All results / Stories / Delegate Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum
Leave It to the Feds
Despite Virginia’s historic antipathy toward the federal government, the Commonwealth has nonetheless historically ceded decisions to federal authorities on major issues on which the state had been unwilling to move forward. Another issue is about to fall into this category: same-sex marriage.
Column: At the Half
Last week the General Assembly reached the midpoint of its annual session, or "crossover" as it is called in the legislature. At this time in the calendar, the House of Delegates and the Senate have completed work on the bills that were introduced into the respective houses. Any bills that were passed are now sent to the other body for consideration. In order for a bill to become a law it must pass through both houses in identical form and be signed by the governor. When a bill is passed in different form in the two houses, a conference committee with representatives from both legislative bodies is appointed to work out differences in a compromise that must then be approved by both houses.
Impasse in Richmond
Commentary
One essential step in successful negotiations is to anticipate what the other side needs or wants and attempt to come as close as possible to that position to arrive at a compromise. This process is followed effectively on a daily basis in businesses, families, and legislatures. While the rhetoric has been harsh from the Republican majority in the House of Delegates about not approving an expansion of Medicaid in the state, I understood their partisan and ideological stance but was confident that some middle ground, or as Governor McAuliffe calls it “common ground,” could be reached. My optimism is starting to wane.
Column: New Fee is a Bad Idea
The building of the Dulles Toll Road in the 1980s was viewed as a way to provide traffic congestion relief to western Fairfax County at a time when Routes 7 and 50 or a series of secondary roads were the only ways to get from Reston to Tysons Corner and beyond.
Column: Northern Virginia by the Numbers
Most people know the biggest and best numbers about Northern Virginia. We live in a remarkable region of the country. Some of our jurisdictions have among the highest incomes in the country. The educational attainment of adults is among the highest in the country.
Role Model for Leadership
Commentary
Former Senator Charles J. Colgan passed away earlier this month.
Reston: Mission Accomplished
Commentary
The Dulles Corridor Rail Association (DCRA) Board of Directors voted last week to merge with the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance (NVTA) with the Alliance going forward to represent transportation interests for the region.
Commentary: Virginia Special Session Scheduled
Act now to support House version of budget which includes Medicaid expansion.
Commentary: Lifelong Learning, Endless Possibilities
In 1956 the then appointed Fairfax County School Board appropriated fifty dollars per month to be paid as a supplement to a school administrator to start an adult education program.
Commentary: Selective Accounting
The Commonwealth of Virginia prepares its budget on a biennial schedule. The budget proposed this year by the Governor and adopted by the General Assembly will become effective July 1, 2016, and extend to June 30, 2018.
Commentary: Being Among the Happiest
Technologists have applied their big data and computer-crunching to determine where in the world and where in the United States are the happiest places to live.
Reston Column: My Election Picks
Commentary
Voters in the 36th legislative district which I represent will receive my annual voting guide in their mailboxes this week. I hope you will find it useful. You can also view the guide online at www.kenplum.com.
Commentary: Balancing the Budget
Although the “short sessions” of the General Assembly held on the odd-numbered years are about two weeks less in length than the regular session in the even-numbered years because they do not consider a biennium budget, the fact is that the budget is adjusted at every session of the General Assembly.
Reston Column: Don't Tread on Me
Commentary
For a short time when I was in college I sold Fuller brushes and home cleaning products door to door to make money to pay my bills.
Column: Slow but Steady Course of Human Rights
Commentary
Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment [ERA] was already being hotly debated in the Virginia General Assembly when I became a member of the House of Delegates in 1978.