Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 23, 1993 TAG: 9302230049
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JOAN MUNFORD
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
YOUR REPLIES TO SURVEY WILL GUIDE US
The results of my legislative survey have been compiled. I received more than 650 responses and I am very appreciative that so many of you took the time to fill out the survey. Your guidance on these issues is very helpful.\ 1993 Survey Results
1. Violence in schools has generated much debate. One proposal would expel students for bringing a weapon on school grounds. Do you support this?
Yes - 84.6 percent
No - 15.4 percent
The House approved legislation making possession of a handgun by a minor a crime, but took no action on expelling students.
2. The governor has proposed restricting the purchase of handguns. Do you favor limiting these purchases to:
One a month? - 48 percent
Two a month? - 10 percent
No limits? - 42 percent
3. Would you support a tax increase to meet the demands in education, transportation and economic development?
Yes - 72.5 percent
No - 27.5 percent
Several efforts were made to raise taxes on cigarettes and the sales tax, all defeated.
4. Would you support a tax increase in any of the following:
Tobacco? - 87 percent
Alcohol? - 85 percent
Sales? - 33 percent
Income? - 31.5 percent
5. Should drivers suspected of drunken driving be required to surrender their license to an arresting police officer?
Yes - 59.8 percent
No - 40.2 percent
The House has approved a bill that would let a magistrate revoke for seven days the license of a driver with a blood alcohol content of 0.10 percent or more.
6. Virginia's prison population has more than doubled in the past decade. Gov. Wilder wants to spend $130 million to build three new prisons. Do you support more spending for prisons?
Yes - 52.3 percent
No - 47.7 percent
It costs $79,000 per bed just to build a prison. The three new ones will house about 1,750 inmates.
7. Would you support more prisons if it meant a tax increase?
Yes - 42 percent
No - 58 percent
8. Do you favor any change in the abortion laws in Virginia?
Yes - 21 percent
No - 79 percent
Several bills to change the laws were defeated in the House Courts of Justice Committee.
The House of Delegates has completed work on its version of the budget. Three conferees from the House will now meet with three conferees from the Senate to work out these differences.
Both versions have included additional money for pay raises for state employees and teachers.
The House budget would give state employees a 2 percent raise and merit pay increases ranging from 2.25 percent to 6.75 percent. This would provide an effective annual salary increase of 4.7 percent.
The Senate budget would give a 3 percent raise and merit pay raises of 1.2 percent to 3.4 percent.
The House approved 2 percent pay raises for teachers, college faculty, social service workers and sheriff's deputies, effective Dec. 1. We also approved $4.9 million for our local libraries.
Although Virginia's economy has not regained the strength it had during the late 1980s, we are seeing signs of improvement. This small growth enabled the legislature to revise our revenue estimates that made it possible to provide additional funds for critical areas.
One of the most critical was restoration of funding for the Cooperative Extension Service. The additional $3.4 million that the House has approved will keep extension at 95 percent of its base level.
I also was pleased that the House approved additional funding for the Department of Economic Development to assist the New River and Roanoke valleys, which have had a number of job losses during the past two years.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY