The Ingleside Index (Ingleside, Tex.), Vol. 32, No. 51, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 4, 1982 Page: 2 of 16
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Page Two
THE INGLESIDE INDEX
Thursday, February 4, 1982
CAPITOL
UPDATE
IJU.S. SENATOR for TEXAS
142 RUSSELL OFFICE Hl ll lMX,
Vt ASHIINGTON. 20510
When Ranald Reagan took office a year ago, he
promised the American people a “New Federalism,” a
state-federal partnership which would return to the states
the powers and responsibilities that belong to them.
This year, in his State of the Union Address, the
President outlined a program which will take us a long
distance toward the “New Federalism” goal. Under this
plan, the states would take over responsibilities for two
major domestic programs, Aid to families with Dependem
Children and Food Stamps. This would allow adminis-
tration and formulation of the aid programs to be at the
local level where they can be more effective and more
efficient. In return, the federal government would take on
the considerable burden of Medicaid.
Further, more than 40 federal grant programs would
be turned back to the state where they could be oriented
toward local community needs and their services delivered
more efficiently. To finance these programs, federal excise
tax revenues would provide a trust fund - initially to
provide money for the entire current cost and then to be
phased out at a gradual rate. Thus, we would be allowing
the states the means and the time to absorb these new — or
renewed - responsibilities.
This $28 billion federalism trust fund, and growing
savings from Medicaid federalization from fiscal year 1984
to fiscal year 1987 would provide not only increasing
revenue sources to finance new state program respon-
sibilities, but also remove federal funding uncertainty for
the rest of the decade. The states would have six years to
determine best the mix of program savings and state tax
increases before the federalism trust fund begin to phase
out in fiscal year 1988.
Over the past two decades, we have overloaded the
federal government with management and fiscal respon-
sibilities. This program would restore the balance of state
and federal responsibilities. This balance, after all, was the
original function of the federal system outlined in our
Constitution.
The federalism initiative also would largely abolish
the existing, unworkable federal-state grant-in-aid system
which tends to transform non-federal units into
subordinate middle management extensions of the
Washington bureaucracy.
In other ways, the move toward the New Federalism
has begun. During the past year, we have cut the growth of
new federal regulations nearly in half. We have begun
looking at and modifying existing regulations which are
counter-productive or cost-inefficient.
Let me emphasize, though, that neither the President
nor the Congress wants the federal government to shirk the
responsibilities that belong to it.
The President’s federalism initiative leaves in federal
hands domestic programs including the social insurance
system of Social Security retirement, disability and
Medicare; transfer aid to the needy elderly; health
insurance and medical insurance, and projects of national
significance such as Head Start, handicapped education,
interstate highways and regulatory protections with
interstate impact.
Hand-in hand with the Administration’s domestic
reforms is a sustained commitment to rebuilding our
national defense capability. The significant and
determining fact is that the domestic programs which
would go back to the states can be handled more
effectively at that level. National security can only be
provided by the federal government. And that function is
the most essential and most basic of federal functions.
We will continue to improve our national defense
system to meet our solemn obligations to protect the
American people and their vital interests in the world. We
will continue to provide the basic “safety net” of domestic
aid programs which have come to be a basic part of the
American framework. We will continue to regulate those
aspects of American commerce that affect the rights,
health and safety of our citizens. But we will work to end
federal meddling in those areas in which it is neither
justified nor effective.
MEMBER
TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
J.G. Richards/Richard P Richara
Owners and Publishers
Larry Wittnebert
Editor
Lajia Simank
Associate Editor
John Bowers
Advertising Manager
Published Weekly on Thursday
P. O. Itox 550 — Ingleside. Texas 78362
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Phone Aransas Pass 758-5201 or Ingleside 770-7821
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i
energy enSWerSTax dollars go down drain
from the Texas Energy Extension Service
I understand that solar
greenhouses are a means of
saving energy as well as provid-
ing food. Can you explain how a
greenhouse works? R. E., Se-
guin.
A solar greenhouse oper-
ates by allowing the sun to
enter through clear or glazed
areas in short waves. As these
waves strike objects in the
greenhouse, they are ab-
sorbed and become heat
which emits long waves which
cannot readily return through
the glazing. This phenome-
non is known as the
"greenhouse effect" in which
the inside air becomes warm-
er than the outside air.
