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Two Special Issues Coming The Observer announces a plan to produce a special issue on the Texas congressional delegation and another special issue on the legislature at the end of this year. We invite our readers’ assistance in these two projects. While we read the major newspapers in the Observer office and of course have the standard sources, we shall welcome receiving clippings, dated and identified as to the newspaper, and other responsible informa tion which our readers believe throws significant light on their congresspersons or legislators. As we are now building files concerning each such officeholder, we shall also appreciate our readers sending us your own evaluations and comments concerning any of the officeholders. The earlier we receive such information the better, but it should arrive at the Observer not later than along toward the end of October, or later only at risk of not being timely. R.D. Credit Where Credit’s Due Austin When he journeyed to Austin to give a San Jacinto Day speech to the legislature this spring, House Majority Leader Jim Wright of Fort Worth met with 14 conservative House Democrats in the office of Rep. Gerald Hill, Austin. Cameras were permitted, but no sound. In essence the rightist Demos told Wright that the Democrats’ liberal image is killing them. Rep. Bill Messer, Belton, the sponsor of the 30% interest-ratetold Wright he was disappointed that better use had not been made of the conservative Democratic members in the party machinery of the House. Wright took umbrage, asking, who do you think put Charley Stenholm and Phil Gramm and Kent Hance and Marvin Leath on the powerful committees where they are? I put ’em on there, he said, and I don’t appreciate being charged with any indifference to your plight. Bentsen Hance and others have tried to persuade Reagan to go along with a twoyear tax cut and a third-year cut provided the resultss -work out as Reagan says they will, but “smelling blood,” Reagan has said no. The concession most pleasing to Bentsen is a $2,500 credit to eliminate windfall profits taxes on about $6,000 in oil royalty income. Bentsen and other Texans continue to push for a 1,000-barrel-per-day exemption that would increase the tax credit to about $5 million per year per royalty owner. The Hance bill also would ease the marriage penalty, lower estate and gift taxes, lower the tax on investment income, and give tax breaks on depreciation to business slightly less generous than Reagan’s original proposal. The Reagan-approved bill contains no concessions toward poor and middle-income taxpayers. A flat-rate cut benefits rich taxpayers much more than poor, which is why House Speaker Tip O’Neill con Bentsen and the other Texas Democrats siding with Reagan on taxes may be influenced, also, by Reagan’s statement in a closed-door White House meeting, “I couldn’t look myself in the mirror in the morning if I campaigned against someone that helped me on my program.” Hance is the one who quoted Reagan so saying. When this was interpreted in the press as a Reagan promise not to oppose anyone who voted for his tax bill, staffers clarified: To be favored by the President, Democrats would have to support other Reagan programs, foreign and domestic, as well. But the idea got across that Reagan would target Democrats opposing him and leave alone those who collaborate with him. The Houston Post quoted “a highlevel Democrat” who would not give his name saying that the Democrats defecting to Reagan on budget and taxes are stabbing their leaders in the back. “These Democrats committed a deliberate, planned act of betrayal. . . . In many cases they are paying off the ultraconservatives who financed their campaigns,” the anonymous leader said. R.D. tinues to call the Reagan plan “a windfall for the rich.” Wright’s explanation of the forthcoming defections of his Democratic colleagues from Texas is that they want to be perceived as aligned with a popular President. Some of them wanted a twoyear, not a three-year plan, he said, but they want Reagan’s permission to vote for it. DO YOU CARE? Concerned that your air, food, water are being contaminated by “Fast Buck” industrial giants? Do you care if the Government regulatory agencies don’t regulate? We need your HELP! Information packet-$2. Membershipinewsletter-$5. Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Safety InformaHouston, Texas 77035. BOOK-HUNTING? No obligation search for rare or out-of-print books. Ruth and John River Hills Road, Austin 78746. MOUNTAIN RETREAT & HOT SPRINGS in private valley. Enjoy room, meals, swimming, sunbathing and exercise classes from Guadalajara , Jalisco, Mexico. JOIN THE ACLU. Membership $20. Texas Civil Liberties Union, 600 West 7th, Austin 78701. BACKPACKING MOUNTAINEERING RAFTING. Outback Expeditions, P.O. Box LET’S TAX THE RICH Bumperstickers. $1 for one, $2 for three. Connolly Enterprises, Box 599, Nacogdoches, Texas 75961. FREEWHEELING BICYCLES. 2404 San Gabriel, Austin. For whatever your bicycle needs. THE SAN ANTONIO Democratic League meets the first Thursday of each month. For information, call Jim Bode at 344-1497. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS, Send $7.95 to Buying, Renting & Borrowing in Texas, 2505 Stratford, Austin 78746. PROFESSIONAL BOOK HUNTER seriously pursues any title, author, subject you want. Catalogue 5 “HIGH WIDE & HANDSOME” now available. Maggie Lambeth, 221 Losoya, San Antonio, Texas 78205 COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS ACORN needs organizers to work with low and moderate income families in 16 states for political and economic justice. Direct action on neigh borhood deterioration, utility rates, taxes, health care. Tangible results and enduring rewards long hours and low pay. Training Classified advertising is 30 per word. Discounts for multiple insertions within a 12 month period: 25 times, 50%; 12 times, 25%; 6 times, 10%. THE TEXAS OBSERVER 17