Allen Talks Issues In Roanoke

The Bulletin's Frontrunner

The Roanoke Times (12/11, Stewart) reports, "A few Roanoke-area residents had federal lawmakers at their fingertips Tuesday. Sen. George Allen and Rep. Bob Goodlatte stopped in Roanoke as part of a statewide, out-of-session tour. The two attended a town hall meeting and luncheon for businesspeople and local politicians to air concerns and ask questions. The Republican-friendly crowd raised topics including national security, US energy independence, 'partial-birth' abortion and war with Iraq. . Allen called partial-birth abortion a 'gruesome' procedure, while Goodlatte called it 'horrendous.'" On tort reform, Allen "added that state laws more properly address liability issues." On taxes, Allen "added that Congress should give attention to the so-called 'death tax.' The estate tax involves taxes paid on property valued at more than $625,000 held by people at the time of their death. 'Death should not be a taxable event,' Allen said."