THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 16, 1997 TAG: 9701160260
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Staff writers Robert Little and David M. Poole, and the
Associated Press, contributed to this report.
LENGTH: 144 lines
Norfolk Sen. Yvonne B. Miller says she will pay tribute to Bishop Levi Willis and his new church in her own way - but not by asking the General Assembly to commend a convicted felon.
Miller had her resolution commending Willis withdrawn from consideration Wednesday, after several other Hampton Roads legislators - including other members of the Legislative Black Caucus - objected.
Willis pleaded guilty to a federal money laundering charge in 1992. And he or his corporation of radio stations have lost numerous civil judgments over bad debts and failing to pay music royalties. State and federal tax liens have been filed against Willis' company for failing to pay taxes.
Miller's resolution commending Willis for opening a 1,750-seat church in Norfolk had already passed the Senate and was scheduled for a vote in the House of Delegates Friday. But several lawmakers said they would urge the measure's defeat. Veteran lawmakers said it would have been the first time they recall the legislature commending a convicted felon.
``I had it withdrawn because I did not want to embarrass my colleagues,'' Miller said.
Miller asked for another resolution to be withdrawn this week - a measure to allow the General Assembly to restore the voting rights of convicted felons. She had it withdrawn from consideration Monday, the day objections to her other resolution first surfaced.
Miller said she did not submit the voting-rights-for-felons resolution with Willis in mind. When asked why it was withdrawn, she said she ``had a change of heart.''
``I'm a woman,'' she said. ``I can change my mind.''
ALSO WEDNESDAY
A Senate committee decided that a proposal to retire ``Carry Me Back To Old Virginia'' as the state song needed further study.
The bill would make the song the state song emeritus, which means it would not be played at official functions.
The song is rarely sung because it includes words such as ``darkey'' and, according to critics, glorifies slavery.
``Many of us have been just too embarrassed to stand when the state song is played,'' said Sen. L. Louise Lucas, of Portsmouth, a supporter of the proposal.
If the bill became law, the song would no longer be taught to school children. The measure's sponsor, Lynchburg Sen. Stephen D. Newman, also is proposing another bill that would set up a committee to look for an alternate state song.
The General Laws Committee decided to send the proposal to a subcommittee for further study.
The next time students vote in school elections, they might get to find out how many votes winners and losers receive. A Senate committee Wednesday debated a proposal that would make school voting records public. The proposal was sent to subcommittee.
THE PUBLIC'S MONEY
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.
A committee is considering Gov. George Allen's proposal to trim unemployment insurance tax paid by businesses.
Last week, lawmakers worked on a plan to solve the lag pay problem - how and when to pay stateworkers. This week's topic: how much to pay them.
Teachers and state employees are slated to get 2 percent raises in the second year of the 1996-98 budget.
Norfolk Del. George H. Heilig Jr., who chairs the House Appropriations subcommittee, said legislators would look at giving as much as an added 2 percent raise to state workers. ``I think most of the people on the committee are sensitive to the fact that our employees are not always paid what workers in the private sector receive,'' he said.
The Virginia Governmental Employees Association calculates there is a 10 percent salary gap between state employees and people working in the private sector.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
``Members of the Senate, I challenge you to let his dream be our dream, his fight our fight, for he gave his life so that we might find ours. Doctor King died believing in America.''
Newport News Sen. W. Henry Maxwell, speaking on the Senate floor in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
COMING UP SOON
Maybe they don't stand a chance, but some people want to write in votes for president. ``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.
Roanoke Sen. John Edwards' bill would require the board to accept write-ins. No senators sitting on the committee that oversees elections seemed to object to the 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 unanimously sent the bill to the full Senate, where lawmakers predicted it will have a comfortable ride. It's expected to come to a vote this week in the Senate.
STAYING IN TOUCH
CONSTITUENT VIEWPOINTS - A toll-free hotline to provide the citizens of the Commonwealth the opportunity to express their views on issues before the General Assembly.
1-800-889-0229
For more information:
The Clerk's Office
House of Delegates
P.O. Box 406
Richmond, Va. 23218
804-786-6530
The Clerk's Office
Senate of Virginia
P.O. Box 396
Richmond, Va. 23218
804-786-3838 ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Del. George H. Heilig Jr. says lawmakers would look at up to an
added 2 percent raise to state workers.
The Senate already had passed Yvonne B. Miller's resolution to pay
tribute to Bishop Levi Willis for opening a 1,750-seat church in
Norfolk.
Sen. L. Louise Lucas: ``Many of us have been just too embarrassed to
stand when the state song is played.''
KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOT LINE