The Boerne Star (Boerne, Tex.), Vol. 94, No. 47, Ed. 1 Friday, June 12, 1998 Page: 4 of 22
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Page 4A
The Boerne Star
Friday, June 12, 1998
BOERNE STAR ^
e w points
Misplaced
royalties
Crude oil prices
this year dropped to
some of the lowest
real-dollar prices
since 1986. With prof-
it margins already
low, a significant num-
ber of Texas’ — and
America’s — oil pro-
ducers have been
unable to withstand
continuing depressed
prices and have shut
Capitol
Comment
by U.S. Senator
Kay Bailey Hutchison
down production.
Many of these shut down wells will never be
returned to the market, meaning a permanent loss
of jobs. This is a real blow to our state’s economy.
Such a situation is desperate for producers, but it
is equally harmful to America’s long-term economic
health and national security.
Against this backdrop, an attempt by the Minerals
Management Service (an agency of the Interior
Department) earlier this month to raise the valua-
tion of royalties on public lands — a virtual tax
increase — came at the worst possible time. With
prices at historic lows, a royalty increase had the
potential to cause even more wells to shut down.
This, in turn, could reduce the royalty revenue
stream to a trickle. And more jobs could disappear.
What the Minerals Management Service had in
mind would have had a drastic effect on the indus-
try and the tens of thousands of Texas and
American families who rely on it for their liveli-
hoods. Congress should make these decisions,
rather than an agency that doesn’t answer to the
people.
So I introduced and passed an amendment to pre-
vent the agency from, in effect, raising taxes on the
oil industry.
This amendment’s requirements should have
come as no surprise to the Minerals Management
Service. In the fall of 1997, the Senate Interior
Appropriation Subcommittee specifically admon-
ished the agency and required it to “... continue to
consult with industry and the states and report
back to the committees prior to finalizing these reg-
ulations.”
The agency deliberately ignored the subcommit-
tee’s directions and was prepared to go ahead with
the new royalties regulation despite what Congress
had required.
To this day, it has not reported to the relevant
committees.
Aside from the constitutional issues raised, the
Minerals Management Service unfortunately forgot
to ask the critical question: Whoti would pay the
added taxes? Ultimately, American consumers
would be forced to absorb them, in higher prices at
the gas pump and higher utility bills.
I believe that the best and fairest way to exact roy-
alty payments is the royalty-in-kind system rather
than the complicated valuation system we current-
ly use. This would simplify greatly how the govern-
ment is paid, saving money for both taxpayers and
the government. 1 am a co-sponsor of legislation
that would establish the royalty-in-kind system on
the federal level. As Texans are well aware, this sys-
tem has proven a success in our state.
Bottom line is, higher royalty rates make oil and
gas wells less productive. When marginal wells shut
down, people lose jobs. This country needs a strong
oil and gas industry. We’re now importing more
than half of the energy we consume. I want those
energy jobs for America.
vded
If you know a unique
person or place in
Kendall County that you
would like to see fea-
tured in The Boerne
Star, please call Katy at
830-249-2441.
★ THE BOERNE Star ★
EDITOR and PUBLISHER
Edna Keasling
NEWS
Managing Editor
News Writer
ADVERTISING
Director
Representative
Classified
CIRCULATION
Subscriptions
Distribution
BOOKKEEPING
Office Manager
PRODUCTION
Composing
Jimmy Phillips
Katy Guerrero
Neice Wienceke
Del Martinez
Judy Zipp
Katy Guerrero
Ray Brock
Jennifer Alexander
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Mary Alice Yelverton, Vera D'Spain.
Regina Alexander, Louise Foster. Scott Hainline.
Joe Doenges, Peary Perry, Marlin Marcum. Ken Nietenhoefer.
Bartee Haile, Jan Wrede. Joni Simons
MEMBER OF Texas Press Association.
National Newspaper Association. South Texas Press Association.
Texas Gulf Coast Press Association
A Story to Live By
by Ann Wells, Los Angeles Times
(reprinted with permission)
My brother-in-law opened the bot-
tom drawer of my sister’s bureau and
lifted out a tissue-wrapped package.
“This,” he said, “is not a slip. This is
lingerie.” He discarded the tissue and
handed me the slip. It was exquisite;
silk, handmade and trimmed with a
cobweb of lace. The price tag with an
astronomical figure on it was still
attached.
