ustxtxb_obs_1991_02_22_50_00014-00000_000.pdf

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE RAPED, from an opinion standpoint? Let us now quote Gwen Shea. Never described as one of the brightest lights in the Texas House, the 55-year-old Irving Republican is usually at least present on the House floor. And though recent article in her hometown Irving News might not establish that Shea is a woman to watch, she’s one we perhaps should be listening to. Of the 9-0 Supreme Court Edgewood decision, Shea said “as a state and as a school district from an opinion standpoint we’ve been raped.” She proceeded to make a pitch for the abolition of the judiciary, saying, “This is one more instance where it’s very clear that as a society we’d be eminently better off without courts and judges either one. “If you look at the six billion new dollars going into the education system, it escapes me where the judges are coming from, unless they’re trying to create a new Third World order.” Shea said that the Legislature would, however, try. “A valiant attempt will be made … and hopefully it will be a system that will not be one that Saddam Hussein will be excited about.” “Anything,” Shea said after all, “is do-able in the realm of impossibility.” WITH THE exception of Amarillo Congressman Bill Sarpalius and West Columbia Congressman Greg Laughlin, the Democratic U.S. House of Representatives delegation from Texas earned high marks from the National Coalition of Senior Citizens. The advocacy group, founded in 1961, monitored 10 House and Senate votes and found that while Republicans from Texas voted abysmally on issues affecting the elderly, Democrats were generally supportive. Monitored votes pertained to Medicare, housing, progressive taxation, family medical leave, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other issues of interest to the elderly citizens. Members of the Texas delegation here are listed in alphabetical order. The first score is the percentage of correct votes cast last session, according to coalition standards. The second is the cumulative average of yearly voting records going back as far as 1961: Senator Lloyd Bentsen, D, 70-54; Senator Phil Gramm, R, 20-12; Mike Andrews, DHouston, 70-65; Bill Archer, R-Houston, 05; Dick Armey, R-Copper Canyon, 10-12; Steve Bartlett, R-Dallas, 0-9; Joe Barton, REnnis, 10-12; Jack Brooks, D-Beaumont, 100-76; John Bryant, D-Dallas, 89-93; Albert Bustamante, D-San Antonio, 80-90; Jim Chapman, D-Sulphur Springs, 70-80; Ronald Coleman, D-El Paso, 90-86; Larry Combest, R-Lubbock, 0-7; Kika de la Garza, D-Misskin, 90-70; Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, 108; Jack Fields, R-Humble, 10-8; Martin Frost, D-Dallas, 90-83; Pete Geren, D-Fort Worth, 56-59; Henry B. Gonzalez, D-San Antonio, 90-88; Ralph Hall, D-Rockwall, 40-33; no 25-39; Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, 8083; J.J. “Jake” Pickle, D-Austin, 70-56; Bill Sarpalius, D-Amarillo, 22-37. STEVE BARTLETT’S zero rating on issues affecting the elderly will surely become an issue &Bartlett runs for mayor of Dallas. As this issue went to press, Bartlett, who has represented Dallas in Congress since 1982, was prepared to announce his intentions, according to the Dallas Morning News. Bartlett, who will probably be favored since incumbent Mayor Annette Strauss is not running, might have a hard time explaining his vote to elderly Dallasites. AUSTIN TOUGH? Former Attorney General Jim Mattox, who seemed to have lost his rudder after losing the Democratic nomination for governor to Ann Richards, may be on the comeback trail. According to the Austin American-Statesman, Mattox is thinking of running for mayor, not of his native Dallas, but of his adopted home, Austin. The job opened up when incumbent Lee CoOke announced he would not run in the May 4 election. The story said that while Mattox actually lives south of Austin, he owns property in the city and would be eligible to run. Mattox told Statesman reporter Arnold Garcia Jr. that he had been approached by unidentified “business people” who said they were looking for a “consensus candidate,” which is not the first description that comes to mind when considering the combative former Dallas Congressman and state representative. So far, the only declared candidate for the post is maverick City Councilman Robert Barnstone, who had earlier said he would not run for re-election to his council seat, then reversed course and entered the mayor’s race when Cooke dropped out. M’attox, who was beaten by Richards \(who also moved to Austin from Dallas, but now considers the capito-1 margin in Travis County, has until March 20 to decide whether he’s in the race. SAN ANTONIO Mayor Lila Cockrell has drawn a short list of strong contenders, even though she has announced she will seek a second term. Cockrell, who also served as mayor for six years in the 1970s, will face progressive City Council Member Maria Berriozabal, Council Member Nelson Wolfe, and former Council Member Van Archer, described by David McLemore of the Dallas Morning News as a “conservative gadfly.” Several observers predict that Berriozabal will face Wolfe in a runoff. This would become a safer bet if Jimmy Hasslocher, a conservative member of the council, enters the race as some expect. HOUSTON MAYOR Kathy Whitmire may be facing a serious contender. as she begins to line up support for a sixth consecutive term. Houston Controller George Greanias is seriously considering entering the mayor’s race this year, according to Alan Bernstein of the Houston Chronicle. Greanias has been rumored to be a candidate in 1985, `87, and ’89, according to Bernstein. This year, however, Greanias has raised $200,000 during the past six months. The controller’s position provides something of an advantage for a mayoral candidate. It’s a relatively highprofile bully pulpit, the correct post from which to criticize the mayor. Whitmire used her position as city controller to run a successful campaign for mayor. Greanias is one of the most progressive and cerebral members of Houston city government and would be a formidable candidate against Whitmire. THE HOUSTON POST looked at what local government was paying influence peddlers in Austin and determined that Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Radack paid, the biggest bill, $79,300 to former legislator and Bill Clements aide Mike Toomey. Larry Yawn, who represents the Houston Independent School District comes in second, bringing home $70,800 a year. Jet Winkley of the Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority earns $63,000, former Hugh Parmer aide Mike Kelly represents the city of Houston’s interest in Austin for $59,000, Don Lee works for Harris County’s Republican Judge Jon Lindsay for $42,000, along with Lauren Donder, who earns $36,500. The aforementioned are public employees; the City of Houston also pays former state Senator Babe Schwartz and former state Representative Gordon “Doc” Arnold $205,000, the Metropolitan Transit Authority pays the colossal law firm Baker & Botts, which subcontracts Austin political consultant George Shipley, $200,000 per session, and HISD keeps Doc Arnold on retainer for $5,000 a month plus expenses. Houston Senator Gene Green told the Post that he can’t believe “they pay these people so much to do what we’re paid $7,200 [a year] to do.” THE SOLUTION to overcrowding in the Texas prison system? Transcendental Meditation, according to who else but the Austin Association of Professionals Practicing the Transcendental Meditation Program. The association cited an article in the Journal Continued on page 21 14 FEBRUARY 22, 1991 “””