ustxtxb_obs_1986_10_10_50_00011-00000_000.pdf

I-1 I-1-1 ebritzfeca 2600 E. 7th St. Austin, Texas 477-4701 vegetarian food Business in August, “Interstate banking would lead to the ultimate demise of independent banks in Texas.” Election Confederacy Another bill that gave legislators months of anxiety and trouble last session slipped quietly through this summer’s special session. Blocked by leery Republicans last time, Democrats were able this September to pass a bill moving the date of the Texas presidential primary from May to March. Texas will now join ten Southern states in going to the polls on March 8, 1988, two weeks after New Hampshire voters kick off the presidential sweepstakes. The change to “Super Tuesday” means working stiffs in Texas and the South will have a more difficult time casting their ballots than on Saturday primaries. “Texas, with this vote, assumes its leadership position in the South,” said Sen. John Traeger, D-Seguin, when the Senate passed the bill on September 29. Traeger was praised by the Senate sponsor Chet Edwards, D-Duncanville, as the “father of the Southern presidential primary,” because of his advocacy of the primary as chair of the Southern Legislative Conference. Although Edwards said the bill signifies “no less than a fundamental realignment in presidential politics,” he was careful to tout it as a matter of Texas pride more than an effort to influence the Democratic primary in one direction or another. “With passage of this bill, we can’t say who the next president will be, but we can say that Texas votes are going to count,” he said. Indeed, some Republicans were speculating those votes would count in the Republican primary for George Bush, giving an important early boost to his candidacy. Political operatives of New York Rep. Jack Kemp were reported to be agitating against the change, apparently sharing this assumption. For liberals, the early primary could be a mixed blessing. If one accepts the assumption that George Bush would be the Republicans’ daffiest candidate, it could be a good thing. If it produces a Lloyd Bentsen-style Democrat on the ticket, it might be worthy of less celebration. Bullock Approves Your September 12 editorial discussion of our tax revision suggestion was one of the most reasonable appraisals I’ve seen so far. We think the plan has merit on its face but much more important than that, we hoped to stimulate some new thinking about an old and mired down economy. Your discussion was just that a goading of ideas ranging from the sales tax to the needs of cities to the questions of corporate taxes and what to do about oil and gas severance taxes. Such discussion is far more valuable than any pride of authorship. Bob Bullock Comptroller of Public Accounts Mauro >Corrects Although it is true I generally “favored” the asset management legislation authored by Rep. Pete Laney, I do not support the provisions that surely trouble you [T0,9/12/861. The State of Texas’ current level of services provided for the mentally and physically handicapped is pitiful. I have always favored increased support for these citizens and would never support any reduction in services for them. Never. The fact is, I view Rep. Laney’s proposal as an innovative way to fund much needed capital construction for MHMR and the School for the Deaf by selling underutilized assets and building modern, more useable facilities. The needs of the present residents would be met in the Appropriations Bill, not in the legislation which authorizes \(not If you would visit these properties, you would see acres of unused land. You would also recognize the need to replace the aging and in some cases condemned structures. I have also been working to rewrite the zoning provision of Rep. Laney’s proposal to give cities more protection. I have never favored giving private developers an exemption from local regulation and we are working with the City of Austin staff to craft more suitable language. I share the Observer ‘s highly-charged emotions about the provision of state services for the mentally and physically handicapped. That’s why I support innovative ways of managing our assets so as to provide additional funds to improve those services. I hope that before the next time you attribute beliefs or motives to me, you will give me the chance to express them to you myself. Garry Mauro Commissioner General Land Office complete personal and business insurance ALICE ANDERSON AGENCY 808-A East 46th P.O. Box 4666, Austin 78765 1886 1986 \(TN COME STAY & CELEBRATE OUR 100th YEAR P.O. Box 8 Port Aransas, TX 78373 East Dallas Printing Company Full Service Union Printing 211 S. Peak Dallas, Tx 75226 DIALOGUE THE TEXAS OBSERVER 11