ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 13, 1996 TAG: 9602130112
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
AS A piece of legislation, Del. George Grayson's bill to abolish the job of the state's secretary of natural resources for two years - the two years remaining in the term of Becky Norton Dunlop - is rotten.
Laws should not be written aimed at punishing or controlling individuals who hold opposing views. They should set rules for government and society as a whole.
What's more, in pursuing a pro-business, anti-regulatory agenda, the secretary is only bringing the Department of Natural Resources into line with the philosophy of the man who appointed her.
George Allen wasn't shy about including the standard conservative rhetoric of the day - breaking regulatory shackles, removing jackboots from industry necks, and so on - in his successful campaign for office. If Dunlop is not furthering Allen's goals, he - not some lawmaker - should fire her.
Don't look for this to happen. But this, too, is not out of line.
If the governor's goals are out of line with what Virginians want, they should fire him, or rather - given Virginia's law against a governor seeking a second, consecutive term - they should fire his ideology. They can do that by embracing environmental protection as a campaign issue in the next gubernatorial campaign, and by asking any candidate seeking their support to make a firm commitment to it.
Lawmakers also have options for protecting the environment, other than proposing a bill calling for a cabinet secretary's removal.
Of course, pushing environmental quality to center stage is the true purpose here. If, as a piece of legislation, Grayson's bill is rotten, it may still prove effective as political theater - a prospect presumably not lost on Roanoke Del. Chip Woodrum and 10 other Democrats who are co-sponsors.
Grayson has turned the spotlight on a facet of the Republican administration likely to cause consternation among GOP and independent, as well as Democratic, voters. They have good cause for concern.
Dunlop has made it clear since her appointment that her goal is to make it easy for industries to comply with environmental standards, and thus spur economic growth. Who could find fault with trying to make compliance as easy as possible - if standards are not compromised? Dunlop's critics, including former employees of the state's Department of Environmental Quality, say standards are being compromised.
The secretary is right in maintaining that a healthy environment and a healthy economy are not mutually exclusive. One way to encourage healthy economic growth, after all, is to maintain quality of life by protecting natural resources - the job of the secretary of natural resources. Dunlop, unfortunately, would rather focus on economic growth - the job of the secretary of economic development.
Only if the environment and industry both have vigorous advocates in the administration will the state's overall interests be served. Dunlop has failed to recognize this reality, and has proved a terrible steward of Virginia's environment. But, again, she serves at the governor's, not Grayson's, pleasure.
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1996by CNB