Monday, April 7, 2008
Medical Care for Children Partnership
More than 46 million Americans have no health injurance. Ten million of them are children.
While the debate rages on at the national level and in the presidential campaign about what to do... Fairfax County has a piece of the solution.
MCCP has provided medical and dental care for uninsured children for 22 years. It's unique public-private parnership cares for an average 4000 children every year. Fairfax County provides the money for the staff to run the program, and Kaiser Permanente is primary the medical partner. It costs just $325 a year to provide care for one child. Dozens of other private physcians also provide service.
This past Saturday, the MCCP's Advisory County held its annual Gala and I had the honor of being the emcee.
The highlight of the evening was the Royal family. Pearl Royal was a single mother raising seven children when she moved to Reston in the 1980s. Several of her children had life-threatening asthma. Had they not received care, it would've meant missing school and definitely sports, and would have kept Pearl from work.
But Pearl found MCCP. It gave her children a medical home, and helped them stay healthy to excel in school and sports. She brought several of her children with her to the gala, including Eddie, one of the greatest wide receivers in the history of Virginia Tech Football!
Pearl stood up and gave a powerful from-the-heart talk, pointing to her beautiful grown children, saying, "Take a look, this is what you helped me do!!"
Then Eddie Royal came to the podium, pledged $350 himself to give a child coverage for a year, and asked everyone to join him. One after another, people put their pledge numbers in the air... it looked like lights going off there were so many!
Thanks to Eddie Royal, the Royal Family, and the MCCP.
While the debate rages on at the national level and in the presidential campaign about what to do... Fairfax County has a piece of the solution.
MCCP has provided medical and dental care for uninsured children for 22 years. It's unique public-private parnership cares for an average 4000 children every year. Fairfax County provides the money for the staff to run the program, and Kaiser Permanente is primary the medical partner. It costs just $325 a year to provide care for one child. Dozens of other private physcians also provide service.
This past Saturday, the MCCP's Advisory County held its annual Gala and I had the honor of being the emcee.
The highlight of the evening was the Royal family. Pearl Royal was a single mother raising seven children when she moved to Reston in the 1980s. Several of her children had life-threatening asthma. Had they not received care, it would've meant missing school and definitely sports, and would have kept Pearl from work.
But Pearl found MCCP. It gave her children a medical home, and helped them stay healthy to excel in school and sports. She brought several of her children with her to the gala, including Eddie, one of the greatest wide receivers in the history of Virginia Tech Football!
Pearl stood up and gave a powerful from-the-heart talk, pointing to her beautiful grown children, saying, "Take a look, this is what you helped me do!!"
Then Eddie Royal came to the podium, pledged $350 himself to give a child coverage for a year, and asked everyone to join him. One after another, people put their pledge numbers in the air... it looked like lights going off there were so many!
Thanks to Eddie Royal, the Royal Family, and the MCCP.
PLAY BALL!
Little League gets marching off to a great start! April 5, at 8 a.m., the Mclean Little League kicked off its season with it's annual parade. And the weather could not have been better! It's my son's fourth year playing on a MLL team.
Lots of the Little League parades went on Saturday... how was yours and how does your team look? My daughter plays soccer and her team has its first game Saturday.
As a parent, I know these days watching our kids play do not last. My husband and I try to be involved and spend as much time as possible enjoying this time in our family's lives before its gone.
Hope you try to do the same!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Fairfax County Grading Scale Attacked
For those students who say their teachers are "UNFAIR" because they give "POOR GRADES!"...it seems there's a bunch of parents who agree!
The group FAIRGRADE says the county's grading scale puts Fairfax students at a disadvantage...especially when applying to colleges.
The group compared Fairfax County's scale to the rest of the NATION as well as to adjacent counties such as Loudoun, Arlington, and Montgomery County.
They also interviewed college admission personnel from around the country and found that most high schools use the 10 point scale rather than the scale that is used by Fairfax County.
Fairgrade says Fairfax County students graduate with lower GPA's than many other students in Virginia and across the United States.
Take a look at the comparisons below.
The Fairfax County scale: 10 point scale
A 94-100 4.0 A 90-100
4.0
B+ 90-93 3.5B 84-89 3.0 B 80-89
3.0
C+ 80-83 2.5
C 74-79 2.0 C 70-79
2.0
D+ 70-73 1.5
D 64-69 1.0 D 60-69
1.0
F 0-63 0.0 F 0-60
0.0
Weights:
Fairfax County: 0 points for Honors classes and 0.5 points for AP classes
Other districts: 0.5 or 1.0 point for Honors classes and 1.0 point for AP classes
The group is asking Fairfax county parents to petition their school board members to change to the 10-point scale as well as provide a 0.5 point weight for each Honors classes Provide a 1.0 point weight for each AP / IB class.
The group FAIRGRADE says the county's grading scale puts Fairfax students at a disadvantage...especially when applying to colleges.
