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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (July 14, 1989)
2 he Battalion TATE & LOCAL Friday, July 14,1989 Bill may force .0 teachers to learn rs itEntei swer iight iiembei the Eni hat", letter. ily th fivtl someni k'ay) F.l l alont: someiii thei himl wortli about drug abuse re tests from several lawmakers complaining of more state man dates, teachers could be required to learn how to help students who are using alcohol or drugs, under a bill approved Thursday by the House. Rep. Fred Hill, R-Richardson, said many school districts already require that teachers receive training on drug and alcohol abuse. Hill’s bill would allow the State Board of Education to include in its list of in-service training sub jects, drug and alcohol workshops for teachers. The total cost of the program statewide would be ap proximately $ 1.3 million, he said. Rep. Glenn Repp, R-Duncan- ville, opposed the measure, say ing the state was requiring the training, but not willing to pay for it. “We continue to send man dates down for local taxpayers to pay for,” Repp said. He said the cost of the state requirements “af fect economic development.” Hill responded, saying drug S abuse in schools is “one of the ma jor problems facing our country today and it’s a crime if we ignore it.” On a motion to suspend rules for final passage, the vote was 127-7. The bill was sent to the Senate on a non-record vote. In final action, the House sent to Gov. Bill Clements a bill that would give the Texas Animal Health Commission authority to quarantine exotic fowl in efforts to try and eradicate two kinds of dangerous, foreign ticks. In other business, the House gave tentative approval to a bill that would prohibit juries from recommending probation for persons convicted of selling drugs to a minor. The House also appointed a conference committee to nego tiate with Senate conferees on a bill to create a four-year univer sity in Killeen. Lobbyists spend $1.8 million on lawmakers Paper finds $12,800 a day in gifts, vacations, entertainment for Texas legislators AUSTIN (AP) — Lobbyists doled out more than $12,800 a day during the regular legislative session to pay for entertainment and gifts for Texas lawmakers, a newspaper’s study showed Thursday. In a copyright report, the Austin American-Statesman said this year’s largess followed lobbyist spending of $1.35 million in 1988 — a year when the Legislature wasn’t even in ses sion. The money purchased food and drinks at exclusive clubs, golf out ings, hunting and fishing trips and expensive vacations. Key lawmakers skiied in Utah, va cationed in Acapulco, visited Wash ington and rode the high-speed trains of Europe. Money was lav ished on everything from power lunches at private clubs to cele brations for a lawmaker’s wedding anniversary and his wife’s birthday, the newspaper said. When the special session ends this summer, many lawmakers will de- E art for a series of conferences for :gislators around the country. The state will pay for most of that, but lobbyists will accompany them to help underwrite the entertainment. “There’s more trips offered than you can possibly go on,” said state Rep. Jim Rudd, D-Brownfield, chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which writes the state budget. The American-Statesman said Rudd made the Utah skiing trip, spoke at a conference in Hawaii, in spected West Germany’s high-speed train and shot numerous rounds of golf on lobbyists’ tabs. “If I were home, I’d go out and play nine holes and then go home to my wife and kids,” said Rudd. “They’re not here, so my entertain ment is with the people here. I don’t see anything wrong with it.” According to records filed with the secretary of state, there were 808 lobbyists registered for the 140-day regular session. From January through May of this year, they spent $1.8 million on legislative entertainment and gifts — plus $427,357 on advertising and di rect mailings about their issues of in terest. The disparity between legislators’ and lobbyists’ salaries helps justify taking the gifts, said some legis lators, who are paid $7,200 a year for their part-time public service. “The lobbyists are down here making $200,000 or $300,000 a year, and so it won’t hurt them to pay for some of these extra things,” said Rep. Keith Oakley, D-Terrell. More than a third of the total spent on entertainment and gifts came from just 26 lobbyists, primar ily those representing big business interests and trial lawyers. The spending totaled more than $9,900 per legislator -— if the money was spread evenly among all 181 House and Senate members. Hobby, Lewis say workers ’ comp vote will be this weekend Conferences continue through July By Holly Beeson STAFF WRITER AUSTIN (AP) — House and Sen ate leaders Thursday made a date this weekend to approve a workers’ compensation bill and send it to Gov. Bill Clements for his consideration. Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby and House Speaker Gib Lewis said their cham bers will vote Saturday or Sunday on the measure that is being hammered out in a House-Senate conference committee. “I hate to mess up anyone’s week end,” Lewis, D-Fort Worth, told House members, but he said a lost weekend was worth the price if legis lators could finish workers’ comp. Lawmakers have been battling over the method of compensating workers injured in on-the-job acci dents since January and currently are in special session after failing to reach an agreement during the 140- day regular session. Under the proposed agreement, disputed comp claims could be ap pealed to state district court, but out- of-court settlements would have to be approved by the administrative workers’ compensation commission. In addition, a joint House-Senate panel would oversee the formation of a benefits schedule; and employ ers would not be required to pur chase comp insurance. The maxi mum weekly benefit check for an injured worker would increase from $238 to $416, under the agreement. Freshman Summer Gonferences at Texas A&M help incoming fresh men and transfer students get ac- ? [uainted with Aggieland, make new riends and learn about academics and extracurricular activi ties. Thirteen conferences are avail able each summer. Each two-day orientation includes a variety of ac tivities for prospective students as well as mom and dad. While students are separated into two groups for on- and off-campus housing orientatibn, parents learn what life might be like for their chil dren at A&M. Each conference includes meeting with deans, and a special session for those interested in participating in the Corps of Cadets. For students not enrolling in the Corps, a separate student life pre sentation is available. The evening is reserved for a stu dent peer advisor program while parents attend a reception at the Clayton Williams Alumni Cen ter. The last event of the first day is a mixer at Sbisa Dining Hall. This get- together includes a question-and-an- Society goes nuts over A&M prof’s paper The American Society for Horticultural Science went nuts for a Texas A&M pecan physiology assistant pro fessor’s paper. Dr. Robert Marquard, at the A&M Agricultural and Extension Center in El Paso, has been awarded the ASHS Fruit Publication Award for “Outcrossing Rates in Pecans and the Potential for Increased Yield.” “I am elated and surprised to receive this award,” Marquard said. “I’m especially glad that A&M was able to receive recognition for research at an off-campus lo cation.” The paper, published in the Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science, documented the suc cess of pollination in a pecan orchard. “We were able to say something about pollination dis tance and how it affects nut quality,” he said. “We are working to optimize poolination and nut yield.” Marquard, a native of Olmstead, Ohio, received his bachelor of science from Ohio State University. He re ceived his Ph.D. in 1983 from Michigan State Univer sity, then began his current position at the Texas A&M Research Center. The ASHS has more than 5,000 members, including research educators, scientists and other professional horticulturists in the United States and 80 other coun tries. Marquard and other awardees will be honored July 31 in Tulsa, Okla., during the 1989 ASHS annual meet ing. swer session about registration pro cedures. The second day consists of a fi nancial aid presentation and a meet ing with an academic dean or ad visor of the students’ college. Kurt Hoechstetter, an incoming freshman journalism major, said his favorite part of the conference was the mixer. “It was a good chance to meet people and talk to other incoming freshman,” he said. Although Hoechstetter was al ready familiar with A&M, he said he learned more about Aggie tradi tions. “The conference gives you a good overview of A&M,” he said. This summer’s two remaining conferences are scheduled for July 17 and 18, and July 30 for incoming freshman and transfer students, re spectively. Correction The Battalion incorrectly re ported in Thursday’s Entertain ment section the starting time for the KANM Benefit at Brazos Landing this Saturday. The show starts at approximately 8 p.m. The Battalion regrets the er- upsit inieai traflf ;hfO« iumo : FAMOUS FIRSTS FIRST AIRPLANE The Wright Brothers began experimenting with kites in the 1890’s and in 1903 became the first to sustain flight for 852 feet over the beach at Kitty Hawk. FIRST CAR FIRST LOVE She was the only one who didn’t laugh when you fell off the jungle gym and broke your leg. She even let you win at checkers. What a woman! The world’s first motor car, the Lenoir, named after its inventor, ran at an average speed of 4 miles per hour. In 1863 the 11/2 horsepower vehicle made its first drive of 6 miles in only 3 hours. UNIVERSITY TOWER It’s time to introduce another Famous First, University Tower. In August, the privately-owned and managed property will open as a dormitory. At University Tower you’ll find 24-hour on-site security, a huge bedroom and private bath, full meal plans, an exercise and weight room, study rooms & com puter room, an indoor pool, a sport-court, a volleyball pit, laundry facilities, housekeeping service, and a shuttle bus to campus. It’s the first and only dorm of its kind at A&M. Call or come by for leasing information for Fall/Spring , 89- 90! “Above and Beyond the Rest” University Tower 410 South Texas Avenue (409) 846-4242 1-800-537-9158 University Tower up University Dr. TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY University Tower is managed by one of the most experienced student housing management company in the United States. Dr. Richard A Bems. general manager for Wallerstein Property Management, manages dormitories at the University of Texas at Austin and Arizona State University for over 1800 students. THE CRIPPLE CREEK LIFESTYLE •Swimming Pool/Hot Tub •Tennis Courts •Convenient Laundry Center •Large Waik-in Closets •Next to Sorority Row •On Shuttle Bus Route •Leases starting at $320.00 CONDOMINIUMS Office: 913-F Harvey Road (in Woodstone Center next to the Wash Haus) College Station 764-8682 Vcc^W/te7 Presents ^aELbrookS’ Friday, July 14 9:00 PM at The Grove/ FREE ! Bring your friends and enjoy a great movie, popcorn, soft drinks, snow cones, or fresh Texas A&M Creamery Ice Cream! Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at the Grove.