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

DATE: MONDAY, February 20, 1995                   TAG: 9502200080
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                 LENGTH: Medium

LAST CALL FOR NEW VA. LAWS

A legislative session that became a nightmare for Gov. George Allen and a muscle-flexing orgy for Democrats enters its final week with few substantive issues still on the table.

Negotiators from the Senate and the House of Delegates will iron out relatively minor differences on the budget before the 1995 General Assembly ends Saturday.

A compromise is possible on welfare reform. The assembly passed a Democrat-backed plan last week, but the Republican governor threatened to veto it unless lawmakers agree to stiffen a work requirement and make other significant changes.

The only other high-profile bill awaiting action is a Senate-passed measure that would strip judges of discretion in awarding permits to carry concealed weapons. The bill is pending in a House committee.

Every major item in Allen's legislative agenda has been steamrolled by Democrats hoping to retain control of the assembly after November's elections.

Welfare reform was the final significant Allen initiative handled by the assembly. Last week, legislators rejected Allen's plan and passed the less stringent bill backed by Democrats.

After the governor issued his veto threat, Lt. Gov. Don Beyer and Del. David Brickley, D-Woodbridge, called him and said they were willing to work toward a compromise.

Brickley said Allen told them Secretary of Health and Human Resources Kay Coles James would get in touch with them to set up a meeting.

``I'm standing by the phone,'' Brickley said Friday, adding he was unsure about the chances of reaching an agreement.

``It's entirely up to the governor,'' he said. ``If we don't pass anything, we've delayed true welfare reform another year.''

The General Assembly last year passed, and Allen signed, a more modest welfare reform proposal. However, the administration still has not obtained the federal waivers necessary to implement the plan.

Budget negotiators have a deadline of midnight Tuesday for agreeing on amendments to the 1994-96 budget.

Both the House and Senate restored most of the $403 million Allen wanted to slash to pay for prisons and the first installment of a tax cut. The five-year, $2.1 billion tax cut was defeated.

One of the biggest differences in the House and Senate spending plans is in bonds for prisons: The House wants to borrow $60 million; the Senate, just less than $200 million. Allen had proposed two bond issues exceeding $400 million.

Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1995

by CNB