Mass is used in the
greenhouse through such
means as masonry wall, rocks,
water drums, or concrete for
heat storage. The heat then
radiates through the structure
at night. Basically, water is the
most efficient means of heat
storage (about 5 times as good
when compared to the same
weight of most building mate-
rials).
Warm air of about 80 de-
grees to 90 degrees goes from
the greenhouse to the adjoin-
ing structure through high
and low openings which
create a natural air circulation
system. Openings may be left
open or closed at night de-
pending on the owner's pref-
erence.
The greenhouse roof
should be partially shaded
and insulated to keep it warm-
er in winter and cooler in
summer. It should also be well
contructed and sealed to pre-
vent "infiltration" heat losses.
In the Texas climate which
concentrates on cooling
rather than heating, provi-
sions should be made to pre-
vent heat buildup by allowing
adequate ventilation in the
summer through the use of
operable glass and providing
as much shade as possible.
Information on solar
greenhouses and their con-
struction is available from the
Texas Energy Extension
Service.
Is it a wise idea to cover turbine
ventilators on the roof in the
winter for energy efficiency?
I've heard arguments on both
sides. D. Q., Commerce.
Turbine ventilators should
not normally be covered dur-
ing the winter because they
perform the vital function of
ventilating the attic to prevent
moisture buildup, a problem
which is more acute in winter.
A well insulated attic floor
would mean you can leave
your turbine vents uncovered
year round without any
noticeable increase in heating
costs. However, if other vents
are in the attic (such as gable
and soffit vents), then no
harm will be done by covering
the turbine vents in the winter
in your climate.
If you have a question about
energy conservation in the
home, send it to INERC.YAN-
SWERS, Texas Energy Exten-
sion Service, Center for Ener-
gy and Mineral Resources,
Texas A&M University, Col-
lege Station, Texas 77843 or
phone (713) 84S-8025. Funds
for this program were made
available from the U.S. De-
partment of Energy through
the Texas Energy and Natural
Resources Advisory Council
The Speaker
Reports
by Bill Clayton
AUSTIN—As the new year
begins it is traditional for us
to focus on the future. We
would like to see 1982 as
another year of growth and
new beginnings for Texas.
Predicting the economic
future of Texas is important
to the legislative process.
The legislative budget of-
fice is already beginning its
work on the general appro-
priations bill for the 1984-
85 biennium. As vice chair-
man of tfie Legislative bud-
get board, I will have my
work cut out for me in mak-
ing recommendations to the
68th Legislature with regard
to fiscal matters.
What will the taxable
price of oil be in 1984 and
1985? One nationally
recognized service esti-
mates that the price will
remain close to $35 per bar-
rel through 1982. Then in-
crease about 12 percent in
1983 and about nine percent
in 1984 and again in 1985.
That would put the price at
$46.20 in 1985. but the
same service says that if
the OPEC countries can
freeze the price at present
levels through 1983 by hold-
ing down their production,
they would then raise the
price to about $48 per bar-
rel in 1984 and $63 in 1985.
This seems extreme to me
and I am skeptical of it.
But an increase of one dol-
lar in the price of oil in-
creases the State's oil pro-
duction tax revenues by
$41,000,000 annually, so you
can understand our interest
in this matter for its impact
both on Texans generally
and on the State govern-
ment's revenues.
The uncertainty as to nat-
ural gas production tax rev-
enues centers on questions
of action in Washington on
deregulation and additional
taxation. We anticipate
that significant decisions
will be made in 1982 which
will impact our State rev-
enue expectations for 1984
and 1985.
Thanks to State Comp-
troller Bob Bullock, the re-
search section of the
National Association of Tax
Administrators held its an-
nual session on revenue
estimating in San Antonio
this year. My office was
represented and heard the
director of the Michigan
Department of Management
and Budget predict that the
average domestic ^ar is ex-
pected to weigh 2,250
pounds in 1990. The av-
erage weight ,in 1980 was
3,300 pounds. By 198 5, he
said, most full-size cars will
be the size of today's com-
pact. Because in Texas the
license fee on a car that
weighs over 3,500 pounds is
$22.00 and for a car weigh-
ing less than 3,500 pounds
$12.00, the down-sizing of
cars is expected to have a
depressing impact on high-
way fund revenue. That, in
turn, will create an added
draw on general tax revenue
to finance the State's im-
portant highway construc-
tion and maintenance pro-
gram. This whole highway
finance matter is up for ser-
ious review in the coming
budget cycle.
