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

DATE: SUNDAY, January 19, 1992                   TAG: 9201200220
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

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HEARINGS

THE MONEY committees of the General Assembly got an earful during the first-ever public hearings on the state budget to be held outside of Richmond. The legislators were astounded by the size of the crowds that showed up in Wytheville, Norfolk and Fairfax - and by the passion of their concerns.

All told, the panels heard from about 1,250 Virginians. At least that many others attended the hearings but either did not sign up to speak, or had to wait so long they gave up. It was 30 hours of testimony - sometimes heart-tugging, sometimes singsong repetitive - by residents in opposition to more cuts in spending for state programs and services.

And "this is just the tip of the iceberg," said Richmond Del. Frank Hall, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, referring to the thousands who cared enough to go to the hearings.

True, some of those who attended were state employees worried about their jobs - but that makes them no less concerned Virginia citizens. They, as all others, have a right to have their views heard by the lawmakers.

True, it's been suggested the committees' chairmen, Del. Robert Ball of Henrico and Sen. Hunter Andrews of Hampton - both Democrats - staged the road show to help get their party back in the good graces of voters, who came close to electing a Republican majority in the Senate in November.

But whatever the motive, the public hearings outside of Richmond were a good idea. Ball and Andrews are to be commended for taking the budget to the people - who, after all, do finance it - and inviting the views of those who'll be affected whatever the lawmakers decide. It should become a tradition: Each January should find the budget writers on the road again.

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