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

DATE: FRIDAY, January 6, 1995                   TAG: 9501060077
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FAT-CAT FIGHT

Nothing quite so dire is going on, but poor, poor Hunter Andrews, chairman of the state Senate's Finance Committee, has been the target of a little verbal sniping from Gov. George Allen's spokesman, and he doesn't much like it.

Andrews has, over the years, been more comfortable on the giving rather than the receiving end of the verbal attack.

It is hard to cry too many tears for the veteran senator after Allen press secretary Ken Stroupe included him in a group of Democratic lawmakers whom he characterized as "tax-raising, fat-cat career politicians." A lot worse things are said about politicians these days.

Still, it is difficult to see just what the Republican governor's spokesman hoped to accomplish with his initial swipe, followed, after Andrews complained, by a, what? Apology? Stroupe said he was sorry, but only if Andrews seriously took offense - which, not being that new on the block, the press secretary doubted.

Sure, partisan give-and-take is to be expected, as ascending Republicans and savvy Democrats skirmish to win the hearts and minds of Virginia voters on the real tax question, which is not: "Do you want to pay less in taxes?" (Sure!) It is: "Do you want to pay for what government is providing?" As voters realize that much more than welfare reform is on the table, the answer may not be so certain.

Just as leading Democratic legislators cannot be faulted for scrutinizing the balance sheet behind Allen's proposals for prison spending increases coupled with tax cuts, the administration can hardly be blamed for trying to score points for its initiatives.

But name-calling? The phrase "chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee" did not become a journalistic cliche without reason. Allen will have to work with a General Assembly that - for the upcoming session, at the very least - is controlled by Democrats. Depending, that is, on whether the objective is to win approval of his agenda or campaign points for the next election.