What do you think the role of Federal Government should be in K-12 Public Education? What are the “Common Core Standards”? What affect could changes in the role of Federal Government have on our local schools? Read the rest of this entry »
Category Archives: VA government
What would you ask candidates in this year’s elections?
That’s what the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County wants to know and, they have set up a way to allow you to put in your 2 cents worth: Read the rest of this entry »
Children Living in Poverty in Virginia
I first heard of the Annie E. Casey Foundation when I was volunteering as a Guardian ad Litem in Florida. Over the years, I’ve continued to use it now and then to answer a question I was pondering. The League of Women Voters of Montgomery County, VA is currently studying the Role of Federal Government in Public Education, and I find myself again drawn to the wealth of data provided by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Read the rest of this entry »
The 10th Amendment and Education
The 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on December 15, 1791. The goal of this Amendment was to make it such that all powers NOT specifically granted to the federal government or prohibited by the Constitution are reserved for the states (or the people) to control.
This Amendment was applied to Education. In 1790, the first U.S. Census was conducted (including only states, not the territories). Now, let’s take a look at what conditions were at the time that the 10th Amendment was written and interpreted to include education: Read the rest of this entry »
Open Government Focus in Latest Issue of The Community Planner
The Community Planner is a quarterly journal on Planning. What makes it unique is that it is written to provide information to citizens as well as professionals. It is produced on a CD rather than in print because along with the 60 or so pages of each journal, there are also additional features added. For instance, in the article I wrote for the just released Volume I Issue 3, I refer to several tools that can help people understand the Freedom of Information Act and several sources of on-line information that citizens can find useful for determining what documents they need to request. Attached to the article, via links, are 3 pdf files which have a list of websites where you can find information on each state’s Freedom of Information Act, Retention Schedules for documents, and websites for each state’s auditor/Auditor of Public Accounts. Read the rest of this entry »
“The Community Planner” a Toolbox for Citizens and Governments
Introducing The Community Planner
Whether you are a planning professional, an elected or appointed official, or a citizen who wants to have more information and be an active participant in your government, The Community Planner has something to offer you. It is provided on a CD-Rom so there is plenty of room for templates, worksheets, and examples. These articles are written in plain text and definitions/explanations are provided. A variety of formats are used including document files, spreadsheets, and presentations so that you can simply adapt the samples for your own use. Links are provided to a wide range of websites where additional information can be obtained including, but not limited to, how different different jurisdiction’s laws affect the process. By using your imagination, I feel sure that you can find many ways to use these tools beyond just Planning. Read the rest of this entry »
“Plain Text” shouldn’t be optional on public documents!
Consider this a public service announcement:
Virginia Coalition for Open Government holds FOIA workshops in Roanoke!
I have been reading documents related to government (particularly those subject to FOIA) for some time now. Without realizing it, I was staring at what might well be the biggest problem with such documents and true transparency. Quite simply it is the way documents are written. They are written in a way that does not serve to educate and empower citizens. Read the rest of this entry »
Understanding the Freedom of Information Act: Take advantage of a great opportunity.
Sunshine Week began on March 13, 2011 and there are a lot of events occurring around the Country. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a key component in keeping Sunshine in government. For citizens, governments and the agencies subject to the FOIA, knowledge is the key. Understanding rights and responsibilities inherent with FOIA is crucial in developing a healthy approach to open government and citizen engagement. FOIA is a ‘living entity’ in that it is subject to change over time as laws are modified. Read the rest of this entry »
Keeping up with the Bills in Legislature is just the beginning.
I’ve recently discussed using the Richmond Sunlight website for bill tracking. This gives you a good idea of the bills proposed and what happens to them. They also have a blog that contains some good information that is accessed from the website link above as well. In particular check out:
This gives you an idea of some of the process in getting bills passed. You can also find some information on how to create an illusion of getting a bill passed when you really don’t want it to pass. (nasty little political tricks)
However, what happens after the bill is passed?
That is where another website comes into play, the Virginia Register of Regulations. No matter how many laws get passed or how much you want to see the law passed, it always come down to initiating and enforcing the law in order for it to be useful. Most often, you see that the bills have to incorporated into the regulations of different departments of government. It is these regulations that explains how the bills will be incorporated into existing regulations and what will be required. Read the rest of this entry »
Voting Rights for Felons: HJ497 and SJ306 in the General Assembly.
HJ497 Constitutional amendment: restoration of civil rights to persons convicted of felonies, etc. has been pronounced “Dead”. The significant change in text can be seen highlighted in yellow at Richmond Sunlight webpage, and states: “However, the General Assembly may provide by general law for the restoration of civil rights to persons who have been convicted of felonies and who have completed service of their sentence including any period or condition of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence.” Read the rest of this entry »
