THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 10, 1997 TAG: 9702100087
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Staff writers David M. Poole, Robert Little and Laura LaFay
contributed to this report.
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: 91 lines
They call it the ``Night of Long Knives,'' the annual late-night ritual in which the House Courts of Justice Committee clears its docket of criminal justice bills.
The Democrats who dominate the panel were killing the bills so fast as the hour approached midnight one day last week that most Republicans didn't bother to put up a fight.
The lone GOP voice of dissent was Virginia Beach Del. Robert McDonnell, an unflinching advocate for getting tough on criminals.
McDonnell, sitting ramrod straight with his tie firmly knotted, continued to utter ``nay'' long after his GOP colleagues had stopped paying attention.
McDonnell got so caught up in the frenzy that he failed to notice that one get-tough bill he wanted to approve was now being opposed by prosecutors.
``Was there an objection from the commonwealth's attorneys?'' he asked.
``Yes,'' came the reply.
``I withdraw the motion,'' he said with a sheepish grin, sending laughter rippling through the committee. Stolle opposes spending more on death row cases
As the General Assembly considered the state budget last week, one Virginia Beach senator argued that Virginia is spending too much money on people sentenced to death.
Virginia Beach Sen. Kenneth W. Stolle objected to a $100,000 payment to Virginia's Capital Representation Resource Center. It was one of only a handful of spending items in the $35 billion budget that garnered opposition.
The center, which provides support for death row inmates filing appeals, receives almost $3 million in state money every year. The extra $100,000 would replace federal cuts.
Stolle argued that most death row appeals center on claims that the defendant's original lawyer botched the trial. Money should be spent on better trials, he said, not on overturning them later.
``What we're doing is paying $3 million for people to argue that the other attorneys we pay in Virginia are incompetent,'' Stolle said.
``If we have an extra $100,000 to invest, let's invest in the public defenders. Let's not give it to a higher group of attorneys who argue that the public defenders are no good.''
Other senators, including the Republican floor leader, countered that every criminal sentenced to death is entitled to an appeal and a lawyer to file it.
``I think all of us want to make sure that people who get the death penalty receive the best possible representation - at all levels,'' said Richmond Sen. Joseph Benedetti.
Added Richmond Sen. Benjamin Lambert: ``A small investment will be well spent if it helps ensure justice in capital cases.'' 29 Republicans support carpal tunnel compromise
Twenty-nine Republican lawmakers sent a letter to Gov. George F. Allen on Friday voicing support for compromise legislation that would allow for a business tax break and Worker's Compensation for carpal tunnel syndrome and vision problems.
The lawmakers' support of the deal means any Allen attempt to veto it will be met with a legislative override.
``In our opinion, this compromise package is in the best interests of all Virginians and we intend to continue to support the package,'' they wrote. ``We urge your favorable consideration of the legislation.''
Among the signers: Norfolk Del. Thelma Drake, Virginia Beach Dels. Bob Purkey and Bob McDonnell, and Suffolk Del. Robert E. Nelms.
Allen said this week that he will consider the bill ``carefully,'' to make sure it contains a high standard by which workers must prove their injuries are work-related, rather than age-induced. Allen favors some form of legislation, he said, because if such injuries are covered by Worker's Compensation payments, injured workers would be blocked from seeking large sums from their employers in civil court.
But the bill's sponsor is House Majority Leader C. Richard Cranwell (D-Vinton), a political enemy and ideological opponent of Allen. And Cranwell said Friday that Allen has been soliciting opposition to the legislation.
``There's a lot of folks who think the fact that my name is on the bill is a reason for the governor to veto it,'' Cranwell said. ``It would be horrible if this all went up in smoke because the governor vetoed it because of who the patron is.''
ILLUSTRATION: Robert McDonnell
Kenneth W. Stolle
Thelma Drake
Robert E. Nelms
KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY