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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 17, 1987)
Thursday, September 17,1987/The Battalion/Page 13 y mom about it £ ither me stay cWi could keep in lies. 1 really lib; ge athletes set ^ ) measure their< wever, Lewis u ' goals to keep I®; eally set any pi aid. ‘‘I just let ilia accept everylhir,;; joal coming in io> learn the systtc. i the ball hard Am hink 1 did myjtt; ear. I don’t MBit II for metotrytof! ish because tf II on me becaust vself." Fighting flares in gulf as Iraq hits oil centers after U.N. chief leaves MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — Iraq unleashed its fighter-bomb ers against Iranian oil centers and a ship in the Persian Gulf on Wednesday, saying Tehran has spurned “all peace efforts” in the 7-year-old gulf war. The air raids signaled a new flare-up in the so-called “tanker war” after a six-day lull in the wa terway that coincided with a peace mission by U.N. Secretary- General Javier Perez de Cuellar. Shipping officials feared Iran might stage retaliatory attacks on neutral shipping in the southern reaches of the gulf. “The U.N. secretary-general’s mission has been portrayed as a last-ditch peace effort, so it might be hell from now on,” said one shipping executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity. However, a flotilla of U.S. warships escorting the Gas Prince, a Kuwaiti tanker flying the American flag, was reported to be nearing Kuwait’s Al-Ah- madi oil terminal after an inci- dent-free 550-mile voyage up the gulf. Tehran’s Islamic Republic News Agency, monitored in Nic osia, Cyprus, quoted a War Infor mation Headquarters spokesman as saying Iran will “strongly re spond” to Iraq’s “mischievous acts.” Iran and Iraq had observed an unofficial truce while Perez de Cuellar visited Tehran and Bagh dad in an attempt to get both sides to comply with the Security Council’s July 20 cease-fire reso lution. The U.N. chief left Baghdad for New York Tuesday with no clear sign that he had persuaded Iran to observe a cease-fire. Iraq had said it would if Iran did but charged Tehran was “playing for time” until the U.N. General As sembly opens its general debate Sept. 21. The Iraqis believe the Iranians will seek to secure support for major changes in the Security Council resolution to name Bagh- dad the aggressor. IRNA reported that President Ali Khamenei will go to New York to address the General As sembly, but it did not elaborate. It said the decision had been ap proved by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Iran’s revolutionary patriarch. Iraq’s official news agency, monitored in Nicosia, quoted a military communique as saying Wednesday’s air strikes were “carried out in implementation of Iraq’s right of self-defense follow ing the Iranian regime’s insis tence in rejecting the U.N. Secu rity Council Resolution 598 and all peace efforts.” The Baghdad communiques said Iraqi jets hit Iran’s Kharg Is land oil terminal in the northern gulf, the Karang and Baghi-Ma- lek oil fields in southwestern Khuzestan province and a “large naval target” off Iran’s coast. That usually means a tanker carrying Iranian oil, but in the E ast has sometimes turned out to e tugboats or other small vessels. The communiques claimed there were “devastating hits” on Kharg and said the oil fields were set afire. ._ IRNA re planes bom Kh ported that Iraqi ibed industrial sit< war- sites in luzistan, inflicting some dam age to non-military sites. Marine salvage officers in the gulf, whose tugboats are spread throughout the waterway, said they had not picked up any dis tress calls to confirm a ship had been hit. But they said their tugboat cap tains reported seeing several waves of Iraqi warplanes bomb Kharg. Iran and Iraq also appeared headed for a fresh round of the so-called “war of the cities” as Baghdad charged that Iranian ar tillery shelled the southern port city of Basra for the fifth straight day. PUBLIC NOTICE BRIEF EXPLANATORY STATEMENTS OF PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS SPECIAL ELECTION NOVEMBER 3. 1987 l 'myTa<ta? ] PROPOSITION NO. 1 I cpS".: ! ON THE BALLOT i) this weekend' T ou se Joint Resolution 104 pro- •thei to sien'•t'^ >os< ' s a constitutional amendment to k allfcw the legislature to provide a . .ui guarantee for the Texas grain ware- \Bself-msuranee fund. Iheguar- lllK ' . ant « of the fund may not exceed $5 arF j\ e 1 r million, and when the fund reaches a n ea " j5|p 1 j]ii onj t h e guarantee will cease. 3’be proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: fThe constitutional amendment to torovide for the surety of a grain warehouse fund to be established Dy the grain industry for the pro- jtection of farmers and depositors of grain in public warehouse fa cilities.” finals sa>’ thr. i the visit. “In isive itinerary.’v ier Angelo [hi o show him vkl .11 about." ipurscantJ/pf rcckend beaus players assocu: i negotiations ! e bargaining^ Dct. 1 morator: n place. PROPOSITION NO. 2 ON THE BALLOT House Joint Resolution 60 pro poses a constitutional amendment to permit rural fire prevention districts ■ini counties with populations over ■ ■ I 400,000 to levy a tax at a rate not to '■f|A exceed six cents ($.06) per $100 I I w property valuation for the district, if the voters of the district approve the tax. The proposed amendment will ap- f pear on the ballot as follows: the Bob Hooef constitutional amendment to i Open early £i3 '» aise the maximum property tax ;ruggled withh?«'f ate t ^ at rnay 136 adopted by cer- Februarv H‘ n '^ a ’ n rura ^ U re prevention dis- le International'. i ricts > but onIy if approved by the i 20 finishes sis dlstricts ’ ^Merits.” PROPOSITION NO. 3 1th on the mt; [ . ON THE BALLOT ^ and is ho«: House Joint 48 P r °- l uckawav Co^P 0608 a constitutional amendment to i n to earlierfr ex tend the school ad valorem tax ex emption for elderly persons to the y surviving spouse of a person receiv- you come os. ^ the exemption. If a surviving wiu w p,tn S p 0use i s a t least 55 years old at the . “f*‘ t can r ; time of death of the person receiving i ! it ^ -year-.-1]^ exemption, ad valorem public , „ „ school taxes could not be increased a ted Dave Bari' fourth playofft last year. earns is wee for any otP ama, No. 2 N^ 1 , No. 6 Miami ft is see this week- as long as the homestead remained the residence homestead of the sur viving spouse. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment to limit school tax increases on the residence homestead of the surviv ing spouse of an elderly person if the surviving spouse is at least 55 years of age.” PROPOSITION NO. 4 ON THE BALLOT House Joint Resolution 5 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow re plenty of m the legislature to create programs rystal ball. an d ma ke loans and grants of money :1 week of ti [ for development and diversification ill season prw’of the economy, elimination of un- (70.9 perce/il) ; employment an< j underemployment, was 18-151' 3 '; stimulation of agricultural innova- season it’s tion, promotion of agricultural en- all and 27-27 terprises, and development of trans- he spread. portation and commerce. Bonds or irgia at No, 8other obligations payable from ad : ClemsonSS ? valorem taxes must be approved by chigan State J 1 the voters in the political subdivi- by 6): Notre P sion seeking such funding sources. The proposed amendment will ap- 4 LSU (by^ pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment No. 5 Ohio ^ authorizing the legislature to pro- e28-3. v- vide assistance to encourage eco- Itate at No-m nomic development in the state.” i: Florida Stat f ‘ Washington fj Upset Spe® \&M 20-17. ease skfor' 1 narttf 145-2^ PROPOSITION NO. 5 ON THE BALLOT House Joint Resolution 65 pro poses a constitutional amendment to permit the State Department of Highways and Public Transporta tion to contract with the Texas Turnpike Authority and to contrib ute money to the costs of turnpikes, toll roads and toll bridges of the Authority. The amendment would authorize the governing body of a county with a population over 400,000, a county adjoining such county, and any city or district lo cated in or partially in such county to make agreements with the Texas Turnpike Authority and levy ad valorem taxes to pay part or all of the principal and interest on Turn pike Authority bonds and to pay maintenance and operating expenses of the Turnpike Authority, if the voters approve the tax. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing agreements between the State Department of High ways and Public Transportation and the Texas Turnpike Authority and the governing bodies of coun ties with a population of more than 400,000, adjoining counties, and cities and districts located in those counties to aid turnpikes, toll roads, and toll bridges by guaranteeing bonds issued by the Texas Turnpike Authority.” PROPOSITION NO. 6 ON THE BALLOT House Joint Resolution 4 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to establish three separate development funds. A Texas product development fund could be established to aid in the de velopment and production of new or improved products in the state. The amendment would authorize the issuance of up to $15 million of gen eral obligation bonds to provide in itial funding for the program. A Texas small business incubator fund could be established to foster and stimulate the development of small businesses in the state. Small busi nesses operating under the program would be exempt from ad valorem taxation. The amendment would au thorize the issuance of up to $10 million in general obligation bonds to provide initial funding for the program. A Texas agricultural fund could be established to promote the production, processing and market ing of agricultural products pro duced primarily in Texas by small Texas agricultural businesses. The amendment would authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds in the amount of $100 million out standing at one time to carry out the agricultural fund program. The legislature could require review and approval of the issuance of bonds and the use of bond proceeds. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to pro vide for state financing of the development and production of Texas products and businesses.” PROPOSITION NO. 7 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 55 pro poses a constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide for the issuance of $400 million in general obligation bonds to be used for loans to local governments for acquisition, construction, repair, renovation, and equipment of public facilties or for grants to local gov ernments for planning public facili ties. The amendment would also per mit the issuance of revenue bonds for the same purposes to be repaid from excess revenue from repay ments of loans made under the amendment and from other rev enues pledged to the retirement of revenue bonds. The amendment also authorizes the legislature to provide for review and approval of the issuance of the bonds and the use of the bond proceeds. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of gen eral obligation bonds to finance certain local public facilities.” PROPOSITION NO. 8 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 56 pro poses a constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to authorize the issuance of up to $500 million in gen eral obligation bonds to be used to acquire, construct, and equip new correctional institutions and mental health and mental retardation in stitutions or to repair existing in stitutions. The amendment also au thorizes the legislature to provide for review and approval of the issuance of the bonds and the proj ects to be financed by the bond pro ceeds. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the issuance of gen eral obligation bonds for projects relating to corrections institutions and mental health and mental re tardation facilities.” PROPOSITION NO. 9 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 9 proposes a constitutional amendment to pro vide that a state legislator is eligible to serve in another state office even if the compensation of the office was increased during his legislative term or even if the appointment is made in whole or in part (including Senate confirmation) by the legis lature. The legislator could not, how ever, receive the increased compen sation approved during his legisla tive term. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment to provide that a member of the legislature is eligible to be elected or appointed and to serve in a different state office but may not receive an increase in compensa tion granted to that office during the legislative term to which he was elected.” PROPOSITION NO. 10 ON THE BALLOT Subsections (d) and (e) of Sec tion 1 of Senate Joint Resolution 12 propose a constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation all tangi ble personal property except struc tures which are used as residential dwellings and property held or used for the production of income. This exemption would be in addition to the personal property homestead ex emption already established by the constitution. If the legislature au thorizes the exemption of additional personal property from taxation, under this amendment, local political subdivisions may pass resolutions providing for taxation of such prop erty unless the property is exempt from ad valorem taxation under an other law. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation certain personal property not held or used for the production of in come.” PROPOSITION NO. 11 ON THE BALLOT Section 1, Subsections (f) and (g) of Senate Joint Resolution 12 pro pose a constitutional amendment to exempt from ad valorem taxation goods, wares, merchandise, and ores other than oil, gas and petroleum products. These items would be ex empt from taxation only if they originated outside the state and were located in the state for a period of 175 days or less for purposes of assembly, storage, manufacture, pro cessing, or fabrication. Such prop erty could be taxed by a county, school district, or municipality if the governing body of the political subdivision took official action to provide for the taxation of the items while they were located in the polit ical subdivision. If the governing body of a political subdivision took official action to tax the items be fore January 1, 1988, the tax would be effective for the 1988 tax year. If the action were taken after Jan uary 1, 1988, and before April 1, 1988, the tax would become effective January 1, 1989. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment providing for the exemption from ad valorem taxation of certain property that is located in the state for only a temporary period of time.” PROPOSITION NO. 12 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 35 pro poses a constitutional amendment to allow a married couple to agree in writing that all or part of their community property will become the property of the surviving spouse if one spouse dies. The proposed amendmen will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment permitting spouses to hold com munity property with right of survivorship.” PROPOSITION NO. 13 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 27 pro poses a constitutional amendment to authorize the creation of special dis tricts to provide emergency services. The commissioners court in a county participating in a district could, up on approval of the voters, levy an ad valorem tax of up to ten cents ($.10) per $100 valuation of the property located in the district. