THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 19, 1995 TAG: 9502190048
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAVID M. POOLE AND GREG SCHNEIDER, STAFF WRITERS
LENGTH: Long : 107 lines
Del. Frank Wagner, R-Virginia Beach, failed last Thursday to regain the upper hand in the bid to see who can lift the tolls on the Virginia Beach Expressway soonest.
Arguing that the current plan to eliminate the tolls on the busy Fourth of July weekend would cause a traffic hazard, Wagner tried to get the House of Delegates to change the date to May 1. He lost on a 46-51, party-line vote.
Wagner sponsored legislation last year to eliminate the tolls, but Democrats nixed it - the decisive committee vote being cast by Democratic Sen. Clarence A. Holland of Virginia Beach.
So Republican Gov. George F. Allen stepped in and ordered that the tolls vanish Oct. 1.
Then Holland got religion. He decided this session to do the governor three months better and introduced a bill lifting the tolls on July1. That bill has already passed both houses of the legislature.
``I'm very much concerned somebody's going to get killed out there unnecessarily on the Fourth of July weekend while we're trying to remove these tolls,'' Wagner said, arguing to go to May 1.
He wound up in a merciless crossfire of opposition from Democrats. Del. Howard Copeland, D-Norfolk, pointed out that the Commonwealth Transportation Board, appointed by the governor, could step in and set the date whenever it wishes.
``Is the gentleman not confident in the wisdom, judgment and action of the Commonwealth Transportation Board?'' Copeland asked.
If the assembly had passed his bill last year, Wagner replied, ``the tolls would have been down six weeks ago and we wouldn't even be having this discussion.''
After the vote, Wagner marched to the back of the chamber for a cigarette.
``It's the busiest day of the year and we're going to do this mess for what? So somebody can get a little credit,'' he fumed. ``I think it's pathetic.''
Wagner said he would try now to have the governor send down an emergency amendment to change the date to May 1.
Del. Leo C. Wardrup, another Virginia Beach Republican, said he would like to avoid the summer months completely and that he will ask the governor to change the date back to Oct. 1.
Republicans finally claimed their first victory of the General Assembly session - on the basketball court.
On Thursday, the GOP whipped the Democrats, 38-31, to gain their first ever victory in the annual legislative hoops grudge.
Robert ``Rebound'' Nelms proved effective inside the paint, even against the Democrats' massive center, Jackie ``Tree'' Stump.
Robert ``Cat'' McDonnell showed his quickness with several steals and layups.
And Frank ``Ice Man'' Wagner caused a stir when he took the court sockless in a pair of jogging shoes.
After the game, Wagner revealed that he was, indeed, wearing a pair of those tiny socks that don't stick up above the shoes.
``I like these little booties,'' he said.
Del. Robert Tata never meant to become the champion of a modified ward system for City Council and school board elections in Virginia Beach.
But Tata, a Virginia Beach Republican, agreed to sponsor the measure in the General Assembly this year because no other member of the city's legislative delegation would touch it.
Tata said that neighborhood activists who led a petition drive for last year's advisory referendum deserved a hearing.
The modified ward plan is dead for now.
It appears Virginia Beach residents will have to go back to the polls, this time to answer a two-part ballot question about equal population districts and modified wards.
At least that's what would happen under a substitute bill - sponsored by Sen. Kenneth W. Stolle, R-Virginia Beach - approved Friday by the Senate. The measure now goes back to the House, where it is expected to pass.
``This is no great cause for me,'' Tata said of the original plan, ``but the people needed a forum. No one else would do it.''
The South Hampton Roads delegation was generally in favor of the most controversial environmental bill to come before the Assembly this year.
The measure will give amnesty to companies that voluntarily confess about pollution that otherwise would not be disclosed through reports required by the state.
Industries say they need the protection so they can assess their operations without fear that the information will be used against them. Environmentalists support the concept, but say the bill is so broad that it will forgive too many environmental sins.
Democrats voting yes: Sens. C.A. Holland, R.J. Holland, Walker; Dels. Barlow, Croshaw, Heilig, Moore, Moss.
Republicans voting yes: Sens. Earley, Norment, Quayle, Stolle; Dels. Bloxom, Forbes, McDonnel, Morgan, Nelms, Purkey, Tata, Wagner, Wardrup.
Democrats voting no: Sen. Lucas; Dels. Copeland, J.C. Jones, Melin, Robinson, Spruill.
Republicans voting no: None. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Del. Frank Wagner wants the tolls lifted on the Virginia Beach
Expressway on May 1.
Del. Howard Copeland says the trans-por-ta-tion board can set the
toll-lifting date anytime.
Del. Robert Tata spon-sored the failed mea-sure for a modified ward
system at the Beach.
KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY TOLLS by CNB