The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise from Seguin, Texas • Page 11

OPINIONS The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise Wednesday, November 18,1987 Page 11A 'Can-do' spirit is state's best asset The four "Build Texas' propositions which were approved by the voters Nov. 3 will provide approximately $1.4 billion in general obligation bonds for prisons, mental retardation facilities, water projects and the super- conducting super collider and will create more than 25,000 new jobs in the process. The ultimate expenditure of these bonding funds, authorized by adoption of Propositions 8, 9 and 23, will have the effect of creating a flow of more than billion into our state's economy. Add to that the $500 million in revenue bonds that can be issued as a result of passage of Proposition 4 and the voters have opened the door to providing a tremendous economic impact on Texas. Under Proposition 8, the state is authorized to issue $500 million in general obligation bonds to be used in constructing adult and youth correctional facilities and mental retardation facilities.

Passage of this proposition was vital because Texas is under federal court orders to reduce overcrowding in our prisons and to provide adequate living and treatment facilities for our mentally ill and mentally retarded citizens. This proposition's passage gives us a viable method of complying with those court orders. The voters' decision regarding Proposition 8 was most gratifying. It demonstrated voters' compassion for fellow Texans who need special care and demonstrated their commitment to criminal justice. This also indicates Texans' willingness to pay the price required to ensure that criminals who violate the rights of society are put behind bars and kept there.

To do this, we must provide more prisons. Proposition 19 authorizes $500 million in general obligation bonds for land acquisition and other investments needed to attract the superconducting super collider. Failure of this proposition would have taken Texas out of the competition for the project. The $4.4 billion facility would mean approximately 4,000 new jobs in construction during a six-to-nine year building period. When operational the facility would mean 3,000 new jobs and an annual operating budget of million.

What's more, it would be a boon to our educational and research institutions. When you consider the economic multiplier effect, this budget translates into more than $900 million injected into our state economy each year. The passage of Proposition 23 means that the Texas Water Development Board can issue $400 million in general obligation bonds to finance water supply, water quality and flood control projects. Its failure would have meant that no state loan money would have been available for those projects after Jan. 1.

Water needs and usage will be an increasingly critical and therefore controversial issue in the future. As a member of the Senate Natural Resources Committee and its Subcommittee on Water, I will strive to balance rural and metropolitan needs, as well as agricultural and recreational needs. By passing Proposition 4, Texas voters approved the creation of the Texas Agricultural Diversification Program (TADP) and the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority (TAFA). This authorizes the Legislature to make loans and grants for economic development and diversification programs which will benefit the overall Texas economy. The diversification program and the authority were created by the 70th Legislature via HB 49 (Harrison, D-Sanderson), but Proposition 4 had to be approved before its provisions MORALITY OF AflNTH ANOTHER Solutions won't be simple By Lloyd Bentsen U.S.

Senator Everybody expected our nation's trade picture this year to improve over last year's record $156 billion deficit. Instead, it is swelling at an ever-worse pace of $169 billion, and it looks like we'll see another record in 1987. A big reason? Oil imports. Several experts have taken a tough look at components of the trade deficit and concluded that rising energy imports alone will, in coming years, eat up any trade gains from increased exports and the devalued dollar. New analyses by energy expert Philip Verleger visiting fellow at the Institute for International Economics, and by the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) underscore this.

These studies predict oil and other energy imports will soar from $40 billion this year to $140 billion by the early 1990s, thus increasing the likelihood of continued massive trade deficits and a ballooning international debt. The TIPRO study also found that we'll probably pass the 50 percent threshold of dependence on foreign oil in 1989 a little more than a year from now. It is clear that the absence of a meaningful energy policy, aimed at stabilizing imports and boosting domestic production, is largely responsible for the pessimism about our future trade deficits. And it is equally clear that our nation will never solve its trade problems without taking effective action to reduce dependence on foreign oil. In a letter to President Reagan, I called attention to these analyses and urged him to accept Texas Governor William Clements' proposal to establish a bipartisan, blue-ribbon presidential commission on energy.

"Failure to develop an effective energy policy will cripple efforts to reduce the trade deficit," I said in the letter. "Yet, crafting energy policy can be devisive and should involve participation of wide-ranging interests. "Tackling energy policy is a daunting challenge, Mr. President. But we will not resolve the trade crisis and stabilize our burgeoning international debt until we effectively address the energy crisis." If we are going to overcome this problem, we have to do it on a bipartisan basis.