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment to allow for the creation and estab lishment, by law, of special dis tricts to provide emergency ser vices.” PROPOSITION NO. 14 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 34 pro poses a constitutional amendment to allow the state a limited right to appeal criminal cases. Under cur rent law, only criminal defendants are allowed to appeal. This proposed amendment would allow the legis lature to pass laws granting state prosecutors the right to appeal in limited circumstances. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment giving the state a limited right to appeal in criminal cases.” PROPOSITION NO. 15 ON THE BALLOT House Joint Resolution 35 pro poses a constitutional amendment to abolish the office of county trea surer in Gregg County and trans fer the duties of that office to the county auditor or an elected official designated by the commissioners court. The amendment would also abolish the office of county treasurer in Fayette and Nueces counties if a majority of the voters in those counties vote in favor of the amend ment. In Fayette County, the func tions of the treasurer would be transferred to the county auditor or the officer succeeding to the audi tor’s functions. In Nueces County, the powers, duties, and functions of the treasurer would be transferred to the county clerk. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment to provide for the abolition of the office of county treasurer in Gregg, Fayette, and Nueces coun ties.” PROPOSITION NO. 16 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 6 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the commissioners court in a county with a population of more than 150,000 to establish more than one Justice of the Peace court in each Justice of the Peace precinct, i.e., to provide for the election of more than one Justice of the Peace in each Justice of the Peace precinct. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment providing that certain justice pre cincts may contain more than one justice of the peace court.” PROPOSITION NO. 17 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 26 pro poses a constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to define by law those municipal functions that are governmental and those that are proprietary. This authorization would apply to laws passed by the 70th Legislature, 1987, and by fu ture legislatures in regular or special session. A municipality is liable for damages arising out of acts committed under its proprietary functions, but not its governmental functions. Definition of such func tions by the legislature would clarify the liability of a municipality in civil lawsuits filed against it. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to de fine for all purposes the govern mental and proprietary functions of a municipality.” PROPOSITION NO. 18 ON THE BALLOT House Joint Resolution 18 pro poses a constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide for the creation, operation, and fi nancing of jail districts. Financing of a jail district could be accom plished through the issuance of bonds and other obligations, or by levy of an ad valorem tax on prop erty located in the district if the qualified electors of a district ap prove an ad valorem tax or bonds secured by a property tax. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment relating to the creation, opera tion, and financing of jail dis tricts.” PROPOSITION NO. 19 ON THE BALLOT House Joint Resolution 88 pro poses a constitutional amendment to authorize the issuance of $500 mil lion in general obligation bonds, the proceeds of which will be used to establish a superconducting super collider fund. The fund would be used to provide economic incentives for the superconducting super col lider research facility, and the agency administering the fund would be authorized to grant land or property to the United States government for undertakings re lated to the facility. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the issuance of gen eral obligation bonds to fund un dertakings related to a supercon ducting super collider research facility sponsored or authorized by the United States government, and to make appropriate grants for such undertakings.” PROPOSITION NO. 20 ON THE BALLOT House Joint Resolution 96 pro poses a constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to provide ad valorem tax relief for mobile off shore oil and gas well drilling equip ment. The tax relief would be limited to equipment that is being stored while not in use in a county that is adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico or on a body of water that is adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide ad valorem tax relief for certain offshore drilling equip ment that is not in use.” PROPOSITION NO. 21 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 17 pro poses a constitutional amendment to provide for legislative involvement in the executive branch of govern ment by permitting the legislature to include the speaker of the house of representatives in the member ship of an agency or committee that includes officers of the executive branch of government and performs executive functions. Under current law, the legislature is not allowed to exercise any powers in executive matters under Article II of the Texas Constitution, which provides for the “separation of powers” into three distinct departments. