ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, May 23, 1996 TAG: 9605230065
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: What's on your mind?
SOURCE: RAY REED
Q: When the Equal Rights Amendment was defeated some years ago, a Virginia legislator was highly touted as a key figure in its defeat. Who was this legislator? Was it the current candidate Miller?
O.A., Radford
A: The legislator generally acknowledged as delivering a death blow to the ERA in Virginia was state Sen. Nathan Miller, R-Bridgewater.
In 1982, the ERA came up for its final vote in the state Senate. It was facing a likely 20-20 tie. Lt. Gov. Richard Davis, a Democrat, was poised to break the tie with a vote in favor of it.
But Miller, who would have been among the 20 voting against, flew to Atlanta that day on business.
The ERA vote came out 20 in favor, 19 against. Without a clear majority, the amendment couldn't pass - and without a tie, the lieutenant governor couldn't vote.
Miller's vanishing act killed the bill in Virginia.
The ERA died that summer after being ratified by only 35 states - three short of the number needed to add it to the Constitution.
Jim Miller, who's running for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate this year, was working in Washington at the time - in the Reagan administration's office of management and budget.
Radio opinions
Q: How can a radio talk show give unabashed support to the candidates of one party and demean those of the opposing party when radio is limited in terms of air time?
S.G., Roanoke
A: The limitations on broadcasters were greatly relaxed in 1987 when the Federal Communication Commission killed the Fairness Doctrine.
The doctrine applied primarily to broadcasters' coverage of political issues rather than candidates, but its repeal opened the door to opinionated programming.
Real diversity had entered the media by then. The theory was (and still is) that if people didn't like the viewpoints aired on one show they could easily find another station.
Still on the books is a rule, known as equal time, which says a station that has a political candidate on a program should give the same amount of air time to his or her opponent, the National Association of Broadcasters said.
Equal time came into play for a Northern Virginia station last year when G. Gordon Liddy, on his talk show, gave lots of attention to his daughter's unsuccessful campaign for the House of Delegates. The station also gave some time to her opponent.
Garage seldom used
Q: Why doesn't the city of Roanoke open its parking garage by the No. 1 Fire Station on Church Avenue to the public on Saturdays during events such as the Strawberry Festival and Festival in the Park?
F.L., Roanoke
A: The Century Station garage is reserved full-time for rentals and isn't available for public use on weekends this year.
Beth Carter, manager of the city's parking garages, said the garage was open for both of these festivals last year and occupancy was low, with only 2 1/2 of its six levels in use.
Got a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Or, e-mail Roatimes@Infi.Net. Maybe we can find the answer.
LENGTH: Medium: 70 linesby CNB