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Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News – September 27, 2006
COMMENTARY
Yet Another Special Legislative Session Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum
Harry Byrd campaigned for governor in 1925 with a slogan to “get Virginia out of the mud.” The roads of the Commonwealth were notoriously bad at the time, and travelers skirted around the state rather than literally get stuck in the mud and ruts of the road system. Byrd was elected and among the many reforms of state government he instituted was the establishment of a state road system that has grown to be the third largest state-operated highway system in the country. Timothy Kaine could have campaigned to get Virginians out of the congestion for the traffic congestion in some parts of the state is the second worst in the nation. While he did not use that slogan, Governor Kaine did make it clear that transportation was his highest priority. Like many problems, additional money is part of the solution. With the declining purchasing power of a gas tax whose rate was set in 1986 and with the diminishing amount of construction money available as maintenance needs are financed first, many people feel that the need for additional revenue is well established. The roadblock in the process – no pun intended – is the Speaker of the House of Delegates and his Republican majority who contend that the problem can somehow be fixed without additional revenue. I am back in Richmond this week for another special session on transportation. Certainly legislators coming to and from Richmond have added to the traffic congestion in the capital region this year as the legislature has made numerous attempts to fix the roads. This special session is seeing some of the “thinking outside the box” that we have been promised throughout the year. One leader of the majority who has spoken on the floor and written a newspaper column arguing that additional revenue was not needed has now proposed a pari-mutuel racing scheme of legalized gambling that supposedly would bring the state several hundred million dollars per year. Seems he wants to return to having horses build our roads. The Transportation Committee chairman wants the Virginia Department of Transportation commissioner to be employed by the legislature. Maybe if the commissioner had 140 bosses rather than one he would be able to get more done. Anyone willing to apply for such a job? Another “outside of the box” proposal would have bonds financed by future budget surpluses. Bond rating houses would likely call such bonds junk, and investors may think legislators proposing them are out of their minds. A legislator who was elected on a promise of getting tolls off Virginia Beach Boulevard is now proposing that funding be raised by – you guessed it – putting tolls on roads. A popular idea has been to fund transportation out of the state surplus. The Appropriations Committee chairman now says the surplus for the state is $20 million after the adoption of the budget, less than the budget surplus of Fairfax County. Governor Harry Byrd met the challenge of getting Virginia out of the mud. Governor Timothy Kaine has the challenge of getting Virginia out of the mire of political rhetoric and on the way to serious proposals to meet our transportation needs.
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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 27 at 10:30 p.m. – Dennis Morrison, Virginia Department of Transportation – “The Six Year Plan for Roads in Fairfax County”
Tuesday, October 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, October 4 at 10:30 p.m. – Patricia Nicoson, President, Dulles Corridor Rail Association – “Keeping Dulles Rail on Track” * * *
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Tickets are now on sale for America’s Anniversary Weekend, the premiere event of America’s 400th Anniversary. The three-day festival will be held on May 11-13, 2007, and marks the 400th anniversary observance of the 1607 founding of Jamestown, Virginia, as the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. Anniversary Weekend tickets are available through Colonial Williamsburg – the official hotels of the commemoration – and may be reserved in advance at www.americas400thanniversary.com/TicketSalesInfo.cfm or by calling 1.866.400.1607.
The State Fair of Virginia will be held in Richmond September 28-October 8, 1006, at the Richmond Raceway Complex. More information, visit www.statefairva.org.
Transition to retirement with fun and purpose! Beginning September 28 and running for eight Thursdays through November 16, Fairfax County will host its award-winning Neighborhood College program, with a focus on how to transition from work to retirement with fun and purpose. Classes will be held at the Herndon Senior Center, 873 Grace Street, Herndon, 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Classes are free, but space is limited; light meals will be provided. Registration deadline is September 21. For more information or to obtain registration forms, call 703.787.4962, TTY 703.803.7914.
Attend the “Regional Leadership Conference on Green Building – Best Practices and Policies for Local Government and the Region” on Friday, September 29, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the University of Maryland Conference Center in Adelphi, MD. Call 202.962.3355 for more information or go to www.mwcog.org for a detailed program description and registration form. Click on the Green earth icon on the left side of the COG homepage to reach the conference registration page.
Tall Oaks at Reston is hosting a 5K Run/1.5 Mile Walk and Community Extravaganza with all proceeds benefiting the American Diabetes Association. Along with the 5K around Reston’s scenic trails, community members are also welcome to enjoy a live New Orleans style jazz band, food, exhibits, and a silent auction. This exciting event will be held on Saturday, September 30, 8:30 a.m. at the Tall Oaks at Reston Community parking lot. Contact Daria Moore at Tall Oaks at dmoore@talloaksatreston.com or call 703.834.9800 for information on sponsorship, participation, or volunteering.
The University of Virginia Breast Care Program and the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation are proud to present “Beyond Breast Cancer: Moving On…Moving Forward” on September 30 at the Doubletree Hotel in Charlottesville. Registration begins at 9:15 with the final plenary session ending at 2:30. This conference is for individuals diagnosed with breast cancer, their families and friends, and healthcare providers. Visit www.vbcf.org for information and registration forms.
The Time to Fly Foundation will hold its 5th Annual Fall Fest Gala, “A Place of Refreshing & Rest!” on Saturday, September 30, 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. at 1330 N. Pickett Street, Alexandria. Attire is semi-formal fall colors. The event is for all desiring to strengthen the family unit and to work against domestic abuse. For more details visit www.timetofly.org/fallfest2006.htm.
Fairfax Connector bus service in north Fairfax County will implement route and schedule changes effective October 1. The routes affected are as follows: Route 504: This route will be discontinued. Route 574 is an alternative to Route 504. Information on other options is available by calling the Fairfax Connector Information Center at 703.339.7200 or visiting the news section at www.fairfaxconnector.com. Route 574: Routing and scheduling within Reston are changed. There will be additional weekday trips and weekend service. At the Reston Town Center Transit Station, Route 574 will be in Bay J instead of K. Route 929: Routing and scheduling within Franklin Farm and Chantilly Highlands are changed so that buses operate the route in the same direction in the mornings and afternoons. This change anticipates the effect that construction of a median on Centreville Road south of McLearen Road will have on the current routing. Route 989: Split into 2 new routes numbered 595 and 597 with new schedules for each. Route 595 will serve the Pentagon and Route 597 will serve Crystal City. At the Reston East Park-and-Ride, 595 will be in Bay E and 597 in Bay D. Route 595 will still use Bay L at the Pentagon. Maps, schedules, and other information on the new routes can be found at www.fairfaxconnector.com or by calling the Information Center at 703.339.7200, TTY 703.339.1608.
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.
Save the Date – October 14, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – for the 5th Annual Reston at Home Tour presented by Reston Historic Trust. 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 in September 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. Reston at Home Tour passes include the tour map and information, and beautiful home illustrations by Pat Macintyre. All proceeds from Reston at Home benefit the Reston Museum.
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.
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.
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.
***************** Authorized and paid for by Kenneth R. Plum.
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