The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 116, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 18, 1991 Page: 4 of 16
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Opinion
Page 4
2
Thursday, July 18,1991
The Albany News
The Albany News
Since 1875 ,
Oldest journalistic venture west of the Brasos
Editor/Publisher
Donnie A. Lucas
Managing Editor
Mellnda L. Lucas
Composition
Betty Balltew
Moran Correspondent
Audrey Brooks
Office Assistant
Betty Law
Office Assistant
Jana McCoy
editorial
Congratulations,
Albany
Little League
All-Stars!
You really know
how to shine!
Good Luck
against
Abilene Dixie
Thursday night
policy
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AFFILIATIONS
1991 MEMBER: Texas Press Association.
West Texas Press Association.
ponderings by pat
By Pat Lidia Jones
I just got home from my second bird
dog convention. Actually it's called s
Quail Unlimited meeting, but it has so
many videos of dogs and bird dog
equipment and training devices, I choose
the Isss formal title. This time, we met in
Atlanta.
Atlanta is s busy vacation spot in the
summsr time. The Breves baseball team
was playing at home. Kenny Rogers,
Jaass Brown and Frank Sinatra were in
town for eon certs. For the lovers of An-
drew LJovd Webber's music, Michsel
Crswford wss there to sing those
Broadway hits. There was a comic
character convention and two huge an-
tique markets.
Ivsrywhere were vacationing fami-
lies. Several times I stood outside our
hots) to watch young psrents unlosd
suitcases from the interiors of mini-vans
or from the top-of-the-csr luggage racks.
I had a rssl sense of deja vu.
Back when our three were small, we
took a familv car vacation every other
summer. A V. was working double-time
in the family business. We were also
plowing every penny back into the
business, so we had very little extra time
or money.
We planned each trip to the Nth de-
gree. I was in charge of kids and clothes
and advance information on the areas
wawsrs to visit. A. V. was in chsrge of the
ear and the maps.
Ons yesr, we owned s big black and
white Oldsmobile station w agon. It came
hand.
The dog and its food, bowl, toys, and
leash were put into the car. The maps
and travel info went into the front seat.
Everyone pottied one more time, and
then we were off.
We were on our way to the Pacific
Northwest. Everything went fine, and
we were in great spirits as we rolled into
Salt Lake City. We toured that historic
city, heard the Mormon Tabernscle Choir
sing, wsited while my partner debated
the Mormons, and in general, had a ball.
up
That was when our car generator gave
.i the ghost The only thing A.V. hates
more than csr trouble is car trouble on a
vacation. By the time we had a new
generator, our money allocated for the
trip had been depleted considerably,
We should have started home right
rint the
n, but we just couldn't disappoint the
i. So we tightened our belts and
tinued Northwest
with a luggage rack on the top. AV.
decided tnst rsther than tying our
equipment up there, just protected by a
then,
kids.
continued 1
That's when it began to rain.
Our fine new custom built luggage
box was waterproof from the bottom, but
not from the top. So as we drove through
blinding sheets of rain, water began to
fill our luggage compartment on top of
the car. And not one drop leaked out.
Soon the box filled with water. We
could hear the suitcases bumping on the
tops and sides as they floated. Every
time we braked for a stoplight, great
sheets of water poured out the lid of our
luggage carrier and cascaded down our
windshield. We were in the midst of a
calamity.
That evening, while rain continued to
tarp, he would have a wooden carrier
made just to fit inside the rack. It would
open with hinged lids. It could be locked
so we wouldn't have to worry about our
belongings when we left the car. It would
be waterproof; then rain wouldn't be a
problem.
Bo it was built, and by the time it was
painted to match the car, I thought we
had a really good-looking rig.
Dsparture day was a frenzy of ex-
citement There were always last minute
•nan. Bach child was assigned a window
seat Nannie brought over a Surprise
Box fall of gift-wrapped goodies, to be
1 once each day. The toy box, the
pour, my partner and I unloaded suit-
cases full of sodden garments. Taking a
can, he bailed as much water out of the
book bags, the ice chest full of water, cold
drinks, ice and our lunch, were close at
box as he could. He drove me and the
kids to a nearby laundromat to wash and
dry loads and loads of clothes, while he
went to a station to have holes drilled in
the bottom of the wooden carrier.
The rains continued, and I must admit
that A V.'s and my spirits were dampened
too.
Finally it was over, and we were home
again, safe and sound, if a bit mildewed.
