ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 18, 1997 TAG: 9702180089
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
This year's General Assembly adjourns Saturday. Two local legislators update their work:
Del. Jim Shuler, D-Blacksburg
Represents Blacksburg, much of Montgomery County and eastern Giles County. Richmond office: (804) 786-8425.
My principal focus during this General Assembly session is on "Reinvestment." Education, with the proven foundation it offers our children, families and future is the bedrock to any reinvestment plan. Investing in our people, our state employees - those in support, teaching or faculty positions - creates the required infrastructure that braces the system.
An additional, vital component to Virginia's reinvestment plan is our environment. Every citizen shares responsibility for conserving our resources, but it falls on the state and federal government to ensure that our environment is legally defended against abuse. Several legislative measures address that charge, many stemming from the Commission on the Future of Virginia's Environment. Our own Sen. Madison Marye, vice chairman of the commission, is the chief patron on the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Act of 1997. I am a co-patron on the House version of the legislation. The bill is designed to ensure that funds are permanently available for the improvement of water quality on a statewide basis.
Less than 1 percent of our state budget supports conserving our natural resources. The Water Quality Improvement Act of 1997 stipulates that 10 percent of any surplus, in any year, in general fund revenue will go toward a water quality improvement fund. The money is available to local governments for comprehensive water improvement projects, and at the same time, the bill holds local governments accountable for funds they receive.
Critics of the measure have called it a Chesapeake Bay allotment that will merely serve the Bay. Their position, however, is both shortsighted and inaccurate. Eighty-five percent of the land mass of Virginia drains into the Chesapeake Bay. That covers all rivers and streams east of the Eastern Continental Divide, which bisects Montgomery County. Virginia fisheries, marine sciences and tourism are among the industries that depend on the quality of these waterways. Farmers, soil and water conservation districts and other organizations stretching from Abingdon to Fairfax will benefit.
The Virginia Water Quality Improvement Act passed the House, with amendments, on Thursday. On Monday, the Senate agreed to those amendments and approved it again.
Del. Tommy Baker, R-Pulaski County
Represents Pulaski County, Pearisburg and western Giles County. Richmond phone number: (804) 786-6605.
In the Senate, House measures dealing with same sex marriages, teacher immunity and felony driving under the influence bills were acted on. The Senate has approved the bill, on which I was a co-sponsor, banning same-sex marriages. I was glad to see this and it is now on the governor's desk awaiting signature. Public school teachers will be given immunity from lawsuits brought against them for their acts to maintain class discipline. In essence, teachers will not have to worry about being sued because of reasonable efforts to remove disruptive students from the classroom. I supported this bill in the House and was happy to see it pass in the Senate. Also, a measure that previously passed the House has received Senate approval. This bill will create a new felony offense. If a driver causes serious bodily impairment or disfigurement to another while driving drunk, then such driver will be charged with a felony in addition to driving under the influence. I also supported this bill in the House.
Most of the legislation I introduced has now passed the Senate or is still pending there. One bill provides clarification that jail inmates working on public projects for counties, cities, or towns, can also do so for public service authorities. Thus it is clear that jail inmates can continue to be utilized for labor on the garbage trucks and help keep our collection costs down. That bill passed the Senate last week.
As we enter the final week of session, I want to again thank you for your calls and letters. The pace of things this year has been very hectic, but your help has made my decision making process much easier.
Other New River Valley legislators include:
Del. Allen Dudley, R-Rocky Mount, represents Floyd County, (804) 786-6895.
Del. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, represents Christiansburg and eastern Montgomery County, along with western Roanoke County and Salem. Richmond office, (804) 786-7296.
Sen. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville, represents Montgomery County and part of Pulaski County, (804) 786-6986.
Sen. Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo, R-Fincastle, represents Radford, Giles County and part of Pulaski County, (804) 786-6884.
The toll-free number to leave your opinion on an issue for your legislator is: (800) 889-0229.
Write any delegate by using their name and: P.O. Box 406; Richmond, VA 23218
Write any senator by name: General Assembly Building; 910 Capitol St.; Richmond, VA 23219
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshots) Baker, Shuler KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1997by CNB