ustxtxb_obs_1999_05_28_50_00021-00000_000.pdf

e hot new newsletter from full-time agitator Jim Hightower. Hightower gives you the lowdown about what’s happening in our country. And how you can help take our country back from the GREEDHEADS of Wall Street and the BONEHEADS of Washington. Get a year of The Hightower Lowdown for the ridiculous, unbelievable price of just $10 for 12 issues. Send a check or money order along with your name and address to: The Hightower Lowdown P.O. Box 20596, New York, NY 10011 I want to subscribe Check enclosed to The Texas Observer. _ 2 years _ Bill me tate/Zip I did you find this issue of the “Hate Crimes,” from page 11 lost control, and the Senate stood at ease for nine hours of additional back-room negotiations. The Democratic Caucus \(excluding Eddie Lucio, Frank Madla, and Armbrister, who do not participate in the caucus and Greg Luna, at home in San Senate hostage on the final day for bills to be either voted out of committee or die. During that nine hours there were deals, rumors of deals, compromise language supnor’s office, and speculation. “We’re keeping hope alive,” Ellis said to reporters. Hope died at 8:45 p.m., when no compromise was forthcoming, and Senate Democrats agreed to return to the floor. Bob Duncan delivered a speech that proved that he is no John Montford. Rodney Ellis eloquently held forth on the Constitution. And Royce West looked at Florence Shapiro and told her he still worries when “my son or my son’s son go out at night, that they are going to be the victim of a crime perpetrated on them because of the color of their skin.” Just before Senators raced to committee meetings, where they would push through as many bills as they could get out before the midnight deadline, George W. Bush appeared. Not in person, but in a press release, handed out by an aide to Senator David Sibley. Sibley had been negotiating since Wednesday, he said, only because Governor Bush had urged him to break the impasse. The compromise language offered up on the last day, Sibley implied, was the Governor’s work. And Republicans spread the word that Vance McMahan, the Governor’s criminal justice aide, had sat in with the Republicans for part of the day. Ellis wouldn’t buy it. Nor would Senfronia Thompson. “The Republicans killed this bill,” Senfronia Thompson said. “We would agree on one line, and they would come back and move the line.” As for the Governor, Ellis found the rumors of his last-minute arrival hard to accept. “Governor Bush?” Ellis said before racing off to a committee meeting. “Governor Bush never put no paper in my hand.” It’s what’s insi 1 that coullts. out It the Observer. ; ArvOlt mug yR t# 1 et a, ‘ Ad III ity I I e MAY 28, 1999 THE TEXAS OBSERVER 21