Sharon LaMar of Salem is part of a group advocating for tighter regulations of payday loans to protect consumers than what Virginia's General Assembly approved last month.

The group, Charlottesville-based Virginia Organizing Project, claims to serve as a voice for those who traditionally have little or no voice in society.

LaMar took her voice to Gov. Tim Kaine on Monday night in a town hall-style meeting at Patrick Henry High School. She and a group of volunteers passed out fliers and stickers before the meeting.

"What we mainly want is the governor to amend the bill to protect borrowers," she said.

The legislation, which both the state Senate and House of Delegates passed, is expected to be signed by Kaine this month.

He told a crowd of about 200 people that he does not anticipate making any major revisions to the bill. The reform legislation comes after two years of discussion, and Kaine said he does not want to delay it any longer.

"I am not going to dramatically change the bill," he said.

The payday lending legislation caps annual interest rates at 36 percent, implements a new fee structure and limits the number of loans a borrower can take out during a six-month period.

LaMar said that is not enough to protect hardworking Virginians who fall prey to high interest rates.

"People who are in the most need end up getting caught in a trap and have a hard time getting out," she said.

The Virginia Organizing Project argues that the number of payday loans allowed is too great and the costs are too high.

Sally McGuffin, a divisional director for Advance America Cash Advance in Roanoke, said she supports reform but is wary that too much legislation will shut down the industry.

While she approves of portions of the legislation passed by the General Assembly, she asked Kaine on Monday night not to revert to the 36 percent cap on interest rates.

"We cannot operate on a 36 percent flat cap," McGuffin said. "We would be forced out of business. Customers will lose a valuable service."

Also at the meeting, Kaine discussed several areas of legislative accomplishment, including the state's response to the Virginia Tech shootings, before opening the floor to questions.

That was "probably the heart of the session this year," Kaine said of the approved reforms to the mental health system, including $41 million worth of funding.

Monday's meeting also attracted a crowd of environmentalists, including Don Manning of Lynchburg, who expressed concern about the effects of a proposed coal-burning plant in Western Virginia.

"There is no such thing as clean coal," Manning said.

Kaine said he had spent much time talking with many Wise County residents who support the project.

"I don't believe this nation has a no-coal future," he said.

In addition to promoting energy conservation, Kaine said he is in favor of implementing technology for cleaner coal burning.

The governor's town hall-style meeting in Roanoke is one of 10 he is holding across the commonwealth to discuss legislative successes following the conclusion of the General Assembly session last week.