THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 2, 1995 TAG: 9502020431
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARGARET EDDS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
Any hope that welfare reform would pass smoothly through the General Assembly evaporated Wednesday night in the first public hearing and legislative debate on the issue.
``A lot of what we've heard here tonight is a sham,'' said Sen. L. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, in an emotional speech after a 90-minute hearing that split almost evenly between opponents and proponents of change.
Almost shouting, Lucas - who is a former community action agency head - said that ``the jobs aren't there'' to put most welfare recipients to work. ``These folks have been hoodwinked big-time,'' she said of those supporting the Allen administration plan.
Lucas' comments were just a warmup for a grilling of Sen. Mark L. Earley, R-Chesapeake - who is carrying the Allen bill - by the three Democrats on a five-member Senate welfare reform subcommittee.
The group split 3-2 along party lines to support an alternate bill that would provide far greater assistance in job training and other support while welfare recipients make the transition to work.
Sen. Joseph V. Gartlan Jr., sponsor of the alternate bill, said his proposal would cost more than $160 million over two years - a figure that he acknowledged would be almost impossible to fund. But, the Fairfax Democrat said that the number reflects the true cost of ending welfare, rather than the $20 million or so allotted by the governor.
Earley said he believes there will be majority support for an amended version of the governor's plan when it's reviewed today by members of the Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee. ``Tonight was just an exercise,'' he said, noting that the subcommittee was stocked with vocal opponents of the concept.
The public hearing pitted those claiming the welfare system stymies individual initiative against those who said reform plans will wreak havoc on the poor and on social services agencies.
Walt Credle, director of the Hampton department of social services, said his agency may have to find jobs for about 1,400 welfare recipients if the plan passes. That figure is equivalent to the city's entire public work force, he said.
Pattie Hertz of Richmond, a member of the Network of Politically Active Christian Women, countered that welfare ``robs people of their God-given strength to handle the problems of life.''
KEYWORDS: WELFARE REFORM HEARING by CNB