Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 20, 1995 TAG: 9505220072
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
After more than a decade of court battles, North Carolina and Virginia Beach last month signed an agreement that would allow the city to withdraw up to 60 million gallons of water a day from Lake Gaston. The legislatures of both states must approve the deal by June 27.
Allen, whose administration was not involved in court-ordered mediation that led to the settlement, has told legislative leaders that he will call a special session only after they assure him the agreement will pass.
Legislators from Southside Virginia and other areas along the Roanoke River Basin have long opposed the pipeline. They also have complained about being left out of the closed-door negotiations.
Norfolk officials and legislators now have joined the opposition because the proposed agreement would restrict Norfolk's rights to sell water outside the region.
Allen supports the pipeline.
However, House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell of Roanoke County said at a Capitol news conference that the governor's refusal to call a special session without a guarantee that the deal will pass shows a lack of leadership.
Cranwell, who opposes the pipeline agreement in its present form, said Allen has ``put us in a position now where there is virtually no ability to proceed forward.''
``A process whereby the governor suggests that the legislators should make a commitment before the public has a chance to have a meaningful dialogue before the convened legislative session is ordained to fail,'' Cranwell said.
House Speaker Thomas Moss of Norfolk was even more pessimistic about prospects of a special session.
``I don't see much hope in getting a special session before the June 27 deadline. That would be very difficult,'' said Moss, who also opposes the agreement.
Allen later told reporters that the dispute between Norfolk and Virginia Beach ``is clearly the stumbling block'' to approval of the settlement. Those cities must resolve their differences, or a special session is pointless, he said.
The governor said there still is time to work something out, hold public hearings and conduct a special session before the deadline, even though he will be in Europe on a trade mission for 12 days next month.
At the Democrats' news conference, Cranwell also criticized Allen for his ``shrill rhetoric'' on welfare reform.
The Democrats were upset with Allen for saying: ``If given half a chance, they'll gut welfare reform.'' Allen made the remark at a Republican fund-raiser last week.
Lt. Gov. Don Beyer said the comment was a cheap shot, given the General Assembly's bipartisan support for welfare reform and Democratic efforts in that area that predate Allen's election as governor.
The Democrats also said Allen in 1994 insisted that welfare reform should be implemented immediately statewide, then a year later opted for a four-year phase-in he earlier had chided Democrats for favoring.
Allen said it was clear during the legislative session that his plan would be phased in. He dismissed the Democrats' criticism as ``revisionistic commentary.''
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1995
by CNB