Charter school debate
Column by Ken Plum
www.kenplum.com
Among the topics that are likely to be fiercely debated this legislative session are revisions to Virginia’s charter-school law. The Center for Education Reform, advocates for expanding charter schools, recently gave Virginia a failing grade on its charter school law (www.charterschoolresearch.com). An idea of what the Center feels is appropriate charter school legislation can be gleaned from the fact that it gave the District of Columbia along with Minnesota and California an “A” grade. Read more
The Speaker of the House
Column by Ken Plum
www.kenplum.com
On January 12, 1978, the second day of business in the House of Delegates, Speaker John Warren Cooke rapped the session to order and called on the Gentleman from Fairfax, Mr. Plum, for purposes of a motion. I heard my name called, and I was petrified. It was my second day as a member of the state legislature. I could feel my face turning red as the eyes of the 99 other members of the House were fixed on me. As I slowly rose to my feet, the Speaker saved me by saying that Mr. Plum moves that we dispense with the reading of the journal. Read more
Taxing and spending in Virginia
Column by Ken Plum
www.kenplum.com
Political pundits are continuing to debate the meaning of the outcome of the recent Virginia elections. While the elections were state-level only, some voters came to the polls with federal issues in mind – what some called socialized medicine, rising federal deficit, bailouts, continued wars, and the president himself. There may have been little nexus between their issues and the persons for whom they did or did not vote, but it was clear that some people were interested in “sending a message.” Read more
House Dems to Speaker Howell: Get the fox away from the hen house
As the House Appropriations Committee met Monday to discuss additional cuts to the state budget, embattled Del. Phil Hamilton continued to serve on a committee that oversees state spending while under the cloud of a federal investigation. House Democrats renewed their call, now echoed by statewide Republican candidate for attorney general Ken Cuccinelli, for Speaker Bill Howell to remove Hamilton from the committee. Read more
Ken Plum | The home stretch
Crossover has come and gone, which means the House has acted on all of our bills and is now taking up legislation passed by the Senate. Obviously, much of the news from Richmond has been dominated by talks of budget shortfalls and the federal stimulus package, but House Democrats have successfully passed a number of promising measures. Read more
Richmond Reports
Posted by afp on February 5, 2010 · 1 Comment
Featured: Del. Ken Plum, Del. David Englin
Ken Plum: The LCI takes center stage
www.kenplum.com
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