ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, March 4, 1996 TAG: 9603040056
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: Associated Press
State legislators head into the homestretch of the 1996 General Assembly session this week with action still needed on the state budget, abortion bills and judicial appointments.
Committees in both houses must complete their work by the end of today. A conference committee made up of members of both houses must come up with a compromise on the $35 billion, two-year state budget by the end of the day Tuesday.
The main differences between the House and Senate budget plans involve pay raises for teachers and how much of a proposed $175 million payment from Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield should be channeled into the budget.
The assembly adjourns Saturday.
Nonbudget matters still to be decided include a bill that would require parents or guardians be notified when an unmarried teen-ager seeks an abortion. That measure will be heard by a Senate committee that killed another version earlier this session.
A House committee will consider a bill that would make the killing of a fetus other than through lawful abortion a crime that could be prosecuted as first-degree murder. Pro-choice activists said the bill could make some abortions crimes.
The House earlier passed a different version of the bill pro-choice activists said is more acceptable. It would eliminate the murder charge and expand the penalties for aggravated malicious wounding if a pregnant woman loses her fetus during an attack.
Legislators say it is unlikely that one of last year's major issues - concealed weapons - will be revisited in the assembly's final week. House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell, D-Vinton, said Senate bills further weakening the hidden-gun law will be carried over until next year.
``We decided we just put this bill on the books last session, and we need to let it work a little bit before we start changing it,'' Cranwell said.
Also, both houses will consider the appointment of judges, with extra attention focused on the Senate. Traditionally, the Democratic caucus has controlled the appointments; but this year, senators had to work out a new, region-based arrangement because Republicans forged a 20-20 tie in the November elections.
Some senators say they expect few ties, but a deadlocked judgeship vote would fuel a debate on Democratic Lt. Gov. Don Beyer's voting powers.
Beyer, who serves as president of the Senate, contends the state constitution gives him the right to break ties on all matters that come before the chamber. But some Republicans interpret the constitution as specifying that Beyer cannot break ties on judgeships or constitutional issues.
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1996by CNB