Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 5, 1991 TAG: 9102050223
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
The Senate also endorsed by a 24-13 vote Gov. Douglas Wilder's plan to transfer control of the state's RF&P Corp. stock to the state pension fund to help fill a $2.2 billion hole in the general fund budget.
The Senate and the House of Delegates voted on hundreds of bills as they worked to meet a deadline to finish work on their own legislation before today.
The Senate voted 28-10 to lower the blood alcohol-content required for a drunken driving conviction from .10 percent to .08 percent. Sen. Robert Scott, D-Newport News, said the .08 level would result from a 160-pound person having more than five drinks over two hours.
Sen. William Fears, D-Accomack, said the .08 level was too strict. "This is going to take all the sport out of drinking and driving," he said.
The Senate voted 25-13 for a bill requiring that a motorist stopped for drunken driving have his or her driver's license revoked for up to 90 days through an administrative procedure.
A bill that would raise the speed limits for trucks on rural interstates from 55 mph to 65 mph failed on a 23-14 vote. Cars already are allowed to drive 65 mph.
The sponsor, Sen. Daniel Bird, D-Wytheville, said a uniform speed limit would be easier for state troopers to enforce.
The debate over the RF&P stock centered on whether the state should give up control of stock that probably will increase in value.
Supporters of the plan said the state needs the money now because of its budget shortfall. A budget plan approved by the Senate Finance Committee proposes that the state be paid up to $30.5 million for the stock.
The Senate also endorsed 34-2 a proposed constitutional amendment that would set up a permanent reserve fund in the state budget. The proposal must be approved by voters in a referendum before it takes effect.
Another budget-cutting program, an early retirement program for state workers, was approved 37-1.
The Senate approved three death penalty bills. Two would expand the capital murder statute to include serial killings and murders committed along with forcible sodomy or attempted forcible sodomy. The third would require that a capital murder defendant who cannot afford a lawyer have two court-appointed attorneys with several years of experience in criminal cases.
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by CNB