Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 27, 1993 TAG: 9302270190
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ELIZABETH THIEL LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
DISPARITY BILL TANGLED IN POLITICS
A proposal to give an additional $20 million to poor school districts next year hung by a thread Friday, its fate in the hands of a few legislators playing intricate politics.At odds are lawmakers looking to convince constituents that they have gained some money for their districts, and a powerful senator who says the idea is an election-year ploy that may not benefit schools at all.
The proposal, pushed by a group led by House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell, D-Vinton, calls for divvying up $20 million in taxes on real estate sales, using a formula that would give some money to all but 25 to 30 of the state's school districts.
The money would not be handed over until July 1994, after lawmakers write a new two-year state budget next February, giving them ample time to change their minds and use the cash elsewhere.
The proposal "was fashioned on none other than pure, unadulterated politics," said its primary opponent, Sen. Hunter Andrews, D-Hampton, whose maneuvering had so far blocked efforts to convene a House-Senate committee that might hammer out a compromise.
Legislative haggling over the proposal has been so intense in the past two days that Lt. Gov. Don Beyer has gotten caught up in it.
As president of the Senate, Beyer was called upon twice Thursday to break tie votes on the issue. Between those ballots, he switched sides, moving from opposition to support.
Beyer said Friday that his initial vote was based on an objection to how the money would be divided up. He changed because he decided that it was better for poor school districts to get some money than none at all, he said.
The back-room jostling over the issue is expected to resume today. Del. Glenn Croshaw, D-Virginia Beach, said he and other advocates of the proposal will try to pressure Andrews by blocking some of his bills in other compromise committees.
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GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1993
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.