i
THE BATTALION Page 7
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1977
louse passes state tax cut
501K,
United Press International
kUSTIN — The biggest tax re
gion in Texas history, a $257.7
lion cut in sale taxes on utility
and in inheritance taxes, has
ily passed its first test in the
islature.
fte House tentatively approved
h major sections of the bill by
■rwhelming votes yesterday, and
[eduled it for a final vote today
fore sending it to the Senate.
"he tax reductions would become
■ctive July 1 if both the House
and the Senate approve the bill by a
two-thirds majority.
The measure, sponsored by Rep.
Joe Wyatt, D-Victoria, repeals the 4
per cent state sales tax on residen
tial utility bills and revises the
exemptions on inheritance taxes.
The repeal of the sales tax on util-
ity bills would save consumers
$229.3 million in the next two years,
and the expansion of the inheritance
tax exemptions would reduce those
taxes by another $8.3 million.
If all cities in Texas decided to go
along with the tax reduction idea
and repeal the 1 per cent city sales
tax on utility bills, consumer bills
would be reduced an additional
$44.7 million in the next biennium.
Wyatt said the tax reduction will
force the legislature to limit in
creases in state spending to no more
than 31 per cent during the next two
years.
“It was felt by the Ways and
Means Committee that if we main
tained the increase in spending to
30 to 31 per cent, the growth of the
sales tax would keep pace and there
would be no need for new taxes in
future sessions of the legislature,”
Wyatt said.
“I think we can cut taxes and
provide relief for the people and we
can provide the services the people
of this state are asking for and in
deed demanding.”
Attempts to reduce the general
sales tax by 1 per cent were de
feated, as were efforts to repeal the
sales tax on commercial utility bills
and to repeal the city sales on utility
bills.
The Senate yesterday quickly ap
proved and sent to the House a pro
posed constitutional amendment by
Sen. Lindon Williams, D-Houston,
authorizing issuance of an additional
$200 million in bonds for the Veter
ans Land Program.
The program, created to provide
low interest loans to veterans for the
purchase of land, already has au
thorized $500 million in bonds, but
Williams said only $57 million re
main unissued.
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plehration climaxes in New Orleans
Record crowds at Mardi Gras
ary 21
heat*
30 p
mu
United Press International
NEW ORLEANS — Beer kegs,
tinted faces, five-hour parades and
istly orderly crowds were among
i hallmarks of this year’s Mardi
Cras celebration.
■Canal Street was a solid mass of
velers last night for the Krewe of
tens parade, the last before to-
s “Fat Tuesday celebration
lich ends Mardi Gras.
On Bourbon Street, beer kegs
brd says he
ould make
980 bid
United Press International
m YORK — Gerald Ford is a
vate citizen now, but he makes it
that he still considers himself a
tender in the political arena and
warns other White House aspir-
s to keep their hands off “the
ntle of leader” in the Republican
a pre-taped interview, slated
airing today by ABC’s 'Good
irning America, ’ Ford told host
vid Hartman he intends to re-
politically active, meeting fre-
ntly with the Republican leader-
p, He added, “I just don't want
one person at this stage of the
to preempt the next Republi-
nomination.
It’s possible things might de
op where I would have an inter-
and the party would want me to
so,” he said of his own chances of
ining the nomination. “I eer
ily don’t want someone today to
I’m the only potential nominee
fm going to run the show for
next four years. ”
f ord said he and his wife will be
Washington on March 25-26 to
with GOP House and Senate
ders.
A
1
stretched 10 and 20 in a row on
sidewalks, waiting to be tapped for
the crowds.
Police said the crowds were
mostly quiet and orderly, though
there were more than 800 arrests in
the eight-day period preceding
Mardi Gras on such charges as pub
lic intoxication, selling without a
permit and theft.
“I wouldn’t want to call it un
usually quiet,” said Sgt. George
Bourgeois. “It’s relatively quiet,
though.”
Enterprising artists getting a
jump on the day when parade-goers
traditionally wear masks, sprinkled
glitter on faces — for $2 to $5 — in
historic Jackson Square in the heart
of the French Quarter.
“The worst thing with our regular
life is that everybody is holding in so
much,” said Trich Liss, 29, of
Springfield, Ill., who painted bright
green and blue lines around the full
beard of her friend, Ed Hawkes, 23.
“With Mardi Gras, everybody is
letting go,” she said. “That’s why it’s
so much fun.”
Cans and bottles clanked under
foot with every step, and dozens of
people openly violated the city or
dinance requiring alcholic bever
ages be in paper or plastic cups..
Few in the crowd walked without
drinks in their hands.
Five parades were planned down
town today and several more were
set in the suburbs in the final hours
before midnight, when police clear
the streets and Ash Wednesday
marks the beginning of Lent.
Drug arrests were down substan
tially from previous years, and
French Quarter bar owner Jim
Monaghan said, “People are drink
ing more this year instead of smok
ing dope.”
Officials reported all 20,000 hotel
rooms in the city were booked
months in advance, and Bill Curl of
the New Orleans Tourist Commis
sion said it was “close to the biggest
Mardi Gras ever.”
Hankamer
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Master of International Management
Master of Professional Accountancy
Master of Science in Economics
See the A&M Placement Office for information
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