
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 7, 1990                   TAG: 9003071373
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Richmond bureau
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                 LENGTH: Short

BEYER GETS TO BREAK FIRST TIE

After eight weeks as the Virginia Senate's presiding officer, Lt. Gov. Donald Beyer was called on Tuesday to cast his first tie-breaking vote.

The Senate deadlocked on an arcane probate bill that has gotten scant press attention during the General Assembly session.

When the 20-20 tally flashed on the Senate's electronic voting board, senators howled and turned their attention to Beyer. Without hesistation, Beyer said: "The chair votes aye; the bill passes."

The bill would establish that a spouse is entitled to at least one-third of a deceased person's estate, including stocks and securities.

Supporters said those assets, unknown in the days of British common law, can be shifted to deprive a spouse of part of the estate.

Opponents said the bill could allow second wives to get an unfair portion of an estate at the expense of a deceased husband's children by a previous marriage. "It protects them [second wives] in such a way that the desire to become a second wife becomes overwhelming in Virginia," said Sen. Dudley "Buzz" Emick.

Beyer's brief moment in the spotlight could be for naught.

The Senate later reconsidered the 21-20 vote and plans to take up the bill again today.

Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY

by CNB