Friends,
My HB 109 will be heard tomorrow, February 9, 2012 in the Commerce & Labor Committee 1/2 hour after the adjournment of the House. HB 109 requires all providers of wireless service electing to transmit emergency alerts through the federal Personal Localized Alerting Network (PLAN) to offer its Virginia subscribers the capability of opting out of the receipt of Presidential Alerts on their mobile devices. Federal law requires wireless carriers to give subscribers the option to block Child Abduction Emergency/AMBER Alerts or Imminent Threat Alerts, but does not allow Presidential Alerts to be blocked. The President wants to send to all cell phones in the U.S. text messages warning of impending danger. One recent test in December of 2011 in New Jersey sent cell phone users scrambling to learn more of a non-existent threat. Additional tests will follow in 2012. The texts will override all other texts and all major wireless carriers have agreed to participate. Minors could receive unsolicited alerts which could frighten them. My bill will require Virginia cell phone companies to provide an opt out for presidential messages.
Please contact the members of the Commerce & Labor Committee (see bottom) and ask them to vote for HB 109.
Transparency for College & University Foundations
I have 4 bills coming up tomorrow in the General Laws Committee which will prohibit state universities from using Foundation funds to defend against Freedom of Information Act lawsuits or require disclosure of how the Foundation funds are received. HB815, HB816, HB817 and HB818 will be heard either tomorrow or Friday in the General Laws Committee.
I introduced these bills because the University of Virginia first denied me documents I requested under FOIA, saying they did not exist. Later the University admitted in court that the documents did exist but they fought against turning them over. When I asked for the documents after learning they did in fact exist, I was told I would need to pay around $8000 and the University subsequently sued, refusing to turn over the documents. All the papers involved research by global warming scientist, Michael Mann, of now debunked hockey stick graph fame. Since Foundation funding can be used by a university to sue against turning over public documents, I thought the public had a right to know the sources of Foundation money. There are disclosure laws allowing the public to know the sources of lobbyist’s funds, campaign donations, etc. In the interest of improving such transparency, I believe citizens should also have a right to know the sources of university Foundation money, especially if engaged in political and legal battles.
Please contact the General Laws Committee members listed below and ask them to support HB815, HB816, HB817 and HB818 to provide for increased transparency and accountability in government.
Thank you so much for your support!
Delegate Bob Marshall
General Laws-HB 815, 816, 817 & 818
Commerce & Labor-HB 109
Delegate Johnny Joannou 804-698-1079 none
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