Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 2, 1991 TAG: 9104020448
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
The General Assembly will meet Wednesday to consider Wilder's vetoes and amendments to bills passed in the 1991 session.
Wilder has proposed eliminating several items that he considers unnecessary, reducing the funding for other programs and using the $15 million savings for education.
"Some of these cuts I think are really tacky," said Del. Ford Quillen, D-Gate City. He said he could not understand why Wilder would propose cutting $75,000 for a nursing program at Clinch Valley College.
"It doesn't make sense to me," he said. "It appears to me to be without vision and self-defeating."
Del. Marian Van Landingham was equally perturbed over proposed cuts in funding for arts programs. She said Wilder's proposal reflects "a total insensitivity to this whole area. It's outrageous."
But the Wilder proposal that drew the most criticism was a $3 million cut in Tuition Assistance Grants, which are available to students at both public and private colleges. Wilder's proposal would cut the grants from $1,276 each to $1,063.
Del. Earl Dickinson, D-Louisa, said the cut might force some students to attend public rather than private schools. He said that would cost the state money in the long run.
Wilder also wants the grants to be awarded based on need.
"Making the TAG grants need-based should be the decision of the General Assembly," said Del. Paul Councill Jr., D-Southampton. "It shouldn't come down as a governor's amendment."
Del. Lacey Putney, I-Bedford, questioned the motives behind Wilder's amendments.
"I think it's a political agenda, and I don't like it," he said. "I'm grossly disappointed and shocked at what I'm seeing."
State Secretary of Finance Paul Timmreck defended the actions of his boss.
"When you're losing revenues, you can't do everything to the extent you used to do them," Timmreck said, adding that Wilder considered aid to public education the state's top priority.
Timmreck said in an interview after the meeting that he was not surprised by the committee members' reaction to Wilder's proposals.
"There are a lot of individual items involved and a lot of disappointed people," he said.
"The people who believe in what's being done weren't here to speak for it."
by CNB