Reston Opinion

Column: A Raw Deal for Northern Virginia

Northern Virginia is getting a raw deal from Governor McDonnell. While we need transportation investment to support this economic engine of the state, at least $1.5 billion in transportation funds are being diverted to wasteful and unnecessary projects in rural areas. Meanwhile, the state refuses to adequately fund Dulles Rail, leaving Northern Virginia taxpayers and toll payers to foot the lion's share of the bill.

Column: State Shirks Transportation Responsibility

Maybe we should rename our County The Bank of Last Resort.

Column: A Budget Divide

Work on a budget for the FY 2013-2014 biennium occupied most of the General Assembly’s time this past week. Two budgets – one to complete FY 2012 and another for the FY 2013-2014 biennium – were proposed by the Governor and were introduced on his behalf in both houses of the legislature.

Column: “Battling Cancer”

I suppose, as a cancer patient, there’s a presumption/understanding that not giving into cancer and its potential ravages is an ongoing battle – to the death, if you will. And I imagine, on many levels, some truer than others, it is. War is indeed waged – so to speak, in hopes of defeating this horrible disease (enemy).

Column: Marking Time

As much as I don’t want to be ever-mindful of today’s date – relative to when I first learned of my diagnosis, that Thursday three years ago this very week, when my Internal Medicine doctor called me with the results of the biopsy (confirming the malignancy); and of course all that had preceded it and all that has happened since.

Column: Crossover

Last week was "crossover" for the General Assembly- the time when each house of the legislature must complete consideration of bills introduced into its chamber.

Column: High Density at Lake Anne—A Mixed Bag

Two major development projects in the Lake Anne area moved toward realization last week.

Letter: ‘Mischaracterizing’ SB484

Letter to the Editor

Because it matters that people know the truth, I will point out that Jon Lovaas mischaracterized SB484, passed in the Virginia Senate and scheduled to be voted on in the Virginia House of Delegates this week ["Virginia Assembly-From Bad to Worse," Reston Connection, Feb. 8-14].

Column: The Other Bills

By the time it adjourns in early March the General Assembly will have considered more than 2,500 bills and resolutions. About half will have passed.

Column: Devolution - A Dirty Word?

It must be if a mere mention of it would send the majority of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors headed to the General Assembly session with their hair afire - at taxpayer's expense. To devolve: the act of transferring responsibilities from one entity to another.

Editorial: Saving the Bay - A Good Investment

Cleaning up the water that runs into the Chesapeake Bay will help create jobs and economic activity in Virginia.

A plan to raise $300 million in bonds to upgrade wastewater treatment plants around the commonwealth stalled in a House of Delegates committee last week, a setback in meeting EPA requirements to clean up the water that leads to the Bay.

Column: "Diseased"

But not sickness. Not health, either, as last week’s column ended. At least that’s the way I characterize my having stage IV lung cancer. And I don’t know if I’m splitting hairs here, since I’ve never worked in a salon, although I do get my hair cut regularly; but I have been accused of speaking double-talk.

Reston Connection