I'm working hard in Congress to put a bipartisan trade policy in place for this country, and it's becoming increasingly apparent that an energy policy must be an integral part of any effective trade policy. The solutions are neither simple nor easily reached. But an objective analysis of the problem would go a long way in establishing a plan of action. If you're gonna do it then do it right Having never traveled abroad (except to Mexico), I had never been subjected to a search at a port of entry. That was before Saturday.

In the past several years I have been across the U.S.-Mexican border at Laredo a number of times. The vehicle I was in was always waved through customs after we had declared our liquor and diet pills and off we went on our merry way home. But Saturday and Sunday, when the group of women I was with crossed back into Laredo, the van we were in was pulled over and searched. We have yet to decide why they did this. One theory is that they were pulling over all vans, station wagons and other vehicles of this type and that is true to an extent, They were pulling over more vehicles than I can remember them doing in the past.

Another theory is that they may have been looking for the kind of diet pills which are no longer allowed into the U.S, The two girls who were with us decided it must be them. They looked like they may have been carrying drugs, they suggested. The thing that made no sense in all of this ii the fact that they didn't conduct a thorough search, which led my mother to reason that they just wanted to give us a hard time. Maybe put the fear into or make an example of us so that all those people who drove by and saw these women being searched would think NiilftlfYMMl MAffAOtMO iWwl lj(Hm' twice about bringing back something illegal. If you've never had this happen to you, let me tell you how it works, We were searched both Saturday and Sunday.

We went to different bridges both days but we were in the same van both days. On Saturday we pulled up to the first checkpoint and were asked what we had to declare. My aunt told the man we had some blankets and other souvenirs and that we each had a bottle of liquor to declare. The man asked if we had any medications and we said no because none of us had been to see the diet doctor that day, He then wrote something on a piece of orange paper and told us we would have to pull over to one of the stalls. The same thing happened on Sunday up to this point.

After this the stories are different. On Saturday we pulled into the stall and my mother and aunt got out. The man asked them where they were from and when they replied "New Braunfels," he said, "What are ya'U doing off down here?" My mother "New Braunfels, Texas," and he still responded, "Yea, so what are ya'U doing off down here?" The rest of us were ordered out of the van and told to stand by a table. He then began his search of the van. He found a cooler we had used to ice down drinks on the trip down.

He asked what was in it and when my aunt told him juice and a few soft drinks he went never even looked inside. For all he knew we could have had 10 pounds of marijuana in there. During his search he did turn up an orange that we had had in the van on the way down. Bringing fruits back from Mexico is a no-no but since it was obvious this was a U.S. orange he let it go with a raised eyebrow, Both of the young girls with us had purchased a year's supply of birth control pills at a Mexican pharmacy.

They are only $1 a package down there, He found one package of the pills but not the other. Again he let them go with a raised eyebrow. Bringing them back is not a crime. All in all he probably searched the van for about 10 minutes, He would raise an eyebrow every now and then and look disappointed now and then. When he found six bottles of Sangrita my mother was bringing back for my father is when I thought I was going to have to find the money to bail her out of jail.

She went to the van to tell him that she had been told she could bring as much of that back as she wanted because it has no alcohol, he barked at her to get back to the table with the rest of us. I thought she was going to tell him off right there, but she held her tongue and he went on with his search. Then he went through our purses and again he didn't even do a thorough job of that. In some of them he went through everything and then in others he barely even looked. After that they let us go.

Sunday afternoon when we came back the man who went through the van was as different as night and day from the other man. When we explained to him that the back end of the van was so full of pottery that we were afraid to open it from the outside for fear of breaking something, he went in through the front. His search lasted about five minutes and then he went through our purses, a little more thoroughly than the man Saturday night, I understand why they have to do these things. I know there are innocent looking people who smuggle illegal drugs and other stuff into the U.S. all the time.

My points are two, If they are going to search they should do a thorough job or at least more thorough than these guys did. And, the man who searched us Sunday proved that you don't have to be rude and ugly about it. Why do some of these people feel the need to act as if everyone is a criminal? We are, after all, U.S. citizens entering the U.S. could take effect.

The Texas Department of Agriculture has budgeted $500,000 for agricultural diversification grants, and HB 49 allows TAFA to issue up to $500 million in revenue bonds to fund the diversification program. Agricultural Commissioner Jim Hightower, the Dean of Agriculture at Texas View and four gubernatorial appointees will comprise the TAFA Board. Recommendations for appointments should be submitted to the Governor's appointments secretary immediately. House Bill 49 also provides $2 million for a linked deposit program which authorizes the State Treasurer to lend money to banks at advantageous interest rates. These banks, in turn, will lend money to individuals and businesses who want to diversify in the areas of food and fiber processing.

