Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 28, 1995 TAG: 9504280047
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
State Sen. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville, told a Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce luncheon that hometown legislator Baker and Republican state Sen. Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo voted for their districts when it counted during this year's General Assembly session.
"I want to congratulate Tommy. In my estimate, he stood up to be counted," Marye said. "So did Bo.
"I shouldn't say that," Marye added quickly. "My party will chase me out of town."
Marye and Baker answered questions for the chamber on current and upcoming legislative issues. Trumbo, who represents Radford and splits Pulaski with Marye, couldn't attend. All three legislators are seeking re-election, though only Marye has opposition.
Baker and Marye agreed that education - both at the university and public-school levels - dominated budget issues this year and likely will do so next January.
It was a key education issue - the use of lottery profits for school funding - during this month's two-day veto session that pitted Baker against most members of his own party.
On April 6, Baker was one of only seven Republicans to join with 49 Democrats and one independent in voting against Republican Gov. George Allen's five-year plan to divert state lottery profits to local governments for education and law enforcement spending or for local tax relief.
Instead, Baker, who represents Radford, Pulaski County and part of Giles County, favored the Democratic-sponsored Omnibus Education Act of 1995. This bill devoted about half of the $300 million lottery proceeds to a school-disparity funding program. That effort, based on need rather than population density, would benefit communities like Pulaski County, which have lost ground in the state-funding competition because of declining school populations, Baker said.
State Republican leaders regard that bill to be a "shell game" that accomplishes nothing in the end. That's because, they say, the lottery revenue only displaces state general fund money that's already budgeted for education.
Baker rejects that interpretation, and concedes he's received heat from his own party for his stand.
His decision came down to numbers: specifically, which bill would do more for Pulaski County. Under the Democrats' proposal, he said, Pulaski would receive $900,000 in the first installment. Under Allen's, Pulaski was slated to receive $95,000. Though the governor's plan, once phased in by 2001, would have sent $4.5 million to the county, that still would be proportionally far below what wealthy school districts such as Virginia Beach would receive, Baker said.
"Regardless of politics ... I have tried to do what I thought was best for us," said the Dublin-based lawyer.
Marye told the chamber members he sensed no great push for either a major tax increase or reduction next year. But he does expect the legislature to revisit the gross-receipts tax, which Allen unsuccessfully tried to phase out. The problem with that levy, also known as the business, professional and occupational license tax, and the merchants capital tax, is that local governments depend on the revenue.
The issue becomes finding an alternative. "Everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die," Marye said. "That's the way it is with taxes."
by CNB