THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 13, 1996 TAG: 9603130526
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Long : 118 lines
After failing to win a Republican legislative majority in last fall's elections, Gov. George F. Allen began adapting both his style and his priorities for the remaining two years of his term.
On the surface, a much-changed Allen emerged during the two-month winter legislative session that ended Monday. Gone was his once-constant labeling of Democratic lawmakers as ``fat-cat career politicians'' and his polarizing crusade for major tax and spending cuts.
The improved post-election atmosphere allowed Allen and Democrats to peacefully agree this winter to spend an additional $1 billion on public schools and colleges, toughen the juvenile justice system and expand economic development activities.
That doesn't mean Allen and the General Assembly see eye to eye or that the governor has abandoned his conservative base.
``As far as my principles and goals are concerned, they're exactly the same,'' Allen said in an interview Monday. ``The question is how you get the best results.''
Democrats shot down a litany of Allen-backed proposals. Once again, they blocked the governor's attempts to create public funding for semi-private ``charter schools,'' require parental notification before abortions are performed on teenagers, return lottery profits to localities and allow citizen-sponsored initiatives to appear on ballots.
But unlike last year, the Democrats didn't call the governor an ``extremist'' when he introduced the measures. And unlike last year, Allen didn't call the Democrats ``arrogant'' when they defeated the measures.
``Things pretty much worked out the same way on a lot of issues,'' quipped Lt. Gov. Donald S. Beyer Jr., a Democrat. ``It's just that this year everyone was a lot nicer.''
Allen sees it differently. ``What a difference a year makes,'' he said Monday, several hours before the legislature adjourned. ``. . . We found much common ground on which to move Virginia forward.''
The governor said the setbacks were small in comparison with the successes. The advances in education, economic development and juvenile justice were matters at the top of his agenda, he said.
Allen said the successes in each area indicate that the General Assembly is gradually becoming acclimated to his conservative agenda.
The governor and many Democratic lawmakers agree that the absence of an election this year eased tensions and allowed them to find common ground on many key issues.
Last year, for example, the governor proposed cutting money for public education. This year, he backed a Democratic plan to increase funding by $600 million.
In return, Allen won Democratic support for developing a series of standardized tests that will allow parents and educators to compare student achievement in every Virginia public school. Last year, Democrats killed the testing plan.
Allen also lauded a bipartisan compromise on juvenile justice. The compromise respected his desire for tough sentencing for violent criminals and the Democrats' demand for more early intervention programs.
``The administration was all over the Capitol, but not in a confrontational mode,'' said Del. Jay W. DeBoer, D-Petersburg. ``We seldom heard from the governor himself and we seldom heard Republicans say the words, `This is the governor's bill.' ''
Allen advisers say the governor remained in the background this year because he did not want his touchy relationship with the Democrats to become an issue in debate.
Instead of making personal appeals to the legislature this year, Allen often worked through the business community. He enlisted a group of corporate executives to lobby the legislature on behalf of his standardized testing plan.
When the House cut $20 million from an economic development fund, Allen responded with a series of speeches before business organizations, calmly outlining the need for the money. The House ultimately agreed to restore $12 million.
``The in-your-face stuff wasn't needed this year,'' said Allen. GOP gains in last fall's election resulted in a 20-20 split of Senate seats between Democrats and Republicans and an unprecedented power-sharing arrangement. That helped neutralize the House, which is still controlled by Democrats.
Many Republican lawmakers applaud Allen's change in style. ``He'd become the focal point, and that was causing us real problems getting legislation through,'' said Senate Republican floor leader Joseph B. Benedetti of Richmond. ``We've been telling him, `For God's sake you've got to tone down; we're going to be here a lot longer than you.' ''
Even tough rivals such as House Majority Leader C. Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County, credit the 44-year-old governor with maturing. ``The emotional, vitriolic tone was gone this year and I think the governor and the people of Virginia have more to show for it,'' he said.
Cranwell and many other legislators say a key element in the peace was Allen's abandonment of last year's effort to cut state income taxes. Allen would have paid for the reduction with unpopular funding cuts for public schools, aid to local police departments and ``Meals on Wheels'' for disabled senior citizens.
Virginia has the second-lowest overall taxes in the nation. Public opinion polls last fall showed Virginians strongly preferred seeing a greater investment in education to receiving a tax cut. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Allen and state Sen. Stanley C. Walker, D-Norfolk, mark the end of
the session.
Graphic
WHY WAS THIS SESSION DIFFERENT?
LAST YEAR: Gov. George F. Allen and Democratic legislators were
embroiled in election-year politics.
THIS YEAR: the session was less-combative, and Allen remained in
the background more, not letting his relationship with Democrats
become such an issue.
LAST YEAR: Allen pushed for a cut in state income taxes, paid for
by cuts to public schools, aid to local police departments and
``Meals on Wheels'' for disabled senior citizens.
THIS YEAR: He abandoned the issue, which Democrats opposed.
KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY GEORGE F. ALLEN by CNB