Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 9, 1994 TAG: 9403090120
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Allen predicted that the conference committee of three senators and three delegates will come up with "an outstanding package" to bring the $650 million project to Prince William County.
But he didn't say it would be easy. "We're going to have to change some minds" on the conference committee, Allen said at a news conference.
He criticized House Speaker Thomas Moss, D-Norfolk, for not appointing Del. Harry Parrish, R-Manassas, to the House negotiating team. Parrish sponsored the Disney legislation, and it is customary to appoint a legislator as a conferee on his own bill.
Instead, "the speaker put three people on who are opposed to it," Allen said.
The House conferees - Del. Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County; Del. Thomas Jackson, D-Hillsville; and Del. Clinton Miller, R-Woodstock - all pushed for a re-enactment provision that Allen has said could jeopardize the project.
The provision requires another vote by the General Assembly at a special session in September or during the 1995 regular session.
The Senate conferees are Charles Colgan, D-Manassas, and John Chichester, R-Fredericksburg, both Disney backers, and Elmo Cross, D-Hanover County, who supports getting Disney to pay more of the costs.
The Senate package does not include a re-enactment provision.
Other major differences involve financing. The Senate package includes $125 million in road bonds. The House is offering $82 million in highway bonds, with another $44 million put up by Disney and reimbursed by the state if the park remains open. Allen proposed a $163 million package, including $142 million for roads.
Cranwell said he expects to reach a deal on Disney and indicated he would be open to a compromise on re-enactment.
Allen says the project would create 19,000 jobs and be a boon to tourism. Park opponents say the benefits have been overstated and the project would create environmental and traffic problems.
On other matters, the governor:
Said guidelines for allowing relatives of murder victims to view the killer's execution will be developed "as soon as is practicable."
The Senate killed a bill to allow victims' relatives to witness executions, but Allen plans to accomplish the same thing through a Department of Corrections policy change.
Said he will sign a welfare reform bill after differences between the House and Senate versions are ironed out. The Senate passed the latest version of the bill 34-6.
Hinted that he might amend a comprehensive anti-drunken-driving bill to remove a section requiring immediate seven-day license suspension when a DUI arrest is made.
Keywords:
G.A. 1994
by CNB