ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 15, 1997 TAG: 9701150067
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: GENERAL ASSEMBLY NOTEBOOK
Maybe they don't stand a chance, but some people want to write in votes for president and the state should let them, Roanoke Sen. John Edwards argued before the Privileges and Elections Committee Tuesday.
"We probably got 20 to 25 complaints from people on Election Day who thought their constitutional rights had been violated," said Bruce Meadows, head of the state Board of Elections.
Edwards' bill would require the board to accept write-ins. No senators seemed to object to the Roanoke Democrat's proposal, particularly after Meadows said he did not expect allowing write-in votes to cost any money.
"It sounds to me... that our constitution calls for this and we ought to make it available," said Arlington Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple.
The committee voted unanimously to send the bill to the full Senate, where lawmakers predicted it will have a comfortable ride.
"Thank you," Edwards said to the committee after its vote. "You're great Americans."
In action Tuesday . . .
*A group of lawmakers had their first opportunity to reconsider the immunity they enjoy from criminal prosecution, and they voted unanimously to repeal it.
The Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections approved a measure that would amend the state constitution and hold lawmakers accountable for criminal charges lodged against them while the General Assembly is in session.
Lawmakers would still be immune from civil arrest and from arrest for things said on the floor of the legislature.
"If a lawmaker can find the time to break a law while we're in session, he or she would have enough time to answer for the crime," said Loudon County Democrat Charles Waddell, who sponsored the bill.
A similar bill is before the House of Delegates, sponsored by Suffolk Republican Robert Nelms, who invoked the immunity when charged last year with indecent exposure in a Richmond park. He later pleaded guilty to the charge.
As a constitutional amendment, the bill would have to pass the legislature twice and clear a statewide referendum to become law.
* The House Corporations, Banking and Insurance Committee killed a bill that would have allowed banks to charge unlimited processing fees on loans of less than $5,000.
* Local government officials are backing legislation giving them legal immunity in their handling of Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield stock.
When Trigon becomes for-profit next month, the state, school districts and local governments will receive a total of 13 percent of stock transferred to policyholders.
Some officials fear the stock price will plummet if local governments rush to sell. The bill would allow local treasurers to retain the stock without fear of lawsuits.
"If the bottom fell out of it, they would not be personally responsible," explained Del. Joseph Johnson, the bill's sponsor.
* The governor wants to spend $116,000 in new money on colleges. Monday, business leaders asked for $200 million more. Tuesday, the head of the State Council of Higher Education threw in his number.
Gordon Davies asked a House Appropriations subcommittee for $41 million, nearly half of which would go for bigger faculty raises. Professors are due a 2 percent raise this year; the council wants to give them 4 to 6 percent.
* Lt. Gov. Don Beyer said state employees and teachers should get raises of at least 3 percent instead of the 2 percent they are set to receive this year.
* A committee began considering Gov. George Allen's proposal to trim unemployment insurance tax paid by businesses.
* The House of Delegates voted 83-14 for a bill requiring insurers to offer coverage for prescription contraceptives.
Floor moves
Gov. George Allen's decision to accept Goals 2000 money "on Virginia's terms" generated 20 minutes of chatter on the floor of the House of Delegates Tuesday.
It started with Fairfax County Democrat Linda "Toddy" Puller decrying Allen's hesitation, saying it cost Virginia $8 million and that "public education has become so politicized." This was greeted by an affected roar of affected laughter by the Republican side of the House.
"Just because the governor felt that Goals 2000 was going to allow the federal government to take over Virginia's schools doesn't mean we were politicizing education." countered Salem Republican Morgan Griffith.
"If it cost $8 million to ensure that Virginia's standards would not fall below those of Arkansas, then that is money well spent," declared Chesapeake Republican Randy Forbes.
House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell of Vinton stood.
"If we want to change our mind, we should say we were wrong," he decreed. "We shouldn't manufacture all these ruses to justify responding to the message [of] the citizens of Virginia."
This brought Richmond Republican John Reid to his feet to congratulate Allen "for receiving a letter expressing for the first time" that Goals 2000 money would not obligate Virginia to change its educational standards.
And so on.
Noticed & notable
The paper chase is on. Legislators have made requests to print 3,258 bills and resolutions for the legislature to consider during the session, which ends Feb.22.
Bill requests have been steadily rising over the last decade. The low mark was 1989, when lawmakers drafted 2,277 bills. The high mark came last year - during a 60-day session - when 3,595 bills were drafted.
The good news: Lawmakers don't always introduce all the bills they draft. But most of them will end up in the hopper.
What's next
Today's floor sessions convene at noon Senate Finance and House Appropriations meet along with other committees Looking ahead, a public hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday on a bill proposing charter schools
On the social calendar tonight is the Governor's Legislative Reception at the mansion.
Want to be heard?
To leave a message for state legislators, call (800) 889-0229 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. weekdays. To track the status of bills, visit our General Assembly website at www.roanoke.com
Staff writers Warren Fiske, Laura LaFay, Robert Little, David M. Poole and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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