THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 11, 1996 TAG: 9601110383
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARGARET EDDS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Long : 151 lines
Armageddon II or the dawn of a peaceful millennium?
Hundreds of lawmakers, lobbyists, aides and reporters descended Wednesday on a snowy Capitol in quest of an answer: Will the 1996 General Assembly see a replay of last year's partisan sniping or the start of a new era of cooperation?
Over the hours until GOP Gov. George F. Allen finished his annual State of the Commonwealth address and legislators drifted away to restaurants and hotels, there was an assortment of clues to the mood of the next 60 days.
10 a.m.
Pink bubble gum showed through the teeth of man-of-the-hour Virgil Goode as he swiveled back and forth in his office chair and dodged questions with Sphinx-like impassivity.
As the key player in a simmering dispute over how the Senate's 20 Democrats and 20 Republicans should share power, the Rocky Mount Democrat has had Democrats fuming and Republicans salivating over his possible defection for weeks.
With whom was he meeting this morning?
``People are meeting now,'' replied Goode.
To whom was he talking?
``Everybody's talking to everybody,'' he said.
Were Democrats willing to share power?
``I'll have to wait and see.''
Suddenly genial, Goode smiled expansively and pointed to a basket on an end table. ``Have a piece of bubble gum,'' he said.
10:20 a.m.
The usual crowd of lobbyists was starting to fill the entrance hall to the General Assembly office building, stomping snow off boots and taking up position to greet legislators entering and exiting the building.
Several long-timers assessed the session's prospects, offering candor for anonymity.
``It'll be a calmer session,'' predicted a Republican whose Assembly work spans almost two decades. The governor's people are ``tired of fighting all these battles.''
Besides, he added, referring to Allen's wife, ``Susan's getting a little concerned about George's legacy, this in-your-face-stuff.''
Another old-timer was more doubtful.
Just the other day, he said, two southwest Virginia senators - Democrat Jack Reason of Bluefield and Republican William Wampler of Bristol - butted heads over expanding a subcommittee of the Coal and Energy Commission by one person.
And the problem with that? It would give Allen a chance to appoint an extra member.
10:30 a.m.
Democrats senators caucused in a Senate committee room over Senate rules and committee assignments - without Goode.
Back at Goode's office, Del. William Mims, R-Leesburg, happened by with a young aide in tow. ``This is Virgil Goode, who's in the catbird seat,'' Mims said by way of introduction.
11:05 a.m.
Robin Dejarnette shepherded about two dozen would-be citizen lobbyists from The Family Foundation through the Capitol hallways, pointing out meeting rooms and the snack bar.
Sporting ``Rush Is Right'' and ``CasiNO'' buttons, most of the group traveled by bus from Virginia Beach to promote their beliefs. ``I'm most interested in a reduced federal and state government, and as a single parent, I'm concerned about the reduced rights of parents,'' said Jane Eshagpoor, a computer consultant.
Rubbing shoulders with Eshagpoor in the hallway were dozens of other citizens launching lobbying efforts in a year when lawmakers will adopt a $34.6 billion biennial budget. ``We're in a desperate mode,'' said Clarissa Rowe, on hand to argue against taking $7.2 million from the general fund for mental health.
11:17 a.m.
Styrofoam coffee cup in hand, House Speaker Thomas W. Moss Jr., D-Norfolk, explained why relations with Allen will be better this year. The governor's ``been reaching out and our people are very receptive,'' he said.
For instance, there have been assurances already that a repeat of the 1995 session, in which Allen delivered his State of the Commonwealth speech from his office rather than the House chamber, will not happen.
Moss said he worked out details with Jay Timmons, Allen's chief of staff, last week.
As for Goode, ``I'd rather not say anything because I might not like what I said.''
11:53 a.m.
With the Senate about to go into session and the division of leadership still unsettled, Sen. Madison Marye, a Shawsville Democrat, walked over to Sen. Malfourd ``Bo'' Trumbo, a Fincastle Republican. The two are friends - they represent the same region of the state. ``Hey,'' Marye offered in greeting. ``I'd better shake your hand now.''
Noon
The Senate and House convened.
12:23 p.m.
The Senate recessed to allow time for printing a Democratic proposal on rules and committee assignments.
1 p.m.
The Senate reconvened and quickly adjourned to let Republicans consider the Senate proposal. Senators scurried in and out of caucus rooms. Goode was seen huddling in the hall with an assortment of individual senators.
``We've just been chatting,'' said Sen. Jane Woods, smiling. A Fairfax Republican, Woods has also been branded a pivotal player in the leadership fight because of her independent streak.
2 p.m.
The Senate reconvened and again adjourned after Sen. Kenneth Stolle, R-Virginia Beach, said Republicans needed more time to consider the Democrats' rules changes.
2:30 p.m.
Closed-door caucuses and private meetings continued.
Back in the General Assembly office building, Goode labeled the Democrats' power-sharing plan a ``good first step.''
What he did not say was that a ``Goode Plan'' favored by Republicans was also floating through the halls. And it was picking up some Democratic support.
``Both plans are fair,'' said Sen. Charles Waddell, D-Loudoun, a longtime Goode friend who would get a coveted seat on the Senate Finance Committee under Goode's plan.
As he hurried across Capitol Square to the Senate chamber, Waddell said that, after more than two decades in the Senate, the seat is a deserved assignment.
3:30 p.m.
With the Democratic position apparently eroding, the Senate reconvened and adjourned until 4:15. The appointed hour passed, however, with Democrats still caucusing in a first-floor meeting room.
5:20 p.m.
Still caucusing, Democrats sent out for dinner. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
BILL TIERNAN/The Virginian-Pilot
State Sen. Virgil H. Goode Jr., D-Rocky Mount, is in the center - in
more ways than one. Rumor has it that he may defect to the GOP, but
for now, he's keeping quiet. Insisting that he's content to ``wait
and see,'' he has crafted his own plan for sharing the power between
the two parties.
KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY by CNB