Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News – September 13, 2006

COMMENTARY

Be Aware of the Fine Print

Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum

          Voters in Virginia will have an opportunity on November 7 to vote on three proposed amendments to the State Constitution. Two amendments are without controversy and should be approved. The first amendment listed on the voting machine, however, requires your close attention and deserves a vote of no. It is the so-called “marriage amendment.” Be aware of the fine print. Not only will it not protect your marriage, but it may well interfere with significant legal protections you may need in the future.

          The amendment starts off by defining marriage as being between a man and a woman. That’s okay; it’s already the law in Virginia and certainly the view of most Virginians. The mischief and major harm comes in the second paragraph:

          “This Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage. Nor shall this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions create or recognize another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage.”

          Just what does all that verbiage mean? A study by the non-partisan League of Women Voters found that “Virginia’s amendment barring all legal recognition for unmarried relationships is one of the most broadly written and most restrictive of the relationship recognition amendments in effect or now under consideration in the states.” (www.lwv-fairfax.org) As the League and many others who have studied the issue have found, the possible consequences of the amendment could be that unmarried persons, friends or partners, heterosexual or homosexual, could lose protection of restraining orders available under domestic violence laws. Ohio with a similar amendment has court cases in which attorneys are using this interpretation in defense of abuse cases. It could prevent unmarried persons of the same sex from receiving an inheritance even if there is a will and could deny living trusts, joint accounts with right of survivorship and living wills even if the persons involved are heterosexual.

          Certainly a state like Virginia with the first ever statute of religions freedom granting total freedom of conscience and with a Declaration of Rights that preceded and served as a model for the U.S. Bill of Rights would be taking a giant step backwards with the passage of an amendment that restricts freedoms of all people even though it may be aimed at homosexuals. The Virginia Declaration of Rights protects people against tyranny and abuse of government. This amendment that would be added to the Declaration of Rights would put the government into the middle of people’s most intimate and personal transactions. In a recent column in The Washington Post, conservative Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson presented excellent constitutional arguments as to why the amendment should not be approved (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/04/AR2006090400700.html).

          For a discussion of the proposed constitutional amendment and its implications, attend a forum sponsored by the Reston Ministerium at the United Christian Parish, 11508 North Shore Drive, next to Lake Anne Elementary School, on Sunday, September 17, 7:00 p.m. I will be on a panel along with Senator Janet Howell and others. If you would like additional information, please contact me at kenplum@aol.com. Please join me at the forum on September 17 and in voting no on November 7.

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Have You Registered to Vote?

Last day to register is Tuesday, October 10

to be able to vote in the November 7 General Election.

Go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/eb for information about voter registration.

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Delegate Ken Plum’s Weekly “Virginia Report”

 on Reston Comcast Channel 28

Tonight - Wednesday, September 13 at 10:30 p.m. – State Senator Janet Howell - “The General Assembly’s Upcoming Special Session on Transportation”

Tuesday, September 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, September 20 at 10:30 p.m. – Bob Chase, Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance – “Building Public Support for Public Transportation”

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Congratulations to Senator Janet Howell for being named the National Child Health Advocate of the Year by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Senator Howell’s recognition comes from her advocacy for children, support of immunization programs, and work to prevent child abuse.

Attend “Celebration on the Hill 2006” – an American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network event celebrating cancer survivorship and empowering survivors and others to advocate for laws that will help fight the disease will take place on Wednesday, September 20 in front of the U.S. Capitol. Participants will be walking on a track and participating in a luminaria ceremony in the evening. Each state will have its own tent for volunteers and Members of Congress to visit. A Wall of Hope Memorial will be erected on the National Mall and will be there from the evening of September 19 through the 20^th. This memorial will display the 5,000 Wall of Hope banners that were signed by Relay for Life participants from across the country this year. Everyone is welcome to participate. Register online by visiting www.celebrationonthehill.org. If you cannot attend the event, participate by contacting the offices of your Congressman and U.S. Senators on September 20 and letting them know that you support the requests being made by the American Cancer Society’s Celebration Ambassadors that day.

