Port Aransas South Jetty (Port Aransas, Tex.), Vol. 33, No. 03, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 16, 2003 Page: 2 of 20
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BEST AVAILABLE COPY
P uil- 2 A Thursday, January !6, 2(K)3
Port Aransas Sot m Ji;n v
Murray and Mary Judson
Co-Publishers
Mary Judson
Editor
Phone (361) 749-5131 e-mail: southjetty@centurytel.net
Opinion
Member:
South Texas Press Association
Texas Gulf Coast Press Association
Texas Press Association
National Newspaper Association
Prediction gives
St ray horn clout
Dave
McNeely
But
In subtle ways, office lias power to get
what it wants through its budget estimates.
Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton
Strayhorn is in the cat
bird seat — or the hot
seat, depending on how
one looks at it.
I nder Texas’ pay-as-
you-go system, how much
tin- Texas Legislature can
spend lor the next two
years is determined hy
how much revenue the
comptroller says will come
in during that period.
Strayhorn is required
by the Constitution to is-
sue that estimate before
the l egislature convenes Tuesday.
Strayhorn already has sent storm signals hy
predicting a shortfall of at least $5 billion
below what it would take to maintain ser-
\ ices at their current levels. She said last week
that the shortfall could be considerably larger.
Any legislator who thinks the comptrol-
ler doesn’t gain considerable leverage by
deciding how much money w ill come in from
some 1,000 revenue sources is probably a
freshman. Along with the power to decree
how much a legislative proposal will take
from or add to state coffers, issuing the rev-
enue estimate carries a lot of clout.
The late Lt. (iov. Boh Bullock, who was
comptroller from 1975 through 1990, and
other comptrollers have used the revenue es-
timating leverage to get more auditors and
computer equipment lor the office. John Sharp
used it to be sure he got the power to conduct
performance reviews of other state agencies
and to get reluctant House leaders to shift the
lottery out of the comptroller’s office.
But comptrollers have rarely used the
power in overt ways, recalls Deputy Comp-
troller Billy Hamilton, who’s worked for the
past three comptrollers.
“It’s always much more subtle,” he said.
“No comptroller would say, ‘Awe, I hid
$200 million, and now I’m going to give it to
you.”’ I lamilton said. “Or a legislative leader
wouldn't say, ‘1 know you’re holding it back.’
It would be sort ol like burping in church.”
I lamilton remembers only once during his
three decades in the office when the comp-
troller coupled a specific wish list with an
increased revenue estimate.
lit 1985, then-Comptroller Bullock sent
Hamilton to the Capitol with word that Bul-
lock would hike the revenue estimate by $50
million. I lamilton said Bullock also directed him
to suggest lour things Bullock thought needed
to lx- done with the additional money, includ-
ing law-enforcement status for the comptroller’s
security officers, which he didn’t get.
Bullock got two or three of his requests;
Hamilton can’t recall what they were, he
said.
Strayhorn, who recently married and
changed her name from Rylander, boasted
it telev ision ads during her re-election cam-
paign last year that she had protected the
state’s Rainy Dav Fund, and plugged a pet
college scholarship idea. Don’t he surprised
i! both art- high on her personal agenda in
the coming legislative session. Strayhorn also
says more tax auditors could generate the
money lor the scholarships, so she’s likely to
seek more of those positions.
And although legislators are eagerly say-
;ng, “Show me the money,” comptrollers are
naturally conservative, says Hamilton.
You don’t gain anything by being a bit
optimistic,” Hamilton said. “You always want
to be conservative going into the session,
and then raise the estimate as you can.”
The potential adjustment could come in
late April or early May, as the Legislature
reaches the end of its 140-day biennial ses-
sion.
“Inevitably, there is a long list of (addi-
tional) things everyone agrees ought to he
(in the budget),” Hamilton says. “The rev-
enue estimate, il the economy’s been good,
can lubricate that process.”
