Delegate Ken Plum’s Virginia E-News – August 17, 2005

COMMENTARY

Used to be that we would applaud people who would seek to work if even for a day. They would be called industrious and responsible. And if they were from another country they may in the distant past have been applauded for wanting to realize the American dream. But as the number of persons seeking a day’s work increased, as the workers started to look less like others in the community, and as their presence became more obvious on the street corner, community attitudes began to change. As we have seen in neighboring Herndon, the mix of attitude towards day laborers in the community can make for a most difficult challenge.

Some have chosen not to leave the issue for the people of Herndon to work out within their community standards and resources. From California talk show hosts to gubernatorial candidates, a number of outsiders have jumped in to add to the emotions surrounding the Herndon Town Council’s efforts to deal responsibly with the matter. The critics’ arguments have been made easier and more emotional by the fact that some of the workers do not have proper immigration papers and are hence “illegals.”

The illegal immigrant argument is now being used by Republican Jerry Kilgore, whose campaign for governor continues to lag behind in a state George W. Bush carried easily, to enter the fray. Kilgore, a former attorney general, now pulls out legal arguments against any efforts on the part of local government to solve one of the problems in a compassionate way. And the former attorney general can enlist the help of Delegate Dave Albo of the House Courts of Justice Committee whose reelection campaign is struggling against an aggressive and effective Democratic challenger. The two can proclaim their firm stand against any public money going to illegals while leaving Herndon without a solution to its problem.

It is a legal problem, and one that must be solved by the Bush administration and the Congress. The immigration laws are such a messy maze that the last person I know who tried to get her immigration papers straightened out had to pay $4,500 in attorney fees. Unfortunately the term “illegals” is used to describe anyone whose paperwork is not in order regardless of how they came to this country or how hard they might work.

One reason the Congress has not been able to resolve the issue is because of our schizophrenic attitude towards immigrants. As the July 18, 2005 issue of Business Week describes the situation, American companies are getting hooked on the buying power of 11 million undocumented immigrants. Likewise, “some U.S. industries have become so dependent on illegal labor that a wholesale expulsion would be crippling.” Just take a look at who is doing most of our landscaping, building our homes, growing our crops, and staffing our hotels.

The political vultures are hovering over the situation in Herndon to stuff their own political appetites. It would be best for everyone to step back and let the Town Council deal with this as a local issue. Stop the demagoguery. Start letting the issue be decided by the reasoning of those most closely elected by the people of Herndon. Direct concerns about immigration policy to our Congressional representatives. Realize that if Herndon does not set up a day labor facility, the workers stay on the street corner. They are not going away anytime soon.

Delegate Ken Plum has been graded among the high scorers in 2005 conservation grades. The Virginia League of Conservation Voters (VALCV) has released its 2005 Legislative Conservation Scorecard announcing the conservation voting records of state legislators. Delegate Ken Plum had one of the six highest scores in the 140-member General Assembly. The average score in the House of Delegates was 40 percent and in the Senate 42 percent. Plum scored 90 percent.

“The Virginia League of Conservation Voters is committed to providing an accountability tool for environmentally concerned voters in the form of an annual Legislative Conservation Scorecard,” said Lisa Guthrie, Executive Director of the Virginia League.

“I consider protection of our natural environment one of the most important things I do as a legislator,” Plum said. Plum has been recognized by most statewide conservation organizations for his leadership on conservation issues.

The Virginia League of Conservation Voters serves as the nonpartisan political action arm of the state’s conservation community. Its mission is to preserve and enhance the quality of life of all Virginians by making conservation a top priority with Virginia’s elected officials, political candidates, and voters. The full scorecard is available online at www.valcv.org.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Parents & Associates of the Northern Virginia Training Center and the Fairfax Civitan Club are proud to announce the Fifth Annual Benefit Auction to support citizens with mental retardation complicated by other medical, physical, and behavioral disabilities. Show your support and participate in this fantastic auction on Saturday, September 17, at the Northern Virginia Training Center, 9901 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA. Preview of auction items is at 8:00 a.m. with the Live Auction beginning at 10:00 a.m. and the Silent Auction period running from 8:00 a.m. to noon. 100% of the proceeds of this fantastic auction are used to benefit people with mental retardation. Visit www.parentsandassociatesnvtc.com for more information.

Attend the Volunteeria – the Reston Community Center’s Volunteer Event – on Thursday, September 22. Volunteeria is free, but registration is required. To participate, your organization must register no later than August 22. To register and get additional information, contact Anna Dowdell at 703.476.4500, ext. 6160, or email Anna.Dowdell@FairfaxCounty.gov.

Join the MArcH for Virginians with Disabilities on October 1 in Richmond. The Arc of Virginia and its 22 affiliated chapters will March from Mayo Island in Richmond to the Bell Tower on the Capitol Grounds on October 1 to show our elected officials and communities that Virginians with disabilities desire what all Virginians want: A life like yours, a place to call home, access to health care, transportation, an education, a job, recreation, and a safe community. For more information call The Arc of Virginia at 888.604.2677 or visit www.ArcofVa.org.

CALENDAR

Wednesday, August 17, 10:30 p.m. – tune in to Delegate Ken Plum’s “Virginia Report” on Comcast Channel 28 – Diana Dascalu, Chesapeake Climate Action Network – “Renewable Energy for Virginia.”

Tuesday, August 23, 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, August 24, 10:30 p.m. – tune in to Delegate Ken Plum’s “Virginia Report” on Comcast Channel 28 – Mary Brown and Nick Abrash, REACT (Reston Environmental Action) – “Mobilizing for a Healthy Environment.”

Wednesday through Friday, September 13-15 – Virginia’s Sustainable Future Summit in Richmond. Visit www.vsf3.org for information about the Summit.

Saturday, September 17, 8:00 to Noon – Fifth Annual Benefit Auction for the Northern Virginia Training Center. See item above for details.

Thursday, September 22 – Volunteeria at Reston Community Center.

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Authorized and paid for by Kenneth R. Plum.

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