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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1993)
Page 4 The Battalion Tuesday, June 1,1993 State legislature completes 140-day session THE ASSOCIATED PRESS USTIN — The Legislature wrapped up its 1993 regular ses sion Monday. In their 140-day bout of law making, legislators voted to allow hunting • in parks but not carrying of handguns. They adopted a bigger budget but ap proved no tax increase. They wrote a school finance reform plan. Twice. And they debated that age-old ques tion: does a hog farm smell like money or, well, just pigs? From her perspective. Gov. Ann Richards was pleased with the outcome. "I think we've had an extraordinarily successful session,” she said. "I don't think anyone can doubt that.” Here's a look at some of the major — and minor — actions of the 1993 Texas Legislature: -► SCHOOL FINANCE: For a third time, Texas Supreme Court had ruled against the school funding sys tem. So lawmakers early in the session approved a third school finance proposal, the now-infamous "Robin Hood” share- the-wealth plan to shift $400 million from rich to poor school districts. On May 1, voters gave their opinion — No way. In a matter of days, the Legislature came up with a new idea. A multiple- choice plan gives 109 rich districts five options for sharing — from consolidation to writing checks to the state. Sen. Bill Ratliff, R-Mount Pleasant, helped write it and concluded: "This comes as close as humanly possible to meeting the (court's) test.” -» BUDGET: After suffering through repeated mas sive shortfalls and prolonged tax-and- spend battles, state leaders this year is sued a pre-session decree: no new taxes. The Legislature then wrote a two-year budget that boosts spending by 11.4 per cent — $7.18 billion — for a 1994-95 total of $70.1 billion. Only a few fees went up. Sen. John Montford, D-Lubbock, a key budget writer, said the spending plan isn't lavish. "A Chevrolet with no white walls,” he called it. Added Richards: "We held the line on money, and yet we have been able to fund all of these essentials." -> GUN BATTLES: Echoing the state's Wild West image, lawmakers exchanged fire — over and over — over guns. Lawmakers took a shot at legalizing the carrying of handguns. Calling it an in vitation for more violence, the governor fired back with a veto threat. Lawmakers reloaded, saying they would settle for giving voters a shot at the question. Their final plan: a non-bind ing referendum on Nov. 2 in which voters could express their opinions. But Richards still pledged a veto, call ing the referendum bill v 'nothing more than game playing by a few legislators who appear intent on embarrassing this great state as a place where gun-toting vigilantes roam the streets." Legislative gunfire wasn't confined to that issue. Lawmakers also endorsed expanded hunting in state parks. "There are thou sands and thousands of people in this state, fathers and sons, that do not have a place to hunt," said Rep. Allen Hightow er, D-Huntsville. Richards, an avid hunter, said that bill would become law. ENVIRONMENT: Big battles were fought over the envi ronment. Under one bill, pumping from the Ed wards Aquifer would be regulated by a permit system to protect endangered species. The underground aquifer, which extends for 176 miles under Central Texas counties, is the sole source of drinking water for San Antonio. Lawmakers endorsed a compact with two New England states for disposal of their low-level radioactive waste. Ver mont and Maine must pay Texas $25 mil lion each to use the Hudspeth County dump, and backers said the deal will keep bigger states from horning in. Another bill would allow the Railroad Commission to regulate storage of haz ardous materials in salt domes. Hours were spent debating a bill to ex empt agricultural operations from most air pollution control requirements, unless it was shown that odors caused injuries or a public health hazard. Backers said the bill was needed be cause livestock operations are naturally smelly and air control regulations of agri culture do little to protect the environ ment. Opponents said it would encourage large dairy operators and feedlots to enter Texas without regard to location. The bill died after senators added a provision that would have allowed law suits if the "quality of life” were dam aged. -» CRIME: A major anti-crime push was a center- piece of the session. Lawmakers voted to create a system of 22,000 new "state jail” beds for nonvio lent offenders, build 10,000 new prison beds and fund 7,000 prison beds for sub stance abuse treatment. They overhauled the state's code of criminal laws, voting to double the prison time of violent criminals. Gay rights ac tivists urged a gubernatorial veto, howev er, because the bill keeps the state's centu ry-old law banning sodomy between same-sex couples. Also approved was anti-stalking legis lation and 40-year minimum sentences for capital murderers who don't receive the death penalty. Lawmakers passed a hate crimes mea sure to toughen penalties in offenses mo tivated by prejudice and abolish proba tion in hate-motivated murders. Under a drunken driving measure, motorists who refuse or fail a breath or blood test could have their drivers' licens es revoked. And lawmakers decided to extend the death penalty to those who murder chil dren under the age of six and to double penalties for drug offenses committed near children. -» ETHICS: The current state ethics law was passed only minutes before the clock struck midnight