Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 6, 1991 TAG: 9102060475
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
The Senate agreed Tuesday to let its Finance Committee take another look at an emergency bill that would allow the state to use the profits the same year they are collected.
The move came after the House of Delegates on Monday night passed a similar bill after removing an emergency provision to make it effective this spring instead ofJuly 1.
The original House bill needed 80 votes for passage because it contained the emergency clause. Republicans voted against the measure, and it failed 61-38. An amendment was added to remove the emergency provision, and the bill passed 73-27.
The bill had an emergency clause because the lottery profits would be needed before July 1 to balance the state budget.
The Senate may try to make its bill a budget amendment, which would allow it to take effect this spring, said Sen. Richard Holland, D-Isle of Wight.
The House and Senate are scheduled to vote on their differing versions of the budget Thursday.
Republicans used the lottery bill flap to blast the budgets proposed by Wilder and the assembly's Democratic majority as "shortsighted and wrong."
By cutting state aid to localities, "the governor is forcing local tax increases," the Joint Republican Caucus said in a statement.
The GOP legislators said the state should stop hiring new employees while salaries are being frozen and furloughs are being planned.
"There are still tens of millions of dollars in fat and `niceties' in the Democrats' budget," the statement said.
In other action, the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee unanimously approved a House-passed bill that would allow voter registration in apartment and condominium complexes. The sponsor, Del. Marian Van Landingham, D-Alexandria, said the change would help new residents register to vote.
The committee delayed action until next week on a request by Sen. Charles Waddell, D-Loudoun County, that his county be added to the six localities that would be allowed to have elected school boards under a House-passed bill. Waddell said Loudoun was the only Northern Virginia locality left off the list, and its residents support elected school boards.
In other action taken by the House before its deadline Monday night to act on its own bills, a measure was approved 93-5 increasing the state's take of lottery revenues from 35 percent to 40 percent. The first $40 million of the additional funds would be distributed to localities, and the state would keep the rest.
Del. Mitchell Van Yahres, D-Charlottesville, said that "it's unfair for the lottery not to take its share of hits" when other state agencies are being asked to cut expenses.
House Democrats had to scramble to correct an oversight on a bill setting legislative salaries. Despite a pledge by the 59-member Democratic Caucus to take a 2 percent pay cut, the House voted 95-1 to pass a bill keeping legislators' annual salary at $18,000.
After the Democrats realized what had happened, they killed the bill by sending it to the Appropriations Committee, which has finished considering House bills for this session.
by CNB