The group compared Fairfax County's scale to the rest of the NATION as well as to adjacent counties such as Loudoun, Arlington, and Montgomery County.
They also interviewed college admission personnel from around the country and found that most high schools use the 10 point scale rather than the scale that is used by Fairfax County.
Fairgrade says Fairfax County students graduate with lower GPA's than many other students in Virginia and across the United States.
Take a look at the comparisons below.
The Fairfax County scale: 10 point scale
A 94-100 4.0 A 90-100
4.0
B+ 90-93 3.5B 84-89 3.0 B 80-89
3.0
C+ 80-83 2.5
C 74-79 2.0 C 70-79
2.0
D+ 70-73 1.5
D 64-69 1.0 D 60-69
1.0
F 0-63 0.0 F 0-60
0.0
Weights:
Fairfax County: 0 points for Honors classes and 0.5 points for AP classes
Other districts: 0.5 or 1.0 point for Honors classes and 1.0 point for AP classes
The group is asking Fairfax county parents to petition their school board members to change to the 10-point scale as well as provide a 0.5 point weight for each Honors classes Provide a 1.0 point weight for each AP / IB class.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Bob Horan Retirement Dinner
The Fairfax Bar Association held a moving tribute to Former Commonwealth Attorney Bob F. Horan, Jr. Tuesday, January 29th.Master of Ceremonies Rodney Leffler said Horan gave Fairfax County citizens "40 years of unquestionable, unwavering service."
Horan says his guiding principle has always been a "duty to the truth."
Horan prides himself on helping to teach many young attornies who begin their careers as prosecutors.
Consider his legacy: 110 attornies who are practicing today got their start in Horan's office. Eighteen of them are now judges.
Guest speakers: Hon. Raymond Morrough, Commonweath's Attorney; Hon. Richard T. Horan, Ret. Chief Judge, General District Court; Ian Rodway, Deputy Commonwealth Attorney; James Riddel, retired Homicide Detective,Fairfax County Police; Steven Merril, Esg., Whitestone, Brent, Young, and Merril; Britt Richardson, Jr., Esq., and Tim Horan, Bob's son.
While all speakers did a great job delivering heart-felt, and often humorous memories, the best story of the night was this:
When Horan was prosecuting the young sniper, Lee Boyd Malvo, defense attornies argued that he had been mistreated by the people who raised him. Horan responded, looking straight at the jury... "Have you ever been with the Irish?"
Bob... thanks for your 40 years of dedicated service. You've helped keep this county, our home, safe. God Bless. And thanks for all the interviews. I am honored to be a member of the Horan family. My husband is one of Bob Horan's nephews.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Repeal Abusive Driver Fees
Going, going, gone. Almost. On Wednesday, January 23, a key Senate committee approved a measure to end Virginia's unpopular fees. The day before, the House of Delegates approved its own repeal of the fees.
It was amazing to see nearly every lawmaker blast the fees, even most voted for that massive transportation last year that included them! That's what happens when some 200,000 Virginia residents sign a petition. Politically, being on the other side is as unwise as spitting in the wind.
The fees were designed to bring in 60-million dollars. A 1.5 cent increase in the gasoline tax could make up that m
oney, but the last time a gas tax increased passed Virginia's General Assembly was more than 20 years ago, so that proposal may not fly.
Del. David B. Albo (R-Fairfax), who was an architect of the abusive fees had proposed 'fixing' the problem by adding out-of-state voters (the fees not applying to out-of-staters was the biggest problem with the fees) and getting rid of some of the less serious offenses, but the House tossed his proposal asidelike yesterday's news. That's when he joined the vast majority and voted for repeal.
Albo tells me he is NOT in favor of a gas tax proposal because the Democrats will try for a 'huge increase'.
Lawmakers will continue to debate where to find the money to replace the funds lost.
It was amazing to see nearly every lawmaker blast the fees, even most voted for that massive transportation last year that included them! That's what happens when some 200,000 Virginia residents sign a petition. Politically, being on the other side is as unwise as spitting in the wind.
The fees were designed to bring in 60-million dollars. A 1.5 cent increase in the gasoline tax could make up that m
oney, but the last time a gas tax increased passed Virginia's General Assembly was more than 20 years ago, so that proposal may not fly. Del. David B. Albo (R-Fairfax), who was an architect of the abusive fees had proposed 'fixing' the problem by adding out-of-state voters (the fees not applying to out-of-staters was the biggest problem with the fees) and getting rid of some of the less serious offenses, but the House tossed his proposal asidelike yesterday's news. That's when he joined the vast majority and voted for repeal.
Albo tells me he is NOT in favor of a gas tax proposal because the Democrats will try for a 'huge increase'.
Lawmakers will continue to debate where to find the money to replace the funds lost.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Abusive Driver Fees: On The Way Out?
IT WAS MY BILL FIRST!
