Casper Star-Tribune from Casper, Wyoming • 9

Star-Tribune. Casper. Wvo A9 Friday, Feb. 12, 1982 eagan may not visit Legislature during tour CHEYENNE (AP) President Reagan's visit to Wyoming March 2 may be too short for both an appearance before the Wyoming Legislature and a fund-raising reception for Republican candidates. Sen.

Malcolm Wallop, the state's senior senator and prime mover behind Reagan's trip to Cheyenne, Is still pushing for an appearance before a Joint session of the Legislature, "because it would be a rather historic But the Wyoming Republican has indicated scheduling the president for both the Capitol appearance and a political reception would present additional security and time political reception, including a hotel or the city's new Civic Center. "We're narrowing down the options and should have a location soon," Hill said. as far as picking a place or defining the event, that's not settled yet." Hill said Wallop' people would like to put on a full-scale Republican rally that would attract people from throughout the state. "None of this is cast in concrete yet, but we want to try to provide an opportunity for as many people as possible to see him," Hill said. "We think he would attract -people from all over the state.

dent would address the Legislature, which is, scheduled to adjourn its budget session the day following Reagan's stop in Cheyenne. Aides to Gov. Ed Herschler said Thursday Herschler's office has not been contacted about the trip. Herschler previously said he would be "honored" to have Reagan visit Wyoming. It would be Reagan's first official visit to' Wyoming, although he attended several Republican functions before he was the GOP nominee.

The last president to visjt Wyoming was President Carter, who vaca' tioned in Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks in 1978. problems. "We'll probably have him for a 'usable' hour," Wallop told reporters Wednesday. "To go there (the Capitol) and do another event represents two security Judgments on the part of the Secret Service and a lot of extra time Involved. So it may not be practical." Wallop aides said Thursday the decision will be up to the White House.

"We haven't given up on it, but it's in their court now," Wallop's administrative assistant, Bill Hill, said. Meanwhile, Wallop aides are collecting information on possible locations for the CHEYENNE MAYOR Don Erickson has offered the Civic Center, and the city's three major hotels, the Hitching Post Inn, Holiday Inn and Little America Motel were being mentioned as possible sites, Wallop's office said. Wallop confirmed Tuesday that Reagan would visit Cheyenne March 2 as the first stop on a swing through the West to push his New Federalism program and give campaign support to Republican candidates, including Wallop and Rep. Dick Cheney, R-Wyo. Legislative leaders had hoped the presi RT LEGISLAT1 VE REPQ 'm'' for education cuts at expense of our kids9 If iB tar' jmbmb nto it mm i 'm cf0 CHEYENNE (AP) President Reagan's plan to cut federal funds for education came under fire Thursday at a news conference called here by Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Lynn Simons.

The state's top education official was also critical Thursday of Reagan's plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Mrs. Simons was asked what she would tell the president tif she has the chance when he visits here in March. "I would say, 'don't balance the budget at the expense of our she said.

Simons said she plans to make that same point when she meets this month with members of the Wyoming congressional delegation. "There are options to the president's proposals," she said, that could be followed at no cost to the nation's children. According to Simons, Reagan's budget cuts will particularly hurt poor, handicapped, gifted and non-English-speaking students. She added that all students will be hurt by cuts in the school lunch program. Wyoming has lost $1.6 million In federal education funds in the past year, she said, and will lose another $3.5 million in the next two years.

''Wyoming Is one of a handful of states which can afford to absorb such cuts, but the proposals throw a ringer at us," Simons said. "The t-i The 1982 stale Legislature will begin to work the House will hear obscenity bill biennium buget today. salaries fixed by the Legislature. The bill received 56 favorable votes and was referred to the Judiciary Committee. HOUSE BILL 61, sponsored by Rep.

