Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 11, 1990 TAG: 9004110343
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ROB EURE and MARGIE FISHER STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Wilder's amendment was intended to exempt from no-smoking restrictions offices in the Department of Corrections not used by the public.
But, as distributed to reporters and lobbyists Tuesday, the amendment omitted a reference to the department.
Wilder aides insisted that the proposed amendment was designed to exempt only prisons from smoking restrictions and would have no effect on the law's implementation in the general public.
David Bailey, a lobbyist for health organizations that pushed for the legislation, said he was convinced that Wilder did not intend for the amendment's effect to go beyond prisons. Nevertheless, Bailey fretted that the amendment might hinder the authority of local governments to pass local ordinances dealing with smoking in private working places.
Late Tuesday afternoon, Wilder's office cleared up the confusion.
The omission of a reference to the Department of Corrections "was another office's fault," said an assistant press secretary in Wilder's office. When asked whose fault, she said, "I'm not saying another word."
Wilder had told reporters earlier in the day that the amendment was drafted by the attorney general's office.
The amendment to the anti-smoking bill is one of several changes Wilder wants the General Assembly to approve when it reconvenes April 18.
Most of the governor's suggestions deal with the budget bill.
Wilder asked for $1.2 million to fund unspecified programs to combat illegal drugs.
Wilder expects to shape his anti-drug strategy following a conference on the drug issue next week. Wilder proposed raising the $1.2 million from administrative cuts, such as eliminating the Division of Management Analysis within the Office of the Secretary of Administration, and postponing the purchase of new computer hardware for the Department of Corrections.
Wilder also wants the legislature to strip language from the budget that usurped the power of the state's Compensation Board. The final budget included language added by House and Senate conferees specifying which localities would receive 46 new positions funded for prosecutors' and clerks' offices.
Traditionally, the Compensation Board has decided which local offices get the new positions provided for in the budget.
Officials from several local governments had urged Wilder to return the authority to the Compensation Board.
Wilder proposed an amendment to require re-enactment in 1994 of a bill to place some 500 sub-Cabinet-level employees under the state grievance procedure.
The original measure, sponsored by House Appropriations Chairman Robert Ball, D-Henrico, was seen by some as limiting Wilder's power to fire those employees. The bill was amended by the legislature so it would not take effect until after Wilder leaves office.
Wilder wants a study of the financial effects of a bill to give game wardens retirement benefits equal to those enjoyed by the state police.
Wilder proposed a study by the Senate Finance Committee and the House Appropriations Committee before the retirement bill is re-enacted next year. The House defeated a move by the Appropriations Committee to have the bill referred there for study during the session.
Wilder proposed amendments sought by large oil companies to a measure that restricts their control over retail gas stations.
The bill places a moratorium of a year on new company-owned service stations and would allow refiner-owned stations to sell other brands of gasoline starting in July 1991.
Wilder recommended striking the provision that allows refiner-owned stations to sell a second brand of fuel. He also proposed the moratorium apply to all oil companies, dropping the legislature's exemption of smaller, regional refiners.
The Virginia Petroleum Council said it is pleased with Wilder's proposed amendments.
by CNB