THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 5, 1995 TAG: 9504050473
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBERT LITTLE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Long : 121 lines
It's a Monday, and Gov. George F. Allen touches down in the state jet at a rural Wise County airstrip. He challenges the General Assembly to borrow $72 million for a new Southwest Virginia prison.
Tuesday, he takes a helicopter to Charlottesville, where he touts a new private health plan for university employees. He dares the Assembly to take the less-government cue.
On Wednesday, Allen flies to Newport News to hail the opening of a United Parcel Service plant with 840 new jobs. All part of his grand Republican vision, he says. He implores the Assembly to see the light.
In the weeks since the end of this year's legislative session, Allen has spent some $10,000 flying across the state distributing checks, cutting ribbons, holding news conferences - and pitching his agenda.
Some call it governing, others campaigning.
But as lawmakers huddle in the state Capitol today for the final bow of their 1995 legislative performances, few question the Republican governor's likely motivation: The Nov. 7 Assembly election is not only under way, it may already be at a crossroads.
Allen will force lawmakers to cast votes today on budget cuts, abortion clinic access, concealed handguns and a list of other election-year stinkers during a special session to consider the governor's vetoes and amendments.
Democrats have the votes to defeat all of Allen's proposals, and some Republicans predict they will.
Still, the one-day gathering has taken shape as more than just another test of the downsize-and-privatize Republican philosophy. It could be a precursor to this fall's battle of the brochures.
``We've seen an awful lot of political traps set in the last few months,'' said Lt. Gov. Donald S. Beyer Jr., a Democrat. He called a news conference Monday to say he will oppose most of Allen's major initiatives.
``You have to be careful,'' Beyer said. ``Because you never know which way the trap is going to spring.''
Atop Allen's truncated agenda today is a proposal to take lottery profits out of the state's bank account and give the money to localities for education, law enforcement or tax cuts. Local governments would receive all $300 million of the state's annual lottery proceeds in five stages, the first being a $15 million payment next year.
Allen called a news conference Tuesday, calling today's vote on his lottery plan ``a moment of truth.''
Democrats appear poised to defeat the plan, because it would create a $300 million hole in the budget within five years that Allen has done little to account for.
Still, few discount the issue's political strength: Come election time, it could be framed as a recorded vote on budget cuts, local empowerment, education, law enforcement and big government.
``A lot of Democrats won't want to give the governor that last victory,'' Sen. Kenneth W. Stolle, R-Virginia Beach, said.
``But if they don't, they might wind up giving him the real victory he wants - in November.''
It is for that reason that Assembly Democrats have questioned Allen's motive, and criticized him for acting as though he were stuck in a campaign-style mode of governing.
Since the regular session adjourned Feb. 25, Allen has traversed Virginia. At least 15 times he has flown in state-owned aircraft, including trips as brief as a helicopter jump to Petersburg and as long as an all-day jet around Southwest Virginia, Northern Virginia and back.
Not all stops resembled campaign events - several times, Allen spoke before Congress, gave speeches to colleges or attended ceremonial dinners.
Others - like a meeting in Danville with United We Stand, a national organization of political independents - were less conventional. On Feb. 28, he flew in the state jet to Teterboro, N.J., with state Health and Human Resources Secretary Kay Coles James and press secretary Ken Stroupe to plug Virginia's new welfare reform package - on the Phil Donahue show.
He was reimbursed for the cost of traveling to tape the show, but typical flights in state aircraft can cost $1,000 or more.
It's easy for critics to lambaste the governor for spending state money on travel, then imparting his politics to his audience. But at least one Democrat concedes it would hypocritical to question the governor's inspiration.
``There's a lot at stake. Don't think there isn't,'' said Sen. Clarence A. Holland, a Virginia Beach Democrat whose seat Republicans plan to target this fall. ``Will one vote make a difference in November? I don't think so right now. But it always can. That's why this is all going on.''
Allen has proposed amendments to a healthy stack of bills passed this year by the legislature and vetoed a few more, ensuring that many of his initiatives will come up for votes today. They include:
A change to a bill that would guarantee jail time for protesters who repeatedly block access to abortion clinics. Allen wants the new law to apply only in cases of violence or threats of violence. And he wants it to apply to all public places - stealing its pro-choice zing.
Changes to a bill making it easier for Virginians to carry concealed handguns. Allen has pledged to sign the bill, but he first wants to kill a section prohibiting concealed weapons in places where alcohol is served.
An $83 million increase in the amount the state will borrow next year for prison construction. The extra money would finance a maximum security prison at the Red Onion Mountain site in Wise County and a juvenile facility at Bon Air in Chesterfield County.
Allen's veto of the bill making it illegal for children to ride in the backs of pickup trucks on highways. One of 11 bills vetoed by the governor, it is one of the few that has created a stir. Allen vetoed a similar bill last year, but legislators lacked the two-thirds vote needed to override.
The special veto session, an annual affair, typically lasts one day. But this year, when Democrats hold only slight majorities and all 140 legislative seats will be up for election, some lawmakers wonder if they can keep it that brief.
During his Tuesday news conference, Allen did not specifically address the political punch that some of his proposals could carry, even if defeated. When asked whether he would prefer that his agenda fail or pass, he chose the latter.
Still, when introducing his plan to give the state lottery money to localities, he began by reminding reporters of its history of defeats - at the hands of Democrat-controlled committees - in past Assembly sessions.
And he suggested Democratic leaders may well conspire to kill it again. But even a defeat might give him what he wants.
``This will truly be a moment of truth,'' Allen said. ``This is going to be the first time on the House floor and the Senate floor that there's actually going to be a vote.''
KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPECIAL SESSION by CNB