RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia's House of Delegates Commerce and Labor Committee killed legislation earlier this week that would have prohibited gasoline retailers from selling fuel below cost, says the Richmond, Va., Times-Dispatch. Lawmakers voted 12 to 9 against endorsing the proposal, already approved by the state Senate.

Opponents argued that the proposal was not necessary because federal and state antitrust laws already protect businesses, and that similar legislation in other states only caused pump prices to rise. "Before we make fundamental changes in public policy, we should see if existing laws attempt to address this," said Delegate Robert F. McDonnell (R) (pictured), who made the motion to kill the bill.

The hazardous materials (hazmat) transportation industry is taking exception to proposals contained in President Bush’s fiscal year 2003 budget that would fund $6 million of its hazmat safety program through user registration fees. Earlier this year, the Department of Transportation’s Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) revealed that there was a $16 million surplus in its Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grant program, which is funded by annual registration fees imposed on hazmat carriers. Industry has asked that the registration fees be reduced, and opposes the move to shift HMEP surpluses to the regular hazmat safety program.