“Jan bought this the first time we
went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years
ago. She never wore it. She was saving an unexpected death. I thought about
it for a special occasion. Well, I guess them on the plane returning to
this is the occasion.” California from the midwestern town
He took the slip from me and put it where my sister’s family lives. I
on the bed with the other clothes we thought about all the things that she
were taking to the mortician. His hadn’t seen or heard or done. I
hands lingered on the soft material for thought about the things that she had
a moment, then he slammed the draw- done without, realizing that they were
er shut and turned to me. “Don’t ever special.
save anything for a special occasion. I’m still think about his words, and
Every day you’re alive is a special they’ve changed my life. I’m reading
occasion.” more and dusting less. I’m sitting on
I remembered those words through the deck and admiring the view with-
the funeral and the days that followed out fussing about the weeds inthegar-
when I helped him and my niece den. I’m spending more time with my
attend to all the sad chores that follow family and friends and less time in
Breath
of
Fresh
Air
by Ken
Nietenhoefer
committee meetings. Whenever possi- apologize and mend fences for past
ble, life should be a pattern of experi- squabbles. 1 like to think she would
ence to savor, not endure. I’m trying have gone out for a Chinese dinner,
to recognize these moments now and her favorite food. I’m guessing. I’ll
cherish them. never know.
I’m not “saving” anything; we use It’s those little things left undone
our good china and crystal for every that would make me angry if I knew
special event, such as losing a pound, that my hours were limited. Angry
getting the sink unstopped, the first because I put off seeing good friends
camellia blossom. whom I was going to get in touch with
I wear my good blazer to the market someday. Angry because I hadn’t writ-
if I feel like it. My theory is if I look ten certain letters that I intended to
prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for write one of these days. Angry and
one small bag of groceries without sorry that I didn’t tell my husband and
wincing. I’m not saving my good per- daughter often enough how much 1
fume for special parties; clerks in truly love them.
hardware stores and tellers in banks Every morning when I open my
have noses that function as well as my eyes, I tell myself that it is special,
party-going friends’. Every day, every minute, every breath
“Someday” and “one of these days” truly is a gift from God.
are losing their grip on my vocabu- _
lary. If it’s worth seeing or hearing or Ken Nietenhoefer is a business
doing, I want to see and hear and doit and motivational speaker who pre-
now. I’m not sure what my sister sents keynotes and seminars
would have done had she known that throughout the country.
she wouldn’t be here for the tomor- KCN Communications © 1998.
row we all take for granted. I think she Write to Nietenhoefer c/o The
would have called family members Boerne Star, P.O. Box 820, Boerne,
and a few close friends. She might Texas 78006.
have called a few former friends to .
OUR READER’S WRITE ...
— When you're
• drivin’ in th' Big City,
ya CAN'T obey th'
. signs—Last time
slowed t'
35mph... 9
wi
* ..somebody
< swiped my
S SPARE 1
I. TIREf I
048
It’s always
time to eat
Ruth M. Davis
Boerne Resident
Dewey and I were so surprised to open our
Boerne Star and see us! Roxanne Llewellyn of the
UTSA Communications Department interviewed
Dewey for the UTSA Roadrunner newspaper. John
Poindexter, also of the UTSA Communications
Department, took the picture. We didn’t know the
article would appear in other papers.
I would like to make one correction: I never
taught in Boerne. I was, however, privileged to
teach at Comfort High School for eleven years.
In case others are "moved to give scholarships
(endowed or otherwise) to the University of
Texas at San Antonio, they may contact Jane
Findling, Associate Director of Development at
UTSA. Her phone number is (210) 458-4404.
Dewey and I had a good laugh at the darling
donkey standing on our heads declaring, as
Dewey often does, “Is it time to eat yet?”!
The Boerne Star
Subscribe Today
830-249-2441
New technology challenges law enforcement
Many consumers use caller ID to screen their tele-
phone calls. This technology, available since the
1980s, displays the caller’s phone number before the
person called even picks up the phone.
Enhancements added in the 1990s also show the
name and address of the caller. Other technological
advances allow customers to block out unwanted
calls or track down harassing callers.
