Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 4, 1994 TAG: 9403040154
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
The Senate voted 22-18 to defeat the bill sponsored by Del. Robert McDonnell, R-Virginia Beach. It had cleared the House, and Gov. George Allen planned to sign it.
Allen still could change Department of Corrections policy that bars relatives of the victim from watching the killer die in the electric chair.
"The governor has not yet addressed that, and a decision will be made at a later date," said Melissa Herring, an Allen spokeswoman.
The bill was defeated 21-20 Wednesday with Lt. Gov. Don Beyer casting the tiebreaking vote, but supporters asked for a second chance so they could change a few minds.
The only votes that changed were those of Sens. John Chichester and Edward Houck, who switched from supporting to opposing the bill.
Chichester, R-Fredericksburg, said he initially voted for the bill as a favor to its sponsors.
"I gave them one vote. I was never enamored with that bill, and that's putting it mildly," he said.
Houck, D-Spotsylvania, said he changed his vote after learning that Allen could change the policy without the bill.
"We do not need to make this law in Virginia," he said.
Welfare reform moved closer to final passage when the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee endorsed the Senate's version of the bill. Two members voted against the measure on a voice vote.
The bill, based on recommendations from Beyer's anti-poverty commission, offers incentives to get people off welfare and into jobs. It limits the time recipients can remain on welfare and eliminates additional benefits for women who have babies while enrolled in the program.
Differences between the Senate and House versions of the bill are mostly technical.
The program, which would take effect July 1, would be phased in with 3,000 participants each of the first three years. Beyer said about 55,000 of the state's 74,000 welfare recipients meet the program's eligibility requirements. Those who are disabled or caring for a disabled child are ineligible.
The Senate Education and Health Committee approved two bills sought by the Virginia Education Association, the state's largest teacher association.
One would put teachers on a state board that would license teachers. The other would require that less-experienced teachers be laid off before those who have seniority.
"What we're trying to do here is protect those teachers who have put in 10 or 15 years," said the sponsor, Del. James Dillard, R-Fairfax. "That seems to me just basic fairness."
The education committee put off action until Monday on a controversial bill to require parental notification when unmarried minor girls seek abortions.
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GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1994
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