THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 3, 1995 TAG: 9502030579
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARGARET EDDS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
With Virginia Beach Sen. Clarence A. Holland casting decisive abstentions, a Senate committee on Thursday killed the Allen administration's welfare reform package and a more liberal alternative.
The defeats, which as recently as a day ago seemed unlikely, prompted a flurry of activity aimed at changing the mind of Holland, a Democrat, or another member before the committee reconvenes this morning.
``We're going to see if we can reach some accommodation,'' said Sen. Mark L. Earley, R-Chesapeake, who is carrying the Allen bill. ``We want to see if there's a provision we could work on that would make him (Holland) more comfortable.''
The 7-7 votes on both bills, with Holland abstaining, took on added political overtones in a week in which much of Allen's agenda has been decimated. With backing from some key Democrats, including Lt. Gov. Donald S. Beyer Jr., welfare reform had been viewed as perhaps the least controversial of Allen's major initiatives.
Even with the setback in the Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee, reform is still possible - either through several House bills or by reviving the Senate legislation. The House bills willlikely be considered in committee Saturday.
Senate opponents were gleeful over Thursday's developments, however, and even in the House there appeared to be mounting resistance to Allen's welfare plan. The proposal would require welfare recipients to work for their benefits, allow no more than 24 months of payments in a five-year period, tighten requirements on fathers and impose a host of other changes.
Asked if he expects the measure to pass the House committee he chairs, Del. David G. Brickley, D-Woodbridge, replied: ``I don't feel confident about it at all. We passed a tremendous reform bill last year that hasn't been implemented.''
Brickley, who sat on the commission that drafted Allen's legislation, had sounded more conciliatory about the governor's bill earlier in the session.
Opponents of the Allen plan made emotional appeals to defeat it during committee debate. ``This is very sad,'' said Sen. Yvonne B. Miller, D-Norfolk. ``We are talking about children like they are expendable, like dirty tissues. people.''
``All these people who profess right to life wouldn't give a baby a bucket of milk once it's alive,'' said Sen. L. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth.
Earley countered that it is the current welfare system that subjects children to a life of poverty by giving their parents no incentive to work. ``The current system is killing kids,'' he said. Some situations call for ``tough love,'' he said.
Lucas' comment, he said, was ``out of order. I wouldn't respond.''
Questioned after the vote, Holland said he supports welfare reform, but was dissatisfied with the alternatives before the committee. In the rush to meet a Sunday deadline for consideration of Senate bills, there was almost no opportunity to debate or amend the bills, he noted.
``I'm one of those that moves slowly,'' said Holland, suggesting that the Senate will have time to consider and perfect any reform plan approved by the House. ``Between now and when the bills come over, I have no problem'' trying to reach an accord, he said.
In an interview, Beyer reiterated his support for expanding last year's bill - which he championed - with ideas from Allen's Empowerment Commission.
``While the door is still open, it certainly is closing,'' said Secretary of Health and Human Services Kay Coles James. ``It is so sad on this issue almost more than any other. There is so much support for this.''
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