By Artis Gordon

The Newport News Shipbuilding designs, constructs, repairs and refuels nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines for the U.S. Navy. The company also provides engineering support services, including research and development, reactor plant planning and training. The company also maintains and overhauls ships.

One of Virginia’s largest employers, Newport News Shipbuilding was the 12^th-largest contributor to members of the General Assembly during the 1999 election cycle. The company donated $137,300 to 91 legislators:

• $73,200 went to 52 Republican lawmakers.
• $63,600 went to 38 Democratic legislators.
• Independent Delegate Lacey Putney of Bedford received $500.

The biggest beneficiary of the shipbuilder’s generosity was Delegate Alan Diamonstein, D-Newport News. He received $21,750 from the company for his re-election campaign last fall.

Diamonstein played a major role in getting state money for the construction of a 230,000-square-foot aircraft-carrier design research center in Newport News. The project is costing Virginia taxpayers about $98 million. Authorized by the 1998 General Assembly, the center is projected to preserve about 1,600 jobs for Newport News Shipbuilding.

Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-Williamsburg, received $11,000 from the shipbuilder during the 1999 election cycle. He and Diamonstein are co-patron of a resolution to establish a joint subcommittee to study the economic incentives needed to promote growth and competitiveness of Virginia’s shipbuilding industry.

The 15-member committee was directed to examine the effects that tax benefits have on the industry. The panel also is examining the economic condition and employment levels of Virginia’s shipbuilding and repair companies.

The committee is scheduled to issue a report by Dec. 20, 2000.