Status Report A look at the General Assembly's action on major issues it faced this session, along with Gov. James S. Gilmore III's positions. — March 18, 1998 ISSUE HOUSE ACTION SENATE ACTION GOVERNOR'S POSITION Car-Tax Cut Passed plan costing $447 million over two years; deferred action on full plan Passed plan costing $474 million over two years; deferred action on full plan Proposed plan costing $493 million over two years and $2.8 billion over five years School Construction Passed $110 million cash aid program; $20 million must come from governor Passed $110 million cash aid program; $20 million must come from governor Under review; Republican lawmakers say he will not veto House-Senate compromise Public Schools Passed bills mandating sex education and elementary school guidance counselors Passed bills mandating sex education and guidance counselors Has indicated he will veto sex-ed measure, and maybe both plans Cut in Food Sales Tax Passed $800 million plan to phase out state's 3.5 percent share of tax over six years Killed Opposed New Teachers Passed plan to hire 2,000 elementary teachers by reducing class sizes K-3rd grade statewide; hiring reading teachers Passed plan to hire 2,000 elementary teachers by reducing class sizes K-3rd grade statewide; hiring reading teachers Proposed plan to hire 2,000 teachers; will sign Health Care Passed $37 million plan to expand Medicaid and similar insurance to 83,000 children Passed $37 million plan to expand Medicaid and similar insurance to 83,000 children Will veto; favored less generous plan Abortion Passed ban on late-term, "partial birth" abortions Passed ban on late-term, "partial birth" abortions Will sign Assisted Suicide Passed ban Passed ban Will sign Handguns Killed effort to ban Killed effort to ban No position Environment Passed bills to regulate garbage barges, strengthen hog farm regulations, regulate poultry farms Passed bills to regulate garbage barges, strengthen hog farm regulations Will sign bills to regulate garbage barges and tighten rules on hog farms Utilities Passed bill to deregulate electric industry and allow retail-level competition by 2004 Passed bill to deregulate electric industry and allow retail-level competition by 2004 Will sign Managed Care Passed bills to regulate non-HMO managed-care plans and require HMOs to offer out-of-network option Passed bills to regulate non-HMO managed-care plans and require HMOs to offer out-of-network option Will sign  SOURCE: Virginia General Assembly