
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, June 28, 1994                    TAG: 9406280007 
SECTION: FRONT                     PAGE: A14    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Medium 
DATELINE: 940628                                 LENGTH:

REGULATORY COMMISSION DRIFTING\

{LEAD} One of Gov. George Allen's first official acts was to create a ``Strike Force'' on regulatory reform, principally comprised of private citizens whose task would be to conduct a top-to-bottom review of state programs with an eye toward cutting the cost - in dollars and citizens' time - of government. Six months later, however, even some of the panel's members say it is beginning to look like yet another blue-ribbon paper tiger.

Despite the ambitious rhetoric accompanying its launch and a series of highly publicized hearings, the Strike Force has yet to deliver any substantive recommendations to reduce the burden of government. No one expects such a group to work at lightning speed. But it would be nice to see something emerge from its work - and soon - besides easy applause lines for the governor's stump speeches.

{REST} The problem seems to be one of both personnel and gubernatorial attention. The commission is split between Richmond's Main Street establishment, which has little interest in rocking boats but great interest in being on letterheads, and more activist members who take seriously the governor's mandate to downsize state government. The former, unfortunately, occupy many of the commission's bureaucratic choke-points. The governor seems content to let the commission drift while he tends to other matters.

Lately much of the governor's energy and political capital has been spent lobbying for Disney's ``America'' theme park. Having escorted hefty Virginia taxpayer subsidies for the project through the General Assembly, the governor has done more than enough for a company that is quite capable of defending itself. He should turn his attentions toward jump-starting the Strike Force before it becomes what some disillusioned members already privately call it: a ``Strike Farce.''

Strike Force or Farce? by CNB