MANY GUN BILLS PART OF DELUGE OF LEGISLATION

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 3, 1993                   TAG: 9302030114
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: THOMAS G. BAKER JR.
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
MANY GUN BILLS PART OF DELUGE OF LEGISLATION
The 1993 General Assembly has the distinction of setting a record for the amount of legislation filed in any one year: 2,791 pieces of legislation.
A flurry of gun bills were introduced this week. However, none of the high-profile bills has been considered by committees. The multitude of gun bills has been directed to the House Courts of Justice Committee, on which I sit. One bill, though, was acted on this week.
This measure basically provided that any juvenile who is convicted of a crime, which would be a felony if committed by an adult, would be prohibited from purchasing and possessing firearms until at least age 29. I supported this bill and voted for it in committee and on the floor.
In other matters, I co-sponsored a bill with Del. David Brickley, D-Prince William, to return the deed recordation tax monies to localities. As promised by the legislature in 1989, I have worked for the return of these tens of thousands of dollars to our district since I was elected.
If we can win return of these funds, and eventually win return of lottery funds to the localities, we can relieve the local tax burden by helping keep down real estate and personal property tax rates.
In an effort to win return of lottery monies to the localities this year, I have introduced a bill to return a portion of lottery proceeds, beginning July 1, 1994, to fund school disparity.
My bill provides that approximately $25 million will be directed to address disparity in educational funding. Pulaski, Radford and Giles basically fare well under the distribution formula. In my way of thinking, if we are ever going to return any lottery funds to the localities, this would be a good way to start. All localities will receive a portion of the monies, but rural areas will do better.
My bill has broad bi-partisan support and numerous co-patrons from both political parties. For obvious reasons, urban legislators will likely be opposed to it.
I can be reached in Richmond at Room 446, General Assembly Building, Capitol Square, P.O. Box 406, Richmond, Va. 23203. Call (804) 786-6605, or my Dublin office at 674-4081.

Thomas G. Baker Jr., R-Radford, represents Radford, Pulaski County and part of Giles County in the Virginia House of Delegates.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB