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

DATE: FRIDAY, February 3, 1995                   TAG: 9502030076
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS AND STAFF REPORTS
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

WELFARE REFORM REJECTED

A Senate committee killed a sweeping welfare reform package backed by Gov. George Allen, a major blow to the governor on a Thursday in which much of his foundering legislative agenda died.

The Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services deadlocked 7-7 on a welfare reform bill, sponsored by Republican Mark Earley of Chesapeake, wherein the main objective was to cut off benefits after two years and make recipients get jobs.

The committee also rejected, 7-7, an alternate welfare package sponsored by Sen. Joseph Gartlan Jr., D-Fairfax County, which would have poured millions of dollars into job training and other programs. A tie vote means a measure is rejected.

The defeats, which as recently as a day earlier had seemed unlikely, prompted a flurry of activity aimed at changing the mind of Sen. Clarence Holland, D-Virginia Beach, who cast decisive abstentions on both bills, or another member before the committee reconvenes this morning.

State Secretary of Human Resources Kay Coles James, who pushed for the Allen welfare package, was seething after the vote.

She blasted committee Chairman Frank Nolen, D-Augusta County, a co-patron of the Earley bill, for voting against it.

``I hoped for more. I expected more,'' James said. ``I don't think it had anything to do with the [bill's] merits. It was a pure partisan vote.''

Nolen voted for the Gartlan plan. He said there were portions of both bills that he liked, but he thinks the best hope for welfare reform is through a conference committee with House members.

Companion bills to Earley's and Gartlan's are pending in the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions.

Nolen also said there was a chance the bills could be taken up again this morning in his committee if members ask for another vote.

Even with the setback, reform is still possible - either through several House bills or by reviving the Senate legislation. The House bills likely will be considered in committee Saturday.

Senate opponents were gleeful over Thursday's developments, and even in the House there appeared to be mounting resistance to Allen's welfare plan. The proposal would require welfare recipients to work for their benefits, allow no more than 24 months of payments in a five-year period, tighten requirements of fathers and impose a host of other changes.

Asked if he expects the measure to pass the House committee of which he is chairman, Del. David Brickley, D-Woodbridge, replied: ``I don't feel confident about it at all. We passed a tremendous reform bill last year that hasn't been implemented.''

Opponents of the Allen plan made emotional appeals to defeat it during committee debate. ``This is very sad,'' said Sen. Yvonne Miller, D-Norfolk. ``We are talking about children like they are expendable, like dirty tissues ... This is an awful thing we are doing in the name of scapegoating poor people.''

``All these people who profess right-to-life wouldn't give a baby a bucket of milk once it's alive,'' said Sen. L. Louise Lucas, D-Norfolk.

Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1995

by CNB