Senators can't use official
seal
for fund-raisers, charity events
In
an attempt to reform campaign finance tactics, a legislative committee
has set a policy to prohibit senators from using the Senate seal on
invitations to fund-raisers or charitable events. [Full
story by Lindsay Kastner]
GOP senators kill Gilmore's
reform bill
Fellow Republicans on
Wednesday helped defeat a key item on Republican Gov. Jim Gilmore's
reform agenda, the Richmond
Times-Dispatch reported. Gilmore wanted to prohibit attorney-legislators
from being appointed by local courts as commissioners of accounts;
these commissioners get paid to oversee the financial affairs of the
dead. "The buddy system of government is not a good thing," said Mark
Miner, Gilmore's spokesman. But opponents
said the proposal would prevent lawyers who serve as commissioners
from serving in the General Assembly. The issue is likely to be considered
in the House later this session.
Catching speeders from
the air
Two bills to let the Virginia
State Police use airplanes to catch speeding motorists cleared a hurdle
Wednesday – barely. A subcommittee of the House Transportation Committee
initially voted against the proposals, The
Roanoke Times reported. But on a final vote, a member abstained
so that the bills could advance to the full committee with a positive
recommendation.
High-tech jobs for Southwest
Virginia
Sen. William Wampler, R-Bristol,
has submitted several budget bills aimed at bringing high-tech jobs
to Southwest Virginia and training the work force to fill them, the
Bristol Herald Courier reported.
"My plan for the $4 million is to capture part of the Unemployment
Trust Fund," Wampler said. "There is a surplus in the fund today because
of the low unemployment rate in the state. The governor asked me to
carry a bill for him to capture $9 million this year and $14 million
the next. My bill is not inconsistent with what the governor wants,
but is focused on the areas in the state that need it."
