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less affluent counties.
The governor said he would sign legislation giving both uranium mining and the controversial coal slurry pipeline the goahead if the lawmakers could agree on environmentally sound safeguards to regulate the operations. He appeared, however, to«^ be notably unenthusiastic about either project.
He will sign legislation raising the legal drinking age to 21, at least in part because if he does not, the state will lose badly needed federal highway money. Although he favors raising the age, he blasted the Reagan administration for bringing this kind of pressure on the states.
And, of course, there was much more.
The address was interrupted eight times by applause, something that has rarely happened on these occasions in recent years. Its tone was upbeat, optimistic and positive. A number of observers, including this one, consider it to have been Robb’s best speech to date.
Which brings us back to Sen. / Truban’s remark. It was, in a sense, a national speech.
It has been said that this session of the legislature involves three separate but intricately related aspects. First, of course, is the business of legislating. Second, there is the arcane politics of this election year, and third is the political future of Chuck Robb.
The speech certainly well served the first. There may be quibbling about details, but the governor’s broad program appears to be in good shape. On the second item, to the extent that Robb’s wide, popularity is transferrable to Democratic candidates, he helped his party. And in this election year, the Democrats will need all the help they can get.
91.8%