Delegate Ken Plum’s Virginia E-News – October 4, 2006

Commentary

Institutional Renovation Needed in Capitol

Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum

 

          Virginia’s Jefferson-designed state Capitol is nearing completion of its first ever major renovation. As many of the historic features of the Capitol are being restored and preserved, the building is being outfitted with the latest in telecommunications systems and environmental controls. The General Assembly is scheduled to return to the Capitol in April of next year.

          Events of last week demonstrate that something more than the meeting place of the state legislature needs to be revamped if Virginians are to be well served by their elected representatives. Nothing came of the special legislative session on transportation that adjourned last week. The results were predictable. Responding to a multi-billion dollar transportation problem, the Speaker of the House of Delegates announced early and often that there would be no new revenue to fix the problem. Instead he promised out of the box thinking, use of technology, private partnerships, and other tricks for a problem that has been festering for nearly two decades and will not be solved with smoke and mirrors.

          One of the institutional problems is that the Speaker of the House is not only the presiding officer of the body but also is leader of the majority party. Through changes in the rules the Speaker has tightened his control over the House of Delegates to the point where it is a dysfunctional body. The majority caucus has shown a willingness to be punitive to their own members. I regularly witness members of the majority party chafe under the pressure of having to go along with their party’s position even when contrary to their constituents’ best interests out of fear of reprisals from the caucus leadership.

          Republican delegates from Northern Virginia could not get a self-help Northern Virginia proposal for transportation relief out of the Republican controlled Finance Committee because the Speaker directed that no new revenue bills were to be approved. Even the two Republican Northern Virginia delegates on the committee voted against the bill. Democratic votes do not count as the majority votes in lock-step, and the outcome has been determined before they vote. Bipartisan and regional coalitions are not possible under the iron rule of a presiding officer who is also the majority party leader.

          There is not the time or the political will for the General Assembly to revamp its rules before moving back into its newly renovated home. There is time for voters throughout the Commonwealth in next year’s elections to send members committed to institutional reform that will encourage healthy debate, freedom for legislators to represent their constituents’ interests, and more bipartisan cooperation. Establishing the speakership as an independent presiding officer is a critically important first step.

 

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The General Election is Tuesday, November 7

Are You Registered to Vote?

  • If you are not a registered voter, the last day to register is Tuesday, October 10 by 6:00 p.m. to be able to vote in the November 7 General Election.

Need to Vote Absentee?

  • Will circumstances prevent you from voting at your polling place on Election Day? Are you eligible to vote absentee? Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/eb/absentee.htm for information about eligibility.

  • The deadline to submit an application to vote absentee by mail is Tuesday, October 31.

  • The final day to vote absentee in person is Saturday, November 4.

  • All mailed absentee ballots must be received at the Electoral Board Office by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted.

  • In Person Absentee Voting is available now through November 4 at the Office of Elections, Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 323, Fairfax, VA. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/eb/absentee.htm for hours.

  • In Person Absentee Voting is also available at Fairfax County’s satellite locations beginning October 18 through November 4, Monday through Friday, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., and Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visit the North County Government Center at 12000 Bowman Towne Drive in Reston if you reside in the Hunter Mill District. Visit the Sully District Governmental Center at 4900 Stonecroft Boulevard in Chantilly if you reside in the Sully District.

Go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/eb for information about voter registration and absentee voting. This website also has blank absentee ballot applications for you to download and the new interactive online absentee ballot application form. Call 703.222.0776 if you have questions or problems.


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Delegate Ken Plum’s Weekly “Virginia Report”
on Reston Comcast Channel 28

Tonight - Wednesday, October 4 at 10:30 p.m. – Patricia Nicoson, President, Dulles Corridor Rail Association – “Keeping Dulles Rail on Track”

 

Tuesday, October 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, October 11 at 10:30 p.m. –  Laura Robertson and Leslie Nickel of the Commonwealth Coalition – “Considering the So-Called Marriage Amendment”

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Announcements

 

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.

 

The 55th Virginia Transportation Conference, “Virginia’s Transportation Challenge – Saving Lives, Saving Time, Saving Money,” will be held October 9-11 at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center. Visit www.vatransconf.org or call 804.225.4698 for conference information.

 

The 5th Annual Reston at Home Tour presented by Reston Historic Trust will be held October 14, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Five unique, privately owned homes will be open to the public for a self-conducted tour throughout Reston neighborhoods and clusters. This year’s tour will focus on the arts featuring the homes of art collectors, artists, and musicians. Tour passes are $20 in advance, available at the Reston Museum at Lake Anne Village Center and at the Greater Reston Arts Center at Reston Town Center. On tour day, tickets are $25. 

 

Attend The Energy Virginia Symposium at Virginia Military Institute, October 17-19, in Lexington, Virginia. By July 2007, Virginia will have developed a 10-year Virginia Energy Plan, as tasked by Governor Kaine and the General Assembly. The Energy Virginia Symposium will offer an opportunity for public input into the plan and for national and state experts to convene and discuss the issues and opportunities. Visit www.energyvacon.org for details.

 

The Faith Communities in Action (FCIA) Affordable Housing Task Force will sponsor a community meeting for Planning Committee to End Homelessness on Wednesday, October 18, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Reston Community Center at Lake Anne, 1609-A Washington Plaza, in Reston. Call 703.324.3453 to rsvp or email CILuser@fairfaxcounty.gov.

 

Take the “Fish & Chips Challenge” to benefit Nature House at the second Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament on Thursday, October 19, 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant, Reston Town Center, 11920 Democracy Drive. The event is sponsored by Friends of Reston. For more information and ticket sales, contact Katie Shaw, kshaw@reston.org, 703.435.6510.

 

The ALS Association-DC/MD/VA Chapter is sponsoring an annual Walk to D’Feet ALS in Washington, DC on October 22. ALS is amyotropic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. For more information call 301.978.9855 or visit www.alsinfo.org.

 

Join Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia at the Second Annual Black Tie & Tool Belt (both optional) Gala Awards Reception on Sunday, October 22, 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at The Waterford, 6715 Commerce Street, Springfield. The evening will feature a silent auction with a wonderful array of prizes. All proceeds will support Habitat’s work in Northern Virginia. For sponsorship opportunities and tickets, visit www.habitatnova.org or email info@habitatnova.org.

 

Review and provide comments on projects and programs that are candidates for inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2008-2013 Six-Year Improvement Program for interstate and primary highway needs, as well as rail and public transportation initiative. This fall public meeting will be held on November 1, Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway. There will be an open forum at 7:00 p.m., following by a public discussion session at 7:30 p.m.

 

Attend a professional development course, “Resolving Land Use Disputes,” presented by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy on November 2-3 at the Holiday Inn Tysons Corner in McLean. Go to www.lincolninst.edu for registration and program information. Registration deadline is October 20.

 

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Authorized and paid for by Kenneth R. Plum.

 

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