ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 12, 1996 TAG: 9601120019
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
GOV. GEORGE Allen has apparently decided to test the old adage that you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Though the agenda he has presented to the 1996 General Assembly represents something of a retreat from his ill-considered mid-biennium budget proposals of a year ago, it is not a massive departure from what he's been talking about since taking office in 1994, and before that as a gubernatorial candidate.
But, oh, how the presentation has changed.
The governor once spoke of shoving Democrats' ``soft teeth down their whiny throats.'' In his state-of-the-state speech Wednesday night, he was Mr. Congeniality, as he addressed a legislature still controlled by Democrats despite the governor's considerable teeth-shoving efforts to install a Republican majority in last fall's elections.
Allen was quick to praise Democratic lawmakers for the bipartisan support they gave some of his past legislative priorities - including welfare reform, and overhaul of criminal-sentencing and parole laws. He even - stars above! - singled out House Majority Leader Dick Cranwell of Vinton for special commendation.
If he hopes to have a more successful session than in 1995, cynics might say, the governor hasn't much choice but to change his style. Last year, Democrats, led by Cranwell, pretty much demolished the Allen legislative program.
That demolition, it should be noted, was for reasons not merely of gubernatorial style. The substance of Allen's budget surprises, surprises not repeated this year, deserved rejection.
Nor should the return of civility - welcome as it is - be mistaken for an absence of honest disagreement on issues. Allen's new conciliatory tone may blunt the long knives already out for many items he has highlighted as priorities, but it probably won't sheathe them.
For example, the governor's ideas for increasing accountability of public schools - while also, unlike last year's proposals, giving them additional money - are not apt to be accepted without dissent. For higher education, Allen has proposed a $107 million increase in funding, but many contend it's not enough after several years of cutbacks.
Allen's refurbished proposals to return lottery proceeds to localities, to require parental notification before teens can have abortions, and to provide for public initiative and referendum may gain no more support from lawmakers than in the past.
Additionally, a key initiative for this session - reform of the juvenile-justice system - could well ignite old partisan fires. On this issue, Allen went to lengths Wednesday to appeal for compromise between competing recommendations offered by his administration and by a Democrat-controlled legislative panel. ``I want to work with you,'' he said, ``to blend the best of these proposals into a package of broad-based, workable juvenile-justice reforms.'' Even so, some Democrats questioned whether the governor is seriously abandoning what they consider an unduly punitive approach to juvenile crime.
Allen wisely used his opening-day speech to provide a framework for a more productive session than last year. But while this session may have honey rather than vinegar, don't be surprised by a little spice as well.
LENGTH: Medium: 61 linesby CNB