In addition to being cautious at the be-
ginning, it's far better to come along late in
the legislative session and say there’s more
money than earlier estimated. But it’s not
just a horse trading game, Hamilton said.
“Revenue estimators say they get an abso-
lute grade on Sept. 1,” when the fiscal year
ends, 1 lamilton said. “Not only are they right
or wrong, we know how much — to the
penny.”
Hi noted that Strayhorn, who lowered
Sharp’s tentative revenue estimate hy $7(X)
million as she came into office in 1999,
raised it by $807 million in the closing days
ol the legislative session. But in 2001, al-
though legislators had a “wish list” of pro-
grams that would have cost $611 million,
she refused to hike the estimate to accom-
modate them.
As it turned out, she was right.
I he $28.4 billion that came into the gen-
eral revenue lurid in the past fiscal year was
just $12.9 million more than the estimate,
despite devastating events including the
Sept. 1 I terrorist attacks, the computer
industry’s bust and the assault on business
confidence from the collapse of hnron and
other corporate scandals.
Contact McNeely at (512) 445 1644 or
dmcm’cM^htutesman.i wn.
K BGAWu OUTBREAK Of virulent
DtMKHtt STRIKE TORT LAWYERS
1UEVKY MY DOCTORS WALKOUT IN
IHSUWHCERMIS-
IN A JUST WORLD
Next election critical to future
Leadership.
Vision.
Progressive.
Protective.
Balanced.
Inclusive.
Receptive.
Consensus-builder.
Port Aransas is again at a critical junc-
ture in its history. In the past, when we came
to these crossroads, we were less aware of
what the future would hold for this fragile
island community. Today, we are fully aware
that we have experienced, and will continue
to experience, steady growth. We are grow-
ing as a community of full-and part-time
residents as well as a prime tourist dcstina
tion. How we manage that growth is criti-
cal to us all, whether full- or part-time resi-
dents or tourists. But those of us who arc-
voters will chart the course for the future
for us all.
The eight words that began this col-
umn are the key characteristics that those
who will guide us through this crossroads
must possess. They must he considered
as we seek out and sup-
port candidates for the
next City Council elec-
tion. And, looking
ahead to the 2004 elec-
tion, these arc the
traits that our next
mayor must embrace.
Candidates for our
City Council must be
experienced leaders, not
EDITOR followers. These leaders
must look beyond the
here and now, past today’s “hot button” is-
sue, and toward the future of this commu-
nity. That vision must extend beyond the
next 10 years to the next 20, 10, 40 and
even 50 years.
The vision of our potential leaders
should embrace inevitable progress rather
than deny it. At the same time, these vi-
sionary, progressive leaders must protect
our greatest resources: this fragile barrier
island and the ecosystem that surrounds
it.
These leaders must be able to balance
progress and protection, not tipping the
“scales” too far one way or the other - a
delicate balance, indeed.
In achieving that balance, our eventual
leaders must find ways to include all schools
of thought in order that the community is
part of the process. To do so, our leaders
must be receptive to ideas that are not their
own.
If we select leaders with these charac-
teristics, together they will he able to suc-
cessfully build a consensus among them-
selves and the community. If we choose
not to elect people to the City Council
with these characteristics, then we are
choosing to be led by followers without
vision who pine over the past without
concern for protecting the future. We will
be led by single-minded, single-issue can-
didates who exclude those whose ideas
differ from theirs. These candidates will
not be receptive to new- and different ideas
and therefore will be unable to build a
consensus on the City Council or in the
community.
It’s our choice, and a critical one.
With age comes wisdom
1 am now a w ise elder. 1 have reached the
age where the eight decades of information
gathered and experiences encountered have-
blessed me with the wisdom that one of an
earlier age could not possibly accumulate.
I watch the puffed leaders of nations w ho
are viewed as al1 knowing make one silly mis-
take after another. For example, there was
the decision that President Bush made re-
garding his selection of ties. You may know
that he has a preference for blue ties. Blue
does not proclaim strength. It is a symbol
of beauty. With my years of experience, I
would recommend the President wear more-
red ties. Ties of strength and courage.
