What's happening at the legislature?

Today is "crossover," the deadline for the House of Delegates and the state Senate to each complete action on their own bills.

He backed candidate all the way to the end

Democrat Mitch Van Yahres backed Barack Obama until the day he died.

The former Charlottesville delegate's obituary suggests that people remember him by contributing to the Illinois senator's presidential campaign.

Van Yahres represented Charlottesville for 24 years in the House of Delegates. He died Friday at the age of 81.

Yesterday's paid obituary in Van Yahres' hometown newspaper, The Daily Progress, asks friends "to make a healthy and significant contribution to the presidential campaign of Barack Obama or, if they insist, the charity of their choice."

House now will deal with knockoffs bill

Those caught with counterfeit Levi's jeans or Nike sneakers would face up to a year in jail under legislation passed out of the Senate.

The Senate voted 39-1 yesterday in favor of Senate Bill 577. The bill, introduced by Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw, D-Fairfax, would broaden the state's trademark infringement laws to include knock-off goods. Currently the law applies to infringements only of advertisements, labels, signs and other packaging.

Those convicted more than once would be guilty of a felony punishable by up to five years. Those with more than 100 identical goods or whose counterfeit goods value at least $200 would get the same punishment.

Saslaw said counterfeit goods cost the country about $250 billion each year in lost revenue.

House drops ticketing by plainclothes police

On a voice vote, the House of Delegates yesterday rejected House Bill 231 that would allow plainclothes police officers to give speeding tickets.

The proposal was derailed after Del. Roslyn C. Tyler, D-Sussex, said female motorists could be endangered by criminals impersonating police officers.

A former state trooper, Del. Charles W. Carrico Sr., R-Grayson, said it would be confusing for a public that's accustomed to only getting speeding tickets from uniformed officers.

The bill's sponsor, Del. John A. Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake, said plainclothes officers already are allowed to pull motorists over for other violations.

Senate clears donors exemption for U.Va.

The state Senate yesterday unanimously passed Senate Bill 130, which would let the University of Virginia keep private the identities of donors who wish to stay anonymous.

A companion bill, House Bill 407, previously cleared the House of Delegates on a vote of 92-6.

Clerk waxes poetic in reminding senators

At the end of yesterday's session, after lawmakers spent hours plowing through legislation in advance of tonight's "crossover" deadline, Senate Clerk Susan Clarke Schaar reminded senators of another important date -- February 14 -- Valentine's Day.

"Roses are red. Violets are blue," she said. "Only three shopping days are left for you." -- From Staff and Wire Reports