ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, December 13, 1995 TAG: 9512130041
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
Senate Republicans on Tuesday stuck with moderate Richmond Sen. Joe Benedetti as their floor leader, despite some junior members' desires for someone more aggressive.
Benedetti, emerging from the closed-door meeting, made it clear he was sticking firm with demands that Democrats share power in the Senate, which is locked 20-20 between Republicans and Democrats.
"We need to be cooperative [with Democrats] as the situations permits us to be," he said. "We in no way concede that we are in any [position] other than parity with the Democrats."
Benedetti said he would insist that some 150 key committee assignments be divided equally between the two parties and that Republicans control chairmanships on at least half of the 10 major committees. Democrats have resisted any power-sharing arrangement, saying they hold a 21-20 advantage because Democratic Lt. Gov. Don Beyer holds the tie-breaking vote.
The 20-20 split resulting from November's elections is unprecedented in the Virginia Senate, which has been controlled by Democrats since the 1870s.
Some Republicans said they hoped the two parties could agree to an accommodation before the General Assembly convenes Jan. 10.
Benedetti defeated Thomas Norment of Williamsburg in a secret ballot for the Republican leader position. Norment was backed by conservative Republicans who applaud Gov. George Allen's confrontational approach toward senior Democratic lawmakers. The margin, which was expected to be close, was not disclosed.
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