and ended the 1991 Leg islature. That sparked criticism that law makers hadn't even gotten a chance to read the bill. They had a full 140 days this year to make changes. But while they debated proposals to limit campaign contributions, limit terms for officeholders and prohibit legislators from becoming lobbyists, the clock won again. An ethics reform bill died without a fi nal vote when the Legislature adjourned. HIGHER EDUCATION: The South Texas Initiative was adopt ed, aimed at increasing higher education opportunities and improving colleges and universities in the region. A $460 million package was approved for expanding undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs, and for building and expanding campuses and facilities. The initiative is a response to a 1987 lawsuit that contends border area resi dents have been denied equal access to higher education. Lawmakers said South Texas has been receiving about $43 per person for higher education, compared with $103 per person for other parts of the state. -» BUSINESS: Business bills were a booming business. Passed early in the session and signed by Richards into law were two bills mak ing it harder for consumers to recover damages from companies by taking them to court. One bill protects tobacco companies from liability because their products would be classified among those con sumers know to be unsafe. And in law suits alleging that products had design defects, those suing must prove that a safer alternative design existed when the product was made. The second bill made it more difficult for people in other countries who claim injuries from a product with some Texas connection to file suit here. Lawmakers debated until the final hours over legislation continuing the Public Utility Commission. Consumer outcry rose up over a last- minute provision that would have al lowed telephone and electric companies to charge customers for "phantom" taxes they don't actually pay. Lawmakers de cided Monday afternoon to simply con tinue the agency as is for the next two years and study related issues. A key insurance bill was approved to extend the life of the State Board of Insur ance, which regulates the state's $35 bil lion per year insurance industry. It also allowed industry organizations to pro vide the data regulators use to determine insurance rates under strict regulatory oversight by the insurance commissioner. -+ HEALTH CARE: Legislation won approval that was de signed to make health insurance more available and affordable for small busi nesses employing three to 50 people. Also passed was a bill to provide for immunizations of children against pre ventable diseases. AND... Three years after a Houston woman stood trial for entering a men's room at a crowded concert in 1990, lawmakers en acted a "pott/ parity" bill. Stadiums, arenas or any facility where "the public congregates" would have to provide twice the number of women's re strooms as men's. The requirement would apply only to facilities either built or renovated after this year. Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos, D-Austin, called it "bathroom equity” and good news for women. Another — albeit smaller — segment of the population got some good news, too. Professional students, "slackers/' some called them. Sen. Carl Parker, D-Port Arthur, took aim at students who seem to stay in school forever. He proposed charging out-of-state tuition to undergraduates who accumulate more than 158 hours of credit, nearly a sevenfold hike. His anti-slacker bill was aimed at "those who just use college for recreation al purposes," he said, those subsidized by taxpayers "in an effort to become a great conversationalist." But the slackers won. They didn't mo bilize in a sudden fit of energy, though. The House just never got around to con sidering it. 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(409) 846-5933 (close to campus) SUMMER JOBS COLLEGE STATION AND HOUSTON Earn $150-$300 week part-time Neighborhood advertising program. Requires excellent communication skills. No selling involved. Call (409) 690-0448 Leave name, phone no. and best time to return call. JOBS, JOBS, JOBS Telephone fundraising for national charities. No experience necessary. $5-$6 per/hr. to start. Evenings and weekends. For immediate placement call Mary 776-4246 INTERNATIONAL EMPLOYMENT - Make up to $2,000+ per month teaching basic conversational English abroad. Japan and Taiwan. Many provide room & board + other benefits. No previous training or teaching certificate required. For program call 1-206-632-1146 ext. J5855. REMEMBER THE SUMMER OF...? If you have ever worked a fantastic Summer or Extended Vacation Job, call us now! We will pay you to share your experiences, if published! Call 1-800-807-3030, Baby-sitter needed for church nursery Sundays 8-12pm £5/hr. 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Ticket dismissal, M-Tu(6-10p.m.),W-Th. (6-10 p.m.), Fri. (6-10 p.m.)-Sat.(8-12 noon). Sat. (8-4:30 p.m.) Across from University Tower. Walk-ins welcome $20.00. 