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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 25, 1995                   TAG: 9501250075
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ROBERT LITTLE AND DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                 LENGTH: Medium

REPUBLICANS LAUNCH CAMPAIGN FOR ALLEN'S BELEAGUERED TAX PLANS

Republican lawmakers rallied to the defense of Gov. George Allen's agenda Tuesday, only to face increasing Democratic opposition and even some wavering within their own ranks.

With little more than two weeks remaining for the House of Delegates and the Senate to complete separate budget proposals, Republicans announced a strategy of news conferences and relentless speechmaking to fight for their ailing program of budget cuts and government reform.

Republicans claim they are simply reacting to a Democratic conspiracy designed to quash Allen's budget proposals with committee votes - thus avoiding a public stance.

The rumor circulated early Tuesday that Democrats, in a caucus meeting, had agreed to use their majority in both houses to keep Allen's spending bills bottled in committees.

Majority leaders in both houses denied the claim. Democratic spokeswoman Gail Nardi said ``the governor has a rich fantasy life.''

In both chambers, Republicans quoted figures that spending has gone up 300 percent in the past 15 years, and said Allen wants simply to cut 3 percent in the next five.

Sources say about 15 high-level Republicans met with Allen on Sunday at the Executive Mansion to air concerns that Democrats have seized control of the debate in this year's session.

Other Republicans suggested that recent disagreement within the party over Allen's proposed elimination of the Business, Professional and Occupational License tax could be blamed on the governor himself. He did not consult with GOP lawmakers before announcing the tax-cut plan Dec. 19.

Some Republicans have shown signs of defecting.

Del. Robert Marshall, R-Manassas, said an informal poll of his district turned up ``ambivalence'' to the proposed tax cuts. And if the tax-cut proposal fails, he suggested the state use the revenue to finance prison construction without the borrowing that Allen has proposed.

Sen. Malfourd ``Bo'' Trumbo, R-Fincastle, said he will help Allen triple the state's personal exemption on income taxes, but would not support cutting the BPOL tax.

``There may be times we may not reasonably agree with the governor; that's how the system works,'' Trumbo said. ``I always have to go home, and he can stay here.''

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1995

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