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TATE & LOCAL
Friday, July 14,1989
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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
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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.