Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 30, 1992 TAG: 9201300246
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
HEARING SPEAKERS CHEER BOND ISSUE
Gov. Douglas Wilder's $535 million bond issue to fund parks, higher education and mental hospitals got unanimous support from more than two dozen speakers at a public hearing Wednesday.Elsewhere, a Senate committee advanced two bills to crack down on child pornography and another Senate committee put off action for at least a year on a bill to allow dog racing.
A House committee endorsed Wilder's bill to merge state environmental agencies into a Department of Environmental Quality. A bill to require private employers to provide parental leave died on a tie vote in another House committee.
Also, a House subcommittee heard two proposed alternative state songs, but failed to make a recommendation; and the General Assembly appointed judges in Western Virginia.
Senate Finance and House Appropriations committee members heard praise from citizens, college presidents and environmental activists for the general-obligation bond issue bill.
If approved by the assembly and then by voters in November, the bond issue would authorize the borrowing of $535 million for construction projects and park land purchases.
College officials said more classroom, laboratory and library space is needed to accommodate a surge in college enrollment expected in the next century.
The Senate Courts of Justice Committee unanimously approved two child pornography bills sponsored by Sen. Walter Stosch, R-Richmond.
One would make possession of child pornography a felony, and the other would make it a felony to make two or more copies of child pornography.
Legislation to replace or alter the state song, "Carry Me Back to Old Virginia," has been proposed in several previous sessions. Some people have complained that the words "darky" and "massa" in the old song are offensive.
"Today that song does not bring the joy to a lot of Virginians that a state song should bring," said Del. John Watkins, R-Chesterfield.
Watkins' proposal would leave "Carry Me Back to Old Virginia" intact but would offer "Sweet Virginia Breeze" as an alternative.
Robbin Thompson and Steve Bassett, who wrote and recorded the song, performed it for the subcommittee.
The subcommittee also heard a tape recording of "My Heart is in Virginia," by Laura Jean Spence of South Carolina, whose mother lives in Lebanon in Southwest Virginia. Del. Clarence Phillips, D-St. Paul, is sponsoring a bill to make that song an alternate to "Carry Me Back."
Appointed to Western Virginia judgeships were:
William Sweeney of Lynchburg, reappointed to the 24th Circuit which includes Bedford and Bedford County, for an eight-year term.
James Farmer of Lynchburg, also reappointed to the 24th District, for a six-year term.
Former state Sen. Daniel Bird of Wythe, appointed to the 27th District which includes Pulaski, Wythe, Montgomery and Carroll counties, for a six-year term.
Edward M. Turner III of Carroll, appointed to the 27th District which includes Pulaski, Wythe, Montgomery and Carroll counties, for a six-year term.
Lawrence Janow of Amherst, reappointed to the 24th Juvenile and Domestic Relations District, which includes Bedford and Bedford County, for a six-year term.
William F. Thomas Jr. of Pulaski, reappointed to the 27th Juvenile and Domestic Relations District which includes Pulaski, Wythe, Carroll and Montgomery counties, for a six-year term.