ustxtxb_obs_1983_09_30_50_00021-00000_000.pdf

NOW YOU CAN PUSH THE BUTTON TOTS C12 A NUCLEAR WAR’. They have their hotline. Now we have ours. Call toll-free and order your Nuclear, War Prevention Manual, the detailed guide to nuclear war and everything you can do to stop it. It might just be the most important phone call you ever made. Made possible by the Campaign Against Nuclear War and its affiliated THE NUCLEAR HOTLINE 800-528-6050 EXT. 99 Public Media Center 0 teachers’ unions. He is the intellectual sire of the Tuition Advance Fund, which would allow any college student to borrow tuition from the federal government and pay it back with interest through an IRS payroll deduction. Long a champion of private over public education in higher education, Silber could naturally push for tuition tax credits for elementary and secondary education gosd politics in Catholic cities and wealthy suburbs.” Pearlstein is quick to disclaim any endorsement of a Silber candidacy; he suggests merely that it is, a serious possibility. “In the end,” he writes, “I suspect, a Silber campaign would selfdestruct under the psychic toll of a candidate who could not hear the bad news from his pollster without firing him, a candidate who would insist on editing every campaign leaflet himself. It would not be too long before Silber would be fighting with every reporter on the press bus. His confidence would give way to arrogance, his candor to downright offense.” 1.. Although no one expects embattled Attorney General Jim Mattox to resign unless it’s Austin American-Statesman editor Ray Mariotti names of potential successors are already beginning to surface. Sarah Weddington, former state representative and now the governor’s state-federal liaison in Washington, is frequently mentioned, as is Sec. of State John Fainter, from whom little is heard these days. v’ When Governor Mark White announced on September 1 the appointment of consumer activist Jim Boyle to be public counsel for the Public Utility Commission, White also announced that Boyle had removed himself from the race for state Sen. Lloyd Doggett’s seat. Boyle admitted that he had not applied for the public counsel job when it was first announced because he thought the post had been underfunded. Now he plans to allocate the funding in such a way that it goes toward those cases most important for consumer interests. Boyle indicated that he would use his office and its $657,000 per year budget in defense of consumers and small business, interests which, he says, are not adverse. Large industries, Boyle added, have their own representation. Regarding the rate hike request by Southwestern Bell that is soon to be heard by the PUC, Boyle said the case is not complicated and involves “an avaricious application for additional revenues that is not well-supported.” Because Boyle did not start putting together a staff until September 6, he joined the Texas Municipal League in asking for a continuance of the case. Though the continuance granted to late October was not as long as Boyle wanted, he insists he will be ready. “My goal,” says Boyle, “is to see that Texans receiving affordable phone service now will continue to receive it.” Following the announcement of Boyle’s appointment, Austin Rep. Gonzalo Barrientos, who had been Boyle’s only announced opponent for Doggett’s senate seat, told the Observer that he thought Boyle was well-qualified for the job of PUC public counsel. Barrientos said he would have liked to have seen a woman appointed to the post, but added, “Who can complain?” DIALOGUE Hurray for Bryant I admire U.S. Representative John Bryant’s political courage in introducing legislation to create 65,000 acres of federal wilderness areas in East Texas. In spite of the opposition, personal attack and political threats of East Texas Congressman Charles Wilson, Representative Bryant acted on behalf of his Dallas constituency in sponsoring the wilderness legislation. A large segment of Texas’ urban population lives a few hours drive from the unique forest areas Bryant’s bill seeks to preserve. These Texans need additional recreational areas as our state’s population and development continues to grow. Rather than harming the East Texas economy, these wilderness areas would serve to diversify the area’s economy, stimulating the growth of a local tourist industry. The bill would not require the expenditure of any public money for land acquisition since the areas to be preserved lie within existing National Forests. I would hope Representative Wilson’s threat to delay funding for the completion of the Big Thicket National Preserve will be opposed by other Texas Congressmen. Texans need and deserve federal wilderness recreational opportunities which are currently available in other states. Joe Wells, 2726 Kingston, Dallas, Tx. 75211. Appreciated My Lai Article Just a short note to commend you on the article on “Re-Examining My Lai,” by Betty Brink. It is, I feel, one of the best articles written lately or ever on Viet Nam. Included in the article are a lot of facts the general public would rather not hear. Hooray for Betty Brink! Superb reporting and writing! Thank you, Texas Observer, for not being afraid to OBSERVE. Sue Deen, P.O. Box 845, Archer City, Tx 76351. Ronnie Dugger: “Heard’s accounts of the Bees in hiding are the pure gold of real history.” Bryan Woolley \(Dallas Times “It ought to be right beside the Alamo books.” “The Miracle of the KILLER BEES: 12 Senators Who Changed Texas Politics” by Robert Heard Honey Hill Publishing Co. 1022 Bonham Terrace, Austin, Texas 78704 $7.95 plus $1.03 tax and shipping THE TEXAS OBSERVER 21