Agricultural diversification offers an attainable challenge in our district, for as Uvalde Mayor J.D. Goode says, "If we can raise the onion, we can process the onion ring." Although Proposition 4, the cornerstone of the "Build Texas" program, had been linked to Proposition 6 in pre-election: publicity, many advantages will: accrue with the passage of; Proposition 4 alone, as indicated; above. The major drawback to the failure of Proposition 6 is the lack of funding for the Small Business Incubator Fund and Product Development Program. In adopting the four "Build Texas" propositions the voters of Texas have- indicated an understanding of the economic realities that currently' grip our state. More importantly it indicates a statewide willingness to: take bold and innovative steps at a time when they are needed.

The voters' decision to take new direction and make changes: reaffirms that one of our state's: greatest assets is the "can-do" of its citizens. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Judge reminded that he represents all of the county To the Editor: Regarding Senator Lloyd Bentsen's article of Nov. 11, 1987. The Senator apparently does not like being called "ugly by a frog," to use his term. He states that states, including Texas, competing for federal research funds are fighting uphill battles against the Ivy League schools and established universities of California.

Did it ever occur to the Senator that some of the other senators may be more successful because they are more effective statesmen than he? Did it occur to him that he may be "so blinded by party loyalty," less effective than his peers, and consequently cannot be placed among the "who you know" who dispense federal research funds? Come on, Senator Bentsen, take a look in a good mirror, what you see may not be a Texas Prince. Locally, many people should now be aware that County Judge James Sagebiel is certainly not a math major. His past comments about how much money a penny on the county" tax rate would bring into the county, was laughable, if it had not been so serious. Now again, his mathematical genius comes into play. The Gazette-Enterprise quotes him as saying, "I would prefer to cast all the county's votes all for one.

candidate" during the discussion of votes for the Guadalupe Appraisal District directors. He wanted to waste the county's votes because he did not get his way. Careful Judge, your true colors are showing, again. You are the Guadalupe COUNTY, Judge, aren't you? Sincerely, Charles B.Sharpe Marion couple frustrated by officials' insensitivity 1 To the Editor: This county needs to wake up and smell the coffee, as Abby says. The Appraisal District raised our homestead value by 82 percent.

A lot we own in Kingsbury was raised 150 percent. We asked for a hearing with the chief appraiser and after a six week wait were assigned a young lady who was not at liberty to do anything but listen. A deputy was posted at the door to observe. We were granted a $400 reduction overall on value. We asked for another hearing, but it was never granted.

The past year our property was flooded three times due to blocked drainage ditches. When everything failed in getting relief, I wrote a letter to the County Judge asking for', help. This created problems with the precinct chairman and the road and bridge foreman. This was three months ago and the drainage ditches have neither been cleaned or mowed: The Marion School Distric removed our over-65 tax freeze added to the tax amount and refroze it. All this without notification.

We learned of the increase on our tax bill. All we get out of them now are degrading letters. We moved here to retire, but now think that was a mistake. Are the elected officials everywhere so insensitive to the problems of the public? Mr. and Mrs.

Lloyd E. Felder School's staff, students give thanks for Chamber's help To the Editor: On behalf of the staff and students of A. J. Briesemeister Middle School I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Chamber of Commerce Education Committee for their continuing support, and specifically at this time for their generous donation to our fund for improvement of attendance. Our overall attendance percentage for the month of October was 96.2 percent, of which we are very proud.

We know your support helped us achieve this and we thank you. This was an excellent example of the kinds of positive outcomes that result when communities and schools work closely together. Sincerely, Herminia M. Uresti, Principal Your representatives: Ronald Reagan President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington, D.C.

20500 U.S. Senator Uoyd Bentsen United States Senate Room 240, Russell Bldg. Washington, 20510 U.S. Senator PhilGramm United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 U.S.

Rep. Mac Sweeney United States House of Representatives 1713kongworth House Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20515 State Sen, Judith Zaffirini Capitol Station P.O. Box 12066 Austin, Texas 78711 State Rep.

EdmundKuempel Texas House of Representatives P.O. Box 29)0 Austin, Texas 71799 Chairman, U.S. House, Committee on Agriculture HOlUMigworth Office Building Washington, D.C. 20615 U.S. Senator Patrick Ueahy Chairman, U.S.

Senate, Committee on Agriculture Senate Russell Building Roaro3MA Washington, D.c. A A A. A fr ft fr fr ft i 1.