ustxtxb_obs_1994_12_30_50_00018-00000_000.pdf

Continued from pg. 24 years of his administration represented historic highs in both diversity and quality. Clinton has forwarded 142 nominees to the federal bench: two to the Supreme Court, 21 to courts of appeal and 199 to district courts. Sixty-three percent of Clinton’s nominees were rated “well-qualified” by the American Bar Association, a higher percentage than already has named 31 African Americans, more than one-fifth of his nominees, while Reagan and Bush together nominated only 23 African Americans as federal judges in 12 years. More than 30 percent of his nominees have been women, a greater number than any other president. And nearly one-third \(29 public defender office or civil rights group. TRY CONGRESS. U.S. District Judge Filemon Vela of Brownsville indicated he would dismiss Texas’ lawsuit filed to collect $1.3 billion from the federal government to pay for undocumented immi grants living in Texas. Vela suggested the state should take up its complaint with Congress, which approved $130 million to reimburse states for criminal justice costs of immigrants for fiscal year 1995. Texas would get $2 million. INTERIM INSURANCE. Gov . Ann Richards named Rebecca Lightsey, a former consumer advocate who had been executive director of a state health insurance pool, to serve two months as insurance commissioner after Robert Hunter abruptly quit on Dec. 12 to return to his family in Washington, D.C. Hunter was set to consider proposed rules aimed at prohibiting insurers from discriminating based on race, color, religion or national origin but he postponed a hearing when Gov.-elect George Bush asked for time to study the measure. Lightsey said she would not start the hearings until after Jan. 1. Bush is inaugurated Jan. 17 and can name a new insurance commissioner on Feb. 1. PUC PICKS. Governor-elect Bush will get a quick pick on the Public Utility Commission, since Commissioner Karl Rabago has announced plans to leave next month to take a job in the Clinton Administration. And Sarah Goodfriend, who was named to the three-member commission last year, could face problems getting Senate confirmation because she is a lesbian, which could give conservative lawmakers an incentive to bust her and give Bush a swing vote on the panel. INCLUDE ME OUT. Texas AFLCIO President Joe Gunn stormed out of a Workforce Development Committee meetingDec. 9 after the committee, led by Tom Frost, called for an end to worker participation in the running of state job programs under the Texas Employment Commission. Frost and employer representatives on the committee pushed for consolidation of all job programs into a new agency run by a single gubernatorial appointee. The system is now operated by the three-member commission, with at least one commissioner representing workers. The proposed system would leave the commission with authority over only unemployment insurance. CLASSIFIEDS ORGANIZATIONS WORK for single-payer National Health Care. Join GRAY PANTHERS, intergenerational advocates against ageism and for progressive policies promoting social and economic justice. $20 individual, $35 family. 3710 Cedar, 3738. TEXAS AIDS NETWORK dedicated to improving HIV/AIDS policy and funding in Texas. Individual membership $25, P.O. Box 447-8887. LESBIAN/GAY DEMOCRATS of Texas Our Voice in the Party. Membership $15, P.O. Box 190933, Dallas, 75219. SICK OF KIWNG? Join the Amnesty International Campaign Against the WORK FOR OPEN, responsible government in Texas. Join Common Cause/Texas, 1615 Guadalupe, 474-2374. TEXAS TENANTS’ UNION. Membership $18/year, $10/six months, $30 or more/sponsor. Receive handbook on tenants’ rights, newsletter, and more. 5405 East Grand, Dallas, TX 75223. CENTRAL TEXAS CHAPTER of the ACLU invites you to our noon Forum, the last Friday of every month, at Wyatt’s, Hancock Center, Austin. For information call LIBERTARIAN PARTY Liberal on personal freedoms, but conserva4141. NATIONAL WRITERS UNION. We give working writers a fighting chance. Collective bargaining. Grievance procedures. Health insurance. Journalists, authors, poets, commercial writers. Forming Austin local. Noelle McAfee, 450-0705; Bill Adler, 443-8961. PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS. Join The Texas Civil Rights Project, 227 Congress #340, Austin, Texas 78701. $20/year. Volunteers also needed. Contact Jim Harrington or Fara EMPLOYMENT LEFT-WING LAW FIRM needs associate to litigate tort, DTPA, consumer bankruptcy cases. Must write well, be computer literate, hard-working, enjoy multicultural clientele. We aim for prosperity, justice, and joy of beating Goliath. Salary, profit sharing, NLG dues, CLE. Resume to John Wheat Gibson, P.C., 701 Commerce, Ste. 520, Dallas, Texas 748-6944. SERVICES LOW-COST MICROCOMPUTER ASSISTANCE. Tape to diskette conversion, statistical analysis, help with setting up special projects, custom programming, needs assessment. 474-6882, 1405 West 6th, Austin, Texas 78703. PHOTOGRAPHY Reality is us. 20 years for the Texas Observer and he will take a few for you. Alan Pogue, 1701 Guadalupe, Austin, MARY NELL MATHIS, CPA, 20 years experience in tax, litigation support, and other analyses. 400 West 15th, #304, Austin, 78701, REALESTATE HOUSEBUYERS The Consumer’s Agent. Our allegiance is to the residential buyer. 201 Jefferson Square, Austin, Texas CALL GARY DUGGER with REALTEX when you are ready to buy or sell your home or property. Office 512/288-3170; D.P. 397-8580. New listing: 169 acres, seven houses, recreational facilities galore. Dripping Springs. $1,100,000. New listing: Downtown Dripping Springs. Springs always run. 1,880 sq. ft. custom home. Faces 290 and Mercer. Restaurant perfect for this historic spot. CLASSIFIED RATES: Minimum ten words. One time, 50 cents per word; three times, 45 cents per word; six times, 40 cents per word; 12 times, 35 cents per word; 25 times, 30 cents per word. Telephone and box numbers count as two words, abbreviations and zip codes as one. Payment must accompany order for all classified ads. Deadline is three weeks before cover date. Address orders and inquiries to Advertising Director, The Texas Observer, 307 West 7th, Austin, TX 18 DECEMBER 30, 1994