Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 18, 1994 TAG: 9401180219
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Long
"I trust Virginians to exercise wisely the power of initiative and referendum," the Republican governor told the Democratic-controlled General Assembly. "I urge you to join me in taking this bold and decisive step to put the people back in charge."
In his first State of the Commonwealth address, Allen also said he would push this year for caps on college tuition, a parental notification abortion law, a "three strikes, you're out" law to keep violent criminals behind bars and a reserve fund to pay federal retirees who were taxed illegally.
Allen endorsed pay raises for state employees proposed in former Gov. Douglas Wilder's 1994-96 budget but said he would seek at least three major budget amendments.
One would create a reserve fund to pay federal retirees who were taxed illegally and contend they are owed as much as $500 million in refunds.
Another would eliminate funding for a proposed $18 million lottery headquarters in downtown Richmond and a third would keep open the Mecklenburg Correctional Center for at least another year. Wilder proposed closing the maximum-security prison because it is expensive to operate.
Lawmakers generally applauded Allen's ideas, but House Speaker Thomas Moss, D-Norfolk, warned that many of them are expensive.
"He's excellent at telling people what they want to hear," Moss said.
The proposed constitutional amendments would have to be passed twice by the General Assembly before going to the voters in a referendum.
Under the initiative proposal, voters would be able to put issues on the ballot by gathering enough signatures of support. Currently, referendums are held only if the legislature approves.
Some legislators predicted the initiative proposal would face rough going in the assembly. "It's kind of a weird, California idea," said Del. Jay DeBoer, D-Petersburg.
The other constitutional amendment would require a two-thirds vote of both houses of the General Assembly before any increase in sales or income taxes could become law. Currently, the tax increases can be passed with a majority vote.
"Together with our existing requirement of a balanced budget, this measure will protect future Virginians from unnecessary and burdensome taxing and spending," Allen said.
On crime, Allen said he would seek bills to require that juries know a criminal's prior record before sentencing and require life without parole for criminals convicted of a violent felony for the third time.
"Let's work together to enact this legislation on an emergency basis, so that Virginians can have this protection now," he said.
Allen said he will set up regional governor's offices "to assist citizens in cutting through state agency red tape."
He announced a task force to coordinate state and local efforts to keep Virginia military bases from closing.
After giving an inaugural address Saturday that some criticized as too partisan, Allen made a point of mentioning Democratic legislative leaders. He said he consulted with Senate Majority Leader Hunter Andrews, D-Hampton, on the base-closings task force. He said he has appointed Sen. Edward Holland, D-Arlington, and Del. James Almand, D-Arlington, chairmen of the Senate and House Courts of Justice committees, to serve on his task force studying the abolition of parole.
Democrats got the jump on Allen by unveiling their tough-on-crime legislative agenda four hours before the governor's address.
House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County, said Democrats will push for an end to parole for career criminals and an omnibus drunken-driving bill.
Cranwell said at a news conference that he had not talked with Allen about the package, but "we welcome support from all quarters."
One bill would lower the blood alcohol limit for drunken drivers from .10 to .08, a change Allen supports, and allow the state to temporarily revoke the driver's license of anyone arrested for drunken driving. Allen opposes administrative revocation as a violation of due process.
The bill also would require a six-month license suspension for anyone under age 21 caught with a blood alcohol level of .02 or above.
Another crime bill would require a life sentence without parole for anyone convicted of three separate violent felonies. Allen wants to abolish parole entirely and will call a special session this spring to take up the issue.
Cranwell said the issue can be handled in this 60-day regular session.
"What is the reason to put the taxpayer to the cost of a special session?" he said.
Cranwell said his bill would target violent career criminals and be less costly than abolishing all parole.
A bill being sponsored by Del. Glenn Croshaw, D-Virginia Beach, would allow the death penalty for anyone convicted of first-degree murder after two previous, separate convictions for murder or other violent crimes.
The Democrats also called for reducing class sizes for kindergarten through third grade. Cranwell said the program would cost almost $100 million, but he did not specify where the money would come from. The pupil-teacher ratio would be reduced to 18-1 in schools with many at-risk children and 22-1 for other schools.
The proposal is similar to one advocated by Mary Sue Terry, the Democrat Allen defeated for governor.
The Democrats' education plan also would expand programs for at-risk 4-year-olds, increase use of technology in schools and have parents sign written agreements on how their children should behave in school.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1994
by CNB