Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 28, 1992 TAG: 9202280197
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BONNIE V. WINSTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
HOUSE THROTTLES BOND BILL
Punchy after a week of contentious battles over budgets and borrowing, the House of Delegates quashed attempts Thursday to put a road-building bond issue on the table for this assembly session by refusing to even permit the bill to be introduced.Members later agreed to reconsider the refusal after a round of partisan finger pointing and surprise promises by one Democrat that he would sink the bill when it's brought back up because it was proposed by a first-year lawmaker.
"In my nine years here, I've never seen a freshman put in a bill for $400 million that would have such a dramatic effect on the entire state," complained Del. Henry Maxwell, D-Newport News.
As his colleagues groaned in disbelief, Maxwell said he intended to vote against any further consideration of the proposal by Del. James Scott, D-Merrifield. Because introduction of a bill so late in the session - the assembly adjourns next week - requires unanimous consent, Maxwell could single-handedly defeat the bill.
"This is the most contentious session I've seen since I've been in the General Assembly," said House Speaker Thomas Moss of Norfolk, a 26-year veteran.
Eager to get needed road projects started while the bond market is favorable and interest rates are low, Scott offered a $346.5 million transportation bond package.
The plan includes about $47 million for various road projects in Western and Southwest Virginia.
But one Democrat and seven Republicans, including Minority Leader Vance Wilkins of Amherst, voted against its introduction, apparently torpedoing the chance to discuss transportation projects this session. That vote was subsequently reconsidered, but Maxwell's threat stopped for the day any further attempt to introduce the bill.
Looking directly at Maxwell, Majority Leader Richard Cranwell, D-Vinton, asked for the delay "so we can have a little dialogue."
The House last week overwhelmingly backed a bond package which included $500 million for transportation projects. But the bill died in a deadlock with the Senate.
Gov. Douglas Wilder tried to break the stalemate by sending three new bond bills to the House and Senate Thursday. But his bills, totaling $613.9 million, include only state college, mental health and parks building projects. While they were endorsed unanimously late Thursday by House and Senate money committees, several Northern Virginia lawmakers suggested they won't pass without an additional measure for transportation.
When Scott's bill was denied introduction, Cranwell took the floor to accuse Wilkins of trying to undermine Scott's re-election chances. Scott won his seat last fall by just one vote.
"I've been here 20 years. . . . But to take partisanship to this level, I'm disappointed," Cranwell said.
Wilkins retaliated by accusing Cranwell of the same sort of partisanship in floor voting.
Scott, who appeared unfazed by the commotion, said he recognizes that some people have questions about a freshman introducing "legislation of consequence." But he told them he fashioned the bill with the help of a Republican co-patron, John Watkins of Midlothian.
"I am disturbed by the narrow ideas that seem to prevail," Scott said. "We'll try again tomorrow."
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.