Wednesday, May 30, 2012
McDonnell inks legislation that will expand tax credits, extend telework bill.
With six strokes of a pen, Gov. Bob McDonnell signed legislation Tuesday its sponsors say will make Virginia more competitive in creating and retaining high-tech jobs. Before a crowded room inside the newly opened Falls Church headquarters for Acentia, McDonnell (R) signed the Data Center Sales Tax Exemption (House Bill 216 and Senate Bill 112) and the Extending Virginia Telework Tax Credit bill (HB 551 and SB 238). Del. Barbara Comstock (R-34th District) introduced the bill, and Del. Mark Keam (D-35th District) signed on as a chief co-patron. The bills expand the sales and use tax exemption for computer equipment or software by data centers by extending it to tenants of the centers and jobs created by them and extends the telework …
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Remembering soldiers just once a year is not enough, speaker says
Tens of thousands of residents across Northern Virginia marked Memorial Day Weekend at the Viva!Vienna! festival in downtown Vienna. On Monday, local officials paused amidst the food, fun, rides and entertainment to remember the true motivation for the holiday: the fallen soldiers who, along with their families, make sacrifices to give all Americans the freedom they enjoy every day, Mayor Jane Seeman told a crowd gathered on the Town Green. Seeman was joined by members of the Vienna Town Council and town staff, Rep. Gerry Connolly (Va-11th), Dels. Mark Keam (D-35th) and Barabara Comstock (R-34th) and County Sup. Cathy Hudgins (Hunter Mill) at the annual Memorial Day Ceremony, which featured performances by the Madison High School Madrigals…
Monday, February 20, 2012
Del. Mark Keam says bills in Virginia House of Delegates have been divisive, stray from more important state issues
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Monday, February 20, 2012
To the Editor: As I spent this weekend at home in the 35th District, I ran into quite a number of constituents who asked me the same questions: "What is going on in Richmond with all this talk about abortion and contraception?" "With the economy still slow, why are you wasting so much time with bills on guns and gays?" "Don't you have anything better to do than debate the definition of 'personhood'?" Well, I wished I had good answers to these and many other questions I received from constituents, but unfortunately, I don't. You see, even though the Virginia General Assembly has voted on hundreds of bills this session, the only headlines you'll read about are these controversial social wedge issues. And no wonder. …
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Vienna-Oakton delegate, other Democrats to stump for President across 2012 battleground state
Del. Mark Keam and U.S. Rep Gerry Connolly were appointed to the Obama re-electon campaign's 'Virginia Truth Team' this week, joining Rep. Jim Moran and a host of other Democrats to aid in spreading Obama's campaign message and responding to attacks from his opponents. After narrowly carrying Virginia in 2008, the Obama campaign expects a tough race this year, especially after Republicans took control of the General Assembly last year. Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell is also often mentioned as a potential running mate for Mitt Romney. "President Obama’s record should speak for itself," Del. Scott Surovell (Fairfax) said in a press release. "[B]etween the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, preventing a complete collapse of the …
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sunday hunting bill makes its way through the state Senate
Five bill proposals from the state senators representing Vienna passed through their own chamber last week and await consideration from the House of Delegates. The General Assembly began its fourth week of the 60-day legislative session on Monday. Sen. Chap Petersen The Senate approved a bill that would allow hunting Sundays on private property (SB 464) with a 29-11 vote. The legislation, which had Sen. Chap Petersen's bill (SB 173) on the issue rolled into it, was introduced by Sen. Ralph Northam (D-6th District). Petersen (D-34th District) had another victory on the Senate floor when his proposal that would require state buildings to follow Virginia Energy Conservation and Environmental Standards (SB 160) passed on a 26-14 vote. Petersen…
Monday, January 23, 2012
After their second week in session, Sen. Chap Petersen and Del. Mark Keam meet with constituents
Funding transportation projects and Gov. Bob McDonnell's proposed budget were at the top of residents' concerns Saturday at a town hall meeting with Sen. Chap Petersen and Del. Mark Keam. Despite a morning with snowy and icy conditions, more than 50 residents came to the American Legion in Vienna, from as close as five minutes down the road to the far-reaching part of Petersen's district in Centreville, to hear about the legislators' plans, ask questions and offer suggestions. Petersen (D-34th District) and Keam (D-35th District) both said they were optimistic about Virginia, its budget and its future. Petersen said the General Fund Revenues for FY 2012 are projected to fall in line with what they were in 2008, shortly before the recession…
Monday, January 16, 2012
Republicans seize power in the Senate; legislators receive committee assignments
Last Wednesday, the Virginia General Assembly convened for its 2012 legislative session. Though much of the first week is routine — swearing in legislators, assigning lawmakers to committees — this year's start had a spark to it, as the Republicans used Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling's role as Senate president to seize control in an evenly split chamber, despite protests from the Democrats. The Republicans, led by majority leader Thomas Norment (R-3rd District), stacked the Senate committees with legislators of their own party, giving them not just all the chairmanships but also majorities in 10 of the 11 committees — despite Senate rules that call for committees to reflect the party proportions. The committee shakeup had a direct effect on one of …
Friday, January 6, 2012
In his second term, 35th District Delegate, whose district now includes Tysons Corner, will focus on transportation
When Del. Mark Keam (D-35th) began his first term in 2009, most people wished him luck and warned he wouldn’t get anything done: the Democrat drew No. 100 among the state’s house representatives, making him the most junior member of a body controlled by Republicans. While he did struggle in certain areas — particularly in the house budget committee, on which he was the only Democrat and "couldn’t get a motion seconded" — Keam, the first Korean-American and first Asian-born immigrant to be sworn into the Virginia General Assembly, succeeded in others. One of his largest victories was the House Joint Resolution 64, co-sponsored with Del. Jim LeMunyon (R-67th District), which made make delegates’ voting records more accessible on the General …
Monday, November 7, 2011
A guide to candidates and races in the Nov. 8 elections
Residents will choose new state and local representation Nov. 8. Here’s your complete guide to who’s running to represent Vienna. For all of our election stories from this year, visit our Elections Page. Where and When to Vote Due to statewide redistricting, some voters may be going to a different polling location than in past years, even if the voter has not moved. Find out where to vote here. WHO’S ON THE BALLOT Vienna's residents will be selecting a state senator, house delegates, and Fairfax County schools and government officials. STATE Culipher, Petersen: State Senate – District 34 Incumbent Chap Petersen, a Democrat, is facing a challenge from Gerarda Culipher. Petersen (website, Facebook, Twitter) has served in the Virginia State …
Jim Daniels
12:21 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
It is corporate welfare...but that doesn't necessarily make it a bad thing. Welfare is neither good nor bad in and of itself. How it is applied, who it is given too, why it is given, and what the results of it are, determine whether it is worth it or not. In this case, from what I know and read, this is an entirely appropriate investment in an improved economy. Unemployment insurance, food stamps… more ›