I never saw that white and black wooden
luggage box again. We didn't mention it
for years. I don't know what happened,
but if I bad to guess, I'd venture to say
thst hs probably took it out somewhere
and chopped it into toothpicks.
Texas business today
oar »sy.
ana no
By Commissioner Mary Scott
Nabers
Dear Commissioner Nabers: I work in
a high-volume retail business. Each of us
who cashiers as part of our job duties has
a cash drawer from which we make
transactions all aay. When the drawer is
"shortthe difference is deducted from
y. When it is "over, "nothing is said
t attempt is made to reconcile the
differences. Although I feel this is not
right, lam reluctant toquestion the system
for fear of losing my job. Is this legal?
What are my options?
D.Q.
Galveston
Dsar D.G.: You didn't mention
whether or not you hsve signed s written
authorisation for your employer to make
thess deductions. If not, the employer is
violating a provision of the Texas Payday
Law ana a claim can be filed at any TEC
local office.
You could contact the regional office
of the Department of Labor Wage and
Hour Division nearest you to find out if
thess deductions are otherwise lawful.
Certain types of deductions for cash or
merchandise shortages, uniforms, and
tools are legal under the Fair Labor
Standards Act, except where they reduce
the employe's wages below minimum
wage, or reduce the amount of overtime
pay due for that pay period.
You probably should confront the
employer directly about this policy. It's
hard to believe that this could result in
your discharge from the job. Merely
asking for an explanation of a policy or
requesting that youhave an opportunity
to make sure that any shortages are your
fault would not be considered misconduct
under our law.
If you ultimately decide that you will
no longer accept these deductions and
you do quit the job, keep in mind that you
will have the burden of proving that you
had good "work-connected cause" for
quitting should you file a claim for un-
employment benefits. Whether the
employer's actions were lawful, or its
policies reasonable, and whether you
made an attempt to resolve the problem
with the employer before quitting, will
have a bearing on your case.
Dear Commissioner Nabers: I operate
a warehouse and trucking business, and
my drivers are now covered by the Texas
Commercial Driver's Licence Act One of
them employes has bun unable to pass
the test required to obtain the new license.
I simply have no non-driving positions
available at this time. When Ilet this guy
go, will I be penalized by a chargeback to
my tax account f 1 think I'm in a real bind
hereI
M P
Fort Worth
Dear M.P.: No, the Texas Unemploy-
ment Compensation Act protects the
employer's tax account from a chargeback
if a worker is separated from the job due
to a Federal or Texas statute or a Texas
municipal ordinance. The situation you
have described would fall into this cat-
egory. Be sure, however, that you point
out the reason for termination if the
worker files a claim for benefits.
Dear Commissioner Nabers: As if
employers didn't have enough govern-
mental paperwork with which to con-
tend, lam now receiving these Continued
Claim Verification forma (B -59) from TEC
on several part-time employees. These
seem to come every few weeks, and re-
quire me to check my records to see what
hours were worked and what wages were
paid. Couldn't these be sent just every six
months f And do I have to respond f I'm
not interested in doing the state's work.
J.D.
Rosenberg
Dear J.D.: Believe it or not, your re-
sponses figQ save TEC money. By al-
lowing us to quickly detect what may be
a fraudulent attempt to conceal wages
paid while the employee is also filing
claims for unemployment benefits, you
are helping to limit the amount of over-
payment and to give TEC a better chance
to recover these funds. It is much more
difficult if the individual is no longer in
claims status or has relocated. These
audit forms are usually mailed to the
employer when the claimant's report of
wages from partial employment varies
significantly from week to week, or when
wages are not consistently reported on
each weekly claim form.
Another wage audit form, FL-240, is
also mailed to employers when there is
reason to believe a claimant has not
properly reported earnings to TEC for
the time period in which claims for
benefits were filed.
The B-59 form does state that no re-
sponse is necessary ifyour records match
the information presented on the form.
While filling out these forms may be an
inconvenience, employers should re-
member that the success of TSC's fraud
prevention program is dependent on their
cooperation.
THE ONLY
state capital highlights
By Lyndell Williams
The state's deficit thought possibly
resolved s couple of weeks ago, appears
to be on the front burner again.
Texas House Democrat budget lead-
ers said last'week the deficit, predicted
to be $4.6 billion, is actually between $6
and $7 billion.
