Although the transportation debate has overshadowed the General Assembly’s session this year, several controversial issues await legislators when they meet today to consider Gov. Tim Kaine’s vetoes and amendments.
At the top of the list are five bills the governor vetoed that would have allowed all participants in a murder to be eligible for execution and permitted those convicted of killing a trial witness to be put to death.
The measures passed overwhelmingly in the House of Delegates with support from many Democratic lawmakers. If the backing holds, Kaine’s veto could be overridden.
“This is an issue of great importance and extreme concern,” said Del. Brian Moran, D-Alexandria, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and supporter of the bills. “I have to side with my personal conscience.”
The bills had less Democratic support in the Senate. As of Tuesday evening, supporters were unsure if they could hold enough Democrats to summon the two-thirds majority needed for an override. Kaine’s proposal to change a House bill to ban smoking has fired up controversy, including Republican claims the amendments are so poorly written that they would actually ban smoking anywhere food is served except private residences.
“I think we can defeat the amendments,” said House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith, R-Salem.
A simple majority is needed to defeat amendments. Del. Tim Hugo, R-Fairfax, and Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis, R-Vienna, will work today to kill amendments Kaine proposed to their legislation requiring localities to stop buying touch-screen voting machines by July 1. The governor’s amendment moved the cutoff date to July 1, 2008, at the request of local registrars. Unlike the touch-screen machines, a verifiable paper trail exists when the scanning machines are used because a paper ballot must be filled out and put through the machine.
“Delaying it another year enables them to purchase more machines that will not meet the new federal standards that require a paper trail,” Davis said. “If they have the money to buy the [touch-screen] machines now, they also have money to buy the scanmachines.”
