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

DATE: TUESDAY, January 18, 1994                   TAG: 9401210008
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Thomas G. Baker Jr.
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

BUDGET WILL BE PRIORITY

As I hope will be the case, the biennial budget should occupy the majority of the time of most legislators during the 1994 General Assembly. The budget introduced by former Gov. Douglas Wilder will, of course, be subject to amendment by the legislature and to recommendation by Gov. George Allen. The proposed budget will be beneficial to our district in certain areas and detrimental in others. Radford University will do reasonably well, including its new College of Global Studies which will continue to receive financial support in the new budget. As you will recall, I was successful last year in gaining appropriate funding for the starting up of the new college.

Those who are self-employed are scheduled to get the benefit of the one-half self-employment tax deduction against state income and additional pay increases are proposed for state employees. However, the local Offices on Youth face elimination, and once again, funding for Extension Services is in doubt. I plan to co-sponsor or support budget amendments to restore these very important local service programs.

As for specific legislation, I anticipate that the parental notification bill will be back and should see passage in the House of Delegates as it has before. This legislation typically provides that a parent or guardian be notified in advance of a minor`s receiving an abortion. I have supported this legislation in the past and plan to continue that support this year.

The riverboat gambling bill has received a lot more attention so far this year than last and there has been a great deal of preseason lobbying on its behalf. However, I opposed riverboat gambling last year and I plan to oppose it again this year. I believe too much of Virginia's income is being spent on the state lottery and not on family necessities. Money then lost as sales tax revenues, due to lottery play, is used to excessively promote the lottery on television and on the radio. In my opinion, further expanding gambling to the private sector could provide too much opportunity for further loss of family income and lead to potential organized criminal activity.

I will be carrying and cosponsoring several pieces of legislation, including budgetary matters and bills arising from study committees on which I have served. I hope to report to you on these matters in the coming weeks.

Standing Committee assignments were made on Friday. I will again be serving on the House Courts of Justice Committee and on the Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee. I will now be ranking member of my party on the Courts Committee. In addition, this year I have been appointed to the Education Committee. My assignment to this committee will be particularly important as I continue to push for additional improvements in funding for public education.

In an attempt to increase constituent input, the General Assembly will for the first time this year provide a toll-free number for you to voice your opinions on the issues. All messages will then be delivered to the appropriate legislators. This new telephone number is 1-800-889-0229. Of course, I enjoy speaking to you personally while I am here in Richmond and I encourage you to contact me at my direct office number if you prefer.

As always, I can be reached at 804-786-6605 and by mail at Room 446, General Assembly Building, Capitol Square, P.O. Box 406, Richmond, VA 23203, or through my Dublin office at 674-4081 and P.O. Box 1847, Dublin, Va. 24084.

Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1994

by CNB