Va. GOP Tries to Heal Party Schism

The letter from Virginia Del. Melanie L. Rapp (R-York) to her Republican colleagues -- written when it was clear they were losing the fight against higher taxes -- describes a 63-member caucus torn by philosophical differences and personal animosity.

"Achieving compromise [has become] a new top priority," she wrote in April. "All we have demonstrated is a willingness to raise taxes and abandon our commitments to the voters."

Rapp's letter echoed the fury among many in the GOP caucus at lawmakers who broke party ranks to support tax increases proposed by Gov. Mark R. Warner (D) and a bipartisan group of senators. In the end, the state raised sales, tobacco and other taxes by $1.5 billion over the next two years.

Rapp ended the note with the following: "A few short weeks ago, what united us eclipsed what divided us. Now, that too has changed. With that change, we are now -- in my view -- a caucus in name only. "

However, some of Virginia's House Republicans have begun seeking ways to repair the damage and recover the momentum they had in 1999, when they wrested control of the House away from the Democrats for the first time in a century.

For the past two days, more than two dozen House Republicans have been meeting in a Reston hotel for an "ideas and issues" retreat. The stated purpose is to brainstorm ways to reduce government spending, reform bureaucracy and partner with private industry.

But many House Republicans on both sides of the tax debate said they hoped it served another purpose: to help them heal.

"One of our issues right now is: How do we heal the caucus and how do we heal our relations with the Senate?" said Del. Thelma Drake (R-Norfolk), a member of the House leadership. "It's an opportunity for people to come together. The more you interact with people, the harder it is not to like them."

Del. L. Preston Bryant Jr. (R-Lynchburg), one of the leaders of the breakaway group of Republicans who supported tax increases, said he hoped his colleagues could find a way to get past their differences.

"There's a general sense among all caucus members that there needs to be a coming together so that we can move forward again as a relatively cohesive unit," Bryant said. That effort began informally Friday, as lawmakers who had screamed at each other behind closed doors during the legislative session sat together in the hotel lobby and attended discussions about spending restraint.

Early Friday, Dels. Daniel W. Marshall III (R-Danville) and David A. Nutter (R-Montgomery), both of whom supported the state's final tax increase, stood next to a table of pastries and coffee chatting with Del. Thomas D. Gear (R-Hampton), one of the chamber's most ardent anti-tax advocates.

Marshall, who runs a concrete business and is a professional race car driver, said he has begun attending fundraisers for delegates who opposed the tax increase.

"I'm here with an olive branch," Marshall said.

Despite the veneer of affability at the retreat, there are still hard feelings, some lawmakers said privately.