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

DATE: TUESDAY, March 15, 1994                   TAG: 9403150212
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Jim Shuler
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A LEGISLATOR

7 a.m.: I arrive at my office as I have two committee meetings and one subcommittee meeting all beginning at 8 a.m. I review the bills to be debated and coordinate with my legislative aide to make sure I do not miss any votes.

8 a.m.: I head to the Capitol for a special session of the Agriculture Subcommittee to review legislation in detail. I expect to be here briefly to handle several pieces of legislation.

8:20 a.m.: I arrive at the Mining and Mineral Resources Committee in time to vote on two pieces of legislation.

8:45 a.m.: I make it to the Labor and Commerce Committee meeting while members are still debating Worker's Compensation legislation. It looks like we will be here most of the morning, which means I will have to miss several appointments. It has been frustrating trying to schedule time for people from home.

11:10 a.m.: The Labor and Commerce Committee ends after we approve 10 pieces of legislation that will go before the full House of Delegates.

11:15 a.m.: Back in my office on the eighth floor, I meet with state retirees to discuss changes in the Virginia Retirement System.

11:30 a.m.: Tommy and Cooper Via of Christiansburg arrive to discuss legislation affecting the insurance industry. Seeing people from home helps keep me in touch with the real world.

Noon: I'm back in the Capitol as Speaker of the House Tom Moss calls the daily session of the House to order. We have a lengthy calendar today, but I hope we will finish quickly as I have numerous appointments this afternoon.

We have 44 bills for their third and final reading today. They range from bills dealing with economic development and tourism to planning time for elementary teachers and voluntary student prayer. All but one pass with little dissent.

We consider 53 bills on second reading, the time when most bills are debated and amended. The issues involved are as varied as embezzlement, mine safety, habitual offenders and wills.

The most debated issue is the Omnibus Alcohol Safety Act, a bill that I co-sponsored. It would reduce the legal blood alcohol content for drivers and impose additional penalties for those who drive drunk. Although many delegates had reservations about allowing administrative revocation of one's license, the bill advances with only a few dissents.

3:15 p.m.: The House adjourns for the day. My legislative aide meets me as I leave the Capitol to attend a Rules Subcommittee meeting with two bills that I have to present. One bill continues the Blue Ridge Economic Development Commission for another two years. The other requests a study on the feasibility of including graduate students at our colleges and universities in the state's health care plan. Both are approved.

4 p.m.: After leaving the subcommittee, I move to the fifth floor of the General Assembly Building to meet with the Southwest Virginia Caucus. These legislators meet every Monday, but are holding a special meeting today to discuss several issues on tomorrow's calendar.

5 p.m.: I'm back in my office and finally returning some calls and reviewing the day's correspondence. I dictate a few letters and go over tomorrow's agenda.

7 p.m.: I leave the Capitol to meet a group from Radford Hospital for dinner. Tonight's dinner will give me the opportunity to discuss health-care issues with a group that I couldn't see during the day.

9 p.m.: It's back to the hotel for an hour of reading before calling it a day. I have a committee meeting at 8 in the morning and need to review the legislation that we will be considering.

By this time in the session, I am really looking forward to returning home and resuming a "normal" life. The pace of the General Assembly has been intense and tiring.

Jim Shuler, D-Blacksburg, represents parts of Montgomery and Giles counties in the Virginia House of Delegates. Now that the session is over, he can be reached at his Blacksburg office at1480 South Main St. or by calling 953-1103.

Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1994