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Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News – August 9, 2006
COMMENTARY
Laboratories of Democracy Delegate Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum
As one of Virginia’s representatives to the annual meeting recently of the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC) in Louisville, Kentucky, I was reminded of the important role that state governments play as laboratories of democracy. I attended the conference at the request of the Speaker of the House of Delegates because Virginia has important information to share with as well as significant lessons to learn from other states. In the real world, division of powers in our federal system of government is not always clear-cut. There is a lot of ambiguity among the states and federal government with differences of opinion as to whether the states or the federal government have responsibility to respond to particular issues. And there is considerable overlap of responsibility. The SLC agenda reflected areas clearly within the purview of the states as well as shared responsibility with the federal government and areas which are national in scope but for which the federal government has refused to take action. From my perspective as Virginia’s representative on the ad hoc Policy Positions Committee having been appointed to that position by the SLC Chair, Kentucky Senate President David L. Williams, the issues that dominated the conference were energy independence, economic development, and health. Although the SLC is made up of 16 southern states, the conference drew on experts from throughout the country. On energy independence, the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture gave a hopeful and exciting presentation on the effort of his state to become “the Saudi Arabia of renewable energy.” Through tax incentives and grants, Minnesota has increased its production of ethanol to consume 20 percent of its corn crop. Minnesota leads the nation in the per capita consumption of renewable energy. For many of the states of the South, energy independence achieved by expanding renewable energy supplies is an economic development as well as a national security issue. Southern states lag the nation on many health-related measures but experience the same escalation of Medicaid costs as all states. Obesity among the population at large and especially among young people is causing many states to increase educational programs on nutrition, expand physical education activities, and improve school lunch programs. A number of presentations provided information on ways that states are cutting costs in Medicaid and making programs more efficient and cost-effective. A major presentation was made on Massachusetts’ health insurance initiative to make health insurance available to every resident by 2009. Governor Mitt Romney was scheduled to make the presentation, but he had to stay home out of concern about the health of the Big Dig project. The states are laboratories of democracy, and conferences like the SLC provide an opportunity to learn from each other. If you would like to know more about any of these topics or other proceedings of the conference, please e-mail me at kenplum@aol.com.
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Delegate Ken Plum’s Weekly “Virginia Report” on Reston Comcast Channel 28
Tonight - Wednesday, August 9 at 10:30 p.m. – Investigator Tom Polhemus, Fairfax County Police Department – “Fighting Internet Fraud”
Tuesday, August 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, August 16 at 10:30 p.m. – Eric M. Oliver, EMO Energy Solutions – “Building Green”
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Visit Margaret’s Garden for Extreme Croquet, book signings, local art, raffles, and a lovely day in one of Northern Virginia’s most beautiful gardens on Sunday, August 13, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Help support the effort to preserve Margaret Thomas’ Garden at 12410 Lawyers Road. Play extreme or regular croquet for a donation to the garden. Special guest Donna Andrews will be signing her new Meg Langslow mystery, No Nest for the Wicket. Buy a raffle ticket and a chance to win a variety of autographed books, gift baskets, and other prizes. Local artisans will be on hand to demonstrate their crafts. More information: 703.338.9115 or email savethegarden@aol.com.
Money magazine (www.money.cnn.com) confirmed what many of us have known for a long time: Reston is one of the best places in the country to live! Reston is ranked 43rd among the 100 best places to live. Only two other communities in Virginia made the list – Chesapeake and Virginia Beach.
Congratulations to Fairfax County for having been named one of the top digital counties in the nation for jurisdictions with populations over 500,000, according to an annual survey by the Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties. Through any of the county’s e-government platforms residents can pay taxes, locate facilities and transportation routes, access general court information and register for parks and recreation classes.
Reston Interfaith and Kids R First need your help in collecting 4,000 new backpacks for children in need in the Reston/Herndon area. Please drop off new backpacks through August 12 at the Reston Interfaith offices at 11150 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 210 as follows: today to August 11 from 9 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; and August 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. To learn more about donating backpacks, contact Meredith Young at 571.323.9566 or Meredith.young@restoninterfaith.org.
Ride in the 24th Annual Reston Century Bicycle Tour on Sunday, August 27, rain or shine, starting and finishing at the Reston Town Center Pavilion. Riders can select from three routes of approximately 34, 65, and 102 miles. Registration is available online at www.restonbikeclub.org.
Enjoy “Second Sunday Programs” at the Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center, 10209 Main Street, Fairfax, Virginia. The program on August 13 will be “Civil War Soldier ID Tags” by Joseph Stahl, Civil War historian and collector. On September 10, attend the “African-American Education in Fairfax County” presentation by Phyllis Walker Ford, Chairman, Laurel Grove School Association, and Page Johnson, Fairfax historian and author. All “Second Sunday Programs” begin at 2:00 p.m. and are followed by informal discussion and refreshments in the Visitor Center.
The Virginia Department of Business Assistance invites you to attend its fall seminar, “Seeding Virginia’s Future: Finance for Emerging Businesses on Wednesday, September 6, 8:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Festival Center, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA. Topics will include early stage capital products to support high growth entrepreneurs and alternative loan products for businesses. The luncheon keynote will address early stage funding for business development, trends in angel investing and the importance of partnerships and mentoring for entrepreneurs and will feature David Rizzo, President & CEO of North Carolina Innovative Development for Economic Advancement. A resource fair for seminar attendees during morning registration and networking breaks will include federal and state programs, bankers, angel network representatives, and other financiers. Register online at www.dba.virginia.gov/form.asp. Click on the “Virginia Economic Development Seminar” link in the Upcoming Events section at www.dba.virginia.gov for event invitation, agenda, registration form and directions.
Attend Thinking Outside of the Bark – the 11th Annual Waynesboro Plant Health Care for Urban Trees on September 8 at the Waynesboro Country Club, 8:15 a.m. to noon. Learn about choosing trees for impact, soil compaction and stress on trees, new approaches for pest management, young tree care, precision tree felling, and lots more. Call Dwayne Jones at 540.942.6735 or Becky Woodson at 434.977.1375 x 3324. Email becky.woodson@dof.virginia.gov.
It’s time for PICKIN’ & GRINNIN’: 2005-2006 Virginia Grown Guide to Pick Your Own and Select Your Own Farm Products. Published by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, each listing gives the directions, hours, product information, contact names and numbers, email, and websites for some of Virginia’s best edibles. To obtain a free copy, visit www.virginiagrown.com or call 804.786.3951.
A Rain Garden Workshop for homeowners will be held at Meadowlark Gardens Regional Park, Vienna, on Saturday, September 16, 8:30 to noon. Attendees will receive useful information and observe the construction of a small (home-sized) rain garden.
Save the Date – Join Fairfax County Master Gardeners Association in celebrating its 30th anniversary on Tuesday, October 3, 6:00 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center. Contact Bridget R. Anderson for more information at banderson@culturalcommerce.com or call 703.759.4525.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society invites you to join dozens of local businesses and hundreds of influential Northern Virginians in the fight against blood cancers. Participate in the Light the Night Walk in the Reston Town Center on Saturday, October 7, and help make a difference. Visit www.lightthenight.org/nca for more information.
***************** Authorized and paid for by Kenneth R. Plum.
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