Tuesday, March 02, 2010
General Assembly notebook: Senate gun-bill panel likely a firing squad
General Assembly 2011
Among the major issues: The state's continuing efforts to provide services with fewer dollars and Gov. McDonnell's plan to privatize liquor stores. Session ends Feb. 26.
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RICHMOND -- Several gun bills that were expected to squeak through the General Assembly may be on their way to a firing squad instead thanks to maneuvering by a senior Democrat.
Sen. Henry Marsh of Richmond, who leads the Courts of Justice Committee, announced Monday that he has created a new subcommittee to handle certain bills, including the gun measures.
That panel -- stacked with four Democrats and one Republican -- will have the power to kill legislation. That's a departure from Senate tradition and could deny the gun bills a hearing before the full committee, which includes several pro-gun Democrats.
Marsh's move comes near the end of what was expected to be one of the most gun-friendly sessions in recent years. Several bills expanding gun rights have already passed the Senate, but a number have not, including a House bill that would repeal the state's limit of one handgun purchase per month.
Philip Van Cleave of the pro-gun Virginia Citizens Defense League labeled Marsh's new panel the "Death Star" subcommittee, a reference to the planet-destroying behemoth of "Star Wars" fame.
"The anti-gun Democrats who control the Virginia Senate know that in the end they are outnumbered," Van Cleave wrote in an e-mail. "So they are left to playing games with our constitutionally protected rights. While that is unconscionable, sadly it is not surprising."
Democrats hold 10 of the 15 seats on Courts of Justice. But three of those Democrats -- Sens. Creigh Deeds of Bath County, John Edwards of Roanoke and Roscoe Reynolds of Henry County -- tend to vote with Republicans on gun rights bills.
Monday's action was foreshadowed last week when Senate leaders of both parties spoke publicly about mimicking the House of Delegates' practice of killing bills in subcommittee.
And Marsh's actions set off a series of retaliatory shots Monday, with lawmakers in both houses bottling up bills.
The new Courts of Justice subcommittee is made up of Marsh and fellow Democratic Sens. Janet Howell of Fairfax County, Louise Lucas of Portsmouth and Toddy Puller of Fairfax County.
Its lone Republican is Sen. Frederick Quayle of Chesapeake, who expressed some confusion about how the subcommittee will function, but not its composition.
"Obviously, the committee is slotted to people who generally are opposed to gun measures," he observed.
Among the gun bills already approved by the Senate are a measure to allow individuals to carry concealed handguns in restaurants that serve alcohol so long as they don't drink, and one that would permit people to keep concealed handguns in their vehicles if stored in a locked container.
Both could be voted on by the Republican-controlled House this week.
Gov. Bob McDonnell has said he would sign legislation repealing the one-gun-a-month limit.
The new subcommittee could decide that bill's fate when it meets Thursday.
-- Julian Walker and Deirdre Fernandes, The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot, Michael Sluss, The Roanoke Times
Lawmakers tell chamber Obama needs GOP input
Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and two Republican state legislators said Monday that President Obama should go back to the drawing board in crafting a health care reform plan and include ideas advanced by GOP lawmakers.
In a news conference arranged by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Bolling said Obama continues to cling to ideas that would lead to additional taxes, Medicare cuts and new Medicaid funding burdens for Virginia. And he criticized Democrats for showing a "total disregard for input from Republican members."
The chamber group wants federal lawmakers to focus on issues such as medical malpractice reform, creating insurance pools for individuals and small businesses, and providing relief for people with pre-existing conditions.
Bolling was joined at the news conference by Del. Scott Garrett, R-Lynchburg, a surgeon, who said the federal legislation "has failed to address the major drivers of health care costs."
-- Michael Sluss
House panel advances charter-school bill
A House of Delegates panel has advanced legislation that would expand the state's role in approving charter-school applications.
The House Education Committee voted 17-5 Monday to approve the bill, which would give the state board of education a role in advising prospective providers on their charter-school applications. Local school boards would retain ultimate authority to approve such schools.
-- The Associated Press
General Assembly OKs tastings at ABC stores
You soon could begin sipping wine and liquor at your local ABC store.
The General Assembly on Monday passed a bill to allow tasting events at the government-run stores.
The House had amended the bill to require that the tastings be conducted by an employee or representative of the spirits or farm winery that has received a permit to conduct such events.
The Senate voted 30-10 Monday to agree with that change.
The bill now goes to Gov. Bob McDonnell, who can sign, amend or veto it.
-- The Associated Press
