Jump to full article: Associated Press (AP), 2009-02-10
Intro: Democratic Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said amendments that substantially dilute a compromise bill to sharply curb smoking in Virginia restaurants breached a deal he made with House Republican leaders.
The House, meanwhile, voted 61-37 for its identical version of the watered-down Senate bill it approved Monday. That puts both bills before the Senate where the House amendments face a challenge.
Kaine wouldn't commit Tuesday to vetoing the measure if the House amendments remain, but he was clear that they are unpalatable. Neither measure passed with the 67-vote majority necessary to sustain a veto in the 100-member House.
''We made a deal,'' Kaine told reporters Tuesday morning. ''Folks said we're going to stand up and support a bill that has some very defined provisions in it, and we need to get the bill back to the deal. The advocacy community feels strongly about it and so do I.''
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