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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 19, 1991)
Get out the vote DARRIN HILL/The Battalion Preston Knight, a biomedical science major from Dal- MSC for student elections. The elections will be held las, examines campaign signs Monday in front of the on Mar. 27 and 28. House prepares for budget debate Congressmen discuss increasing state taxes AUSTIN (AP) — House leaders are ready in this regular session to consider a two-year state bud- et and, if necessary, a tax increase to fund it, peaker Gib Lewis said Monday. Lewis said he doesn't want to wait until a sum mer special session, as Gov. Ann Richards has suggested. The state faces an estimated $4.6 billion budget shortfall through fiscal years 1992-1993. If new taxes are needed, Lewis said, he would support revamping the franchise tax for busi nesses, which mignt mean a corporate income tax. There is support for such a change in the busi ness community, he said. Lewis said he also would likely favor increasing the state sales tax rate, currently 6 l A percent, to as much as 7 percent, and broadening the sales tax rate to include services. The speaker said he had not yet talked to Rich ards about the plan. Her staff did not immediately return a telephone call from the Associated Press. The governor earlier said she expected a sum mer special session to deal with the budget, after state agency audits are complete and a tax study committee makes recommendations by July 1. “I don't think time affords us to wait that long," Lewis said. "If you do have to pass a tax bill, you would lose a great amount of tax if you pass a tax bill in May versus passing a tax bill in August." "We will press forward and try to have a bud get, and if we require a tax bill, we'll have a tax bill this session," he said. Lewis estimated the state agency audits would save the state perhaps $200 million. "That's less than half a percent of the budget," Lewis, D-Fort Worth, said. "That much falls through the cracks sometimes." Lewis met with Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock, who also supported waiting to write a budget, said Rafe Greenlee, Bullock v s press secretary. The lieuten ant governor wants to see the House plan in detail before commenting on it, Greenlee said. Bullock has said he will campaign for a cor porate and personal income tax to pay for needed state services. But Lewis said most committee heads believe there are fewer than 40 votes in the 150-member House for a personal income tax. Texas traffic deaths decline Conference hosts female leaders AUSTIN (AP) — Several of the original leaders of the national women's movement will gather in Austin this weekend to talk about the past and look to the fu ture. The daylong conference was conceived by Liz Carpenter, au thor and former aide to Lady Bird Johnson, who decided to use the 20-year anniversary of the founding of the National Women's Political Caucus to bring together "front-line" lead ers of the women's movement. "We were guinea pigs — and in some ways, we still are," said Carpenter. 'T don't think today's young women really know how much effort went into it." Among those scheduled to participate in Saturday's confer ence at the University of Texas are: author Betty Friedan; U.S. Rep. Pat Schroeder; former tele vision newswoman Linda Eller- bee; writer and former television commentator Shana Alexander; lawyer Sarah Weddington, who won the landmark Roe vs. Wade abortion case, and Jill Ruckelshaus, former caucus president and former White House special assistant for wom en's affairs. "Every one of the participants is a role model — the conference will be an invaluable experience and serve as a guideline for women to make a better world," Kozmetsky said. AUSTIN (AP) — Traffic fatali ties in Texas fell to a 14-year low in 1990, due in part to manda tory seat belt and motorcycle hel met laws, the Department of Public Safety reported Monday. The DPS said 3,243 people died on Texas roads, a 3.5 per cent drop from the 3,361 deaths recorded in 1989. "Not since 1976 have traffic fa talities been this low in Texas," said Col. Joe Milner, DPS direc tor. "In 1981, by way of compari son, 4,701 persons lost their lives in Texas traffic accidents." The 1990 traffic death decrease was the fifth in the last six years, he said. In addition, for the first time, the traffic death rate fell to two deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in Texas. That was a 4.8 percent decrease from the 1989 rate, Milner said. As in the past, the leading cause of traffic deaths was alco hol or other drug-related acci dents. During 1990, 1,402 people died in accidents involving in toxication. That amounted to 43 percent of all fatalities, Milner said. "One of the factors in the 1990 decrease in traffic deaths is clearly the motorcycle helmet law,' the DPS director said. "Motorcycle fatalities were down 19 percent, from 243 deaths in 1989 to 197 deaths in 1990." Milner said studies now indi cate that helmet use under the state helmet law has reached 98 percent. Another key factor in lowering the traffic toll was the state's mandatory seat belt law, he said. Here’s YOUR chance to be in the Aggieland! There are a lot of old Ag stories that are entertaining, but we want to hear what's happened to you or your friends while attending A&lM. Just complete the sentence below and return to 230 Reed McDonald by Friday, March 29. Here are the topics we're looking for: Classroom Capers Dorm Pranks Corps Trips Corps Capers Yell Practice Pranks Campus Stunts OfTCampus Stunts Construction Comments Parking Peeves Greatest Moments in Sports Greatest Moments at A&M Other: "I'll never forget the time when.,* ti Name: Classification: SS#: Phone #: * The Aggieland reserves the right to edit all quotes. SME)a^rtldheylBa^p i ^Sdihhie« ; Rounds Ovals Weight Price 2.34 $6627 50 -4t64 SeW 3690 00 1.01 313025 —t-93 Seki 2327 60 .92 1797 50 .90 14850° .78 1628 00 .78 1031 55 .70 1649 00 .68 1496oo .60 1075 oo .53 850 oo ! -50 1450 oo -^0 950 oo .50 440 oo .47 115000 .43 7500° -40 395oo 34 550oo Certified Rounds with EGL Certificates Weight p r j ce .54 F/VS1 $1998 00 .56 F/VVS1 2688°° .57 G/VVS2 210900 .57 G/VVS1 239400 .57 F/VVS2 273600 Weight Price 1.51 $3629 2 o -Fr09 SoW lQ-19on .70 1350°o .58 1276 00 .57 1254 00 .55 1210 00 .30 300 00 Pear Shapes Weight 1.00 1.00 .77 .47 .40 Price $3100 25 2340 00 1750 00 900 00 572 00 Emerald Cut Weight .86 .72 Price $305000 190000 Radiant Cut Weight .53 Price $1495 00 Marquise Cut Weight p r | ce 1.00 $3099 25 —r79- SeW i-?3QQ0 -73 2250 00 .72 217500 .47 980 0° .46 860 00 .45 65464 --.45 Sold 95000 .44 677°o -24 22500 Aggie Rings Weight Price .05/.06 $45oo .08 60°o .13 105 00 .15 125oo .20 195oo Free Mounting on Diamonds .10 and larger (Good till March 20th) These prices are cash prices. Lay-a-ways and credit cards welcome at slightly higher prices. 2° fin IZh. na. (Formerly of Texas Coin Exchange) "Very Personal Investments" Rare Coins, Loose Diamonds, Precious Metal, Fine Jewelry & Watches WK HUY, SRIJ, TR A1)K 404 University Dr. East • 846-8916