THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 25, 1995 TAG: 9501250456
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBERT LITTLE AND DAVID M. POOLE, STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Republican lawmakers rallied to the defense of Gov. George F. Allen's agenda Tuesday, only to face increasing Democratic opposition and even some wavering within their own ranks.
With just over two weeks remaining for the House of Delegates and the Senate to complete separate budget proposals, Republicans announced a strategy of press conferences and relentless speechmaking to fight for their ailing program of budget cuts and government reform.
Many Democrats said the latest furor proves that the GOP is frustrated by a mission that has lost its zeal, and a governor who is losing his popularity.
But Republicans claim they are simply reacting to a Democratic conspiracy designed to quash Allen's budget proposals with committee votes - thus avoiding a public stance.
``Our goal is to stop the obstructionist tactics the majority is using,'' said Ken Stroupe, a spokesman for Allen.
``What you're seeing now is a very deliberate effort to get our message out,'' agreed Sen. Thomas K. Norment Jr., R-Williamsburg.
The rumor circulated early Tuesday: Democrats, in a caucus meeting, had agreed to use their majority in both houses to keep Allen's spending bills bottled in committees.
Majority leaders in both houses denied the claim. Democratic spokeswoman Gail Nardi said ``the governor has a rich fantasy life.''
Nonetheless, Republicans responded.
Budget-wrangling prompted the first lively Senate debate of this year's legislative session.
Sen. Charles R. Hawkins, R-Danville, said the Senate has entered ``silly season,'' and that any legislator not willing to debate the budget ought to ``go to places where the country's name starts off with `The People's Republic of . . .' ''
``What we're seeing,'' responded Sen. Joseph V. Gartlan Jr., D-Fairfax, ``is a demonstration of a planned rhetorical onslaught - one that is engineered on the third floor'' in the governor's office.
In both chambers, Republicans worked from a script - quoting figures that spending has gone up 300 percent in the last 15 years, and that Allen wants simply to cut 3 percent in the next five years.
Apparently, the congruity was no coincidence.
Sources say about 15 high-level Republicans met with Allen Sunday at the Executive Mansion, to air concerns that Democrats have seized control of the debate in this year's session.
Other Republicans suggested that recent disagreement within the party over Allen's proposed elimination of the Business, Professional and Occupational License tax could be blamed on the governor. He did not consult with GOP lawmakers before announcing the tax-cut plan Dec. 19.
``We weren't prepared to respond,'' said Norment.
It appears Allen also did not anticipate aggressive Democratic opposition to a tax cut in an election year. Democrats were emboldened last week by a poll showing that voters overwhelmingly oppose cuts in funding for law enforcement, health insurance for poor teenagers and mental health services and education.
Some Republicans have shown signs of defecting.
Sen. Malfourd W. ``Bo'' Trumbo, R-Fincastle, said he will help Allen triple the state's personal exemption on income taxes, but that he would not support cutting the BPOL tax.
Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Manassas, said an informal poll of his district turned up ``ambivalence'' to the proposed tax cuts. And if the tax-cut proposal fails, he suggested the state use the revenue to finance prison construction without the borrowing that Allen has proposed.
``There may be times we may not reasonably agree with the governor; that's how the system works,'' Trumbo said. ``I always have to go home, and he can stay here.''
The political dueling may not matter, if the assessment of some Republicans is correct. If Democrats kill the governor's spending cuts, they could face difficulty on the stump during the November elections.
``You win either way if you can keep your ducks in a row,'' said one of Allen's advisers.
House Majority Leader C. Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County, said he initially thought Allen was was setting a trap with his tax cut, but said behind-the-scenes contacts with Republicans suggest Allen is ``desperate'' to reach a compromise and salvage his hopes for higher office.
``His biggest problem now is not Democrats,'' Cranwell said. ``His problem is the people and members of his own party.'' by CNB