At that same San Antonio
meeting, a representative of
the United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture was
forecasting farm prices next
year to rise 5-6 percent for
cattle, 6-7 percent for hogs,
1-2 percent for milk, and 4-
8 percent for broilers. Corn
prices are expected to de-
cline, he said, and wheat
and soybean prices are ex-
pected to increase mod-
erately. We could not help
but notice that all of these
are less than the expected
general inflation rate of 8
percent mentioned by others
at the same meeting.
Recent forecasts, as you
may know, are for deepen-
ing recession through the
first half of 1982, expansion
in the second half of the
year and a very favorable
economic situation in 1983.
Texas probably cannot avoid
the downturn in the coming
months, but the impact
should be milder here than
in other parts of the Nation.
In making budget recom-
mendations for 1984 and
1985, we can help to main-
tain public confidence that
Texas has a cost-conscious,
effective State government
committed to the prosperity
of its citizens.
More efficiency needed
In these days when government waste has
become a target for remedial action at the na-
tional level, perhaps the lesson may best be
learned as well on the home front.
Recently, the normally volumnious amount of
mail the Progress receives was a bit more hefty
than usual.
On that particular day, the mail brought 52 let-
ters from just one government agency. Granted
that all of them were sent at the pre-sorted, first
class rate, but their arrival was a bit much.
Their origin - the San Patricio County Ap-
praisal District.
We have heard that the new district, as provid-
ed by state law, will evaluate property in the
county to make taxation based on a uniform ap-
praisal figure for all taxing entities.
And we couldn’t help but wonder how an organ-
ization directly associated with taxes could show
waste in mailing so many separate letters when
one parcel would have sufficed.
We know that taxpayers like to see their dol-
lars at work in these recessionary times, not
thrown out the window
Yes, the principle behind the appraisal
district’s purpose is admirable. But we urge
district officials to please make every effort to
spend our tax dollars with care.
And hopefully, we’ll see the district achieve
greater efficiency in the future.
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STATE CAPITAL
HI6HLI6HTS
By Lyndell Williams
TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
AUSTIN — Observers of
Ihe Texas po'itical scene got
a surprise this week when
House Speaker Bill Clayton
announced that he would
not be a candidate for state-
wide office in 1982.
Clayton's announcement
was all the more surprising
because the Springlake
Democrat already had told
supporters at a December
fundraiser that he definitely
would enter the race for
land commissioner. The
four-term speaker already
had collected some $300,000
in contributions to make
that race.
Clayton, a 20-ycar veter-
an of the Texas House, said
he decided to bow out of
the race to take advantage
of a "unique business op-
portunity” involving his
West Texas farming opera-
tions. Clayton acknowledged
lhat his legal troubles in the
Brilab case had “some nega
live factor,” but he denied
that Brilab influenced his
decision not to run
But don't count Clayton
out of the political scene
altogether. Clayton said he’s
going to hang on to Ihe
$300,000, and some observ-
ers already arc speculating
that Clayton might put the
money to use in a 1984 con-
gressional race or a bid for
governor in 1986
Kedislricting I’lnn
The U.S. Justice Depart-
ment's decision to throw out
the Texas House and Senate
rcdistricting plans on
grounds they violate the fed-
eral Voting Rights Act
brought immediate response
from the state's Democratic
and Republican leaders,
kwith both sides claiming
partisanship in the motives
of the others.
GOP Gov. Clements was
quick to call on Attorney
General Mark White to give
up his defense of the plan
and to let a three-judge fed-
eral court panel draw the
new district lines.
Clements charged that
White had a “clear cut con-
flict of interest” in the mat-
ter because he was on the
panel of five Democratic
officeholders that adopted
the plans.
White has asked the three-
judge panel currently hear-
ing lawsuits against the
p ans to uphold the district
lines, but Clements says that
would throw the matter
back to the Justice Depart-
ment.
Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Bill
tfobby and other Demo-
crats charged that the Jus-
tice Department's decision
was based on political con-
siderations and aimed at in-
creasing GOP ranks in Ihe
Legislature.
The Feb. I filing dead-
line for those legislative
races may have to be post-
poned because of the ruling.
The filing deadline for 16
congressional district races
already has been pushed
back.
Election Study
A report commissioned by
Secretary of State David
Dean has determined that
November’s election on con-
stitutional amendments cost
$3 per vote.
The election cost $2.5
million to conduct, but only
12.2 percent of the state's
6.6 million registered voters
went to the polls.
The report, conducted un-
der the supervision of Uni-
versity of Texas marketing
professor Robert Peterson,
also concluded that voting
patterns on Proposition 4,
the water fund amendment,
followed regional lines.
Those in West Texas, who
perceived the amendment as
benefiting them, voted heav-
ily for it. East Texas resi-
dents, who felt the bill fa-
vored West Texas, opposed
it.
Despite the defeat of that
amendment, the Texas Wa-
ter Development Board is
proceeding with drafting
rules to use $40 million ap-
propriated in the proposi-
tion’s enabling legislation.
That money will be used
to fund water treatment,
conservation, flood control
and other projects on a
hardship or emergency ba-
sis.
Oilfield Thefts
Oil industry officials an-
nounced this week that
theft of oilfield equipment
has gotten so bad that they
are forming a special panel
to combat the problem.
Officials of the Texas In-
dependent Producers and
Royalty Owners Association
called a news conference to
announce the creation of the
Petroleum Industry Security
Council.
Oil and gas producers
have estimated losses from
oilfield thefts amounts to
some $100 million annually.
TIPRO President L.
Frank Pitts said the new
council’s first efforts will in-
clude establishment of a
statewide hotline to receive
tips on thefts, conducting
seminars on how to reduce
"in-house” thefts and creat-
ing a standard system of
marking oilfield equipment.
The new organization is a
cooperative effort between
TIPRO and several other oil
and gas industry groups.
The oilfield theft problem
was an issue during the 1981
legislative session, and a bill
was passed increasing the
penalties for such thefts.
Pine Trees
Gov. Clements took time
out from running the state
to join St. Regis Paper Co.
and Texas Reforestation
Foundation officials in plant-
ing eight East Texas pine
trees on the Capitol lawn.
The trees, a strain of fast-
growing and drought-resis-
tant pines, were planted
near the north entrance of
the Capitol Building to call
attention to the economic
importance of pine trees in
the Texas economy.
Harvesting and process-
ing of timber generated
more than 52,000 jobs and
$550 million in payrolls in
1980.
East Texas pine trees
have never been successfully
grown on ihe Capitol
grounds in the past because
of adverse growing condi-
tions in the Austin area.
However, St Regis officials
say special handling of the
trees and Ihe surrounding
soil should insure survival.
State's gross soles on upswing
State Comptroller Bob Bullock
reported that gross sales in Texas for the
third quarter of 1981 July, August and
September totaled more than $80.
billion
Third quarter sales this year passed
1980 third quarter sales by $14.3 billion,
Bullock said
Bullock's report details gross sales
all sales made by Texas businesses as
well as those subject to sales and use tax
Aransas County had gross taxable
sales of $51,296,350; Nueces county
reported gross taxable sales of
$2,432,949,728, San Fatricio county had
gross taxable sales of 121,319,672
The comptroller said the sales tax
analysis for July, August and September
of this year shows 267,647 reported
outlets compared to 246,262 reporting
outlets in the third quarter of last year
First, Second and third quarter sales in
Texas for 1981 now total $228 1 billion.
Third quarter sales in 1981 for Harris
County were $22.5 billion as recorded by
44,931 reporting outlets, compared to $17
billion reported in the third quarter of
1980 by 40,841 outlets.
Gross sales reported in the state's
other major urban areas included Dallas
county, $11 l billion, up from $10 billion in
the third quarter of 1980; Bexar county,
$3.9 billion, up from $3. 3 billion in the
third quarter of 1980
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Wittnebert, Larry. The Ingleside Index (Ingleside, Tex.), Vol. 32, No. 51, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 4, 1982, newspaper, February 4, 1982; Aransas Pass, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1102842/m1/2/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Ed & Hazel Richmond Public Library.