Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 16, 1991 TAG: 9102160440
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
They were vague about when their next meeting would be and whether it would be announced.
Senate Finance Chairman Hunter Andrews, D-Hampton, said the conferees needed to know whether several bills that would affect revenues will be approved by Monday's deadline for committee action.
"We're caught in this crunch of not knowing what the revenues are," he said.
Gov. Douglas Wilder, who has threatened to veto budget items he opposes, sent a letter to the negotiators reiterating his support for a $200 million reserve fund.
The proposed Senate budget calls for slashing the reserve to $100 million, while the House plan suggests keeping the reserve unless it is needed to prevent state worker furloughs.
Wilder indicated he might be willing to compromise on his request for authority to furlough state workers up to 15 days.
Other differences in the House and Senate budgets include how much funding to local schools should be cut, how much college tuitions should be allowed to go up and whether welfare payments should increase.
If Wilder vetoes any budget items, the assembly will decide in an April session whether to override his veto. A two-thirds majority of each House is needed for an override.
In other legislative action Friday:
The House voted 60-35 to require the Board of Medicine to license trained acupuncturists.
Only physicians with training in acupuncture are allowed to practice under current law.
"There are not enough M.D.s licensed to fill the demand," said Del. Glenn Croshaw, D-Virginia Beach. "They have to cross the state line into Maryland, North Carolina or other states."
The bill as approved by the House includes a clause requiring re-enactment next year before the measure can become law.
The House Courts of Justice Committee by voice vote endorsed child pornography and weapon bills, both sponsored by Sen. Eddy Phillips, R-Richmond. The bills would increase the possible penalties from a $250 fine to a year in jail.
The committee adopted an amendment exempting gifts from parents or grandparents.
"This is getting to the point of being ridiculous," argued Del. Joseph Johnson, D-Abingdon. "You mean if I give my son a commemorative pistol or knife I can go to jail for a year?"
The Senate narrowly turned back an effort to revive a seat-belt measure that was killed Thursday in the House Roads and Internal Navigation Committee.
Sen. Charles Waddell, D-Loudoun County, tried to amend a House bill, which would make a seat-belt violation a traffic offense, to add his bill that would make the law easier to enforce. The Senate refused to go along on a 19-18 vote.
Waddell said he may try the maneuver again next week.
The bill under consideration would allow police officers to stop motorists for not wearing a seat belt. Under current law, motorists cannot be charged with the violation unless they are stopped for another traffic offense.
A House bill that would allow the governor to lift state mandates on financially pressed local governments was returned to the Senate General Laws Committee, which meets Monday.
Sen. Joseph Gartlan Jr., D-Fairfax County, called the bill "the most mischievous piece of legislation that we've had on this floor all this session."
He said it would allow local governments to suspend training of police and sheriff's deputies and would ease requirements for dealing with toxic waste and air and water pollution.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
by CNB