ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 5, 1996 TAG: 9603050018
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Legislative Journal
Notes from Your State Legislators
Del. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, talks this week about some of the bureaucratic hang-ups in the General Assembly.
It begins with a resolution he patroned calling for a study on the use of nonprofit corporations by colleges and universities that engage in various types of transactions.
"The impetus for this study came to me when I learned that Virginia Commonwealth University had used a nonprofit affiliate to purchase land cited as historic property enabling them, if they wished to, to get around various state regulations," he said. "I called for a study just to review the situation and make sure there is not any abuse.
"Del. Alan Diamonstein, chairman of the Democratic Caucus, quickly referred my resolution to the Chichester Commission which is led by Sen. John Chichester and charged with studying many aspects of higher education. Following up on the matter I met with the senator to explain my idea and to offer any assistance. The senator laughed, 'The Chichester Commission? We shut that down last year in December.' After discussing this situation further, he asked who had referred the study to his now defunct commission. When I told him it was Al Diamonstein, he rolled with laughter. Diamonstein, he told me, was vice chair of the commission and had been present when they closed shop. Diamonstein was understandably amused when I pointed this out to him and advised me 'he would take care of it.' Several days later my resolution was passed-by-indefinitely or PBI, aka DOA. Sometimes it makes you wonder."
Virginia Tech junior Katie Young, an intern with the office of Del. Jim Shuler, D-Blacksburg, files a column this week with her impressions of the General Assembly. Young is a political science major. How did she feel her first day? Overwhelmed, she said.
"I cannot recall any time during my college career being taught that government, especially staff government, was this massive, unapproachable, intimidating 'thing.' But somewhere along the way, that image had become fixed in my head," Young said.
"All those dark suits and briefcases that first day almost immediately reinforced my opinion of what people in government were like ... stuffy, unhelpful and unfriendly. But, when I arrived on the eighth floor of the General Assembly building ... I began to realize that my initial perceptions were wrong.
"I found that the General Assembly was, in all actuality, accessible. Everyone that I have met here has been more than helpful. And, everyone seems genuinely concerned that this be a beneficial learning experience for me. This accessibility and willingness to help also extends to those who cannot be here in Richmond."
Particularly, she said, the folks back home.
"It's nice to know that government really is for the people and by the people, just the way it was intended to be," she said.
Sen. Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo, R-Fincastle, updates us on a couple of bills that will become law on July 1, if the governor approves them. (The Senate and House already have.)
The State Council on Higher Education n Virginia will study the feasibility of Dabney S. Lancaster Community College offering higher education programs through an initiative known as "Community College Baccalaureate," and the possibility of becoming a full degree-granting four-year college while retaining its community college and technical training program and degree and certificate offerings.
The Virginia Student Assistance Authorities, comprised of the Virginia Education Loan Authority and the State Education Assistance Authority, will be added to those agencies provided an exemption from the Administrative Process Act.
Del. Tommy Baker, R-Pulaski County, talks about some controversial bills that failed this year.
"Among the most notable legislation to fail was riverboat gambling, speed-limit increases and charter schools," he said.
"Still to come in the closing days will be action on the 'feticide' law I discussed two weeks ago, measures to further examine the possibility of bringing a major league baseball team to Virginia, and action on the Senate version of the repeal of the Business, Professional and Occupational License Tax. The most significant matter, though, will be final negotiations and voting on the state's two year budget."
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1996by CNB