Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 10, 1994 TAG: 9402100181
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY BONNIE V. WINSTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
After nearly four hours of debate, the House General Laws Committee voted 12-10 to send to the full House a gaming plan that would benefit, among others, displaced defense workers in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia and disadvantaged school districts across the state.
As amended, the bill sponsored by Del. Jerrauld Jones, D-Norfolk, directs 10 percent of the state's take from the boats to the Governor's Defense Conversion Fund and another 20 percent to a fund to alleviate disparities in state aid to schools.
The bill also now includes a statewide referendum, even though the riverboats could sail only east of Interstate 95. And voters in localities where boats would be docked also would have to approve riverboat gambling in their jurisdictions.
Jones, who argues the measure is critical to rejuvenating the shipbuilding industry in Hampton Roads, acknowledged that the concessions were essential. The same committee defeated similar legislation 10-8 in 1993.
On a 9-8 vote, the committee rejected attempts by Northern Virginia delegates to grab another 30 percent of the state's share of the proceeds for transportation needs in their area.
"You all have asked [us] to pay $150 million in taxpayer money for Disney. And now this," scolded Del. Glenn Croshaw, D-Virginia Beach, head of a special riverboat gambling subcommittee. "This is piling on. This is going to sour my view of this process," he said, referring to the proposed Disney's America theme park in Prince William County.
Earlier reports indicated that Hampton Roads lawmakers were willing to support state aid to the Disney project in return for Northern Virginia delegates' support for riverboat gambling. But in the committee vote Wednesday, delegates from both areas were split.
Indicating the stakes for Hampton Roads, House Speaker Thomas Moss of Norfolk, who rarely appears in committees, not only sat in the front row of the elbow-room-only hearing room, but testified.
"If we don't do it, Maryland's going to do it. West Virginia's going to do it. D.C. is going to do it," Moss said. "It's here. We might as well get our fair share."
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1994
by CNB