Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 11, 1995 TAG: 9511120004
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Republican parliamentary expert has spent six months researching legislative rules across the country in anticipation of a GOP takeover of Virginia's state Senate. The day before this week's election, though, he got a feeling he ought to be asking another question: What if the Senate winds up deadlocked 20-20?
"I talked to a law professor the day before the election, and I said, 'I know this is going to be moot, but let's run through some of these scenarios....'''
Now that the Senate really is tied at 20-20, Trumbo's parliamentary expertise figures to put him at the center of the action in figuring out how things will work. Trumbo already can cite precedents in Idaho and procedural rulings going back to English Parliament.
But he's more enthusiastic about the prospect of making up new rules to fit the unique circumstances in which Virginia now finds itself. "This is the history major in me," Trumbo says. "We're like the Founding Fathers. We're in a position to create new rules."
Some Democrats are talking tough already, saying they'll use Democratic Lt. Gov. Don Beyer to break the tie and organize the Senate the way they want to. Meanwhile, some Republicans - most notably, state Sen. William Wampler of Bristol - are threatening to file suit to test the limits of Beyer's tie-breaking authority.
Trumbo, meanwhile, is urging caution - and compromise. "I think we've got to rise to the occasion," he said. "If we puff up our chests and say we're going to do things this way, we're going to have trouble."
One scenario some Republicans are advancing is to divide committee chairmanships, with Democrats leading some panels and Republicans heading others.
Battle looms for finance post
One thing at stake in the Senate deadlock is whether a Roanoke Valley legislator will get a seat on the Finance Committee, the panel that handles the state budget.
Under the rules Democrats used when they controlled the Senate, the senior Democrat from each congressional district was entitled to a seat. The 6th District's representative had been Elliot Schewel of Lynchburg, who is retiring. Frank Nolen of Augusta County was in line behind him to take over the seat, but Nolen was defeated for re-election.
Under the old rules, the seat would appear to fall to state Sen.-elect John Edwards of Roanoke, who would be the only Democrat from the 6th District in the Senate.
But the 20-20 deadlock in the Senate complicates matters. Democrats historically have refused to grant Republicans proportional representation on the finance panel. GOP leaders now are demanding that change. Democrats are making noises that they'll agree to put more Republicans on Finance, but they haven't yet agreed to make it an even split. Furthermore, Democrats apparently can call on Lt. Gov. Don Beyer to cast the tie-breaking vote to put Democrats in charge, and ignore Republican calls for parity.
If Democrats do agree to put more Republicans on the 15-member committee, there might not be any room to add new Democrats, which would bump Edwards out of position. If Republicans go by seniority - and by congressional district - then Kevin Miller of Harrisonburg is first in line. But Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo of Fincastle also is pushing for the slot, on the grounds that the Roanoke Valley, the state's fourth largest metro area, is entitled to representation. No Roanoke Valley senator has served on Finance since Trumbo's predecessor, Democrat Dudley "Buzz" Emick of Fincastle, retired in 1991.
Richard Cranwell for Speaker?
Republicans are claiming that House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County, emboldened by his leadership of the Democratic victory, is trying to oust Del. Thomas Moss of Norfolk to become speaker of the House.
"I've heard from more than one source he's going for the speakership," says GOP legislative strategist Scott Leake. "If he's got statewide ambitions, maybe he'd like to be up on the podium making rulings."
Leake also points out that the defeat of Democratic Del. Howard Copeland of Norfolk and the addition of Del.-elect John Tate of Marion would cost Moss a vote and hand one to Cranwell if there's a leadership fight.
Cranwell emphatically denies any move for the speakership. "Absolutely not," he said. He says Republicans are simply trying to sow seeds of discord among victorious Democrats.
by CNB