Hot-button issues crop up as Allen stops in Hanover

BY CHARLIE BAN
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

U.S. Sen. George Allen, R-Va., looked to Hanover County's most famous son to sum up his position on the estate tax.

"No taxation without respiration," he quipped yesterday on a stop at Hanover Tavern, where Patrick Henry lived and worked.
Allen visited Hanover on the seventh day of his 10-day listening tour, a tradition he started while serving as governor from 1994 to 1998.

The rural-suburban county north of Richmond gave him the eighth-most votes of Virginia localities in 2000 and 68 percent of its votes. Only three localities, all smaller than Hanover, gave Allen higher proportions.

He talked with residents and listened to their questions about international and domestic issues.

As Iraq's deadline for a draft constitution was extended a week, Allen urged patience while the country straightens out its internal affairs.

He reminded the audience of the American experience in developing a constitution and building a nation: "It took us a long time to get things right."

Allen said the Iraqi constitution would succeed if it guaranteed freedoms of religion and expression, private ownership of property and the rule of law.

"If they have these pillars, that's something people can rally behind," Allen said. "I don't see terrorists motivating anyone to their point of view."

Allen also spoke about Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr.

"I like the way he answers questions," Allen said. "He gives you a good idea how he feels about the law without prejudging cases that might come before the court."

Most of the question period focused on health-care issues, where Allen voiced support for medical savings accounts. He was also asked about Social Security reform, the first time it came up on the listening tour, said John Reid, Allen's spokesman.

"We're getting better turnout than last year," Reid said of the tour. "It's good for his name recognition."

Allen, who is up for re-election in 2006, has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2008. Del. Ryan T. McDougle, R-Hanover, and Hanover Supervisor Elton J. Wade Sr. brought that up, but Allen and his staff spoke only of his Senate re-election campaign.