The Ingleside Index (Ingleside, Tex.), Vol. 40, No. 31, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 7, 1989 Page: 2 of 11
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Public image of "legislature for sale" grows
By Lyndell Williams
Texas Press Assn.
AUSTIN-Even veteran Capi-
tol operatives were shocked
last week by reports that some
lawmakers have used political
donations to pay mortgages,
buy cars and planes and sup-
port their private businesses.
This revelation, at the end of
a summer marked by weekly
reports of questionable finan-
cial dealings by several state
officials, may well doom pas-
sage of a constitutional amend-
ment which would increase
salaries for lawmakers.
More than that, as the pub-
lic’s image of a “Legislature for
sale” grows, it’s only natural for
politicos to wonder if a clean
house sentiment is brewing
among voters.
The law says political funds
are not to be commingled with
or laundered for personal or
private use.
The House promptly con-
vened a committee to study
whether a new law is needed to
limit lobbyists’ gifts and other
political contributions.
Political gifts from persons
wanting to do business with
state officials has always been a
part of Texas politics. Most
frown on it, many excuse it,
some abuse it.
The public perception is that
such funds were always used in
election campaigns.
Not so today. Some of the
reported uses of political con-
tributions include:
• State Sen. Bill Haley ille-
gally loaned his nursing home
business £15,000from his cam-
paign fund, and also lived in a
lobbyist’s Capitol-view condo
for seven months before paying
rent.
• Speaker Pro Tern Hugo
Berlanga.and state Sens. John
Montford, Hugh Parmer and
Eddie Bernice Johnson all used
political funds to pay mortgages
on Austin homes and condos.
• State Rep. Stan Schlue-
ter, has regularly drawn £9,000
monthly from political funds
for what he says is legislative
business expenses-an apart-
ment, two private club mem-
berships, plus more thant
£53,000 spent on his private
plane.
• Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby’s poli-
tical fund draws £98,000 in-
to admit to an illegality, one he
said was made mistakenly, not
* deliberately, and he repaid the
loan with interest. As to
whether these and other re-
velations offend the public
sense of propriety, only time
will tell. ' :
Campaign Heating Up
Democrat Ann Richards
sailed her gubernatorial cam-
Capital Highlights
terest; Speaker Gib Lewis paid
£17,850 income tax on his. The
amounts of those balances
were not reported.
• State Sen. Chet Brooks
paid his one-man advertising
agency £30,000 from political
donations to pay for his work
for ’88 Dukakis-Bentsen cam-
paign, though he admitted the
campaign did not hire the
Brooks Agency.
So far, Haley is the only one
paign up the Intracoastal Canal
on a 60-ft. yacht, calling it a
first-hand look at the needs and
problems of the Gulf Coast.
She also became the first
Democratic hopeful to address
the tax issue, saying the sales
tax will have to be broadened to
keep Texas afloat, but Opposing
a state income tax.
Along the way:
• Richards said the state
was ill-prepared to contain and
clean up massive oil spills.
• The Coast Guard charged
that the Asian-made yacht was
chartered without a license,
was the subject of a license
hearing last year and faces
another this year.
• Republican opponent
Kent Hance sent Richards a life
preserver and a message that
her liberal tax-hike philosophy
will sink the state. Her cam-
paign manager sent back a
snorkel and mask, saying
Hance “is in over his head” and
called Hance a liar.
Candidate List Grows
Two Republicans
announced for attorney gener-
al: State Sen. Buster Brown of
Lake Jackson and state Rep. Pat
Hill of Dallas. Both blasted in-
cumbent Jim Mattox for politi-
cizing the AG’s office.
Brown vowed a war on drugs,
but Hill said that since Brown
voted for an AG retirement in-
crease, he may be ineligible.
Steel Imports Questioned
Congressman John Bryant,
D-Dallas, a candidate for attor-
ney general, asked feds to in-
vestigate whether two U.S.
companies can import South
african steel for use in a 4,100
foot bridge over the Houston
Ship Channel.
The bridge is a state highway
project and may be partially
funded by federal dollars.
Bryant wants to know if the im-
portation violates the Anti-
Apartheid Act of 1988.
Other Highlights
• The highway commis-
sion approved widespread, ran-
dom drug and alcohol testing
for probably 75 percent of its
11,000 employees.
• A state district judge re-
fused to dismiss a lawsuit filed
by several counties against the
state for failing to transfer con-
victed felons from county jails
to state prison.
Further Sanctions Against China?
U.S. Rep. Bdtiwnfa A.
;Hbmm (R-N.Y.) k a mum-
A flairs
cent civil conflict?
