Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 8, 1991 TAG: 9102080574
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
The Senate voted 27-11 to pass the amendments proposed by its Finance Committee. The House voted 64-34 to approve the proposals of its Appropriations Committee.
Differences will be worked out in a conference committee consisting of six senior Democratic legislators. The Senate version makes more significant changes in Gov. Douglas Wilder's proposals than does the House budget.
Wilder has indicated he will veto the changes if they do not keep his $200 million reserve fund. The Senate cut the reserve in half but the House kept it intact.
All 34 negative votes in the House were cast by Republicans.
"The budget before us is the worst I've seen in my 24 years up here," said Del. Vince Callahan of McLean, one of four Republicans to vote for the measure. "The budget is full of flaws, but it is eminently better than the one sent down by the governor. In the final analysis, the budget smells, but it doesn't stink."
Del. Charles Hawkins, R-Chatham, found the budget somewhat less palatable.
"Someone once told me that if you have to swallow a toad, it's best not to look at it too long," Hawkins said. "If you have to swallow two toads, it's best to swallow the biggest one first. If you have to swallow more than two, you need to re-evaluate what you're doing.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I see a whole multitude of toads on my desk."
The Democratic majority in the House shot down several amendments proposed by Republicans. Among them were proposals that would have prevented the state from spending lottery revenue in the same year it is collected, reduced judges' retirement benefits and eliminated raises for some state agency heads and community college presidents.
Two Democratic delegates, George Grayson of Williamsburg and Joan Munford of Blacksburg, offered an amendment to eliminate the Appropriations Committee's proposed eight-day furlough of state employees. Wilder wants authority to order furloughs for up to 15 days.
"This is a matter of basic fairness to our 100,000 or so state employees," Grayson said. "We're asking them to tighten their belts unfairly."
But Del. Lacey Putney, I-Bedford, said the governor could order the furloughs only as a last resort. If implemented, the furloughs would save an estimated $18.9 million.
The Senate bill recommends that employee furloughs be held to six days and be used as a last resort. A proposal by Sen. Dudley Emick, D-Fincastle, to ban furloughs failed.
Emick said the state should lay off some employees rather than making all employees take days off without pay.
"You lay off inferior employees, you don't penalize every employee in the state," he said.
His proposal to eliminate legislators' $18,000 annual salary failed on a voice vote.
Emick also proposed eliminating the Virginia Liaison Office in Washington, D.C. Lt. Gov. Donald Beyer broke a 19-19 tie by voting against the amendment.
After debate, the Senate went along with proposals to raise welfare benefits, allow colleges to increase tuition and spend $140,000 to rig the rebuilt ship Susan Constant at Jamestown.
One change made on the Senate floor cut $450,000 from inmate education.
The ship rigging, which was pushed by Finance Committee Chairman Hunter Andrews, D-Hampton, was criticized by other senators as an unnecessary expense in tight budget times.
by CNB