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

DATE: Monday, October 31, 1994               TAG: 9410270015
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   29 lines

CHANGE AND PROGRESS ARE DIFFERENT

Columnist Molly Ivins (Perspectives, Oct. 5) cites a number of issues on which Congress failed to act this session. She says changing the way campaigns are financed is the most critical reform needed in government, because ``nothing gets done without it.'' This is sheer hyperbole.

Actually quite a bit got done, both good and bad, without the reform: family leave, NAFTA, the budget and tax increase (retroactive), the pork-laden crime bill. There surely are more important issues - health care, welfare reform and crime (far from solved).

Regarding taxpayer financing of congressional campaigns, there have been related bills at several recent sessions. Each was rejected because of serious flaws.

Ms. Ivins should learn that all change is not necessarily progress. Defeat of bad legislation is a valuable service to the people and should not be derogated as blind obstruction.

WILLIAM S. HOTCHKISS

Virginia Beach, Oct. 15, 1994 by CNB