical violations. Learn about documenting and sharing the priceless legacy of your personal story and values in an Ethical Will. A program on this fascinating topic will be present by Henry Felt on Wednesday, January 17, 7:00 p.m. at the Reston Museum, 1639 Washington Plaza, Lake Anne Village Center. The event is free, but a donation to the Reston Museum is appreciated. For reservations and more information, call 703.709.7700. Take local action to protect our water by attending the Water Stewardship Team Leader Training on Sunday, January 21, 2007, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center, 5700 Sanger Avenue, Alexandria. Learn to build community and discover ways to create a water-friendly lifestyle. Call 703.324.5500 or email crystal.kearns@fairfaxcounty.gov to receive more information or an application. Attend Nanotechnology Day at the Virginia General Assembly on January 24, 2007. Delegate Ken Plum and the other legislative members of the Joint Commission on Technology and Science invite all Virginia businesses, universities, and government agencies to Richmond to share their experiences with the General Assembly. The Conference Room on the 5 th Floor (West) of the General Assembly Building will be available for small displays (tripod/easel) before and after the day’s session. Space will be reserved on a first-com, first-served basis. Space is also reserved in the first floor lobby area of the General Assembly Building for members of the Nanotechnology Advisory Committees. This area will serve as an “information booth” for anyone interested in learning more about JCOTS and the Nanotechnology Advisory Committees. The Virginia Technology Alliance Reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. that evening at the Library of Virginia, 9th & Broad Streets, Richmond. For more information please contact Lisa Friedersdorf at LisaF@virginia.edu or Patrick Cushing at pcushing@leg.state.va.us. Nominations for the Governor’s Volunteerism & Community Services Awards are now being accepted. The prestigious award has been honoring exemplary Virginians for more than 16 years and recognizes excellence in community service and volunteering. A narrative and two letters of support are required. Visit www.vaservice.org to download the nomination form or submit an online nomination through the website. The nomination process ends at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31, 2007. The new State Bicycling Map is now available. To order a map, visit www.bikewalkvirginia.org. The new map can be your gateway to a world of new experiences including U.S. Bicycle Routes 1 and 76, the Virginia Capital Trail connecting Williamsburg and Richmond, and numerous locations for off-road mountain bike rides. Whether you are an experienced bicyclist, a beginner, or a family with young children, this map is a must-have. The Thirteenth Annual Virginia Festival of the Book will be held in Charlottesville March 22-25, 2007. Mostly free literary events will include readings, panels, and discussions with authors, illustrators, and publishing professionals. For more information visit www.vabook.org. ***************** Authorized and paid for by Kenneth R. Plum. Unsubscribe to this newsletter by emailing kenplum@aol.com and indicating “unsubscribe” in the subject line.