A public forum on the so-called “marriage amendment” that will be on the Virginia ballot in November will be held this Sunday, September 17, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the United Christian Parish, 11508 North Shore Road, Reston, The forum is sponsored by the Reston Ministerium, a coalition of religious organizations. Child care will be provided. “The purpose of the meeting is to educate people,” said Delegate Ken Plum, who will be one of the panelists. “We need to explain why this amendment is on the ballot and what it will do.” Others on the panel will be State Senator Janet Howell, Laura Robertson of Equality Virginia, Claire Guthrie Gastanaga, former Virginia Assistant Attorney General, and a member of the business community. Rev. James Papile of St. Ann’s Episcopal Church will serve as moderator.

Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia is Building on Faith! Attend a benefit concert - “Make a Joyful Noise!” – on Sunday, September 17, 7:00 p.m. at Vienna Baptist Church, 541 Marshall Road, SW, Vienna, VA. Join Habitat for this truly ecumenical concert featuring special guest artists Work in Progress (Christian rock), the Olam Tikvah Chorale (Jewish liturgical and choral), and Native Deen (Muslim hip hop). Admission is free, and no reservations are needed.

Join in the “Help the Homeless Mini-Walk” at Laurel Learning Center (LLC) on Monday, September 25 at 4:00 p.m. All proceeds will benefit Reston Interfaith. Congregate at the LLC, 11484 Washington Plaza West, #200, to walk on Reston pathways with the children. Registration forms will be available at the site.

The Governor has appointed a Start Strong Council to oversee the development of expanded access to quality preschool four-year-olds. Delegate Ken Plum was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Start Strong Council. There will be a special session in our region to inform the public of the Council’s activities and to get ideas and comments from citizens that will help the Council develop its recommendations. The Council’s special session here will be on Friday, September 29, 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., at the Fairfax County Office for Children, Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Conference Rooms 2 & 3. RSVP your attendance to Gail.Bjorklund@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703.324.3076.

Sample Virginia wines at the Virginia Wine Festival on September 30-October 1. The Virginia Wine Festival is one of the oldest of its kind on the East Coast. The 31^st annual event, which takes place in Leesburg this year, showcases hundreds of Virginia wines, gourmet pairing cuisine, seminars and cooking demonstrations, stage entertainment, tourism exhibits, and fine arts and crafts. For more information, visit www.virginiawinefestival.org.

Fairfax County is participating in the 2006 “Change a Light” campaign. Did you know that if the five most used lights in every home in America were changed to an energy-efficient light bulb, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the country would see a $6 billion energy savings – the equivalent to the annual output of more than 21 power plants! With that in mind, Fairfax County is participating in the 2006 “Change a Light” Campaign sponsored by the National Association of Counties and Office Depot. Individual participation is very easy – take 30 seconds to sign up for this pledge online and agree to change the most frequently used light in your home to an energy-efficient one. Visit www.naco.org and click on “Change a Light Pledge.” This small step to help our energy use and our environment will also save you money. An energy-efficient light bulb uses two-thirds less energy, generates 70 percent less heat and lasts up to 10 times longer. Replacing a 100-watt incandescent light bulb with a 32-watt compact fluorescent (energy-efficient) lamp will give you the same brightness but will save you at least $30 in energy costs over the life of just that one bulb. Help Fairfax County become a top pledge collector and earn national recognition through the first-ever County “Change a Light” Award! After pledging to change a light, you will be prompted to go to Office Depot’s Web site and will receive a $1.50 discount on your energy-efficient light bulb purchase. The deadline for pledges is September 30.

Share your commute with a friend or neighbor to save fuel dollars, protect the environment, and help to relieve traffic congestion. Even receive gifts for doing so! Go to the free ride-sharing service at www.NuRide.com for details.

BikeWalk Virginia has updated its website, www.bikewalkvirginia.org. The new design will improve the ease and utility of finding biking, pedestrian, and trail-related information for Virginia.

A background study and a schedule of discussions of the so-called “marriage amendment” are available from the non-partisan League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area. Visit www.lwv-fairfax.org.

Captain John Smith’s Trail Maps are now available. The Virginia Department of Conservation and the Virginia Tourism Corporation have announced the availability of travel maps for Captain John Smith’s Trail, a boat and auto tour along the James River. Taking Captain John Smith’s Trail is a great way for boaters and motorists to discover the beauty of Virginia that inspired John Smith. Along the way you will see verdant marshes and towering forest, and you’ll learn about the native Algonquians who first canoed the James River. Visit www.virginia.org/johnsmithtrail for the map and other great information.

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Authorized and paid for by Kenneth R. Plum.

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