THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, March 8, 1995               TAG: 9503080012
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A10  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Editorial 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   26 lines

CONGRESS IS SHORT IN ONE DEPARTMENT MEDAL OF COURAGE

Sen. Bob Packwood said last week, ``The passage of the balanced-budget amendment, I was convinced, would have given us a hope of the courage to do what we all know is necessary. I fear without the amendment, we won't have that courage.''

Well, the amendment failed, so what can be done?

In the movie ``The Wizard of Oz,'' the lion seeks a medal in order to be brave, even as Congress sought a constitutional amendment in order to have hope of being brave.

Why not award each member of Congress a U.S. Medal of Courage and hope it does some good?

For the following month, all letters to members of Congress would be addressed to ``Your Braveness.'' by CNB