ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 11, 1996 TAG: 9601110112
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: ROBERT LITTLE STAFF WRITER
Virginia legislators opened the 1996 General Assembly session Wednesday with a historic offering of political peace - Democrats agreeing to share power with Republicans.
The plan quickly became mired in a partisan standoff over the details. But one certainty emerged: The GOP will control some of the legislature's powerful lawmaking committees for the first time in modern history.
That could buoy support for anti-abortion legislation, imperil the chances of passing new pro-gambling laws and give Republican Gov. George Allen more influence during his last two years in office.
But just how far that GOP influence might extend remained unclear when lawmakers adjourned late Wednesday.
There are 20 Democrats and 20 Republicans in the state Senate, but Democrats hold a technical majority because Lt. Gov. Don Beyer can break ties. They decided early in the day to share power with Republicans, but insisted that Sen. Stanley Walker of Norfolk head the powerful Senate Finance Committee, giving them reign over the state budget and tax laws.
Republicans wanted that spot for themselves. So before the Democrats' plan came up for a vote, Republicans started making deals.
Conservative Democrat Virgil Goode of Rocky Mount already had agreed to help the GOP seize the Finance Committee. To cushion their clout, Republicans offered a seat on the committee to Loudoun County Democrat Charles Waddell, who then promised to side with Republicans as well.
That apparently angered Republican moderate Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo of Fincastle, who wanted a seat on that committee himself. Another moderate Republican, Jane Woods of Fairfax, also was unpredictable. Neither side, therefore, was willing to bring the subject up for a vote.
So senators spent the afternoon going in and out of session to allow the political parties to hold closed-door strategy meetings.
Tired senators finally adjourned Wednesday night, after Allen's State of the Commonwealth address, without setting the specific power-sharing terms.
"You go through a real nasty election, where it gets mean and all sorts of things are said about you, but this makes it all worthwhile," quipped Walker.
Also at issue: Whether a power-sharing agreement would be in place for two years or four. Beyer's seat is up for election in 1997, which gives Republicans a chance at a majority.
The General Assembly rarely has a heavy workload during its first week in session, so little was lost by Wednesday's delays.
"We'll get it resolved, I'm sure," said Sen. Joseph Gartlan, D-Fairfax County. "We do have real work to do."
Both parties' Senate organization plans called for elevating Norfolk Democrat Yvonne Miller to the chairmanship of the Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee. That panel considers welfare and social issues, liquor laws, bills that affect jails and prisons and other topics. Miller would be the first black woman to head a legislative committee in Virginia.
Matters were less complicated in the House of Delegates, where Democrats held their three-seat majority during last fall's election.
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1996by CNB