House Appropriations Committee
chairman Jim Rudd, D-Brownfield, said
he would not be surprised if the Legis-
lature raised the sales tax by a half-cent
in the special session beginning this
week. Rep. Rick Williamson, D-
Weatherford, vice chairman of the com-
mittee, estimated the shortfall at $6
billion.
ng measures pro-
posed by Comptroller John Sharp.
Why such a sixeable disparity in the
deficit forecast? Apparently the legisla-
tive leadership plans to raise the level of
state services, kicking the $4.6 billion
nriee tag for current levels up by maybe
$2.5 bill ion, more than 50 percent.
GOP Challenges Deficit
Texas Republican Party leaders
Challenged Democrats to prove the need
for a tax increase, a gauntlet which went
ignored.
Meanwhile, the legislative triumvirate
of Gov. Ann Richards, Lt. Gov. Bob
Bullock and House Speaker Gib Lewis
came out in unison on a budget plan
which includes proposing a state lottery,
revamping the business franchise tax
and including all of Sharp's measures.
The lottery proposal immediately
raised the ire of anti-gambling groups.
A spokesman for tne Texas Baptist
Christian Life Commission, Weston
Ware, said, "We regret that the speaker
is supporting an activity that makes the
State ofTexas a bookie, a hustler and an
abuser of its citizens."
Controlling Agencies
The trio also will push to expand the
governor's power over state agencies,
giving Richards the power to hire and
fire the heads of mtyor state agencies.
Richards said lawmakers are very
frustrated working with state agencies,
and might give her the powers that six
governors before her wanted and failed
to get.
Under one proposal, she could appoint,
with Senate approval, a cabinet of di-
rectors to eight key areas of state gov-
ernment: education, human services,
criminal justice, environment, trans-
portation, commerce, state purchasing
and licensing.
Opponents say the governor would
use the new authority to keep her cam-
paign promise to appoint women and
minorities to higher power positions in
state government
Ethics Funding Cut
The House Appropriations Committee
last week votea to cut off state funding
for a special prosecutions unit that has
been investigating Lewis and other ,,
lawmakers.
Lewis faces two criminal misdemeanor
ethics charges this fall as a result of that
investigation.
Travis County District Attorney
Ronnie Earle, who heads the probe, re-
fused to speculate on whether it was
revenge on the part of certain House
members, but months ago predicted to
reporters that the targets would puHthe
funding.
Borrowing A&M Name?
Texas A&M University System re-
gents are wondering whether the
institution's name should be "borrowed"
by a private, non-profit corporation
seeking to market $40 million in bonds, j
The private firm is Texas A&M Uni-
versity System, Research Technologies
Corp., created by former regents chair-
man David Eller and chaired by former
House Speaker Bill Clayton.
The firm seeks to use most of the bond
issue to buy assets from Houston-based
Granada Bio-Sciences, chaired by Eller,
and then contract to pay Texas A&M $ 10
million to $70 million over the next ten
years for research services.
Even though the university would not
be liable for any default on the bonds,
regents are concerned with a potential
bad reflection on A&M's name and its
status with investors.
Community Calendar
JULY 18
JULY 19
JULY 22
JULY 22-26
JULY 22-25
JULY 23
JULY 24
JULY 25
AUG 5
Nutrition program meal - Youth Center, 11:30 am
Lions CIud luncheon - Cookshack, 12 noon
Little League all-star area play-off - Albany
Little League field, 7:30 pm
Fandangle costume room open -10 am-12 noon
Community Action program - Depot, 10 am-3 pm
Chamber of Commerce luncheon • Ft. Griffin
Gen. Mdse., 12 noon
Bridge games - Jackson Warehouse, 1:30 pm
Vacation Bible School - First Christian Church &
Matthews Memorial Church, 9-11:30 am
(Registration Monday, 8:30 am)
Cheerleading camp - AHS campus, 9 am-12 noon
District 4-H fashion show - Quanah
Nutrition program meal - Youth Center, 11:30 am
Shackelford County Appraisal District board -
Courthouse, 6 pm
Nutrition program meal - Youth Center, 11:30 am
Kiwanis Club meeting • Ft. Griffin Gen. Mdse.,
12 noon
Ladies VFW Auxiliary Post 8768 organizational
meeting - Depot, 7:30 pm
Task Force meeting - First Christian Church,
12 noon
FIRST
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Albany / Brackeiuidge
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Lucas, Donnie A. The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 116, No. 6, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 18, 1991, newspaper, July 18, 1991; Albany, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth413991/m1/4/: accessed July 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The Old Jail Art Center.