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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (July 2, 1997)
The Battalion Wednesday - July 2,19! % Controversy surrounds new health commissione Dr. Archer drew criticism from women's advocates when he defended an abortion ‘gag’m i HOUSTON (AP) — The state’s new health commissioner says his only agen da is the public health of Texans but fam ily planning professionals are concerned about his previously stated views on birth control and abortion. Dr. William “Reyn” Archer was ap pointed by Gov. George W. Bush, who ac cepted the 5-1 vote of the Texas Board of Health. Archer, son of U.S. Rep. Bill Archer, R- Texas, told members of the health board and others he has since moderated his views and will perform his duties with the highest ethical standards. “My only agenda is to bring public health to people in the state and to be open to people,” Archer told the Hous ton Chronicle in a telephone interview from Milwood, Va., headquarters of the nonprofit group Project Hope where he is a senior medical adviser. Archer, whose fa ther is chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, rose to prominence and drew criticism from women’s advo- Gov. Bush cates when he be came chief defender of the so-called “gag” rule under President Bush, the governor’s father. The rule, since dropped, prevented staffers at tax-supported health clinics from discussing abortion with pregnant clients. Gov. Bush praised Archer as “a com passionate man” who understands ma jor health challenges facing Texas. “I know Reyn Archer. He will do a fine job,” Bush said at an Austin news con ference Monday. But not everyone shared the gover nor’s optimism. “Fasten your seatbelts,” Susan Nenney, spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas, said. “We certainly hope that Dr. Archer’s views have changed over the past few years. Our attitude is going to be one of watchful waiting,” she said. “Frankly, if he tries to chisel women’s access to fam- My only agenda is to bring public health to people in the state and to be open to people.” Dr. William Archer New health commissioner IN ily planning, he’s got a tiger by the tail.” Archer, 42, will oversee a $6.4 million budget, 6,000 employees and nearly 100 programs affecting millions of Texans. I lis annual salary will be $148,683. LA| Bush praised Archer for his nation^ sus international experience, and forte % in both public health and privateprac ®PJ But family planning professional! they’re concerned that Archer has opp not only abortion and out-of-wedlod iec0 | but the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1965 legalizing birth control. Peggy Romberg, president ofthel Family Planning Association, cials from her office have receivedas ou ^ ances that Archer will meet withtlf 1 ^ once he arrives in Texas. “We believe that family planning proves the lives of women and chili ' ar T We look to Dr. Archer to help with! Ms. Romberg said Grand jury indicts mayor on theft, forgery charges Scheme cost Alba ISD over $50,000 TYLER (AP) — A Northeast Texas mayor who also was a trustee of a school district investigated for several questionable construction project expenditures is under felony indictment. James Reid of Alba was indicted Mon day on 28 theft counts and six forgery charges by a special grand jury of the Texas attorney general’s office. Reid, according to the indictments, orchestrated a scheme that bilked the Alba-Golden Independent School Dis trict of $55,916.75 intended for two con struction projects. The school district paid some of Reid's personal bills and invoices for his Reid Construction Co. in 1993 and 1994, according to the in dictments. They accuse Reid of forging six of the bills, adding the name of the district or school architect and re moving his own from $17,644.13 in invoices. In November, Wood County Crimi nal District Attorney Marcus Taylor asked Attorney General Dan Morales’ office to investigate the district. The special grand jury was empaneled that month. The Tyler Morning Telegraph re ported that documents had shown the district did not follow state-mandated bidding procedures on construction of an administration building, a band hall and a classroom addition. The projects totaled at least $700,000. Reid, a deacon at the First Baptist Church in Alba, did not return a telephone call Tuesday from The As sociated Press. The theft charges against Reid carry a possible penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, while the forgery charges are punishable by a maximum 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Alba is 69 miles east of Dallas and 35 miles northwest of Tyler. Legislator accused of conflicting interests with oil company, state Business deal was set up several years before Palmer was electei Wl sen % FORT WORTH (AP) — Two govern ment watchdog groups say Rep. Sue Palmer was wrong to have allowed the oil company she owns to sell