Without a doubt! We have sent the wrong
signal to the leaders in the People’s Republic of
China (PRC) who directed die slaughter of the
young pro-democracy students. Sanctions pro-
posed by Congress and implemented by the Presi-
dent would not even lower our relationship to the
level we have with Eastem-bloc totalitarian re-
gimes. And under the current sanctions, the PRC
still enjoys special trading privileges, including a
$4.3 billion trade surplus with the United States
last year. In addition, Congress and the President
are attempting to take credit either through legis-
lation or executive older for a number of sanc-
tions that would have come about anyway
through organizations such as the Overseas Pri-
vate Investment Corporation and the World Bank.
What effect would such sanctions have on
U.S.-China relations?
Our relationship with the authorities in Beijing
no doubt would be somewhat frayed. However,
once the inevitable change of the current totalitar-
ian dictatorial regime occurs, American diplo-
mats once again will be welcomed guests. In the
case of the Chinese people themselves, we have
held and will hold a special place in their hearts
during the current crisis if we take strong
measures against those who seek to snuff out
their cry for democracy. If we firmly stand by
them during their struggle, we will be honored as
their special friends and allies when it is over.
What are
Should Congress impose further economic
sanctions against China in response to the re-
cent civil conflict?
It is my personal belief that congressional ef-
forts to impose further economic sanctions
against the People’s Republic of China are
wrong. Additional sanctions would not penalize
those responsible for what has happened in
China. Sanctions would impact the Chinese peo-
ple instead of specific individuals guilty of human
rights violations. A damaged economy would
hurt the average Chinese citizen while leaders re-
sponsible for the crackdown would escape hard-
ship. Sanctions would give China’s leadership a
ready foreign scapegoat toward which it could
easily deflect the public’s complaints about
growing economic woes. Most important, sanc-
tions would cut us off from the many decent
Chinese with whom we have built relationships,
thereby impeding the very grass-roots process by
which the call for democracy in China welled up.
What effect would such sanctions have on
U.S.-China relations?
Sanctions, especially if taken unilaterally,
would have an adverse impact. Stable relations
with China are important for maintaining stability
throughout East and Southeast Asia. The Soviet
Union recognizes this and has moved in that di-
rection. Further, commercial interests in China
would be adversely affected. American business
opportunities in China would likely be assumed
by Japanese or European entrepreneurs.
IImInm?*
Current sanctions imposed on China we appro-
of exchances at the official
additional
international
market and domestic economic problems to push
moderate Chinese political leaders to fofee re-
liance on Chinese law, not the army, for solutions
to social problems. |j|
C1SSS. PM ESMS Swvtew
0.90. Sill
jr, CMm of Port Aransas and Rockport Yaar S16.M. 8U Month* I
■
Lighthouse plans expansion
Writ (Dtafc)Mckai
mmamu iiriUHUditiiriin 'imi
By Juliet K. Wenger
Coastal Bend Council
of Governments
More and more, women of the
Coastal Bend who are blind will
have an opportunity for employ-
ment if a requested grant is re-
ceived from die Texas Commis-
sion for the Blind. The South
Texas Lighthouse for the Blind is
making an application for
£142,500to expand and renovate
its plant in Corpus Christi.
A year agp, the Lighthouse
hired an industrial engineer for
product development. This was
successful enough for the Light-
house to double the number of
blind people it employes. Four
new products were added to their
line. Manufacturing computer
mouse jpads created five jobs.
Fourteo* positions are being cre-
ated by a sea marker project. A
candle for the Defense
it will create six new
A state oontraot for
have to have
proposed program relating to
Homeport and business expan-
sion in the Homeport area. This is
an application from the Coastal
Bend Council on Alcohol and
contractors and sub contractors
as well as employers in small
businesses to deal with substance
abuse problems.
Another application given
State off the Region
Drug Abuse for a £48,000grant to
establish a new employee assist-
ance program in the Homeport
area.
The application says that in the
next three years there will be
8,574 new construction jobs cre-
ated in the Homeport area plus
new jobs in area businesses. The
Alcoholism and Drug Council
proposes to work with Homeport
COG support was the first ap-
plication in this region for a Ste-
wart B. McKinney Homeless
Assistance grant. Nueces County
MHMRseeks £177,933 to develop
a pilot program. It would include
needs assessment, pre-
vooational and social skills train-
73? •’J7"7" "
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110 10
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The Ingleside Index (Ingleside, Tex.), Vol. 40, No. 31, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 7, 1989, newspaper, September 7, 1989; Aransas Pass, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1172121/m1/2/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Ed & Hazel Richmond Public Library.