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Delegate Plum’s Virginia E-News – March 30, 2005
Next Wednesday, April 6, the General Assembly will meet in its annual Reconvened or “Veto” Session. The session that has never lasted more than one day is provided for in the state constitution to allow legislators to review actions of the governor on legislation sent to him for signature. Any vetoed bill can be reconsidered by the legislature and if passed by a 2/3 vote can become law without the governor’s signature. The governor can offer amendments to bills also, and such amendments most often are technical changes. Announcements The 16th Environment Virginia Conference, “Environmental Strategies for One Virginia,” is scheduled for April 10-12 at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington. For more information, visit www.environmentva.org. George Mason University has a number of interesting programs and lectures scheduled during Earth Week, April 12-20. For more information, contact scrate1@gmu.edu. The 2005 Governor’s Conference on Greenways, Blueways and Trails will be held May 1-4 at the Omni Hotel in Downtown Richmond. This year’s topic is “Building Active Communities.” For more information, please call 757.229.0507 or email info@bikewalkvirginia.org. Calendar Wednesday, March 30, 10:30 p.m. – Delegate Ken Plum’s Virginia Report on Reston Comcast Channel 28 – “News About Dulles Rail” with Patty Nicoson. Saturday, April 2, 9:00 a.m. to noon – Potomac Watershed Cleanup in Reston. Contact Diane Saccone at 703.435.6560 or Diana@reston.org. Saturday, April 2, 11:00 a.m. – Kick-Off Canvass of Virginia United to Protect Social Security, Fairfax City Hall, 10455 Armstrong Street, Fairfax, VA. RSVP to Mike Mattoon at Mattoon@americansforsocialsecurity.com or 202.486.7638. Tuesday, April 5, 7:30 p.m. and repeated on Wednesday, April 6, 10:30 p.m. – Delegate Ken Plum’s Virginia Report on Reston Comcast Channel 28 – “2005 General Assembly Actions” with Senator Janet Howell. Tuesday, April 5, 4:00-6:00 p.m. – Capital Reception Honoring Delegate Kenneth R. Plum at The Berkeley Hotel, 12th & Cary Streets, Richmond. Information: 703.391.2978. Wednesday, April 6, Noon – Reconvened session of the Virginia General Assembly, Richmond. Saturday, April 9, 6:00 p.m. – Hunter Mill District Democratic Committee’s Annual Lasagna Dinner at Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods. Enjoy great food, music, and live/silent auction. Call Ellen Graves at 703.264.2091 for more information. Sunday, April 10 – National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s 17th Annual MS Walk at Reston Town Center. Arrive and check-in between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. followed by the walk. Saturday and Sunday, May 21-22 – American Cancer Society Relay for Life at South Lakes High School. If you would like to join a team, call Delegate Ken Plum at 703.758.9733. No physical activity required in the Relay – just a willingness to help raise money for an important cause. Commentary Implications of E-Government As the author of the legislation establishing the Virginia General Assembly’s Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) and as its first chairman, I have always been interested in the ways that technology can enhance democracy. Bringing information to people and enabling citizens to interact with government more quickly and efficiently should further democracy. E-government under Governor Mark R. Warner has made incredible progress. Virginia government has some of the best websites among the states. The Internet-based services of the Department of Motor Vehicles have won national recognition. E-procurement by Virginia government now exceeds two billion dollars. Legislative functions are Internet-based and bill language and legislator voting records are easily accessible to citizens over the Internet (http://legis.state.va.us). About ninety percent of communications to my office comes by e-mail. Voters let me know in a timely way their position on pending legislation. The turn-around time on getting back to constituents is reduced without the need to prepare a formal letter and mailing it. The level of discourse by e-mail takes some getting used to. I get many complimentary and positive e-mails. At the same time, however, I got some blistering e-mails unlike anything I have ever gotten in a phone call or a letter. I have been accused of being responsible for most of society’s ills and my political life has been threatened many times. Most people think twice before saying some nasty comments to others, and many people often do not mail letters that they have written. There is something about getting on the keyboard, pouring out your emotions, and hitting the send button before thinking twice. Fortunately I have been around for a long time and do not take the impolite e-mails personally. Doing business over the Internet is different. In an attempt to permit persons to take my voter survey anonymously over the Internet, I did not require respondents to give their addresses. Pro-gun groups swamped the survey site to respond to my question as to whether or not guns should be allowed in restaurants. Advocates of being able to ride a motorcycle without a helmet did the same thing to respond to my question about motorcycle helmets. So enthusiastic were some of these people that they sent e-mails amplifying their survey answers and divulging that they did not live in the district. Electronic government methods are not always popular. Although major business transactions are conducted by video-conferencing every day, the recent video-conference public hearing held by the Commonwealth Transportation Board on the toll adjustments did not go over well with constituents who wanted “to look them in the eye.” My latest venture into e-government is my weekly e-newsletter; subscribe by sending your request to kenplum@aol.com. **************************** Authorized and paid for by Kenneth R. Plum. Unsubscribe to this newsletter by emailing kenplum@aol.com and indicating “unsubscribe” in the subject line. |