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

DATE: TUESDAY, August 22, 1995                   TAG: 9508220061
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                 LENGTH: Short

`STEALTH' VA. BUDGET FEARED

Senior lawmakers Monday said they would take whatever steps are necessary to force Gov. George Allen to keep the General Assembly informed this fall about the development of the 1996-98 state budget.

Senate Finance Chairman Hunter Andrews, D-Hampton, reminded Allen administration officials about a state law requiring agencies to provide lawmakers certain budget estimates.

Robert Lauterberg, Allen's budget director, told members of a joint money committee that he may not be at liberty to release such information as preliminary budget reduction plans.

"I will be happy to take your request to the governor," Lauterberg said.

"If not," Andrews replied, "we have no recourse than to [invoke] the provisions of the law."

Some Democratic lawmakers fear Allen is developing a "stealth" budget that will keep many key decisions - particularly unpopular spending cuts - secret until after November elections. Allen is scheduled to release his budget Dec. 18.

Andrews would not elaborate when asked what steps lawmakers would take to enforce the law.

by CNB