I watch our silly national passion for foot-
ball. I witness the uproar of the fans as
they question the decisions of the coaches.
For example, when the
Dallas Cowboys chose to
run on 3r,l-and-5 as time
was running out against
the Washington
Redskins, you would have
thought by the tumble of
the crowd that they had
committed a horrible-
crime. Such a waste of
emotion. Of course, the f"''APTI l<s
jerks should have passed.
In my years of life on PRYOR
this planet I have learned
that anger is usually answered by anger. A
wife might test your patience with a blast
of fire. Just as one nation is threatened hy
the leader of another nation. So you an-
swer in kind? No. You should go play
golf.
And, on that subject, I’ve learned over
the generations that it is not productive to
throw your club after a had shot. Those clubs
cost money. Throw your golf hall. They’re
cheaper.
As 1 look back over the years I realize
that there is one lesson I’ve learned that
served me the best:
Never speak before you think.
Well, come to think of it there are a couple
of philosophies that might have served me
better. There’s speak softly and carry a....naw.
But then there’s a bird in the hand. Nope.
Well, you get the drift, don’t you?
To sum it up, I met a man who had no
feet, or was it moccasins?
CJ
fA
rnp
turn
rliirir
Your presence is needed
First, I want to thank all who attended
our PA PA 11 A, (Port Aransas Preservation
and Historical Association) program last
week, our second since organizing in fall of
2002. It was a pleasure to share some of the
history of the older homes and families that
lived in them. PAPAHA plans to keep Port
Aransas history alive with restoration, tours
and programs.
Along the same preservation note, the
second reading of the amended sign ordi-
nance regarding three- dimensional signs
such as the new shark will be happening
tonight, Thursday, Jan. 16, at 5 p.m. at the
C ity Council meeting.
Please come; your presence shows your
support for the issues that they will vote.
The changes in the sign ordinance limit the
size of the three-dimensional signs to a rea-
sonable size. At the first reading, it was ap-
proved, hut the City Council could change
their minds at this second reading. If you
support the changes and truly do not want
to see any more large, “amusement-park”
structures along our main streets, show your
support with your attendance at this impor-
tant meeting.
I have lived here most of my life and see
that the work done this past year on preser-
vation is sorely needed at this time. A lot
has changed since the 30s, but Port Aransas
is not lost yet, to the development that has
overtaken other charming towns.
Marcy Ward Thomas
Port Aransas
BMS need coverage
The coverage of the high school sporting
events is awesome. The pictures are good,
the articles very informative and the statis-
tics well done. However, I think everyone
forgets that we have another group of ath-
letes in Port Aransas that work just as hard
and play just as well and they are at the
middle school. I have yet to see an article-
written with extensive photos of the middle-
school basketball teams (and there arc four
of them). This weekend was a perfect
example. The 8th grade boys and girls played
incredibly well in a Port Aransas sponsored
tournament. I’m not sure of the outcome
of the girls, hut I happen to know that the
boys won the tournament and were awarded
a great trophy. The only thing missing was
someone from the South Jetty to capture
the moment on film for the town to see.
Come on, guys, let’s see some more of the
middle school athletes on your pages. Seems
to he plenty of room for them, too!
Karen Collins
Port Aransas
Keep up the good work
Enclosed is my check for $27 for a sub-
scription to the South Jetty.
Keep up the good work and please con-
tinue to write articles about the changes,
growth, development and controversy in
Port Aransas.
Also, I enjoyed seeing the on-line pictures
of the turkeys.
