THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 2, 1994 TAG: 9409020585
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: GUY FRIDDELL
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Four Democratic leaders joined other Virginia legislators criticizing Republican Attorney General James Gilmore for launching a political action committee to campaign for parole reform.
``It's totally unprecedented,'' House Speaker Thomas Moss said to a reporter calling to inquire whether Moss knew of any other state official ever espousing a PAC.
``I think it's a blatant political ploy.''
In a letter seeking donations up to $2,500, Gilmore said that ``already liberal Democrats and the professional bureaucrats are working to undermine our proposals. They will say we are locking up too many people, that it will cost too much money.''
``We don't know what he's talking about,'' Moss said. ``Who would be the opposition? I don't know of any member of the Democratic caucus who isn't supporting a crime bill.''
The final product may not be exactly like the proposal by Gov. George Allen, but it will be substantially the same, Moss said.
The lawmakers are to assemble Sept. 19 in a special session to consider Allen's call for abolishing parole and reforming the state's sentencing structure.
``We had been working on a bipartisan basis,'' Moss said. ``His is the first partisan attack.''
Senate Majority Leader Hunter Andrews of Hampton found Gilmore's timing ``most regrettable when everything in the General Assembly was running in a cooperative spirit. We've emphasized that ours is a cooperative approach and there's no need for the attorney general to politicize it.''
``We were surprised when we got the letter because we couldn't figure out who the enemy was,'' said Del. Alan Diamonstein of Newport News. ``Who did he have to persuade? It's not a question of if it's going to be done, but of how we are going to do it financially. . . ''
Roanoke Del. Richard Cranwell said he was concerned with the ``Washingtonization'' of Richmond.
``If you look at what's going on, there are a large number of people in Cabinet posts and in executive positions in the Allen administration that are Washington transplants from the Reagan and Bush administrations,'' Cranwell said.
He wondered if there is in Virginia a ``replicating'' of the process in which people engage at the national level.
``They do the talk show tour and put paid ads on TV and radio, and try to drum up support for what they want to do. It's almost a new experience for me. I've been in the House 23 years, and I don't recall anything of this magnitude or this kind of public relations effort.''
What concerns him about the new way is its mean-spirited quality.
``It's almost like you can't be against something and be an honorable person, and they want to create demons and ghosts that really don't exist.
``I assume that the phrase `loyal opposition' no longer has any meaning in their vernacular.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Virginia Attorney General James Gilmore is seeking funds for a
political action committee on parole reform.
by CNB