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

DATE: SUNDAY, October 15, 1995                   TAG: 9510160051
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                 LENGTH: Short

LOBBYING GROUP SAYS SOCIAL PROGRAMS SAFE

A social services lobbying group says it has won pledges from enough legislative candidates to preserve the state's safety net of social programs, regardless of the outcome of next month's elections.

``We have a majority that would stop a wholesale reduction of what we've got,'' said Howard M. Cullum, chairman of the Human Services Association Political Action Committee.

The PAC describes itself as a ``statewide coalition of families, advocates, providers and consumers supporting services to the elderly, mentally and physically disabled, and the poor.''

The organization announced endorsements Friday of 112 Democratic and Republican candidates.

``They're all committed that this is not an area that they're going to zero out,'' Cullum said.

The group is backing key players such as Senate Majority Leader and Finance Committee Chairman Hunter Andrews, D-Hampton; Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee Chairman Frank Nolen, D-Augusta County; and House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee Chairman David Brickley, D-Woodbridge.

by CNB