Column: At the Half
The General Assembly has reached “crossover,” the point on the legislative calendar when each house must have completed work on bills introduced into its respective chamber. That point was Tuesday for all bills except for adjustments to the budget that will be considered on Thursday.
Column: ‘Scantsy’
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to characterize the feelings I regularly experience during the final few weeks leading up to my every-three-month CT Scan, and even more so the feelings I experience waiting the following week or so to see my oncologist to discuss the results.
Letter: An Open Letter to Virginia Delegates
Letter to the Editor
Many of you know our story well. We are the parents of Morgan Harrington. Morgan, a student at Virginia Tech, went to a rock concert in Charlottesville in 2009 and never came home. Her remains were found 100 days later.
Editorial: No Justification for Secrecy, Delay on Geer Shooting
Everything about this case erodes public trust and demonstrates police departments should not be allowed to apply “blanket” exemptions to release of information.
After waiting 17 months for any information about the investigation into the shooting death of John Geer, the information released last week is deeply troubling.
Column: Supervisors Priority No. 1- Pay Hike
Last Tuesday I drove to the Fairfax County Government Center (the Taj Mahal to friends) to attend a well-advertised Board of Supervisors hearing on the agreement for Crescent Apartments and Lake Anne redevelopment. I was prepared to testify in support of the plan if needed. Instead, it turned out to be a brief, pro forma hearing.
Column: Clash of Ideas and Ideals
As the General Assembly nears its midpoint for consideration of proposed legislation, the fissures of differences among the many stakeholders who have interests before the law-making body become evident. The clash of interests is much more complex than House v. Senate, Republicans v. Democrats, or rural v. suburban. Differences in ideas and ideals make compromise challenging.
Column: The Past Future is Now Present
Presumably, maybe even obviously, nearly six years into a “terminal” diagnosis, arrangements for a smooth transition of power should have been made already.
Editorial: Outlook
Many bright spots will be overshadowed in the coming budget season.
Long awaited, the opening of the Silver Line promises to bring transformation to Tysons and around the current station in Reston, with another Reston station and Herndon to come.
A Challenge for Garza: Excessive Homework
To the Editor: Your article “How Does She Do It” - Karen Garza’s vision: the irresistible force moving immovable object of Fairfax County Public Schools (The Connection,December 24-10, 2014) showed FCPS Superintendent Dr. Garza as a force for change. In the Fairfax County school system, students demonstrate excellence by collaborating and achieving good grades with the assistance of teachers.
Letter: Sex Offender Serving in the House
To the Editor
To the Editor: Tracking the last eight months or so of Del. Ken Plums' Opinion columns in the Connection Newspapers, the bad topics are the Tea Party (Defender of a balanced budget, right to own a gun, and worshiping our Creator), and certain (but not all) ethics of political figures. According to Plum only some political positions are bad.
Reinvigorating Virginia’s Economy
Virginia is well on its way to economic recovery for many families, but working families across the state are telling me and other legislators that they feel like the recession never ended. Even in Northern Virginia, home to some of the wealthiest localities in the country, too many families struggle to earn enough to pay for basic necessities despite having full-time jobs.
Column: Traffic Caught
If I were writing this column in Massachusetts – where I was born and mostly educated (K-12), and had a thick Boston accent, that’s how court would likely be pronounced; changing a noun into a verb.
Editorial: Baby Steps, Not Enough
Supervisors should take action, not defer to “outside expert,” on absurd and outrageous behavior of police department.
Finally, now that the Fairfax County Police Department has taken stonewalling into the arena of the absurd, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has at least said it is time for change. It is a step, but a step that continues the appearance of obfuscation if not outright obstruction.
Building a New Virginia Economy
Candidate Terry McAuliffe campaigned on a platform of “building a new Virginia economy.” His theme clearly resonated with voters who elected him and with those who were concerned with Virginia’s sluggish recovery from the Great Recession. Following his campaign closely, I was impressed with his grasp of the issues and his commitment to resolving them. With his usual exuberance, the Candidate and now Governor made clear that he broadly defines the elements of a new economy.
Ethics Reform Tough in Virginia—Despite McDonnell
There is a lot of talk in the media that serious ethics reform could happen in this session of the Virginia General Assembly. Don’t count on it! Too many legislators regard special interest gifts as entitlements. While they profess to support limiting “tangible” gifts to a minimal value and more reporting, they fiercely guard their rights to certain gifts which supplement their incomes.