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment permitting the legislature to in clude the speaker of the house of representatives or the speaker’s appointee in the membership of an executive agency or committee.” PROPOSITION NO. 22 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 53 pro poses a constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to limit the term of office of a gubernatorial ap pointee to a vacancy in a state or district office to a partial, tempo rary term if the appointment is made on or after November 1 of the last year of the governor’s term and the governor is not reelected. Under this amendment, the legisla ture may provide that the tenure of such an appointee would end sooner than the term would normally ex pire. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to limit the authority of a governor to fill vacancies in state and district of fices during the end of the gov ernor’s term if the governor is not reelected.” PROPOSITION NO. 23 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 54 pro poses a constitutional amendment to authorize the Texas Water Develop ment Board to issue an additional $400 million in water development bonds. Of the $400 million author ized, $200 million would be desig nated for conservation and develop ment of water resources, $150 million would be designated for wa ter quality enhancement, and $50 million would be designated for flood control. The amendment also authorizes the legislature to provide for review and approval of the issuance of the bonds and the use of the bond proceeds. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment to authorize the issuance of an additional $400 million of Texas Water Development Bonds for water supply, water quality, and flood control purposes.” PROPOSITION NO. 24 ON THE BALLOT House Joint Resolution 83 pro poses a constitutional amendment to allow a county to use county equip ment and personnel to perform work, without compensation, for an other governmental entity if the commissioners court finds that the work will not interfere with the per formance of county work and ap proves performance of the work. The governmental entity must be located wholly or partly in the coun ty, and the governing body of the governmental entity must file a written work request with the com missioners court. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment to permit a county to perform work, without compensation, for another governmental entity.” PROPOSITION NO. 25 ON THE BALLOT Senate Joint Resolution 5 proposed a constitutional amendment to allow the Legislature to authorize Randall County to levy a tax for the benefit of the Amarillo Hospital District. Any such tax could be levied only on property located outside the City of Amarillo and outside the South Randall County Hospital District. The tax could not be more than 75tf per $100 property valuation and would be effective only upon ap proval by the voters in the area to be taxed. If the tax is authorized by the Legislature and approved by voters, the Amarillo Hospital Dis trict is to serve residents of part of Randall County. If a tax is levied under this provision, Randall Coun ty must repay the State for the cost of publication of this amendment. The proposed amendment also permits the legislature to authorize a hospital district to change its boundaries or jurisdiction if the dis trict was created or authorized by a constitutional provision that in cludes a description of the bounda ries or jurisdiction of the district. Any change in the boundaries or jurisdiction of such a hospital dis trict would become effective only upon approval of the voters in the district. The proposed amendment will ap pear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to per mit the Amarillo Hospital District to serve certain residents of Randall County, to authorize Randall County to provide finan cial assistance t6 the district, and to authorize certain hospital dis tricts to change their boundaries or jurisdiction with voter approv al.” EXPLANATORY STATEMENT FOR STATEWIDE REFERENDUM NO. 1 Senate Bill 86 submits to the voters the question of whether the 15 members of the State Board of Education should be appointed in stead of elected. If the proposition passes, the Governor will appoint a member of the board for each dis trict, with the consent of the Sen ate. If the proposition fails, the members will be elected from these districts. The referendum will appear on the ballot as follows: “The State Board of Education shall be composed of members who are appointed from districts instead of elected, with equal rep resentation throughout the State of Texas.” EXPLANATORY STATEMENT FOR STATEWIDE REFERENDUM NO. 2 The Texas Racing Act submits to the voters the question of whether pari-mutuel wagering should be legal in Texas on a county-by county local option basis. If pari mutuel wagering is adopted by the voters statewide, a county must also pass a separate proposition on pari mutuel wagering at an election held in the county before any such wager ing may be conducted in that coun ty. The referendum will appear on the ballot as follows: “The legalization of pari-mutuel wagering under the Texas Racing Act on a county-by-county local option basis.”