THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 13, 1995 TAG: 9501130523
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEC KLEIN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
It's payback time, although Del. Frank W. Wagner was a bit more delicate about it Thursday.
The Virginia Beach Republican announced that he will introduce a resolution asking state agencies to investigate North Carolina projects that potentially affect Virginia waterways.
The measure, Wagner acknowledged, ``could be perceived as a threat'' to the neighboring state.
The reason: North Carolina's longstanding opposition to the Lake Gaston project, a proposed pipeline along the state line that would pump 60 million gallons of water a day to South Hampton Roads.
``Given the intransigence of North Carolina officials in accepting the results of federal permitting actions with regards to the Lake Gaston pipeline project, we believe it is time for Virginia to pursue a similar course of action for projects proposed in North Carolina that potentially impact Virginia's natural resources,'' Wagner said.
Tit-for-tat? ``Maybe to a certain degree,'' he said.
The resolution is supported by other Virginia Beach legislators and City Councilman Louis R. Jones, who is leading mediation negotiations with North Carolina.
If the talks fall apart, however, it could mean a protracted war between the states. ``I think North Carolina should and could anticipate the same kind of (project) delays that Virginia is experiencing in getting the Lake Gaston pipeline,'' Wagner said.
Round 1. Political passions flared Thursday over a bill to protect patients' access to abortion clinics. But after a procedural skirmish, lawmakers adjourned to consider the matter another day.
Del. J. Randy Forbes, R-Chesapeake, effectively undercut the bill by offering an amendment to remove references to health care facilities.
``I question whether this bill will get at the violence we're all concerned about,'' Forbes said.
Del. Clifton A. Woodrum, D-Roanoke, defended his bill as a ``surgical strike'' against violence at clinics and suggested that Forbes' amendment was little more than a ``smoke screen'' to dilute the bill.
In a sharply partisan vote, Forbes' amendment passed 50-47 with Republican backing. Democrats, however, mustered enough votes to reconsider Forbes' amendment and bring the bill back another time. by CNB