Sherillyn Flick
Flower Mound, TX
Letters to the editor
Letters to the editor must
meet the following criteria:
• Letters should be of interest
to the readership of the South Jetty
• should be limited to about 300
words • must contain a valid signa-
ture • must contain a valid mailing
address • must contain day and
evening telephone numbers where
the writer may be reached • names
of persons writing letters will not
be withheld from publication • un-
signed letters will not be pub-
lished *only one letter per person
per 30 days period will be published
• letters endorsing or opposing po-
litical candidates are considered
political advertising and should be
taken to the advertising department
• all letters are subject to editing
• letters of complaint about private
businesses will be forwarded to the
business in question and will not be
published • Thank you” letters are
considered classified advertising
and should go to the classified ad
department • deadline for letters is
10a.m. Monday for inclusion in the
following Thursday’s edition.
Bless you and
have a nice dav
m
A couple- newly known to me were walk-
ing away from my office after a nice little-
visit. There was a thanks for the time, a
drive safely request and
then Ray said, “God
bless and have a nice
day.”
It wasn’t just what lie-
said that struck me, it
was how he- said it. I re-
ceived the impression
that he meant it, that he
was asking God to bless
me. And I indeed felt
blessed by his thoughtful-
ness.
lt’ss almost a trivial
thing, isn’t it? Blessings
arc invoked by politi-
cians and athletes, from T-shirts and bumper
stickers, by the preacher and the- blatantly
unrighteous. We bless someone who sneezes.
Too often, it seems like* a habit or a cha-
rade, maybe even a hit satirical.
Where does the word “goodbye” come
from? Its root is as a contraction of “God
be with you” or “God be with ye.” It was the
placing of a divine- blessing on a departing
friend and its casual use has reduced it to
just another word.
Say it, mean it
A Texas
Voice
Steve
Martaindale
Our church has a custom where the
preacher ends a segment of worship with a
blessing and instruction to spread that bless-
ing. “The peace of God be with you,” he
says from the pulpit. “Now let us pass the
peace of God to one another.”
A minute or two is then provided for us
to greet and shake hands with neighbors. A
few people will get up and go over to a friend
or a stranger to say “hello” or “good morn-
ing.” Many take the direction to heart and
pass the blessing: “Peace to you,” they will
say or, maybe, just, “peace,” to which the
recipient will often reply, “And peace to you.”
You’ve got to love it. Who among us would
turn up his or her nose at a blessing? And
who would snub peace?
Not me. let, I’ve been one of those who
has balked from invoking God’s blessing and
I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because I was
afraid of sounding superior or uppity. Maybe
I’ve heard too much protest about church
and state. Maybe it can be blamed on my
journalistic practice of not showing favorit-
ism.
All balderdash.
Or it may have been because 1 did not
want to sound like a phony. Now, that’s a
somewhat defensible concern, hut it is some-
thing that one should he able to overcome.
How? Say it and mean it.
If I really wish that God fulfill his bless-
ings in your life (and why shouldn’t I?) then
I should be able to say, from my heart, “God
bless you.” And you would hopefully take
that blessing in the way it was intended, the
same way Ray’s parting words touched me.
Perhaps my favorite delivery of all time
came from famed entertainer Red Skelton.
He ended each of his television shows with
“Good night, and God bless” and said it in
a manner that impressed me with his sin
cerity.
It is okay to say “God” in public. It is per-
fectly acceptable to pass good wishes onto
other people. One need not even be con-
cerned about offending almost anybody’s
religious sensibilities because all the major
religions have a god and most identify their
deit y as the same (iod, even if beliefs differ
past that point.
Not only is it all right, it is a good thing,
as long as we keep in mind what we’re actu-
ally saying and that we mean it. By doing
that, we can hardly help saying it with sin-
cerity.
Have a great week, and may (iod bless
you.
Steve Martaindale is a self syndicated
columnist out of Port Aransas. Write him
at stevewATexasVoiee.com.
The South Jetty (946-020)
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Judson, Mary. Port Aransas South Jetty (Port Aransas, Tex.), Vol. 33, No. 03, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 16, 2003, newspaper, January 16, 2003; Port Aransas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth662846/m1/2/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Ellis Memorial Library.