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Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News – December 27, 2006 COMMENTARY
Your Voice Will Be Heard Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum
The technician performing my annual car inspection was kind enough to shave off my windshield the Fairfax County sticker as well as the safety inspection sticker that would have expired at the end of the month. As you probably know by now, the county sticker is no longer required. The tax revenue it raised is rolled into the personal property tax. The separate sticker tax never made much sense anyway, and the reasons for its existence are lost in history. We are down to one sticker required on the windshield. More than a decade ago Virginia required three stickers on the windshield: safety inspection, county tax sticker, and a vehicle emissions sticker. The last sticker came about because the federal Clean Air act required regions that did not attain minimum clean air standards to test vehicles for emissions and to require repairs to be made on vehicles that could not pass the test. Successful passage of the test was required before the annual vehicle registration could be completed and before a license plate would be issued. Passage of the test also resulted in a sticker being placed on the windshield. At one of my annual pre-session public hearings, a constituent whose name I cannot recall testified and raised a very logical point – if a new license plate would not be issued until the vehicle emissions test was passed, why was it necessary to put another sticker on the windshield? Excellent question for which there was no satisfactory answer. I was able to get the requirement for the windshield sticker dropped thanks to the suggestion of a thoughtful constituent. There are numerous other examples of constituent concerns or suggestions resulting in legislation. Soon after my first election in 1978 a friend and constituent made me aware of the importance of infant screening for metabolic disorders. I have continued to work on the issue throughout my service in office, and I am pleased that Virginia has one of the most extensive infant screening programs in the country. Another constituent made me aware in the early 1980s of the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease on victims and families. The small research award fund I got established has paid off about seven to one on new research dollars coming into the Commonwealth. Suggestions are welcome anytime, but I have scheduled a public hearing on Thursday, January 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, to receive testimony on issues before the General Assembly and to receive suggestions for needed legislation. I will be joined by Senator Janet Howell. No pre-registration is required. Written testimony is not required but is appreciated. My pre-session legislative survey is available on my website, www.kenplum.com. If you need a printed copy, please call my office in the mornings at 703.758.9733. Please know that I listen carefully to constituent interests and concerns. I act on them whenever I can. Your communication is very important to me. Jane and I wish you and your family the very happiest holiday season and the best New Year ever!
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Delegate Ken Plum’s Weekly “Virginia Report” on Reston Comcast Channel 28
Tonight - Wednesday, December 27 at 10:30 p.m. – Ms. Nicole Mogul of Reston, member of the board of directors for America Walks – “Walking for a Better America”
Tuesday, January 2, at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, January 3, at 10:30 p.m. – Mr. Mike Rolband and Ms. Jennifer Brophy-Price of Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. – “Ensuring an Environmentally and Economically Healthy Virginia”
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Members of the Virginia General Assembly who represent House and Senate districts in Fairfax County will hold their annual Public Hearing on Saturday, January 6, starting at 9:00 a.m. in the Board Room of the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Speakers can sign up in advance by calling the Clerk to the Board at 703.324.3151. As your member of the House of Delegates representing the greater Reston area, Delegate Ken Plum will be at the Public Hearing to receive testimony from you and others about issues that are of concern or interest to the citizens of Fairfax County. (Also plan to attend the Public Hearing hosted by Delegate Plum and Senator Janet Howell on Thursday, January 4, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods. All are welcome; pre-registration is not required.)
ASTRACOR, the Asociacion de Trabajadores de Construccion Residencial (Residential Construction Workers’ Association) is forming training and certification classes now for January, February, and March. Training and Certification programs will be offered FREE OF CHARGE to residential construction workers interested in improving their skills or earning a basic certification. As part of this project limited income seniors, families, churches, and social service organizations in need of free repairs of homes and facilities are invited to contact ASTRACOR to be considered for hosting an ASTRACOR class. Call 703.212.8294 for more information.
Police Officers from the Reston District Station will conduct an educational campaign aimed at preventing bicycle crashes. During “Operation Pedal Safe,” officers will identify bicyclists who use the roadways primarily in the hours of darkness to commute between work and home. Reflective safety vests will be provided to all riders. In addition, information outlining the rules of the road for bicyclists will be distributed in English and Spanish. The safety campaign will be concentrated in the area of Reston Town Center, Parcher Avenue, and the W&OD Trail and will run until Sunday, December 31.
Cameras to catch toll violators are in place on the Dulles Toll Road. The toll violation system is in testing mode through the end of 2006, and toll violation notices will be sent out beginning in early 2007. At that time, toll booth gates will not be used in electronic toll lanes except where necessary for safety reasons. Notices will include a photo of the license plate taken at the time of the violation, and violators will be assessed the toll plus a $25 administrative fee. There are appeals procedures to follow for cases of mistaken identity, sold or stolen cars, and leased or rental vehicles.
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 5th 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.
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