The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 79, No. 88, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 22, 2001 Page: 4 of 12
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4A The Baytown Sun
Thursday, February 22,2001"
Opinion
1J)E Paptoton g>un
Founded 1922
Wanda Gamer Cash, Editor and Publisher
WWtney Jonas, Managing Editor
Richard Nelson, Asst. Managing Editor-Sports
Fred Hartman, Publisher Emeritus
1950-1974
Bush’s defense priorities
should be applauded
A s President Bush devoted
/\ last week to national
11. defense, his strategy
regarding the military became
clearer.
Aside from a few concerns, his
priorities are to be applauded.
The president is right to focus on
military pay and benefits. As
Defense Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld said, “I think the focus
has to be on quality of life for the
people. Without the men and
women that we’re able to attract
and retain to man the forces, then
we really don’t have a national
defense.”
The president made that clear
when he called for a $5.7 billion
increase in pay, housing and
health-care benefits for military
personnel.
He is on target with making that
a top priority. No one in the mili-
tary should Have to rely on food
stamps, as some service people
have done.
Among Bush’s other priorities
with which we agree:
Holding off on major new
investments in weapons pending a
“force structure review” of the */
Pentagon. Bush called for a new
generation of military devices
using new technologies that would
be lighter, more mobile and more
sophisticated, according to the
Associated Press.
This is a daunting undertaking.
Many members of Congress repre-
sent districts where the older
weapons are produced.
Nonetheless, it is the right thing to
do.
Bush also is on target in express-
ing concern about proliferating
troop deployments, particularly for
reservists.
At one time, reservists were
called up in times of crisis. Now,
unfortunately, such call-ups have
become almost routine.
But the president also is right to
honor current commitments.
This nation cannot pull out on its
allies in Bosnia and Kosovo.
Now, to our concerns. We
repeatedly have strongly disagreed
with this administration’s determi-
nation to proceed with the incredi-
bly expensive and unproven mis-
sile defense system.
Bush also needs to review calls
from some lawmakers to provide
more funds for spare parts and
other readiness programs.
We also doubt that the president
can carry through on his military
and other commitments while
enacting the massive tax cut he
envisions without a return to bud-
get deficits. (That’s not to mention
the billions he hopes to spend on
the new Missile defense system.)
The more reasonable approach,
outlined below, is to meet the
nation’s obligations to its military,
make progress in other areas and
enact more reasonable tax cuts.
This editorial was first published
in the San Antonio Express-News
on Feb. 19.
©2001 by NEA, Inc.
www.comlcs.com
“MOO*, Mice, V0V5W IS, Uk£,
COMIAA*-»P. "
About Us
Our edtorial board
The Baytown Sun’s editorial board meets
weekly at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Individuals are
encouraged to visit the editorial board to dis-
cuss issues affecting the community. To
make an appointment, contact Managing
Editor Whitney Jones, (281) 422-8302.
Members of the editorial board include:
Wanda Gamer Cash, editor aid publisher;
Whitney Jones, managing editor; Eric Bauer,
marketing director; Dee Anne Navarre, ,
business manager; and Richard Netson,
assistant managing editor-sports.
Let us hear from you
The Baytown Sun welcomes letters of up to
300 words and guest columns of up to 500
words on any item of public interest Guest
Ij
columns should include a photograph of the
writer. We publish only original material
addressed to The Baytown Sun bearing the
writer's signature. An address and phone num-
ber not for publication should be included. We
ask that submissions be limited to one per
month. All letters and guest columns subject
to editing.
The Sun reserves the right to refuse to pub
lish any submission.
Letters endorsing or opposing political can-
didates or issues will not be published within
two days of an election, except in direct rebut-
tal to a letter previously published in The
Baytown Sun. Please send signed letters to:
Wanda Gamer Cash or Whitney Jones, The
Baytown Sun, P.0, Box 90, Baytown, TX
77522.
Or, fax them to: (281) 427-1880. Or, email
us at: sunnews@baytownsun.com.
Commentary
Reporter’s pen is mightier than sword
“One of the most dangerous
things in the world is a reporter
with a pad in his hand.” This say-
ing obviously pre-dates the little
tape recorders that today’s
reporters usually carry, not to
mention television crews, but it
still reflects the attitude most
politicians have about interviews
with reporters.
After giving an interview you
are at their mercy as to which por-
tions they print or screen, with lit-
tle or no opportunity to point put
the parts of the interview which
were omitted, usually the parts in
which you said all of the right
things.
Such, I am afraid, may have
been the case last Friday. The
investigative reporter for Channel
13 is doing a critical series about
the State Aircraft Pooling Board
and the use of its airplanes by the
Texas Parks & Wildlife
Department and the University of
Texas. Since I chair the Texas
Sunset Advisory Commission,
which recently completed reviews
of parks and wildlife and the pool-
ing board, he requested an inter-
view.
The series is supposed to run
on the late news tonight, tomorrow
Letters
Fred
Bosse
and Monday.
The interview lasted about 45
minutes, during which I probably
displayed some of the highest lev-
els of statesmanship in the history
of modem democracy.
