House Rules Committee Passes on Climate Change Commission

The House Rules Committee voted yesterday along party lines to shelve a proposal to create a permanent commission on climate change, despite objections from Democrats who argued that Virginia should do more to slow global warming.

The proposal by Dels. David L. Englin (D-Alexandria) and Kenneth R. Plum (D-Fairfax) would mandate that the commission study ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which many scientists say have led to global warming.

The commission would have been in addition to one created by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) to study the same issue over the next year.

"This issue will take decades to address," Englin said.

But the nine Republicans on the Rules Committee had concerns about costs and whether Virginia should wade into what they view as a federal issue.

"I'm not really sure what Virginia can do on this issue," House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith said.

-- Tim Craig

Benefits for Same-Sex Partners Debated

Senate Republicans and Democrats sparred yesterday over a bill that would allow local governments to extend health-care benefits to anyone in their employees' households, including same-sex partners.

Last year, the Senate voted overwhelmingly for the bill, which failed in the House of Delegates. This year, however, several Republicans said they were worried that it would open the door for abuses.

Senators voted along party lines to reject a Republican motion to send the bill back to committee. They also rejected an amendment that would have excluded same-sex partners. The Senate votes officially on the bill tomorrow.