
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 10, 1990                   TAG: 9003102499
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BRISTOL                                 LENGTH: Medium

SENIORITY GAP ON BUDGET COSTS SOUTHWEST VA.

The full Senate and House of Delegates will vote today on the state budget, but some lawmakers from the Southwest feel the region's lack of seniority is leaving them out of the budget process.

"One of the things I've observed since I've been here is the importance of seniority," said freshman Del. Clarence "Bud" Phillips, D-Coeburn. "Southwest Virginia basically has a very young delegation. We, at this juncture, don't have a lot of input on the budget process."

When the budget conferees met this week to hash out the differences between the Senate and House versions of the appropriations bill, the closest member to the Southwest was Sen. Howard Anderson, a Democrat from Halifax County about 200 miles east of the center of the region.

The other conferees, all ranking members of the money committees, were Sens. Hunter Andrews, D-Hampton and Stanley Walker, D-Norfolk, and Dels. Robert Ball, D-Richmond, Alan Diamonstein, D-Newport News, and V. Earl Dickinson, D-Louisa County, which is east of Charlottesville.

"Southwest Virginia, at this point in time, can have very little impact on the budget process because of the lack of seniority," Phillips said. "It's already hurt in terms of appropriations to Southwest Virginia. I can look in the budget and see it."

Phillips said of his seven budget amendments this year, only three got through the House Appropriations Committee. Those that passed called for very little money for his district.

"The big money for the major projects is going to the delegates with seniority on the money committees," he said.

Sen. William Wampler, R-Bristol, agrees with that assessment and said it will take about 15 years for someone from the region to reach an influential position on the money committees.

But Wampler said knowing how to play the budget game can help keep the under-represented area in the running for key appropriations.

"There are pet projects that senior members of the money committees are able to receive," he said. "But they do work with other legislators on their issues."

Del. Ford Quillen, D-Gate City, is the ranking Southwest Virginia legislator on the House Appropriations Committee. He is seventh in seniority. In the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. John Buchanan, D-Wise, is the ranking legislator from the region. He is fifth in seniority.

by CNB