Basic tax issues split state GOP

RICHMOND — The Republican Party of Virginia, which built itself on the promise of small government and low taxes, will have to redefine its principles as a result of the infighting that has emerged from this year’s unprecedented state budget impasse.

The infighting between a small group of Republican delegates who want to raise taxes and those who are opposed will force the party to change its focus and its message to voters. If not, the party will remain deeply divided, analysts and former state officials say.

“The future of the Republican Party is in question,” said former Virginia Gov. James S. Gilmore III, a Republican. “This is a time of great change in the politics of Virginia. We’re in a transitional period.”

Mr. Gilmore said Republicans won seats in the Virginia House and Senate by pledging that they will not raise taxes.

“Now they’ve abandoned that,” he said. “If you abandon that, I don’t know what there is in its place.”

The split in the party has not escaped Democrats.

“The vision of the Republican Party has been cut taxes, cut taxes, cut taxes,” said Kerry Donley, chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia. “Now that it’s come time to make tough decisions, we find that singular focus is not sufficient.”

Mr. Donley said he is confident Democrats will show more gains in the House next year as a result of the impasse and the infighting.

Republican Party leaders, however, said the infighting is a short-term problem they will easily overcome.

“It’s the nature of politics,” said House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith, of Roanoke County. “It’s certainly a serious situation, but it doesn’t affect the Republican Party of Virginia long term.”

Mark Rozell, chairman of the department of politics at Catholic University, disagreed. He said the battle lines between Republicans have shifted from being divided over social issues to being divided on economic issues.

“The very strong antitax crowd, the ideological core of the party, is becoming more and more marginalized in this process,” said Mr. Rozell, who wrote “Second Coming — the New Christian Right in Virginia Politics.”

According to Mr. Rozell, the question now becomes: Does the party have to reassess its message or will it remain deeply divided?

“The party is going to have to change its message,” he said.

Mr. Rozell said infighting is “a perfectly normal thing for a majority party,” but it is easier for a minority party to close ranks and appear unified.

The state Republican Party has seen rough times since winning control of the House and Senate in 2000.

The former state party’s executive director, Edmund A. Matricardi III, and former state party chairman, Gary R. Thomson, were convicted in an 2002 eavesdropping case involving a Democratic conference call.

In 2002, Speaker of the House S. Vance Wilkins Jr. was forced to resign after acknowledging that he paid a 26-year-old woman $100,000 to settle a sexual-harassment case against him.

The scandals, however, didn’t hurt Republicans, most of whom kept their seats after last fall’s elections. In the House, there are 61 Republicans, 37 Democrats and two independents. In the Senate, there are 24 Republicans and 16 Democrats.

Antitax groups are promising tough primary races next year, now that 17 Republican delegates have thrown their support behind an increase from 4.5 percent to 5 percent in the state sales tax, a plan that was proposed by a Republican.

Last week, leaders of the antitax groups said they were shocked that Republicans were debating the tax issue.

“I cannot believe we are standing here with a Republican talking about a [massive] tax increase,” said James Parmelee, president of Republicans United for Tax Relief.

Mr. Griffith said the 17 Republican delegates are pushing for the half-percent sales-tax increase only because they are getting pressure from all sides.

“They feel a gun has been put to their head with the threat of government shutdown,” Mr. Griffith said. Under the law, the state legislature must agree on a state budget by June 30. If not, the state government will shut down July 1.

Party Chairwoman Kate Obenshain Griffin called the 17 Republicans “mavericks” and said the party is “very united” on taxes. “Disagreement is a healthy sign,” she said. “After this is all over, we’ll be together working hard to re-elect President Bush.”

Delegate Thomas Davis Rust, of Fairfax County, is one of the so-called “maverick” Republicans who plans to vote for the tax increase this week.

He called the plan a “fair and comprehensive” package that will resolve the budget crisis.

“We are literally laying our political careers on the line,” he said. “We are taking a principled and courageous stand. It was an effort to put forward a compromise. I don’t want to shut government down.”

Mr. Rust said he knows that he will face a challenge from critics such as Mr. Parmelee. “I’m prepared to defend my record,” he said.

Rep. Thomas M. Davis III, Virginia Republican, has vowed to stand by all Republicans, regardless of how they vote on tax increases. However, Mr. Davis is frustrated by the budget deadlock, his spokesman David Marin said.

Mr. Davis has asked all the delegates to vote their consciences, and said they can count on his support during next year’s elections. Delegates are elected to two-year terms.

His support could include donations or campaigning, Mr. Marin said.

Former Delegate C. Richard Cranwell, who was House majority leader until 2000, said he has been hearing many jokes about the current Republican infighting.

“They say, it took Republicans 150 years to gain the majority, and it’s only taken them five years to prove to us why it took them so long,” said Mr. Cranwell, of Roanoke, who retired in 2001.