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14110110…, –r Spiders . the first thing that springs to mind when you mention the word “web.” But, our web is a press high speed and economical! From newspapers to quality book work, in black and white or color. Call us at 389-1500 for a quote on your next project. Em loyee Owned and Managed COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AUSTIN. TEXAS 3019 Alvin DeVane, Suite 500 389-1500 Data Processing Typesetting Printing Mailing “Best Lodging Location for Fishermen & Beachgoers” Group Discounts P.O. Box 8 Port Aransas, TX 78373 Send for Free Gulf & Bay Fishing Information East Dallas Printing Company Full Service Union Printing 211 S. Peak Dallas, Tx 75226 Craig Washington to filibuster the bill if it came up in the final days of the session, but on May 27, with two days left, the bill passed the Senate with only 13 votes against it. Washington put on an amendment relating to minority contracting and decided not to oppose the bill. Simpson said later that a provision promoting minority employment made little difference since most county jails are already staffed by minorities and minority employees will continue to staff the jails at lower wages when jails go private. “I thought you were going to talk [filibuster] against this,” one reporter said to Washington when the bill came up. “It’s been worked out already,” Washington responded, referring to his minority amendment. After the vote, Washington said that he counted his supporters and decided that the numbers weren’t sufficient to continue to fight the ” bill. He also said that his opposition to the bill pertained less to the labor issue than to the larger philosophical issue of contracting away the authority of the state. “There are certain things,” Washington said, “that are not turned over to the private sector.” The state’s responsibility to incarcerate criminals an extension of the state’s responsibility to provide police protection is one of them, Washington said after the bill passed. “It’s a bad bill,” Simpson said, “Bad for labor, bad for the general ‘public.” The influential lobbyists Nub Donaldson and Buddy Jones, who represented private prison firms, had scored a cunning strategic victory. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN McAllen Rep. Juan Hinojosa used his position as chairman of the Local and Consent. Committee to pass legislation that would have allowed information about a female’s violent spouse to be introduced in court when a woman is on trial for manslaughter or murder of a spouse. Domestic violence was Hinojosa’s interim issue and he visited women’s correctional institutions and determined that many women convicted of murdering their spouses or ex-spouses had previously suffered repeated incidents of violent physical abuse. Hinojosa also passed a resolution calling on the Board of Pardons and Paroles to examine the cases of women who are currently serving time but were prohibited from introducing evidence about their violent spouses at the time of their trials. Another bill Hinojosa passed prevented law enforcement personnel and prosecutors from requiring victims of sexual assault to prove the truth of their allegations through the use of a polygraph. Women’s groups were outraged when Gov. Bill Clements vetoed the two bills pertaining to violent spouses and manslaugh ter or murder and polygraph tests for rape victims. Rebecca Jasso of the Texas Association Against Family Violence said she was shocked to learn of Clements’s veto of the polygraph bill. “There had been no indication from his office that there was any opposition to this bill,” Jasso said. Mary Calk of the Texas National Organization for Women said of the veto of Hinojosa’s bill that allowed presentation of evidence on violent spouses, “It is a direct affront to women that the Governor will sign into law a bill that protects police dogs from assault and yet will veto bills aimed at protecting women from the atrocities of family violence.” Houston Republican Keith Valigura passed a bill that provides criminal penalties for public officials who grant special favors in exchange for sexual favors. It is particularly significant, according to women’s-issue activists, because it is the only sexual harassment bill enacted by the 71st legislature. CI THE TEXAS OBSERVER 21