I hope that he captures those
moments in the two minutes of the
interview that he will actually use
on the series. We’ll see.
One of the good things about
writing this column is that I have
the opportunity to get the final
word. Next week I’ll discuss the
Channel 13 series and maybe give
you a different angle on the story.
■ ■■ -
For those of you keeping track,
today is the 45th day of the leg-
islative session, leaving 95 ftiore.
There have been 1,922 bills filed
in the House and 806 in the
Senate. The last day to file House
bills is May 9.
After a bill is filed it is
referred to a committee for public
testimony. If a majority of the
' committee finds: the bill to have
merit it is reported favorably to the
full House.
In order to reach the House
floor, however, it must be sched-
uled for debate through the calen-
dars committee.
A majority of the Calendars
Committee can prevent the bill ■ >>
from ever being scheduled. It is, ,,
therefore, one of the most power-
ful committees in the House and
its chairman one of the most influ-
sential members.
The chair the past two sessions
has been Rep. Barry Telford of .....
DeKalb.
He’s in his early 50s, graduat-
ed from North Texas State
University (they’ve dropped the
- State but he hasn’t) and is in the „
hardware-mercantile business in
DeKalb. He was elected to the ’
House in 1987.
Telford told me last night that
we can expect regular floor calen-.,,
dars in about two weeks.
Fred Bosse is a member of the
Texas House of Representatives. -
He is a member of the Democratic
party and represents District 128. ‘j
Board cheers patrons and Mends of BSO
The Baytown Symphony Board
has a note to add to your Cheers
and Jeers editorial of Monday,
Feb. 19.
We include Cheers to the BSO
patrons and friends who filled
Rundell Auditorium to capacity on
Sunday afternoon for the “Pops”
concert which featured 16-year
old pianist Amy Yang of China
(and Houston) playing Gershwin’s
Rhapsody In Blue, with full
orchestra accompaniment.
Miss Yang’s performance was so -
outstanding the audience gave her'
a standing ovation and three cur-
tain calls.
Cheers also to Dr. David Corder
and the orchestra for their
American salute (complete with
rodeo/westem attire). And a spe-
Officials
United States
President
George W. Bush (R) 2004
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
202456-1111
Vice President
Dick Cheney (R) 2004
Old Executive Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20501
202456-2324 o
Senators
Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) 2006
284 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202-224-5922 713653-3456
Phil Gramm (R) 2002
370 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202-224-2934 7137184000
Representative, District 9
Nick tampson (D) 2002
417 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
202-2256565 16886380061
cial cheer to the San Jacinto Qyster Fly coverage ha
Music Teachers’Association who hnnn mrrnllnnt
served refreshments to the capaci- Been exce,iem
ty crowd. .The Baytown Evening Optr
Our lucky Goose Creek CISD Club would like to express ou
5th graders will enjoy an encore appreciation for the coverage;
of this concert next week and will, t0 our recently held Oyster Fr
in addition, hear UIL listening Your excellent coverage hejpe
—;---make our project a huge succe
cuiiuucuiig. n. aui visit iiui.
the Pink Panther is anticipated. 1,ianKS l1oeat:ni
As always, we invite our friends 0 community who supp
and patrons to our next free con- our fund-ra.ser. Without the
cert at 2:30 p.m. April 1 at of he our
Rundell Auditorium, featuring 21- Jects aid *e of
year-old cellist and Ph.D. candi- community wodd not be po
date Livia Stanese. Agam we wish to say Th
™. , . , . . You for the great coverage
This orchestra belongs to you, Jous events fha]
the community. c°mejom ^opsorthroughoutthe year.
Special Events Chair ^
Representative, District 25
Ken Bentsen (D) 2002
128 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
202-2237508
713667-3554
2816376225
Texas
Governor
Rick Perry (R) 2002 ’
State Capitol
P.0. Box 1242
Austin, Texas 78711
16006435789
Lieutenant Governor
Bill Ratliff (R) (Appointed)2002
State Capitol
Austin, Texas 78711
16004416373
Attorney General
John Comyn (R) 2002
1600-337-3928
Comptroller of Public Accounts
Carole Rylander (R) 2002
1600-531-5441
Land Commissioner
David Dewhurst (R) 2002
5124635256
Commissioner of Agriculture
Susan Combs (R) 2002
5124637435
Senator, District 4
David Bernsen (D) 2002
8776002312 281889-3066
Senator, District 6 ,
Mario Gallegos (D) 2004
7136786600 5124630106
Senator, District 11
Mike Jackson (R) 2002
7139480111 5124630011
Senator, District 15
John Whitmire (D) 2004
7138646701 5124630115
Representative, District 20
Zeb Zbranek (D)2002
16004386202
Representative, District 127
JoeCrabb (R) 200?
281422-2233 5124630520
j
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Cash, Wanda Garner. The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 79, No. 88, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 22, 2001, newspaper, February 22, 2001; Baytown, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1023074/m1/4/: accessed July 13, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Sterling Municipal Library.