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Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said today he would veto legislation passed by the General Assembly yesterday that would allow holders of concealed weapons permits to bring their hidden guns into establishments that serve alcohol.
"I'm very nervous about the public safety impact of that bill," the governor said on his monthly call-in radio show on WRVA in Richmond.
Kaine also reiterated his intention to sign recently passed legislation to impose a statewide ban on smoking in public restaurants that do not have a separately ventilated areas for those wishing to light up.
And the governor signaled that he would endorse a further legislative crackdown on the payday lending industry, which sidestepped a law passed last year that was supposed to rein in lending practices that reaped large profits while allowing borrowers to dig themselves deeper into debt.
"I think we made a mistake in 2002 or 2003 when we lifted the interest rate ban [of 36 percent] and created a system where payday lenders were allowed to come in and actually flourish -- I think that was an error," Kaine said.
"They passed a law last year that wasn't everything I hoped but they said this is the best bill we can pass and get it to you, so I said OK we sign it," Kaine said.
"But then just within a few weeks, the industry figured out ways to get around all the restrictions. And I think that should cause people some real concerns."
Kaine said he would look at the most recent payday-lending reform bill to clear the legislature "with a very careful eye" to make sure that it is effectively regulating the industry.
"I think the decision that we would lift off the traditional interest caps and allow this industry has worked out badly for Virginia," he said.
One caller wished the governor a happy birthday -- he turned 51 today -- callling him an "old man." Another caller called him out on a familiar topic -- why he is serving as both governor and in his new job as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
"I took this job for one reason -- the president asked me to," Kaine said.
The governor, who is also president of the Southern Governor's Association, also cited a number of former governors who have occupied similar posts while serving their four-year term in the Executive Mansion.
Kaine, a former co-chairman of President Barack Obama's campaign for the Oval Office, also said that he sees "no downside" to Virginia for having a close working relationship with the president.
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