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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 3, 1989)
The Battalion Estate & local W ^Friday, Novembers, 1989 .(Lobby interests ‘own’ Smith, senatorial candidate Delord says By Michael Kelley Of The Battalion Staff Delord j rHSaying Repub lic in senatorial ^■ididate Rich- Jid Smith is part of the one per- N cei it of legislators 1 wli ) are “owned” i, by lobby interests, ^^Kmocratic sen- afcrial candidate R i n D e 1 o r d i^Hiims to be the '■st representa- tile of the constit- ulnts of Texas Sinate District F»e. ^ t Delord announced his candidacy ! for the Texas Senate Oct. 23 at the Bryan Courthouse after Sen. Kent Bperton, D-Bryan, Class of’71, said hi would not seek reelection. Lobby groups that are paid liter- "alh millions of dollars to protect the profits of a private company are the Hes Richard Smith is in bed with,” -Blord said in a telephone interview Smrsday. “When he files his first fi- jiMncial report, look and see who Hve him money, and you’ll find that eyery major for-profit lobby in this state is supporting him.” Delord said Smith is dependent upon the small core of high-dollar lobbyists that have unbalanced the legislative process in Austin and em barrassed the 99 percent of legis lators who are good. Delord then said the workman’s compensation reform Smith is work ing on in the Texas House is for the sole benefit of the insurance com pany and the large employer. Delord said he is critical of the proposed reform for worker’s com pensation because it would use polit ically-appointed boards to hear the claims of injured workers, and these boards could easily be influenced by interest groups such as big business. He suggests the use of a jury trial. “The small ‘mom and pop’ opera tion doesn’t have worker’s comp claims,” Delord said. “You get huge companies like road construction companies and heavy industrial em ployers with highly dangerous jobs that want to have an undue benefit in this thing. “I’m not saying that worker’s comp does not need to be reformed, but it needs to be fair, and we cannot deny people the right of a jury trial.” Delord also said he has and will continue to work for lobby reform and ethics legislation in the Texas Legislature. He said he wants auto matic disclosure laws that will make it mandatory for legislators and state officials to report anything they re ceive from lobbyists and for lobbyists to report to whom and for what they spent money. “I’m not as concerned with what the lobby does and what the legis lator does as (much as) I’m con cerned that it be reported,” Delord with “undue” influence and the fail ure to report where the influence comes from. “We have to make ethics reform our No. 1 priority to bring respect to the legislature and to inquire the public to bring back that trust that the public should have in us,” Del ord said. “I L-obby groups that are paid literally millions of dollars to protect the profits of a private company are the ones Richard Smith is in bed with.” — Ron Delord, Democratic senatorial candidate said. “It is the public’s right to judge whether it’s proper or improper. “My position on reform is that if you’re afraid to tell your constituents that some big lobby sent you hunt ing, fishing and on trips, then it’s probably wrong,” he said. “The voter should be the judge of whether or not the legislator is in the pocket of someone or in unduly influence.” He said he sees nothing wrong with lobbying for legislation, and that people should be allowed to work with legislators to influence legislation. He claims the problem is Delord proposes that all school districts be provided with the fund ing to provide a basic curriculum, equipment and facilities so all school- children may have a basic and equal education. He said he also wants all Texas teachers to receive compara ble salaries and benefits. “What you get above that (basic state funding) should then be deter mined by the local school district,” Delord said. “If you want a planetar- See Delord/Page 10 Delaware prof says engineering students need varied education By Todd Swearingen Of The Battalion Staff Dr. Russel C. Jones presented “Trends in Engineering Educa tion” to address the issues that are of concern to the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Tech- nolgy. Jones, a University of Delaware research professor and former president of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Tech nology, spoke Thursday as part of the Distinguished Civil Engi neer Lecture Series sponsbred by the Texas A&M Civil Engi neering Dept. Jones said the ABET has been studying the need for a five year curriculum at the undergraduate level. “It’s impossible to turn out a technically literate graduate in four years of undergraduate study — one that can read the lit erature and keep up with a field like environmental engineering or soil mechanics or structural en gineering,” Jones said. He said the areas of emphasis include design experience and a broader educational background. A problem exists with students fulfilling their humanities re quirements with introductory level courses, rather than gaining in-depth knowledge, he said. It is much more important to learn how to think as a social scientist, rather than taking a lot of unre lated introductory courses, Jones said. Jones said it is necessary to make students aware that the en gineering industry competes on an international level and they must think in terms of supplying services worldwide. He said students need to know at least one