Virginia Assembly honors actor Charlton Heston

The Virginia General Assembly honored the man who memorably portrayed Moses with a resolution commemorating actor and gun rights champion Charlton Heston, who died April 5 at 83.

Sen. Ralph K. Smith, Roanoke Republican, introduced the “memorializing resolution” in a batch of measures Wednesday honoring people posthumously.

The star of “Ben Hur” and “The Ten Commandments” headed the National Rifle Association (NRA), which enjoys strong support within Virginia’s gun-friendly legislature. Mr. Heston’s role within the organization is one reason he offered the measure, Mr. Smith said.

Senators don’t vote on the resolutions. They agree to them by rising from their seats and standing silently for a moment, heads bowed.

The House of Delegates later approved the resolution in a similar fashion.

Mr. Smith, an NRA member, met Mr. Heston when the former was mayor of Roanoke and gave him the key to the city.

• Please, Mr. Postman

A measure to name a Virginia post office in honor of the late U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Davis was sent to President Bush for his signature last week.

The Senate voted unanimously Tuesday to pass the bill naming Gloucester’s Main Street post office for Mrs. Davis. The House unanimously passed a resolution April 10.

The 1st District Republican died Oct. 7 of breast cancer at her Gloucester home. The state’s two senators — Republican John W. Warner and Democrat Jim Webb — both praised the bill, which they called among the best ways to commemorate the late legislator’s life.

• Court protocol

The state Senate rejected Gov. Tim Kaine’s attempt to expand a bill to give courts greater say over certain elected officials accused of serious official misconduct.

As passed by the General Assembly, the bill allowed the court, as a condition of bail, to prohibit constitutional officers accused of a felony related to their official duties from returning to office. The legislation applies to Circuit Court clerks, commissioners of revenue, commonwealth’s attorneys, sheriffs and treasurers.

Mr. Kaine’s amendment would have allowed courts to suspend those officials and appoint a temporary replacement.

Senators said Wednesday that the issue needed more attention than could be given to it in the one-day reconvened session. The Senate rejected the amendment on a 36-2 vote.

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