Delegates waiting on Senate

RICHMOND — Delegates, who today mark their 100th day of what was supposed to be a 60-day legislative session, feuded yesterday over when to return to the state Capitol to take up the state budget again.

Delegates are waiting for the Senate Finance Committee to act on a House revenue bill that would boost sales and cigarette taxes. Senators have been tightlipped on the new tax and fee increases they will add to the bill and have not yet offered a counterproposal.

“We really are more or less prisoners to the whims of the Senate,” said House Majority Leader H. Morgan Griffith, Roanoke County Republican. “Our failure to meet may stimulate them to inaction.”

The House yesterday voted to adjourn until tomorrow. That motion was defeated at first by Republicans and Democrats, but later succeeded.

House Minority Leader Franklin P. Hall, Richmond Democrat, blamed the bickering on the Republicans. “It’s a total lack of leadership,” he said. “They can’t even agree on a schedule.”

The frustration led some delegates to ask they not return until the Senate responds to the House plan.

“This is part of a tactic to gain submission,” said Delegate Robert G. Marshall, Prince William County Republican. “Let’s do nothing until they make a final determination.”

Members of the Senate Finance Committee said they might have the counterproposal ready when both chambers return tomorrow. “I think by Friday we’ll get something moving,” said Sen. Charles R. Hawkins, Pittsylvania Republican and a committee member.

Committee Chairman John H. Chichester continued to dodge questions from reporters.

The Stafford County Republican said the committee is trying to reach a consensus on how to fund services for Virginians. “We’re trying to find a mutual solution to a mutual problem,” he said.

The Senate counterproposal likely will contain a car-tax reimbursement freeze and raise more taxes than the House bill. The House tax plan would raise the sales tax by one half-cent to a nickel on the dollar and the cigarette tax from 2.5 cents to 30 cents by 2006. It also cuts some taxes.

A group of 17 House Republicans broke from their party’s staunch antitax leadership to pass the bill last week. Yesterday, some of them huddled behind closed doors to discuss the plan, but none would comment on the budget issue.