additional language and be aware of the different de sign requirements and construc tion processes used by different countries. “Most countries around the world spend considerably more time in preparing their engi neering graduates than we do,” he said. “They do a better job typically in their high schools,” Jones said. “They often do a longer term and better job at the graduate and un dergraduate level. “And if we’re going to compete in that world, we’ve simply got to do a better job,” Jones said. Hobby calls for income tax to solve finance problems 9u AUSTIN (AP) — Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby An income tax would address a Texas Supreme Court ruling that the current school finance system, with its funding ineq- uities among school districts, is unconstitu- raise enough money to replace every dollar of school property taxes, and add almost another $1 billion per year to fund educa- tion," he said. ii If I’m the father of the Texas income tax, can I also be the guy who abolished the franchise tax, lowered property taxes and lowered the sales tax?” — Bill Hobby, Lieutenant Governor :alled for a state income tax, saying Thurs day the politically unpopular levy would re solve school finance problems and be fairer :han current Texas taxes. ■‘It would, I suggest to you, be a consider- ible improvement for the education sys- em, the business community and the tax iystem of this state,” Hobby told the Texas ^sociation of Taxpayers. ^■\ state income tax should couple with re- ief from other taxes that unfairly burden fye poor and discourage business invest- nent, Hobby said. ■‘If I’m the father of the Texas income ax, can I also be the guy who abolished the ranchise tax, lowered property taxes and owered the sales tax?” he asked after his ipeech to the business-based association. tional, Hobby said. The school funding sys tem relies on a combination of local property taxes and state money. “A personal income tax of 4 percent on a broad measure of income, even with gener ous exemptions and deductions, would Hobby, a Democrat who is not seeking election after heading the Texas Senate since 1973, acknowledged that the pro posed levy is a political hot potato in Texas, which has neither a personal nor corporate income tax. Republican gubernatorial candidate Kent Hance launched his campaign for the 1990 GOP nomination by pledging to pro hibit an income tax. Democratic gubernato rial hopeful Jim Mattox is pushing a lottery for school funding, calling it the only alter native to an income tax. “Most statewide candidates will be forced to oppose it,” Hobby said. “But if the idea of an income tax is not put fairly and accu rately into the debate of this state’s future, we are letting our children and grandchil dren down.” .i The property tax hits; poor taxpayers harder than the wealthy, and it has been an unreliable funding source as property va lues have fallen this decade. Hobby said. The sales tax also is regressive, affects in vestment and weighs too heavily on busi ness, he said, while the franchise tax im poses a levy on investments and is unfair. The income tax is more just, he said, but “has been the subject of the worse smear campaign since Joe McCarthy.” Texas, the most populous state that doesn’t levy its own personal income tax, is tied for the third highest state sales tax in the nation, at 6 cents per dollar. Although Hobby said he would like to see a state income tax considered right away, he predicted it will not be examined again until lawmakers meet in regular ses sion in 1991. The Legislature meets in special session beginning Nov. 14 on workers’ compensa tion, and again next spring to address school finance, but special session agendas are controlled by the governor. HEY AGGIES! HAVE YOU OPENED YOGR OWN POINTS PLUS ACCOUNT YET? BEAT THE SPRING RUSH! Pre-register by phone call 846-9085 You’ll get your POINTS PLUS CARD in 2 days. With your Points Plus Card you get buying power all over Bryan and College Station for textbooks, groceries, gas, restaurants, fast food, plus much more. There are no service charges or minimum balances to maintain. In addition, you get a monthly statement. Why hassel with writing checks and balancing checkbooks when there is POINTS PLUS. Pre-register Now 846-9085 THE SENSIBLE ALTERNATIVE 4341 Wellborn Rd. (Next to Cargo Bay) ‘Ye/twii & Italian Cuisine Come Lake a whirl win d tour of Italy without leaving Hra&os County. Food from the northern part of Italy to Sdeily. 693-0054 1804 Valley View Across the K-Mart Parking Lot in College Station SjSCOTT & WHITE ST. JOSEPH HOSPITAL & HEALTH CENTER SATURDAY - NOVEMBER 4, 1989 5 K & 10 K ROAD RUN & 1 MILE WALK 9:00a.m. Bentfrts to American Heart Association and TAMSA "92 location ft Court*: All Road Races start & end at the Joe H. Reynolds Medical Sciences Bldg. Ag« Cat#gort*s: Male and Female: 19 & under, 20-29,3039,40-49,50 & over. Awards: First, second, and third place trophies for female and male winners In each running event. Must be present to receive award. Entry fee: $8.00 Includes scrub shirt and pocket to all who preregister by lues. Oct. 25.1989. Deadline: Earty entries must be received by Tues. Oct. 25,1989. Late Registration Fee: $10.00 Race Day Registration 7:45 - 8:45 a.m. (includes scrub shirt) Race Materials: Runners may pick up numbers and scrub shirts on race day 7:45 - 8:45 a.m. Race Organlzers/Directors: Texas Aggie Medical Student Assoclatlon/Tony Scazzero For Information Call: (409) 845-7084 ’1 I 5 I I I I B I I I I I B B B fl B B B B B B fl B B B B