As Attorney General, 1 applaud new communica-
tions services that can help protect the security and
privacy of telephone customers. But these new ser-
vices can also hinder the efforts of law enforcement
to investigate crime.
Caller ID, scrambled data, and cellular telephones
all pose a threat to legal electronic stakeouts. It is
important that we pursue measures that will pre-
serve the effectiveness of legal wiretaps while still
allowing citizens to protect their privacy through
caller ID.
Why does it matter?
A 1994 FBI survey showed 183 instances in which
new communications technology defeated court-
ordered telephone interceptions needed to investi-
gate criminal activity.
Why does it matter? Because court-ordered elec-
tronic surveillance is such an important tool for law
enforcement. Prosecutors report a high ratio of con-
victions with evidence gathered by electronic sur-
veillance. Twenty percent of the persons arrested in
1996 based on electronic surveillance activity were
convicted.
Law enforcement has been able to prevent serious
and life-threatening criminal acts through electronic
surveillance. Terrorists in New York plotted to bomb
the United Nations, Lincoln and Holland tunnels and
the Federal Plaza.
The FBI, using electronic surveillance, disrupted
e Boerne Star
282 N. MAIN • (UPS 059-740)
P.O. Box 820 • 830-249-2441
FAX 830-249-4607
THE BOERNE STAR is published twice weekly for S28 per year in
Kendall County, S35 elsewhere in Texas and S50 per year outside of Texas
by The Boerne Star, 282 N. Main. Boerne. Kendall County, TX. 78006.
Periodical postage paid at Boerne, TX,
POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to THE BOERNE STAR,
P.O. Box 820. Boerne, Texas 78006-0820.
Legal Matters
By Texas
Attorney
General
Dan Morales
the plot as the explosives were being mixed. The
electronic evidence also convicted the conspirators
and put then behind bars.
Wire taps in Texas
In Texas telephone intercepts have helped law
enforcement find and arrest a Mexican drug lord who
allegedly moved millions of dollars in drug money
into Texas through banks and currency exchange
houses. Wiretap and other electronic evidence gath-
ered in this state has also led to the seizure of
cocaine shipments and the arrests of drug traffickers
in several U.S. cities, including Houston and Midland.
Telephone and telecommunications systems have
changed forever.
Lug nuts and copper wires have given way to com-
puter software switches. Executing court-ordered
surveillance to gather evidence is a lot more compli-
cated than it used to be.
In 1994, Congress passed the Communications
Assistance for Law Enforcement Act to put law
enforcement on a level playing field with criminals.
The Act requires telephone carriers to modify equip-
ment, facilities and services to support lawful elec-
tronic surveillance.
The government is authorized to pay phone com-
panies up to $500 million to develop new computer
codes and switches.
At an impasse
U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno recently advised
Congress of an impasse between government and
telephone companies over funding that will delay
installation of technology to enable the FBI and other
law enforcement agencies to wiretap into new digital
phone lines.
The U.S. Justice Department plans to file a petition
with the Federal Communications Commission stat-
ing the proposed industry technical solution is defi-
cient and asking this regulatory agency to require
phone companies to meet law enforcement needs.
However, even if the FCC fully supports this request,
Attorney General Reno estimates that there will be a
two-year lag before police agencies’ electronic inves-
tigatory capabilities are restored.
This situation presents a crisis for law enforce-
ment that I am monitoring very closely. The new tele-
phone technologies are a convenience for all of us.
The development of new communications services is
important. However, in many cases, there simply is
no substitute for electronic surveillance for gather-
ing evidence, preventing crimes, solving crimes, and
bringing the violent to justice. As criminals take
advantage of emerging communications technology,
law enforcement needs the tools to keep pace.
Worth Quoting ...
Siblo Verse ...
a
Where there
is sorrow,
there is
holy ground.
99
Oscar Wilde
For He bruises me
with a tempest,
and multiplies
my wounds
without cause.
Job 9:17
Revised Standard Version
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Keasling, Edna & Phillips, Jimmy. The Boerne Star (Boerne, Tex.), Vol. 94, No. 47, Ed. 1 Friday, June 12, 1998, newspaper, June 12, 1998; Boerne, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1626366/m1/4/?q=Lamar+University: accessed June 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Patrick Heath Public Library.