411TxAve. So. 846-6117. For Lease YOUR BEST HOUSING VALUE 1670 sq. ft. 4bd/2ba, two 1/2 bathrooms at Sundance Apartments with great rooms, wet bar, FF refrigerator, W/D connections, ceiling fans, intrusion alarms, pool and park. Call Sandra 696-9638. For Sale Daybed w/brass, complete w/trundle, mattresses, never used, still boxed, cost $750. Must sell $250 cash (713) 855-8474. Brassbed. QZ, complete, w/firm, ortho mattress set, never used, still boxed, cost $750. Must sell $200. Cash (713) 855-8474. Like new! 3 Br-2B. Brick house. FP. fence, 2 CG. New roof, carpet and paint inside and out. Priced to sell under affordable housing - $46,500. To see call Carolyn Sparks, BrazosLand Realty 846-5735. C.C. Creations 114 Holleman C.S. Factory Outlet: T- shirts, shorts, sweats, jackets, caps. $10.00-$12.00. Open Wed-Fri, 10am-6pm; Saturdays 8am-2pm. For Rent One bedroom apartment, efficiency, close tocampus, bills paid, $265. Call 693-4485 after 6pm. 1&2 bdrm units, some with W/D and ff refrigerator, pool, park, intruder alarms, close to everything FSS accepted 696-7380, 693-2347. FRESHLY RENOVATED HUGE 2bd apartments. 3 1/2 miles from A&M. Semester lease okay 822-0472. Khmer Rouge attacks again in Cambodia THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - Khmer Rouge guerrillas am bushed a U.N. convoy Monday, killing a peacekeeper and wound ing five others. It was the second significant attack following large ly peaceful elections that ended Friday. The guerrillas earlier fired at French troops, killed two Cambo dians and torched houses during a raid Sunday on a village market. Despite vows to disrupt the election, the Khmer Rouge had abstained from serious violence during the voting. Almost 90 per cent of Cambodia's 4.7 million voters cast ballots, including hun dreds of guerrillas. On Sunday, the guerrillas' ra dio station condemned the elec tion and the U.N. mission and said they would keep on fighting. But a party seeking reconcilia tion with the guerrillas was lead ing in the vote count. U.N. spokesman Eric Fait said Monday that with 43 percent of the vote counted, unofficial re sults showed the major opposi tion party, FUNCINPEC, leading by a small margin. The party, aligned with Prince Norodom Sihanouk, Cambodia's most respected leader, had 36.7 percent of the vote compared with 35.3 percent for the ruling Cambo dian People's Party. Final results were expected later this week. The six-day election was for a 120-member assembly that is to adopt a constitution within three months, then form a government. The ruling party has promised to fight the Khmer Rouge. FUNC INPEC has favored reconciliation. Bangkop By Boomer Cardinale Angus...The Series By Paul Stroud Aggie Man By Sergio Rosas liN OUg LAST EftSODr, EDKIARP DlMWITT, A MILD rlAMflEKLD COLLEGE STUDBHT, HAD Been 0TT£Ti by A \fyDIO-ACTIVE' MASCOT ADD UAg P&DUT TO C.ET tflf &Y A BU5. MILL Ol^R tfERO-TG~BE EXAFB THb' FATH Clinton Continued from Page 1 The president, in a series of Memorial Day events designed to help him improve his standing with the military, earlier vowed in re marks at Arlington National Cemetery that he would not put U.S. troops in harm's way with out a "clear mission, the means and the sup port they need to win." "We resolve to keep America free, strong and proud ... to be ever vigilant against any foe that could endanger us,” he said at the cemetery. The president received a standing ovation from the crowd of about 4,000 at the cemetery ceremony, and was also warmly received at an earlier White House celebration with veterans groups. But it was a tougher task at the Viet nam Veterans Memorial as he faced the ghosts of his youth. Clinton laid a large floral wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns monument, then stood at attention, his hand over his heart, for the playing of "taps.” The tomb commemorates U.S. soldiers from various wars whose remains could not be identified. His motorcade arrived in the cemetery to a 21-gun salute. Clinton renewed his pledge that his admin istration would do what it could "to provide answers" in accounting for all prisoners of the Vietnam War and those missing in action. "We come together this morning to honor those who died that we might live in free dom," he said. "We put aside our differences to better re flect on what unites us," he said. A chief politi cal rival. Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole, R- Kan., also participated in the ceremony. Earlier today, Clinton told a group of World War II veterans in an East Room ceremony: "This is your house. You have paid the price for it and those you represent made the fact that it's still standing possible." He spoke as he unveiled commemorative stamps and coins. "Our country must remember and honor the men who defended democracy and defeat ed aggression,” he said. "We learned from those early defeats in World War II that we must remain vigilant and always prepared to resist future aggression, and that the nations dedicated to freedom must stand together." He declined comment when asked about his efforts to avoid the Vietnam War or plans by veterans to protest his appearance at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial later in the day. But in an newspaper interview published Sun day he declared "I can't run away." Clinton's appearance at the black marble wall, which serves as a stark reminder of the thousands of lives lost and a generation torn apart over the Vietnam War, was a risky politi cal move for an already battered president. A A, While week's Univers swallov come o carved from otl The d came afl income sity Fun levels, than one adminis al offices "We'v ing opi penses over tim very pe sive and a lot of have h Deputy < Davis sa Thou« nate tha to resort offs will $2 millie not fund islature,: Admi mile to p Possibly hiring fre months ] §et cuts. Smol cost i Presidi ^deral t Poking f° be livii be inhalir [ er retirei feting sc Social sec 'vhich is forking; oen will fc When 1 ^our ass 1 In g for yi ^ent to e Srandchil ar >d hardc as good a