THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Monday, January 15, 1996               TAG: 9601150077
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A7   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY ROBERT LITTLE, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   55 lines

AGREEMENT ON JUDGES PROBABLY WOULD AFFECT OTHER HIGH-PROFILE ISSUES

Beyond making a change in the way judges will be named in Virginia, the agreement between Democrats and Republicans in the state Senate could have a noticeable effect on high-profile issues in the General Assembly.

Among them:

The effort to require that minors notify their parents before having abortions is expected to gain strength.

A key factor: the Education and Health Committee.

Proponents think they have support for the bill in the full Senate, but the Education and Health Committee has been a roadblock over the years.

The Senate compromise gives Democrats an 8-7 majority on the panel, but it puts a Republican, Warren E. Barry, at the helm.

Barry has supported parental notification legislation in the past.

Sen. Mark L. Earley, R-Chesapeake, will submit the bill requiring that a woman under 18 tell a parent or guardian before having an abortion.

In the past, versions have been diluted by lowering her age or including relatives, friends, counselors or others among those who could be notified to satisfy the law.

Earley said he still expects a tight vote but said the new organization clearly works in the bill's favor.

``We have to see, but I think its chances have improved,'' Earley said.

Gambling laws could suffer under the new makeup of the Senate's General Laws Committee.

Sen. William C. Wampler Jr. of Bristol, the panel's new Republican chairman, generally opposes gambling legislation, including the state lottery.

This year, Wampler's committee could consider proposals by Gov. George F. Allen to implement two new lottery games.

One, called Powerball, would be similar to the current Lotto game but would have larger jackpots and would be played jointly with other states.

Another proposed new game, Keno, already has sparked debate because it is much more interactive and immediate than typical lottery games.

Drawings could occur every five minutes.

It is unclear whether the General Assembly would need to approve the new games.

If it did, they would have to clear Wampler's committee, which will include eight Republicans and seven Democrats.

Wampler said he voted against the lottery before he became a legislator, and has consistently opposed legislation to expand gambling.

``As chairman, I'll do my best to be fair and impartial,'' Wampler said. ``But yes, I have objected to legislation like that in the past.''

KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY by CNB