The explosive issues of guns in bars and expansion of the death penalty are likely to be overshadowed by a General Assembly showdown today over Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s plea to boost benefits for thousands thrown out of work by the economic crisis.

As expected, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine yesterday vetoed five death-penalty bills and a bill that would allow holders of concealed weapons permits to carry guns into bars and restaurants. Kaine may have trouble sustaining his veto of a couple of the death-penalty measures when lawmakers reconvene in Richmond on April 8. Two of the bills would extend eligibility for the death penalty to murderers of auxiliary police officers. Another would extend eligibility for the penalty to murderers of fire marshals.