gasoline and diesel fuel to the state while she was working in the Texas Legislature. Palmer, a Republican who represent ed Fort Worth in Austin for the first time, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram she sees no conflict of interest in continuing the relationship between her Lucky Lady Oil Co. and the state. The business deal was set up several years before she was elected. “The constitution and the opinions of the various enforcement bodies have been pretty clear that legislators cannot contract directly with the state,” said Tom “Smitty” Smith, of Public Citizen, a national group founded by consumer crusader Ralph Nader. “She’ll probably have to make a deci sion as to whether she wants to contin ue to sell to the state or whether she wants to serve.” Suzy Woodford, director of the watchdog group Common Cause, said even occasional sales have, at the least, the “appearance of a contract” and said she would “recommend not continuing to do this.” Texas law makes it illegal for state leg islators to contract for business with the state under any budget approved during their tenure. Because this was Palmer’s first leg islative session, that prohibition will not take effect until Sept. 1, when the state’s new fiscal year begins and many laws passed during the session will take effect. Palmer noted that she only sells oil to the state and does not have a con tract to do it. “I don't think it’s a conflict,” iail "I Palmer, who is the firms longtimeprts onie idem and owner. “I think it wouldbef 11 ^ conflict if they gave me the businessbe cause I am a state representative.” Records show that Palmer’scompaii; did more than $270,000 in business the state during the past 10years,mud of it while her woman-owned busks! was certified under state aflirniative ac tion programs. Some of the states paymentscarai after Palmer took office in Januaryj- eluding $3,585.34 from thelexasDf- partment of Transportation onAprilll and $14,280.53 in January from the Uni versity of Texas at Dallas. Palmer said she has been sellingto the state for years, but called the actions a “little smidgen” of her ton sales, which amount to about $100 lion a year. th Ml Federal regulators file discrimination complaints against three companies Weather Outlook FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY DALLAS (AP) — The Equal Op portunity Employment Commis sion has sued three companies in cluding Tandy Corp., which is accused of discriminating against black employees. Another EEOC complaint filed in federal court Monday against Betsy Ross Flag Girl Inc. accused the Dallas flag and flagpole dis tributor of discriminating against six female workers by subjecting Correction In Monday’s Battalion story on the new U.S. Navy ship, the ship should have been identi fied as a destroyer. them to a sexually hostile work environment. The agency also sued Quak er State Corp. for alleged dis crimination against an employ ee after failing to correct sexual harassment. The company retaliated against the employee who had filed a complaint, according to the EEOC. Tandy didn’t promote two women to marketing director po sitions based on their race, the agency alleges. It said the women were passed over in favor of a less qualified white employee from another department. Louann Blaylock, a Tandy spokeswoman in Fort Worth, said the company does not comment on personnel matters. The lawsuit against Betsy Ross was prompted by a charge filed by a telemarketing supervisor who contended she was subjected to verbal and physical sexual harassment by an executive. Five other women came forward with similar harass ment claims during the EEOC investigation. Representatives of Betsy Ross and Quaker State did not return telephone calls Tuesday from The Associated Press. The EEOC is seeking back pay with interest, damages and in junctions against Tandy, Betsy Ross and Quaker State. Partly Cloudy High: 100° Low: 75° Partly Cloudy High: 101° Low: 75° 3.. Partly Cloudy High: 101° Low: 75° .Tit— Skateh By Quato LOOK, I KNOW FT'S IN YOUR ”NATURE''ANP EVERYTHING, BUT.. i . | AW HAP JUST ABOUT HAP ENOUGH jOF HAROU>‘S HOGGING THE COVERS.] I his i TOEFL Mock TOEFL Thursday, July 3rd 2:00 PM Kaplan Center 707 Texas Ave., Suite 106E Reserve your seat today! 1 -800-KAP-TEST KAPLAN 1 -800-KAP-TEST World Wide Web: httpVAwww.kaplan.com •TOEFL is a registered trademark of the Educational Testing Service NEW! Local Radio News from the newsroom of IBattalion campus and community news 8:04 a.m. Monday through Friday during NPR Morning Edition on KAMU-FM 90.9 College Station / Bryan MSC presents... * with short film “Street Fighter F parts one and two Wednesday, July 2 7:00 PM 206 MSC 100% free! Persons with disabilities please call 845-1515 to inform us of your special needs. We request notification three (3) working days prior to the event to enable us to assist you to the best of our abilities. 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