July 18, 2007

COMMENTARY

        No offense to the camel but its unusual looks and characteristics are sometimes referred to as the results of committee action. If you want the legislative version of the camel, look at the recently passed transportation funding bill. With more than a hundred pages the bill came about after two years of debate, negotiation, and compromise. The results are hardly pretty.

        Citizens are just now becoming aware of what the phrase "traffic abuser fees" meant in the summary of the bill. On the surface, the fees are a potentially positive idea to make persons who abuse their driving privilege pay extra for causing congestion and unsafe conditions. In practice, extraordinarily high fees for some people who might not be all that bad drivers can result. After all, New Jersey and Texas charge such fees, the majority argued, but I do not think they let out of state drivers off the hook as we do in Virginia.

        Such legislation came about when lawmakers recognized after a period of denial that traffic congestion was an issue that had to be addressed. At the same time many legislators had taken pledges not to raise taxes. The result is a hodgepodge of fees that for the most part are delegated to regional transportation authorities to impose. There is likely to be another public outcry when the local authority acts to impose an additional ten dollars per year fee on annual vehicle inspections, a five percent sales tax on automotive repairs, and a one percent registration fee on the purchase of vehicles, among other additional fees.

        A recent Washington Post editorial may have captured the situation most accurately: "Rather than assume the basic responsibility of government to invest in the state's future, the anti-tax ideologues who dominate the General Assembly's Republican leadership shifted the burden to Virginia's most traffic-tied region. If Northern Virginians want better roads and rail service, said the lawmakers, who are up for reelection this year, they can pay for it themselves. Now the GOP grandees are dishonestly claiming credit for tackling the transportation crisis without taking the blame for imposing higher taxes."

        There was intense lobbying from this region to support the transportation compromise with all its assorted provisions including the traffic abuser fees. Virtually all legislators from the region voted for it as a result. You can be sure that the General Assembly will revisit the issue next session. In the meantime, it is hard to dress up this law. It looks (and smells!) too much like a camel.

Delegate Ken Plum's Weekly "Virginia Report"
on Reston Comcast Channel 28

Tonight – Wednesday, July 18 at 10:30 p.m. – Ron Brown, President, FACES of Virginia Families - "Families Matter"

Tuesday, July 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, July 25 at 10:30 p.m. – Jim Kelley, Regional Director, Ignatian Volunteer Corps – "Blending Service with Spiritual Growth"

Announcements

For the specific amount of civil remedial fees related to traffic offenses, "the abuser fees," go to www.courts.state.va.us/publications/hb_3202.pdf.

CNBC, the leading financial news cable channel that reaches influential business and financial leaders around the world, has designated Virginia as its "Top State for Business." Last week Virginia was awarded a similar "Best State for Business" designation for a second consecutive year by Forbes.com, the Internet site of the Forbes family of business publications.

Congratulations to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly and others for the signing of the U.S. Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration to launch a national initiative to recruit the nation's 3066 counties to join together in addressing the shared threat of global warming and greenhouse gas emissions in a meaningful and strategic fashion.

Make your next gathering all it could be with a medical expert from the HCA Virginia Medical Speaker's Bureau. Nearly 80 different topics in all to choose from. To learn more or request a complete listing of speakers and topics, contact Tracey White, HCA Capital Division, via e-mail at tracey.white@hcahealthcare.com, Megan Descutner at megan.descutner@hcahealthcare.com, or call 703.650.2900.

The Women's Interest Network at ExxonMobil's office building in Fairfax is having a Halloween Costume Exchange/Donation this fall. Employees are collecting adult and children's costumes to be donated to area nonprofits. Agencies that are interested in receiving donated Halloween costumes should contact Travis Temple at 703.846.2664.

In an effort to help Virginians save energy and money and protect the environment, the Commonwealth of Virginia has decreed Friday, October 5 through Monday, October 8, 2007 as "ENERGY STAR Sales Tax Holiday." Citizens who need new household appliances and light bulbs are encouraged to purchase them during the sales tax holiday to save both state and local sales tax (five percent) on ENERGY STAR-qualified products that cost $2,500 or less. Products with the ENERGY Star label meet strict energy efficiency criteria set by the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and include: ceiling fans, compact Fluorescent Light bulbs, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, programmable thermostats, refrigerators, and room air conditioners. ENERGY STAR-qualified products use 30 percent less energy than conventional models without sacrificing features, style or comfort. Energy-efficient Compact Fluorescent Lights save as much as 75 percent. For more information visit the Virginia Division of Energy at www.dmme.virginia.gov.

