Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 24, 1994 TAG: 9403040010
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: PAUL GOLDMAN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Republican Gov. George Allen is 100 percent pro-Disney and has made the park his No. 1 legislative priority. Incredibly, many Democrats in the legislature are considering whether to try to blocking the park or holding it hostage to what the public is likely to regard as pork-barrel politics.
If Democrats gain either image of either being blockers or hostage-takers, they risk losing their majorities in the 1995 General Assembly elections. Unfortunately, the party leadership in the General Assembly thinks Virginia is the same one-party state it was in the 1960s.
Virginia is now a Republican state at the local level. The line was crossed in 1989, when Republicans, for the first time, ran even with the Democrats in contested legislative races. Too many Democrats still believe they can stay in the majority by out-organizing and outspending the GOP in General Assembly races. Those days are gone.
A majority of election districts in both the House and the Senate are either solidly Republican or lean Republican. No election-day, vote-hauling operation will work in these districts for one basic reason: There aren't enough Democrats to win even if they all get carted to the polls.
Instead, Democratic candidates need to win support among Republicans and independents by their stands on the issues. Disney presents an ideal issue.
Which is why George Allen and his people secretly want to paint the Democrats as anti-Disney. The Republican governor may say Disney's America is his best job-creation hope, but in truth, the one he wants the most is this: Finding Republicans for all the new jobs that will be open if his party takes control of the General Assembly. What should the Democrats do?
If Allen is prepared to junk his longstanding opposition to incentives and debt-financing for economic development, Democrats should welcome it. In 1993, candidate Allen misled the public about the state of Virginia's finances. Democrats, afraid to defend Gov. Douglas Wilder, stayed silent; now they must pay the political price.
Now, Governor Allen is telling the truth: Virginia's finances are so strong, we can make the Disney deal work.
Instead of trying to call the new governor a flip-flopper, the Democrats should use Disney to create a new theme: In Virginia, we will bend over backward to win the competition among states for new jobs. Disney should become the centerpiece of a Democratic job-creating effort.
Democrats should say: George, let's not Mickey Mouse around any longer. If what is good for Disney is good for Virginia, then let's use our financial clout to help other job-needy areas all across the commonwealth.
The Democratic plan should clear the way for whatever financing, referendums, tax incentives and actions may be necessary to attract large-scale business projects to the commonwealth. Admittedly, a bold Democratic package is likely to be opposed by some of the governor's 58 percent landslide constituency. But what option does he have?
He could try to amend the non-Disney parts of a far-sighted Democratic bill. But this has big risks, especially if it appears he is treating Northern Virginia more equally than the rest of the state. The bet here is that Allen would sign the bill and claim victory. But it would also be a big win for the Democrats.
\ Paul Goldman is former chairman of the Virginia Democratic Party.
by CNB