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BREAKING NEWS: House uranium mining bill appears stalled
Sponsor asks that it stay in committee
Friday, February 1, 2013
RICHMOND (AP) — Del. Jackson Miller said he has asked the chairman of the House Commerce and Labor Committee, Del. Terry Kilgore, to not bring forward his legislation that would establish regulations for mining uranium.
That means it likely will sit in committee past crossover day on Tuesday. Legislation that has a chance of passing must move from one chamber to the other by that day.
“He (Kilgore) said if that’s my wish, he’s happy to do that,” Miller, R-Manassas, said Friday.
Sen. John Watkins, a Powhatan Republican, is the leading advocate of uranium mining in the General Assembly. He withdrew his version of the legislation on Thursday with it facing almost certain defeat in committee and on the floor of the Senate.
Watkins then asked Gov. Bob McDonnell to direct state agencies to draw up regulations for the mining
The actions by Watkins and Miller shift what was expected to be a bruising battle in the General Assembly to squarely on McDonnell’s shoulders. A spokesman said Friday the governor’s position remained unchanged: he’s still reviewing the issue.
See an earlier story on the Senate action on this issue elsewhere on this website.
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