Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 10, 1993 TAG: 9301100079
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GREG SCHNEIDER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
SOME OTHER ISSUES THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL FACE IN '93
You've already read about the greatest hits - guns, day care, the budget. Now, for you real politi-philes, a quick rundown on what the legislators will be doing in between those blockbusters.The album tracks, if you will, off the upcoming release by the hottest group in the Old Dominion, the 1993 General Assembly:
Abortion
It's not the only issue that won't go away, but it may be the most lively. This could be a relatively calm year, though, because abortion foes have little faith that Gov. Douglas Wilder will put his signature on bills enacting restrictions. Last year, you might remember, Wilder proposed so many changes to a bill requiring parents or a judge to be notified if a juvenile girl sought an abortion that the measure collapsed under the weight.
Parental notification may crop up again - word is, one bill might require a girl to notify everyone but her parents - but the anti-abortion crowd seems inclined to hold fire until Wilder leaves office.
Campaign reform
Legislators insist something will come of all the recommendations made last fall by a Wilder-appointed task force studying ways to reform political ethics. They just won't be very specific. Maybe some bills requiring lobbyists to report year-round on who they're wining and dining, maybe something providing for unannounced audits of campaign finance reports.
Ethics were in the air last year with President-elect Clinton's restrictions on his transition team; it remains to be seen if the aroma lingers in Virginia. House Speaker Thomas Moss, D-Norfolk, insists it will.
Crime
Two measures endorsed by the Governor's Task Force on Violent Crime should get a going-over this year: The first would provide two-part criminal trials, separating a jury's responsibility of determining guilt and its power to impose sentence. The theory is that holding a separate hearing for sentencing would let juries make a more educated determination about how firmly to punish a criminal.
The second proposal would increase the maximum sentence for second-degree murder from 20 years to 40 years.
Electricity
The Virginia Citizens Consumer Council is pushing for a change in the way the State Corporation Commission considers rate increases. Under current law, the power company can impose temporary higher rates while the SCC considers what the official rate should be. If the SCC settles on something lower than the utility's request - as is usually the case - customers get a refund of the amount they overpayed.
The consumer council wants to give the SCC at least nine months to study a rate proposal before you start paying it.
Oil and gas
A moratorium on drilling for gas and oil in eastern Virginia expires June 30. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation will press the General Assembly to extend the ban indefinitely.
Poverty
Lt. Gov. Donald Beyer is putting forth what he calls the Virginia Plan to fight poverty. Assembled by a study commission headed by Beyer, the plan calls for reforms such as establishing a $5 million fund to train welfare recipients for jobs; starting another $5 million Virginia Empowerment Fund to award grants to community action programs, and starting a child support enforcement program.
Sexual assault
Beyer, drawing on yet another commission, also is pushing sweeping reform of the state's laws on sexual abuse, especially against children. He would like to amend the state constitution to permit childhood victims to sue for damages after they have become adults. The proposals tighten penalties for sex-related crimes and set up support systems for victims.