Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 4, 1995 TAG: 9503060028
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JIM SHULER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The fact is that legislators of both parties worked together to do the right thing for Virginia and to set the direction in critical areas.
Part of our legislative job is to set priorities, and this year it was not easy. Without consulting legislators of either party, the governor launched a surprise effort at the opening of the session to overturn the two-year budget we passed and he had signed in 1994. He targeted over 425 items in the budget that would either eliminate or drastically reduce support for such fundamental state responsibilities as public schools, colleges and universities, local police and mental health services.
Public outcry against the governor's proposals was swift, broad, and overwhelmingly negative. More than 1,000 of you contacted my office objecting to this draconian approach.
Colleges and universities said that after years of cutbacks and tuition increases, they could not absorb another drastic budget reduction without threatening the quality of the education.
In the end, we restored support for our schools, our colleges and universities, police in our communities, mental health, agricultural extension and other critical services.
During the last day of the session, we said, "yes" to a responsible, bipartisan, comprehensive welfare reform plan that is tough but not cruel, is fair but not firm, and is one that will move thousands of Virginia families from the welfare trap to productive lives. We said "yes" to the 1995 Omnibus Education Act, which earmarks the state lottery profits to our public schools.
My local legislative initiatives have been approved by the House and Senate and now await the governor's signature. These include:
Enabling Montgomery Regional Authority to join, in the future, with the New River Resource Authority for waste management.
Legislation at the request of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors to allow an increase in the annual stipend for School Board members.
Exemption of the Certificate of Public Need to allow Warm Hearth Village to build a 60-bed nursing home facility.
Tax-exempt status to Summer Musical Enterprise.
Budget amendments for $12.5 million for Cooperative Extension, $4.5 million for athletic renovations to Jamerson Hall, and $1.6 million for a Bioconverter for hazardous waste disposal in lieu of an incineration process. I have also co-sponsored budget amendments, among others, for restoration of funds for community services boards, libraries, mental health and salaries for commissioners of revenue and deputy sheriffs.
I supported and voted for restoration of funds for salary raises for our college professors (2.5 percent), state employees (2.5 percent), and restoration of the increased funding plan for social service workers, all of which I believe are essential to attract and retain skilled, committed employees to serve the commonwealth.
I co-sponsored more than 92 other legislative bills over a wide range of issues - workers compensation and gun-free schools, to name a few.
Now the legislation ball is in the governor's court. Between now and April 5 when the General Assembly returns to Richmond, the governor must sign, amend or veto the legislation we have sent to him. The debate on these measures has been strenuous and thorough. During the final budget deliberations, many Republicans joined Democrats in a bipartisan manner, listening to the overwhelming response of, literally, thousands of Virginians asking us to move forward rather than turning our backs on the progress that we have made. I hope that the governor will act in good faith and not veto our future.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1995
by CNB