Calendar of Events

A program on global warming will feature Jenet Dechary presenting "The Climate Crisis: A Primer for Action" on Thursday, July 19 at 7:00 p.m. at the Reston Lake Anne Community Center Gallery Room in Lake Anne Village Center. The event is free. Jenet is one of a thousand climate crisis presenters trained personally by Al Gore to educate citizens on global warming. This event is presented in conjunction with a brief mothly meeting of the Hunter Mill District Democratic Committee. To rsvp or for information contact haleyr@sprintmail.com or call Bob Haley at 703.716.2339.

Fairfax County will host a Business Preparedness Summit on Friday, July 20, for small and large business owners and operators in Fairfax County. The summit will be held at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway. On-site check-in begins at 8:00 a.m. with the opening session at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 12:30 p.m. A series of workshops will highlight the Summit. Space is limited, and those interested in attending are encouraged to register online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency.bizprep.htm. For more information call the Fairfax County OFfice of Public Affairs at 703.324.3187, TTY 711.

The Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic in Herndon is providing free physical examinations for children on Saturday, July 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Those eligible are children between the ages of three and 19 who live in Herndon, Reston, Chantilly, or Centreville, and do not have health insurance. A vision screening will be performed with the exam, and children will receive school supply packets and goodie bags for the upcoming scholastic year. Call 703.481.8160 for an appointment or visit www.jsfreeclinic.org for more information about the clinic.

The 4th Annual Asian Festival will be held on Saturday, July 21, at Lake Newport Square, 11452 Baron Cameron Avenue, Reston, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Asian Festival is a one-day event designed to promote a greater understanding of the Asian culture from Thailand, China, India, Philippines, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Each participating country will showcase its unique music, cultural performances, food, pageants, fashion, and other products and entertainment. Visit www.asianfestivaldc.com for information about off-site parking at Reston Association, free shuttle service, and the schedule of events.

Equality Virginia's Annual Meeting and Activists' Conference will be held on Saturday, July 21, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Virginia Commonwealth University at the Student Commons. A fee of $25 covers lunch, materials, and workshops. For more information, contact info@equalityvirginia.org.

The Herndon Friends Meeting (Quaker) is sponsoring its 12th annual Used Bike Collection on Sunday, July 22, between 12:00 noon and 3:00 p.m. at the Friends Meetinghouse at the corner of Spring and Locusts Streets in Herndon. The collection will be held rain or shine. The Herndon Friends collection is the major summer bike collection in Northern Virginia. Since 1996 Herndon Friends have processed over 1,600 bikes on behalf of Pedals for Progress and its successor, Bikes for the World.  Pedals for Progress and Herndon Friends ask for a $10 financial contribution along with the bikes to defray shipping costs. Your contribution is tax deductible; receipts will be available for all contributors. Contact Paul Murphy at 703.359.8980 (w) or 703.517.2784 (mobile) for more information.

On Wednesday, July 25, the Tysons Transportation Association, Inc. (TYTRAN) and the Dulles Corridor Rail Association will host a Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project Update Seminar at Dulles Metrorail Project Headquarters, 1595 Spring Hill Road, Tysons Corner. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with presentations 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. Presentations will be by Sam Carnaggio, Project Director of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project and George Barker, Vice Chairman of the Tysons Corner Land Use Task Force. RSVP to info@tytran.org or 703.799.5394.

Accelerating Social Entrepreneurship in Virginia will host a luncheon and panel discussion with leading scholars and practitioners including Governor Mark Warner on Wednesday, July 25, noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Fairview Park Marriott, 3111 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church. To learn more, visit www.phoenixproject.org.

Attend RCA's "resTOWN" Workshop at the Reston Regional Library on Saturday, July 28, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information go to http://go-resTOWN.org; call 703.786.3672, or email RCABoard @comcast.net.

Bring the kids out to see all the vehicles that Reston Association uses, including a dump truck, trash truck, back hoe, bobcat, mowing tractor and more on Friday, August 17, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. to noon at the Reston Association's Central Services Facility, 12250 Sunset Hills Road (next to the YMCA). No reservations are required, and this opportunity is free. Call 703.435.6530 for more information.

Intelligent Transportation Society (ITS) of Virginia and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, along with ITS America, will be having a Vehicle Infrastructure Integration Technology Showcase and a VTTI/Smart Roads Open House from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 23, 2007. If you would like to attend, RSVP by August 3 to ITS Virginia by calling 434.977.3716 or email amy.shaw@easterassociates.com.

This year's Commonwealth of Virginia Energy & Sustainability (COVES) Conference will be held on October 16-18 at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA. Visit www.covesva.org for registration and conference details.

Attend the Sully Quilt Show and Sale, "Stitches of Friendship - Quailts from the Quaker Community," on Sunday, September 9, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Show and Sale will be held at the Sully Historic Site, 3601 Sully Road, Chantilly. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/sully or call 703.437.1794 for more information.

Authorized and Paid for by Kenneth R. Plum

Delegate Kenneth R. Plum | 2073 Cobblestone Lane | Reston | VA | 20191