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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 30, 1994                   TAG: 9403300064
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

LAWMAKERS TO FIGHT TOBACCO TAX

Virginia's members of Congress are vowing to fight any new tobacco taxes, even though some of them concede that a cigarette tax increase is inevitable.

"We're going to hunker down and fight this and fight it hard," U.S. Sen. John Warner, R-Va., said Monday after the congressional delegation met with Gov. George Allen.

U.S. Sen. Charles Robb, D-Va., likened higher tobacco taxes to a tax on luxury goods that Congress repealed because it devastated the boat-building industry. He said he has been trying to convince members of Congress that a tobacco tax increase also would cost jobs.

"I can't tell you we have critical mass yet for our arguments, but we're working on it," Robb said.

But Rep. Herbert Bateman, R-Newport News, said the debate in Congress is "more likely to be how much, not whether" to raise the tax to pay for health reform.

Before the private meeting in the executive mansion, Allen said he would urge the delegation to fight the tax and any new unfunded mandates from the federal government.

"I told the [state] legislators I'd veto any bill that had an unfunded mandate on the localities, and we need the same sort of help up in Washington on unfunded mandates," Allen told reporters.

The Republican governor asked for curbs on federal environmental regulations that could undermine job growth, and approval of federal waivers to allow Virginia to proceed with welfare reform.

Congressmen said Allen's arguments against federal mandates are familiar, but they were skeptical about how much can be done.

"He asked for a lot of help that we can't necessarily deliver," said Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke. He said President Clinton wants a greater role for the federal government, particularly in health care.

"Everybody's concerned about the mandates," said Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Newport News.

"People oppose mandates they don't agree with and support mandates they agree with," Scott said. "You get Democrats and Republicans supporting and opposing different mandates."

by CNB