Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 9, 1993 TAG: 9302090065
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: THOMAS G. BAKER JR.
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
MOUNTAIN OF BILLS MOVES SLOWLY
Although a record number of bills has been filed this year, relatively few have been dealt with by the full House of Delegates. The overwhelming amount of legislation has almost smothered the system. I, for one, have had meetings this week that lasted until 1:30 a.m., only to have them followed by meetings at 8 a.m. This has become a common occurrence.In committee action last week, the General Laws Committee killed the "Riverboat Gambling" bill by a vote of 11 to 9. Many expected the bill to clear the committee and make it to the floor for a vote. However, I sense that the patron of the bill will try to amend another gambling-related measure in an effort to keep the issue alive this session.
I remain opposed to this concept and plan to vote against it if it does somehow get to the floor. The potential for expansion of casino gambling in general and the potential for organized crime makes the law unacceptable, in my opinion.
In other committee action, the AIDS bill I have reported to you about earlier was re-referred to the Health and Welfare Committee on which I serve. I remain hopeful that the bill will pass.
As you recall, this measure would require notification to law enforcement officials, and after my amendments also to correctional officers, who are to come into contact with AIDS patients that the person has the AIDS virus.
The Health and Welfare Committee also gave preliminary approval to new legislation that will modify the welfare delivery system. In essence, the plan will provide a means for employment to welfare recipients instead of just a "welfare" check or "aid to dependent children" check.
In my opinion, this is a good step forward in an effort to get people off the welfare system and put them to work. I supported the bill and voted for it in committee.
Also last week, the Mining Committee, on which I am a member, dealt with several bills in an effort to prevent future mine disasters such as the recent explosion at the Southmountain mine that killed several miners.
Among the measures adopted were bills to help with the prevention of explosions because of accidental sparks, fire or smoking in the mines. Also, laws will be strengthened related to methane detection and to increase penalties for tampering or damaging systems that detect deadly gases.
It also will be a crime to allow miners to work in an area when the supervisor knows that the equipment to detect gas has been tampered with.
In matters on the floor, one controversial measure did pass. That bill provided for the sale of alcoholic beverages for reasonable periods of time before and after sporting events. I voted against the bill because of the potential of increasing alcohol related crashes on the highways. The bill now goes to the Senate.
My normal practice is to report to you on actual legislation and how I vote on particular matters. However, this week I also want to make a couple of observations.
First, the high publicity campaign by the governor to push his handgun bill unfortunately has taken the attention of the public away from other important issues. Gun-control bills are only a small part of the important bills we should be deliberating.
Secondly, we are not spending time on equally important matters, such as educational funding for disparity and compensation for our teachers and other governmental employees.
I am truly sorry that the governor has ensured that his gun control bills will get all the attention and take legislators' time away from things that we really should be coming to grips with.
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.