ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 8, 1997 TAG: 9702100051
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-6 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: GENERAL ASSEMBLY NOTEBOOK
DATELINE: RICHMOND
Twenty-nine Republican lawmakers sent a letter to Gov. George Allen on Friday voicing their support for compromise legislation that would allow both a tax break for businesses and workers' compensation for carpal tunnel syndrome and hearing problems.
The lawmakers' support of the deal means any Allen attempt to veto it would be met with a legislative override.
"In our opinion, this compromise package is in the best interests of all Virginians, and we intend to continue to support the package," wrote the Republicans. "We urge your favorable consideration of the legislation."
Among the signers: Salem Del. Morgan Griffith.
Allen said this week that he would consider the bill "carefully," to make sure it contains a high standard by which workers must prove their injuries are work-related, rather than age-induced. Allen favors some form of legislation, he said, because if such injuries are covered by workers' compensation payments, injured workers would be blocked from seeking large sums from their employers in civil court.
But the bill's sponsor is House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell, D-Vinton, a political enemy and ideological opponent of Allen. And Cranwell said Friday that Allen has been soliciting opposition to the legislation.
"There's a lot of folks who think the fact that my name is on the bill is a reason for the governor to veto it," Cranwell said Friday.
"It would be horrible if this all went up in smoke because the governor vetoed it because of who the patron is."
Horse racing gets extension
The General Assembly voted to give Virginia's proposed horse racing track until Sept. 1 to open its doors, an extension that was criticized by some lawmakers who think the track owners are stalling while they tap more money from off-track betting parlors.
A bill that passed the Senate 29-9 Friday gives Colonial Downs a 60-day extension to open its New Kent County horse track. The House of Delegates already approved the measure. It now goes to the governor for his approval.
The extension was considered modest by most who said it's a common-sense gesture for a track that is already under construction.
But the move angered Virginia Beach Republican Kenneth Stolle who said the track owners have asked for too much already.
"This is the third year in a row they've asked for more time, and now they're only going to have live racing there 30 days a year," said Stolle. "They have off-track betting 365 days a year. My guess is that's not what the General Assembly had in mind."
In other action ...
* A bill that would require the state fire marshal to inspect college student residence halls was passed by the Senate on Friday.
The fire marshal had stopped the routine annual inspections because of budget cuts, leaving the task largely to the colleges themselves.
* The Senate passed a bill requiring the state lottery to print a phone number for Gamblers Anonymous on all lottery tickets.
* A House committee sent off for further study a bill that would have granted immunity to employers giving references about former employees.
Heroin ban advances
Roanoke Democrat Clifton "Chip" Woodrum is a step closer to his political dream of outlawing heroin for medical use.
Woodrum's bill, which would repeal a law that permits the use of heroin to relieve pain, has already been approved by the House of Delegates. On Wednesday, it made it through the Senate Education and Health Committee.
Staff writers Laura LaFay and Robert Little, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1997by CNB