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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, February 16, 1992                   TAG: 9202170219
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: E2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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GIVE LEGISLATORS MONEY FOR NOTHING?

I FIND IT hard to believe these words in your paper Feb. 2: " `You can't buy a vote in Virginia,' said Peg Cooning, spokeswoman for the Virginia Hospital Association, which runs a political-action committee that funnels contributions from hospital employees."

Don't tell me that this organization would give money to members in the General Assembly if it didn't expect something in return. She also is quoted in the news article as saying, "You might be able to get an introduction to a legislator with a contribution." Does this mean that I now have to pay an admission price to meet a legislator in Richmond?

It seems to me that we voters elect the legislators so that special-interest groups can buy their votes, or try to. Will we one day have the best General Assembly that money can buy? ASHBY LAZENBY CALLAWAY

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