THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 29, 1994 TAG: 9412280012
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Del. Robert D. Hull, Democrat of Fairfax, calls it ``a gut check.'' He refers to the dilemma of Republican lawmakers who want to be loyal to their popular governor but who face elections in districts where proposed state-spending cuts would be severe. Oh, the burden of politics!
While practically every Virginian agrees that state spending could and should be reduced, it would be rare for anyone to say his state-employed neighbor should be among those losing jobs. Concept is one thing, implementation another.
As Del. John S. Reid, Republican of Henrico - who has neighbors who work for the state - put it, ``You're not just lopping off jobs; you're lopping off people.''
That puts a pained human face on the idea of budget-trimming. And - witness Allen's firings just before Christmas in 1993 - sensitivity has not always characterized this administration.
In another year, it might be more of the same callousness. But 1995 is election year for every member of the General Assembly. Even if voters do like the idea of cost-cutting, no politician welcomes having to defend job- or agency-cutting in his own district.
Scott Leake, director of the General Assembly Republican Caucus, says the ``larger issue'' is whether government is to shrink or grow. OK, but remember: Leake doesn't answer to voters. He's a hired hand.
Whose side are you on? voters will ask their legislators. That's where the ``gut check'' gets real. That's when the concept of pork falls apart; pork is what's in someone else's district; bloated bureaucracy employs someone else's neighbors.
Of course, there's always the option of making the governor the bad guy, having him veto the things he believes must be cut to enable a tax cut and to finance prison construction and other things he thinks more important than funding the Center for Innovative Technology or social programs for those incapable of helping themselves.
But what kind of loyalty is that?
Anyway you slice it, $2.1 billion - the amount Allen proposes to cut taxes over the next five years - is a lot of bucks. And 16,000 jobs - the additional number Allen says must be cut from the state payroll over the next three years - are a lot of neighbors who will be without a livelihood.
We're not suggesting that government can't be pared. It can, but it won't be cost-free for anyone, politicians included. by CNB