ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 29, 1997 TAG: 9701290053
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: General Assembly Notebook
MEMO: NOTE: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.
The state Senate will consider whether to have the Virginia constitution ban casino gambling, after a proposed amendment cleared its first legislative test Tuesday.
The Senate Privileges and Elections Committee voted 8-3 to amend the constitution to prohibit keno, slot machines or other casino-style gambling. Games already approved, such as the lottery and horse racing, would not be affected. (The two Western Virginia senators on the panel, Madison Marye, D-Shawsville, and Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta County, both voted yes.)
Opponents said they weren't supporting gambling, merely objecting to amending the constitution.
"I've been totally opposed to casino gambling, but I don't think this is something we should put in the constitution," said Sen. Richard Holland, D-Isle of Wight, who voted against the bill.
"Can't we just not vote for it and it doesn't happen?" asked Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple, D-Arlington, another opponent.
"You could," responded the bill's sponsor, Sen. Mark Earley, R-Chesapeake. "This would be to settle the issue for the future. This takes gambling off the table for good."
Earley's bill goes before the full Senate for a vote, which could come this week. Like any constitutional amendment, it would not take effect unless it passes the General Assembly twice and is approved by statewide referendum.
Cocktails along the parkway
Southwest Virginia lawmakers are usually gung-ho about bringing economic development to their corner of the state.
But four lawmakers whose districts stretch along the southern Blue Ridge Parkway felt obliged Tuesday to vote against a bill allowing cocktails by the glass to be sold at a golf resort in otherwise dry Carroll County.
The House voted 60-39 to allow the Olde Mill Resort and Conference Center to serve mixed alcoholic beverages.
"It's a tourism, economic-development tool," said Del. Clifton "Chip" Woodrum, D-Roanoke, the bill's sponsor.
Under Woodrum proposal, the General Assembly would add Olde Mill to a list of parkway resorts - including Doe Run Lodge and Peaks of Otter - that can serve cocktails in counties that have not approved mixed drink sales.
"We have made these enclaves up and down the parkway for tourism," Woodrum said.
The measure was opposed by all four House members from the southern parkway region: Dels. Ward Armstrong, D-Henry County; Barnie Day, D-Patrick County; Allen Dudley, R-Rocky Mount and Tom Jackson, D-Hillsville.
However, none of them spoke against the bill.
The measure now goes to the Senate, putting Martinsville Sen. Roscoe Reynolds on the spot.
"I ain't for it," Reynolds said.
Tobacco tax increase killed
The Senate killed a proposal to raise taxes on tobacco Tuesday - another Madison Marye initiative up in smoke.
Marye, a Shawsville Democrat, had proposed gradually raising the tax on cigarettes 10 cents a pack and imposing a tax on cigars and chewing tobacco. He argued that the inelastic demand for tobacco products makes them a convenient source of additional state revenue.
"I don't think the price of cigarettes makes one bit of difference in the amount of people who are going to buy them," Marye said. He presented his bill Tuesday to the Senate Finance Committee, which promptly killed it on a voice vote.
Anthony Troy, a tobacco lobbyist, said that when Massachusetts raised its rates and New Hampshire did not, New Hampshire sold twice as many cigarettes. And the smoking rate in New Hampshire was no higher.
"I think I like your bottle bill just a little bit better," said Sen. William Wampler Jr., R-Bristol, referring to Marye's perennial effort to put a surcharge on recyclable bottles.
"You know, Mr. Chairman," Marye said, "I was going to talk about the bottle bill.
"Please don't, senator," replied Sen. John Chichester, co-chairman of the Finance Committee.
Day care rules OK'd
Legislation setting minimum staffing levels for day care centers cleared a House committee.
The bill by Del. Julia Connally, D-Arlington, is intended to prevent the Virginia Day Care Council from watering down regulations now in effect.
Lt. Gov. Don Beyer urged the Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee to send the bill to the House floor. He said the state needs to strike a balance between affordable child care and the safety of children.
The bill would require one worker for every four children ages 16 months and younger; one for every five children from 16 months to 2 years; one for every 12 children between age 2 and elementary school age; and one for every 20 school-age children.
In other school-related action Tuesday, the Senate passed a bill increasing the fine for passing a stopped school bus from $50 to $250.
`Dangerous' dog proposal
Rippling through some dog-loving circles of late is word of a proposal that would drastically affect owners of Rottweilers, pit bulls and other breeds. Not exactly.
Coming up in committee Monday, the proposal would require owners of dangerous dogs to spay or neuter and carry liability insurance of at least $50,000 that covers animal bites. The new law would apply only to owners of individual dogs the courts have found "dangerous," with a proven history of mauling and biting.It is not breed specific and has support from the state's humane societies and veterinarians.
Managed care truce
Physicians and HMOs aren't about to turn their swords into scalpels. But the powerful interest groups have reached a truce in their high-stakes battle over the future of managed health care.
```Peace in the valley,''' declared Norfolk Democrat George Heilig, chairman of the House Corporations, Insurance and Banking committee.
The two sides have agreed to legislation that would continue a study of patient choice in choosing their doctor and would set up an improved toll-free complaint hot line.
Health care was a dominant issue in the 1996 General Assembly.
Insurance companies - backed by business leaders - pushed managed care to hold down skyrocketing health care costs. Physicians complained that insurers were going too far, restricting access to care and putting profit before patients.
The assembly passed a few reforms, such as allowing women to see their gynecologists without prior OK from their primary-care physician.
Madeline Wade, lobbyist for the Virginia Medical Society, predicted that an improved complaint hotline will act as a deterrent to insurance companies that unreasonably restrict patient access to care.
Before the committee vote, Heilig joked with Wade that he could assure passage of the compromise bill this year if she promised not to resume the battle next year.
"No, sir," she replied, prompting laughter in the committee room.
Staff writers Robert Little and David M. Poole, Philip Walzer of Landmark News Service, and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
LENGTH: Long : 135 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshots) Woodrum, Marye KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1997by CNB