| A look at the major issues the Virginia General Assembly will consider during its 60-day session that begins today, including proposals offered by Democrats and by Gov. James S. Gilmore III and his Republican colleagues. |
|
ISSUE |
GILMORE/GOP POSITION |
DEMOCRATIC POSITION |
| Transportation |
Gilmore has proposed a $2.5billion package for transportation over six years. Some Northern Virginia Republicans favor spending more. |
Many Northern Virginia Democrats want to spend more on roads and transportation than Gilmore does. But there is wide disagreement on how much to spend and how to pay for the projects. |
Tobacco
settlement
money |
Gilmore wants to use 40 percent of the settlement for transportation, 10 percent to fight youth smoking and 50 percent to help tobacco farmers and their communities. |
While the Democratic leadership has signed off on the Gilmore approach, some Democratic lawmakers think more money should be used to fight smoking and its related illnesses. |
| Education |
The governor has proposed spending $600 million on higher education, including $23 million to help make George Mason University a high-technology showcase. Gilmore also wants additional funding for K-12 but is proposing no raises for teachers. |
Many Democrats want to see raises for teachers and favor more spending than Gilmore has proposed for K-12 and higher education. |
| Growth |
Gilmore is generally opposed to government restrictions on growth, but some Republicans from rapidly growing areas favor them. GOP leaders are pushing a plan to pay rural landowners not to develop their property. |
There is no party consensus on growth control measures. Many Democrats support proposals to pay landowners not to develop their property. |
| Taxes |
Gilmore's proposed budget calls for $1.6 billion to continue phasing out the car tax and cutting other levies. |
Some Democrats want to speed the planned reduction in the food tax. Last year, Gilmore signed off on a measure to reduce the 4.5 percent tax on groceries by half a percentage point a year, beginning this month. The tax is slated to be reduced to 2.5 percent. |
| Abortion |
The governor does not plan to push new abortion restrictions this session. But some GOP lawmakers hope to impose a 24-hour waiting period and to require hospital-style standards at abortion clinics. |
Most Democrats oppose new restrictions. |
| Technology |
The governor has proposed $10 million in tax incentives to prod employers into letting workers do their jobs from home computers rather than contributing to rush-hour traffic congestion. Gilmore also supports a ban on taxing goods. |
No unified position. |
