Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 14, 1994 TAG: 9412140137
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Allen, mentioned as a possible GOP vice presidential candidate in 1996, had recommended cutting business taxes and proposing largely autonomous publicly funded ``charter schools'' to enhance his image, House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell had said.
The governor responded by denying any interest in a vice presidential bid and accusing Democrats of personal attacks to skirt issues popular with Virginians.
``I'm interested in being the best governor for the people of Virginia,'' Allen told reporters at the Capitol. ``If some of them want to carry on with personal issues, I think they need to be more worried about their own political future than worrying about mine.''
Cranwell, D-Roanoke County, told a meeting of Roanoke-area lawmakers Monday night that Allen's charter schools plan is ``an all-out assault ... on education.'' And cutting state business license taxes may violate the state constitution, he said.
Cranwell said Tuesday his attack on Allen was not personal.
``The big costs set in once George Allen is gone,'' Cranwell said.
Allen wants to phase out business-license taxes over five years and refund money localities lose from them only through the year 2000.
Cranwell said the state constitution requires local governments to tax either business licenses or merchandise left unsold at the end of each year.
Allen spokesman Ken Stroupe said the governor's proposal is constitutional because it would lower the tax rates to zero but leave the tax on the books.
Cranwell also has attacked Allen's plan to allow some schools that sign contracts or ``charters'' guaranteeing certain educational goals in exchange for being able to determine their own curricula, standards and policies. He predicted such a system would take funding from public education and divide schools into haves and have-nots.
Allen said charter schools would give parents more choices.
The skirmish signals what could be a bitter General Assembly session in January, when the Democrat-controlled legislature is expected to consider the governor's proposals.
Democrats claim Republicans are pandering to voters in a legislative election year. Republicans view 1995 as their best shot at winning control of the General Assembly.
State Sen. Elliot Schewel, D-Lynchburg, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, said it will be hard for many Democrats to oppose the governor's proposals because voters agree with many of them at first glance.
``These programs that he is fostering are going to take effect gradually,'' Schewel said. ``Over time, it is inevitably going to hurt all the localities.''
State Sen. Mark Earley, R-Chesapeake, accused the Democrats of making political hay of Allen's proposals.
``They've decided they have to distinguish themselves on a couple of issues,'' Earley said. ``But quite frankly, I think they've picked issues that have broad public support. ... It's going to ultimately backfire.''
Allen rebutted Cranwell's comments as he announced that Chesterfield County Commonwealth's Attorney William Davenport, a Democrat, had become a Republican. Davenport said the Democrats no longer reflect his values.
by CNB