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two parties and those must be emphasized. . .but I think people are offended when debate degenerates into petty bickering of a partisan nature. The people expect more of their legislature."
Allen, of course, like all Virginia governors in their final year, is a lame duck who cannot succeed himself in office and, therefore, is in no position to control the legislative agenda.
Because that's the case, the prospective GOP and Democratic gubernatorial nominees have used the session to take stands designed to appeal to their own constituencies.
Lt. Gov. Don Beyer, for instance, has sided with those who want to ease some restrictions of the state’s efforts at welfare reform and opposed legislation requiring parental notification for parents of teenage women who seek abortions. Gilmore predictably lined up on the oppbsite side. Both issues are certain to come up often in the 1997 gubernatorial campaign.
As of this writing, there is still much to be hashed out during the session, matters relating to pay of school teachers and state employees, health care, aid to higher education and the like.
But it was good to spend a day at the Capitol and General Assembly building marked by what I felt was a noticeable improvement in the level of debate and discussion. It hearkened back to a time I recall well when Democrats and Republicans were able to disagree without being noticeably disagreeable to each other. My view of our state legislature may be a romanticized one, but for the most part I think that's the way it once was and the way it should be; though I'm not naive enough to believe the political detente will have a very long shelf life.
John Goolrick, a former political reporter, is now an aide to 1st District Rep. Herbert Bateman. Opinions expressed are his own.
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