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

DATE: THURSDAY, February 2, 1995                   TAG: 9502030003
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-14   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

VINCE THE VALIANT

The veteran delegate, 63, has introduced a bill to raise legislators' salaries.

This, in a year when the assembly is considering cuts in nearly every category of state spending, and the public seems in no mood to tolerate legislative largess? When all things governmental - which we would take to include legislative salaries - are supposed to be lean and mean?

If that doesn't qualify Callahan to wear the emblem of a daredevil, what would?

Noting that Virginia lawmakers' salaries haven't been raised in eight years, he boldly defends his proposal.

The legislature, he says, has become a full-time job. While the assembly is formally in session 60 days in even-numbered years and about 45 days in odd-numbered years, legislators must often attend committee meetings and other assembly-related functions between sessions.

For their public service, senators are currently paid $18,000 and delegates earn $17,640. (Delegates voluntarily agreed to a 2 percent reduction in pay three years ago, in a show of solidarity with state employees whose pay was also being cut by 2 percent.)

Callahan's bill would raise legislators` salaries to $21,000, and says he: ``Everyone wants it; no one else has the guts to do it.''

Maybe. Or maybe it's that they don't have the sheer gall. Either way, if they don't have the guts/gall to propose a raise for themselves, it's unlikely they'd have the fortitude to vote for one. And if enough had enough to pass the bill, our guess is that the measure would cruise straight to a gubernatorial veto.

Darned, though, if you can't help admiring a fellow who throws politically correct caution to the wind, and does what he thinks necessary with reckless abandon for the consequences. You'd think the fact he's been a delegate for 27 years would be politically incorrect enough.

In toting up the hours spent by lawmakers on the job, Callahan didn't even mention the time they spend campaigning for re-election, a pursuit to which some seem to devote 365 days a year, every year.

Of course, the delegate's introduction of the bill for a legislative pay raise could be a sign that he doesn't figure on doing any more campaigning to make it 30 years in the House.

Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1995