Gilmore, N.Va. Are Winners in House Accord
Assembly to Shift Focus To a String of New Issues
By Ellen Nakashima and Spencer S. Hsu
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, January 17, 1998; Page C01
Gov.-elect James S. Gilmore III (R) and Northern Virginia emerged as big winners from the historic power-sharing agreement between House Democrats and Republicans, while the clear losers are teachers unions, environmental groups, abortion rights advocates and other Democratic supporters, legislators said.
When Gilmore takes the oath of office at noon Saturday, he will start with assets that his GOP predecessor, Gov. George Allen, never had. After four years of divided government, Gilmore will enjoy a GOP-led Senate and a House in which Republicans are on equal footing with once-dominant Democrats.
No longer will Democrats be able to bottle up gubernatorial initiatives in committees. Nor will they easily make changes in the governor's budget, or order hostile hearings and audits, such as those that alleged problems in Allen's environmental and education agencies.
"George Allen is able to turn over to Jim Gilmore . . . an opportunity to accomplish a governor's full agenda that Allen never had," said Del. John H. "Jack" Rust Jr. (Fairfax), a leading GOP broker in the talks that led to Thursday's pact between House Democrats and Republicans. "That's pretty significant."
Under the agreement, 19 of 20 House committees will have as many Republicans as Democrats and will add GOP co-chairmen. With the swearing-in today of three new GOP delegates, the House now has 50 Democrats, 49 Republicans and one GOP-leaning independent.
The new committee system means more clout for Northern Virginia, which gains eight committee co-chairmen who will sit on some of the most influential House panels: appropriations, transportation and education. The results could be increased funding for George Mason University, area roads and Northern Virginia teacher salaries, analysts said.
Because of the GOP's gains, proposals pushed by religious and social conservatives -- such as charter schools, abortion restrictions and a constitutional amendment strengthening parental rights -- will have a better chance of passing, lawmakers in both parties said.
Conservative activists cautioned that House Speaker Thomas W. Moss Jr. (D-Norfolk) could thwart parts of their agenda by adding moderate Republicans to key committees.
But "I do think our cause is helped by the Republicans sharing power," said Robin DeJarnette, a spokeswoman for the conservative Family Foundation. "If you have co-chairs from different parties, it's less likely that certain bills will be just killed in committee."
House Democrats and Republicans alike stood and applauded today as the three Republican members were sworn in. It was the first moment of real calm after two days of wild partisan battling. But the applause did not change the fact that the power-sharing pact, approved by a 90 to 2 vote, is not being swallowed easily by some Democrats.
Del. Jay W. DeBoer (D-Petersburg), one of two Democrats who voted against the agreement, said his caucus gave up more than it had to. Democrats might have nailed an agreement without giving Republicans so many chairmanships and committee seats, he said.
"It's like someone putting a gun in your back and saying, `Give me $10,' and your response to him is, `Oh well, will 20 do?' " DeBoer said.
But Del. Glenn R. Croshaw (D-Virginia Beach), one of the Democratic negotiators, said the Democrats got the best deal they could, given their numbers.
Moss, who was nearly toppled as speaker Wednesday, said he felt the pact was fair. His stance was quite a turnaround from a few weeks ago, when he ruled power-sharing out of the question.
"Obviously when you give up the majority on committees, you give up something," he said. "But by the same token, when the House is 50-50, what more can you do? If you don't do it that way, you'll have a very acrimonious session. . . . If you have the numbers, you vote. If you don't, you negotiate."
Gilmore today hailed the pact as a "wonderful compromise."
"It means there will be a great deal of wisdom that can be shared back and forth between the aisles," he said at a luncheon with leaders from both parties. "I believe it is not only in the best interest of the people, it's in the best interest of the legislature."
For Gilmore, "the only potential downside now is there is no Democratic power structure to blame for anything that doesn't get done," said Richmond political analyst Robert D. Holsworth.
Wielding power is uncharted territory for Republicans, who, since the party was founded in 1884, have never controlled the legislature. "When the loyal opposition comes into power, it has to learn how to govern," Rust said. "It's much easier to oppose than to build, to shoot things down than to find solutions."
Regional and philosophical divisions in the House -- over issues such as gun control and economic development -- have been submerged by partisan politicking in recent years but now may now reappear, Rust and other lawmakers said.
Holsworth said the House accord will give power to people who can put together alliances. "What you're likely to see is less of the clear partisan voting that had been fairly prominent on some key issues over the last four years, like the Allen tax cut," he said.
The pact gives cover to conservative Democrats to vote with Republicans and for moderate Republicans to side with Democrats, he said. "Democrats who had to be held in line can now feel more comfortable voting their beliefs and constituencies," Holsworth said. "So it is a new game."
© Copyright 1998 The Washington Post Company
