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

DATE: SATURDAY, December 10, 1994                   TAG: 9501120030
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BRIEFLY PUT . . .

In light of a U.S. SUpreme Court decision this week, the state treasury could be hit with a bigger payout to federal retirees than the $350 million begotiated earlier this year. As House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell of Vinton proposed $2-billion tax cut doesn't do much for the state's legal argument that it simply can't afford the full $700 million refund.

Actually, the state is already one of the lowest-taxed in the Union. The danger is less a tax burden than services too paltry, less a bloated and unresponsive state government than a second governor in a row putting national political ambitions ahead of what's good for Virginia.

Memo: NOTE: Please see microfilm for text.

by CNB