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

DATE: SUNDAY, March 5, 1995                   TAG: 9503060078
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

GRAMM ATTENDS GOP DINNER, TOUTS ALLEN AS POSSIBLE VP

``Families and businesses in America make hard choices every day because they live in the real world,'' the Republican presidential candidate said at the 1995 Attorney General's Dinner at the Richmond Centre. ``Our government hasn't lived in the real world for 40 years; and if I become president, that will change.''

Gramm, who is looking to unseat President Clinton, appeared at the black-tie dinner with fellow Republicans Gov. George Allen, Attorney General Jim Gilmore, and Rep. Thomas Bliley of Richmond.

In a speech following Gramm's, Allen thanked Gilmore for his support on several initiatives, including abolishing parole and welfare reform, and said the attorney general - who is widely expected to run for governor in 1997 - would make a worthy successor.

``I can't think of anyone better to carry the Republican banner, to succeed me in this seat as governor, than Jim Gilmore,'' he said.

Gilmore, the final speaker of the night, pledged to continue working with Allen to make Virginia's government smaller. He singled out the state's lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency, a fight against what he called ``overreaching'' powers of the 1990 Clean Air Act.

``The people of Virginia have said to me, `We want to own our government, rather than our government owning us,''' he said. ``There is a quiet revolution going on in the state of Virginia ... together, let's continue that revolution.''

Gramm praised Allen's stance against big government, alluding to the recently completed General Assembly session in which the Democratic majority shot down the governor's proposals to cut taxes and spending.

``He has presented one of the boldest programs in the country but is being stymied by people who do not believe in limited government,'' Gramm said.

Allen, invoking the words of Thomas Jefferson, also had a barb for his Democratic opposition.

``The sum of good government is a wise and frugal government ... which shall prevent men from injuring each other but otherwise leave them free,'' Allen said. ``I just wish more people in the General Assembly understood those guiding principles.''

Gramm said Allen, who has been mentioned as possible vice presidential material, would make an ideal running mate.

``He's the exact type of person I would look for,'' Gramm said.

Allen quickly added that although he was flattered, he wouldn't be available in 1996.

``There's no greater honor than to serve the people of Virginia,'' he said. He also said he hasn't decided whom he will support in the presidential race.

Gramm said the narrow defeat of the balanced-budget amendment in the Senate last week shows why the country needs a Republican president.

``We do not yet have the Congress or the president that can help us change the course of American history,'' he said. ``We're one election away, and that election is defeating Bill Clinton in '96.''