RICHMOND, Va. -- 2:12 p.m. The House of Delegates has unanimously defeated an amendmentproposed by Gov. Bob McDonnell that critics said would have made itmore difficult for state employees to receive a 3 percent bonusthat lawmakers had set aside in the state budget passed last month. McDonnell's amendment, defeated 95-0, would have paid the bonusonly if state agencies' unspent balances at the end of the currentfiscal year were one and a half times the amount it would cost topay the bonus. The fiscal year ends in six weeks, on June 30. Del. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, said generating the millions in savingrequired to finance the bonus in such a short amount of time, wouldbe "problematic" for many agencies. The original bonus proposal passed by the legislature allows thebonus to be paid if unspent balances and surplus revenues can coverthe cost. Despite the defeat, the governor still has the option ofeliminating the bonus using his line item veto. The bonus isscheduled to be paid at the end of the year. (This has been a breaking news update. Check back for more detailsas they become available. Read more in tomorrow's RichmondTimes-Dispatch. An earlier update is posted below.) Gov. Bob McDonnell has withdrawn an amendment to the new two-yearbudget that would have trimmed $2.5 million from senior servicesprovided by the Area Agencies for the Aging. The governor's proposed amendment drew criticism from advocacygroups that said meals and other assistance for seniors would havesuffered in certain areas of the state. "The governor's decision to request that the amendment be withdrawnwas made following input from a number of groups and care providersthat a change to the existing formula to account for populationshifts would have a disproportionate effect on the work done byArea Agencies in a number of Virginia communities," said astatement released by the governor's office just before the GeneralAssembly reconvened today. "The governor believes these agencies do tremendous work and hesupports their efforts" The gubernatorial reconsideration comes as lawmakers get ready toconsider dozens of amendments to the two-year, $85 billion spendingplan, approved by the General Assembly April 18. A number of other amendments have also generated opposition amonglawmakers, who were briefed on the details this morning. (This has been a breaking news update. Check back for more detailsas they become available. Read more in tomorrow's RichmondTimes-Dispatch.). I am an expert from anti-radiation-headset.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Electronic Calendar Clock , Capacitive Screen Stylus Pen, Retractable Bluetooth Headset,and more.
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