Virginia Lawmaker are practically tripping over each other's 'Repeal of the Hated Abusive Driver Fees". It seems everybody's got their own bill to do it. The only lawmaker I've talked to who still praises the program is Delegate Dave Albo, who authored the bill. He thinks the fees should stay but be fixed and apply to out-of-staters as well and also only apply to the worst offenses on the roads. He says his reading of the study on the impact shows the fees are helping make Virginia's roads safer.
Sorry, Dave, the horse is out of the gate. Now, Governor Tim Kaine has proposed a repeal. And here is Delegate Brian Moran's STATEMENT ON ABUSIVE DRIVER FEE REPEAL:
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran made the following statement after legislation to repeal the Abusive Driver Fee’s passed the House Transportation Committee today (HB649). Delegate Moran has been a vocal and consistent opponent of the fees since their introduction and first called for their repeal last summer. He introduced legislation to repeal the fees in the 2008 session (HB1188).
“The abusive driver fees should never have been created and I’ve been proud to consistently oppose them. As a former prosecutor, I know we can’t use our police officers as tax collectors. Research has clearly shown theses fees do not raise the revenue needed for transportation and they fail to improve safety on our roadways.
I’m very pleased at the strong bipartisan support for repealing these fees and look forward to its passage in the full House next week.”
Virginia Lawmaker are practically tripping over each other's 'Repeal of the Hated Abusive Driver Fees". It seems everybody's got their own bill to do it. The only lawmaker I've talked to who still praises the program is Delegate Dave Albo, who authored the bill. He thinks the fees should stay but be fixed and apply to out-of-staters as well and also only apply to the worst offenses on the roads. He says his reading of the study on the impact shows the fees are helping make Virginia's roads safer.
Sorry, Dave, the horse is out of the gate. Now, Governor Tim Kaine has proposed a repeal. And here is Delegate Brian Moran's STATEMENT ON ABUSIVE DRIVER FEE REPEAL:
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran made the following statement after legislation to repeal the Abusive Driver Fee’s passed the House Transportation Committee today (HB649). Delegate Moran has been a vocal and consistent opponent of the fees since their introduction and first called for their repeal last summer. He introduced legislation to repeal the fees in the 2008 session (HB1188).“The abusive driver fees should never have been created and I’ve been proud to consistently oppose them. As a former prosecutor, I know we can’t use our police officers as tax collectors. Research has clearly shown theses fees do not raise the revenue needed for transportation and they fail to improve safety on our roadways.
I’m very pleased at the strong bipartisan support for repealing these fees and look forward to its passage in the full House next week.”
Monday, January 7, 2008
SMOKE FREE VIRGINIA RESTAURANTS
Advocates of smoke-free restaurants in Virginia, now is your chance to be heard.
Governor Tim Kaine proposed a statewide smoking ban in restaurants Monday to protect the health of patrons and workers.
Virginia, isn't it about time? Is it really fair for those of us who don't want to be exposed to smoke, or want our children to be exposed, to have to walk through clouds of smoke next to restaurants, such as those in Tyson's Corner? And how about those waiters and bartenders? They are forced to breathe harmful, cancer-causing smoke in order to keep their jobs. Restaurants like McLean Family Restaurant that have gone smoke-free have seen good results. More people are pleased than not. And everybody is healthier. Maryland has done it, D.C. has done it, come on, Virginia, lets go smoke-free in restaurants.
Lawmakers are going to have to hear from constituents for this to happen. They voted it down last year. Here's what happened: the General Assembly did pass legislation that would have required restaurants that allow smoking to post a "Smoking Permitted" sign on the door, and in return they would no longer have to offer a nonsmoking section. Kaine amended the bill to ban smoking in restaurants statewide. The House of Delegates voted 59-40 to reject the amendment, so Kaine vetoed the bill.
Governor Tim Kaine proposed a statewide smoking ban in restaurants Monday to protect the health of patrons and workers.
Virginia, isn't it about time? Is it really fair for those of us who don't want to be exposed to smoke, or want our children to be exposed, to have to walk through clouds of smoke next to restaurants, such as those in Tyson's Corner? And how about those waiters and bartenders? They are forced to breathe harmful, cancer-causing smoke in order to keep their jobs. Restaurants like McLean Family Restaurant that have gone smoke-free have seen good results. More people are pleased than not. And everybody is healthier. Maryland has done it, D.C. has done it, come on, Virginia, lets go smoke-free in restaurants.
Lawmakers are going to have to hear from constituents for this to happen. They voted it down last year. Here's what happened: the General Assembly did pass legislation that would have required restaurants that allow smoking to post a "Smoking Permitted" sign on the door, and in return they would no longer have to offer a nonsmoking section. Kaine amended the bill to ban smoking in restaurants statewide. The House of Delegates voted 59-40 to reject the amendment, so Kaine vetoed the bill.
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