Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 11, 1992 TAG: 9202110236
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
BEYER VOTE PASSES PAROLE BILL
Lt. Gov. Donald Beyer broke a tie Monday to pass a Senate bill that would allow the Parole Board to grant earlier release to non-violent offenders.Republicans had complained that the bill was too soft on criminals, but Beyer said he was not worried that the vote would haunt him during statewide elections next year.
"It can show up in an ad in '93. That's OK," said Beyer, a Democrat. "None of the tie votes are not controversial."
The Senate had split 20-20 largely along party lines on the bill sponsored by Sen. Richard Holland, D-Windsor, at the request of Gov. Douglas Wilder.
Republicans managed to defeat the bill on the floor last week, but Holland asked that it go back to committee to be revised.
The original bill would have required that non-violent offenders be released nine months early. Currently, prisoners get mandatory parole six months before their term ends.
Under the revised bill, the mandatory parole provision was dropped and only first- and second-time offenders were covered by the discretionary parole provision. The Parole Board would be allowed to consider prisoners for parole three months earlier than current law allows.
> Holland said prisoners who are released early would get intensive supervision.
"I do not believe we are sending the wrong message," he said. "Virginia will do a better job of supervising the offender."
But Sen. Mark Earley, R-Chesapeake, called the bill "an ill-conceived plan to squeeze money out of the budget by allowing earlier release of felons."
In other legislative action:
The House of Delegates gave preliminary approval to a bill allowing off-track betting on horse races at as many as six facilities that could be built if approved by local voters.
The House voted 53-41 to give preliminary approval to the off-track betting bill. Opponents questioned the moral implications of the measure. Supporters said off-track betting would encourage construction of a horse-racing track, which would create jobs and boost tourism.
Since Virginia voters approved pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing in 1988, no investors have come forward to build a track.
Del. Lewis Parker, D-South Hill and sponsor of the bill, said "there is reason to believe we would have a track" if off-track betting facilities are built. He said a track would pump about $1.2 billion a year into the Virginia economy.
"This is one more step on the way to a Virginia we're not going to be very proud of," said Del. Kirkland Cox, R-Colonial Heights.
Del. Henry Maxwell, a minister, said he was "appalled and grievously disturbed" by the bill. He said horse racing, like the lottery, would give "a pie-in-the-sky mentality" to Virginians who can least afford to throw their money away on get-rich-quick schemes.
"It's a false hope," said Maxwell, D-Newport News. He said education and gainful employment are the best means of achieving prosperity.
Supporters of the bill noted that an off-track betting parlor would be built only if approved in a local referendum.
"Nobody is going to force one of these satellite sites on anybody," said Del. William Robinson, D-Norfolk.
The House also gave tentative approval to a bill prohibiting merchants from selling consumer transaction data without notifying the consumer and giving him a chance to "opt out." For example, a grocery store could gather information about what a customer buys and sell the information to manufacturers who could send the customer advertisements and coupons.
Del. George Grayson, D-Williamsburg, wanted to toughen the bill by prohibiting the sale of the information without the customer's written consent. He said his amendment would "strike a blow for privacy."
\ YEA OR NAY ON EARLY PAROLE
IN FAVOR Sens. Frank Nolen, D-New Hope; Jack Reasor, D-Bluefield; Elliot Schewel, D-Lynchburg; William Wampler, R-Bristol.
OPPOSED Sens. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke; Virgil Goode, D-Rocky Mount; Madison Marye, D-Shawsville; Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo, R-Fincastle.