Plum’s Pabulum
Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum

Pabulum has always had a positive connotation to me. Pablum was the trademark name of pabulum, a nutritious cereal fed to infants that helped to stem a major problem of infant malnutrition. Invented by three Canadian pediatricians in 1930, the cereal is easily digestible without side effects. A royalty on every package sold goes to a hospital for sick children where the three doctors worked.

My good news about state government is often referred to by a constant critic as being pabulum. Maybe my reporting style can get to be a bit bland as the cereal is sometimes described as tasting, but I hope my column always contains complete and total information just as pabulum is nutritiously complete. And I hope that my legislative efforts continue to contribute to a healthy state government that is responsive to citizen interests.

The General Assembly session of 2004 will be talked about a great deal this campaign season. During that session I worked closely with Governor Mark R. Warner to forge a bipartisan coalition to resolve a budget deadlock and to restore the state’s finances. The resulting compromise raised the sales tax to fund core services, cut other taxes to make the taxation system fairer, and took Virginia off the credit watch with its triple-A bond rating intact. Those who think that the rating firms’ threat to downgrade our credit rating was an idle one should look at South Carolina that just lost its triple-A rating. Only seven states including Virginia have the highest rating with the resulting savings for taxpayers of millions of dollars in interest.

Another critic who recently moved into the community uses the letters to the editor column to criticize my work on behalf of rail transit in the Dulles corridor. He uses a convoluted logic to suggest that rail will bring growth to the corridor when every projection for the corridor and westward into Loudoun County indicates strong growth will be occurring in the area because of market forces. Unless the region builds on its already successful bus system with additional mass transit alternatives, there will be total gridlock in the transportation system. And with careful land use planning at the local level, the mistakes of the development of Tysons Corner can be avoided.

As the President likes to say about his job, “It is hard work.” The work of a state legislator is hard, sometimes routine and periodically mundane. But it is necessary work to be done to protect the integrity of our community. It is like pabulum, providing the necessary elements for a healthy and strong community. I am honored to provide that pabulum as your state delegate.

kenplum@aol.com

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Northern Virginia Association of Realtors (NVAR) has launched an initiative to help educate the public about their basic rights when buying, selling, or renting a home. NVAR has created the Buyers and Sellers Bill of Rights, a brochure to explain to consumers what they should know about buying, selling, or renting a home. It has been translated into five foreign languages so consumers can understand in their native language the basics of what they are entitled to in a real estate transaction. Visit www.nvar.com to download a PDF version of the Bill of Rights, available in English, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Feel free to reproduce and distribute these brochures as you see fit.

Make your opinions about transportation policies known by participating in a survey. A doctoral candidate in George Mason University’s School of Public Policy is conducting a survey to assess public opinion about the affects of transportation policies on quality of life. In particular, opinions are needed about the social and economic effects of implementing Ramp Metering, HOV Lanes, and HOT Lanes on Interstate 66 in Northern Virginia. The survey is online and responses are anonymous. Access the survey at http://www.stargazer.org/public/SG-812.

The Virginia Public Access Project has announced that Delegate Ken Plum is on the 2005 Honor Roll for candidates who e-file with the State Board of Elections. For information on election filing information, click on www.vpap.org.

According to the Senior Navigator, high blood pressure is often referred to as the “silent killer” because most people experience no symptoms of the condition and feel perfectly healthy; thus not realizing it is a problem for them. If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, kidney problems and more. Visit the following website to learn specifically what blood pressure is, tips for preventing or lowering high blood pressure, and more: http://www.seniornavigator.org/vaprovider/consumer/snArticle.do?contentld-175. Your blood pressure should be checked at least once each year. It is an easy, quick and painless test that could save your life. To view locations where blood pressure screenings are available in your area, visit www.seniornavigator.org and type in the topic Blood Pressure and your Zip Code.

Help shape Virginia’s sustainable future. Attend Virginia’s Sustainable Future Summit, September 13 to 15, Greater Richmond Convention Center, Richmond, VA. Engage in presentations, tours, and workshops on environmentally and economically sound, energy efficient policies and practices for your work, home, and community. Hear about solutions for the environment, business, and communities. Keynote speakers include cabinet secretaries in the Warner Administration, federal agency officials, and association executives. Visit www.vsf3.org for more information.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation requests that as you spend time on Virginia’s waters, boating, fishing, or enjoying the scenery, take note of any signs of algae blooms or fish kills. Write down the location and details of sections of water that look “off” or show signs of fish kills. Take pictures if you can. Then report what you see by filling out the online survey accessible through www.cbf.org/waterwatch. You can also learn how to identify an algae bloom and fish kill at www.cbf.org/waterwatch.

The Potomac Council, an association of Northern Virginia’s six soil and water conservation districts, will be hosting Potomac Watershed Forum IV, a day-long public event featuring presentations on the most innovative tools and techniques for protecting Potomac River water quality. Attend the Potomac Watershed Forum IV on Friday, August 12, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Manassas campus of George Mason University. Registration is $20 and includes parking, continental breakfast, and lunch. Download a registration form at www.potomacroundtable.org or www.fairfaxcounty.gov/nvswcd/forumiv.pdf. Call Nick Kokales at the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District at 703.324.1460 or email conservationdistrict@fairfaxcounty.gov.