William A. (Rory) Cross, R-Converse, and Rep. H.l. Jensen, D-Teton, would require restitution from those who write Insufficient fund checks, It would also do away with the present 10-day grace period, in which restitution can be made to avoid prosecution. Jensen said the bill would help ease "one of the most severe problems we small businessmen have the inordinate amount of bad checks.

It's time for the Legislature to give the small businessman a break." The Cross-Jensen bill received 45 favorable votes, and was referred to the Judiciary Committee. And House Bill 62, sponsored by Rep. Alan Stauffer, R-Lincoln, was also among the successful. The bill would require prosecutors to charge those who drive with a blood alcohol content of .10 percent or more with drunk driving. Stauffer, who said he has tost three friends to accidents caused by drunk drivers, said offenders are too often allowed to plead guilty to lesser offenses.

Phantom voter puts in House showing Corrections department is proposed By DAVE SIMPSON Star-Tribune staff writer CHEYENNE A bill to create a department of corrections passed its. first test Thursday in the Wyoming House of The bill, sponsored by Rep. Tom Trowbridge, D-Carbon, received 43 votes, thereby passing the two-thirds vote requirement for introduction In a budget session. Trowbridge explained that the would nut "one person over the department," rather than having thn flvo-mnmhpr Rnnrri nf ChnrltiBS and Reform (BCR) handling routine, decisions regarding the mens ajidj-l womens prisons, the honor farm, th reformatories, and release grams. The BCR is made up of thje five elected state officials.

Trowbridge stressed that thebnV-would not take responsibility away from the BCR, just give the mera bers a central administrator. "They (the BCR board) don't enough time," Trowbridge said; "There are 1,600 people In the Institutions." He said the decision to BCR in charge of state Institution-was made in 1890, but "It's time lot': reform. This would relieve muchot-: the pressure on the BCR." Trowbridge said under the preseaC system, me blh is nice a scnooi board with no superintendent. They're dealing with the principal of each school," rather than witlr one person. habilitation, because as the state grows, so will crime." Later, Trowbridge said his bill would "help get some goals set and establish philosophies regarding where we're trying to go with these institutions.

"This would take care of the day-to-day decisions that it isn't necessary for the board to make," he said. "And right now, there are some very big decisions to make on a day-to-day basis, and the board secretary is a secretary; not a corrections person." Trowbridge said he currently serves on the corrections committee of the Western States Council of Government. That group takes in 13 western states. He said his expert- i ence on that committee convinces him that "we need to take a look at our corrections system." Trowbridge's bill was approved -for introduction by a vote of 43 to 16, and It was referred to the House Judiciary Committee. finds itself on a disastrous course it should be able to change directions.

But Rep. Charles ScotC R- Natrona, said preventing the expert of the Madison water is no more legal than revoking ETSI's wafer Jghts would be, and if the Legislature approved Cross bill the company probably woukfsue the state. THE HOUSE AlO refused to introduce Rep. Ken Burns' bill to declare coal slurry pipelines are not a beneficial use of Wyoming water. Burns, D-Laramie, could muster; only 19 of the 42 votes -needed for introduction.

Bums said coal pipelines are not an appropriate use of Wyorafng; water because of the large amouats; of water they require. 'I "At this point I don't think anytfne; can say sending 20,000 acre feetlaf water out of the state appropriate," he said. I- Scott said the premise of Bunts'; bill is simply not true, and the; measure would have prevented coal slurry pipelines within the state as. well as the export of water to carry; coal to other states. state budget process for the next two years is almost finished.

She said the Legislature has made up some federal cuts in the past, but can't be expected to continue funding such cuts as they occur. "IF CUTS MUST be made, a phase-In period is essential," she said. "It is especially essential in a state like ours where budgeting is done for years at a time." The 21-month-old Education Department should be given a new lease on life, Simons said, because education Is as important to the nation as defense, health and agriculture. "I -have no question in my own mind that education Is of utmost importance to this nation and should be represented among the highest, councils," she said. "Let the importance of the cabinet-level Education Department be demonstrated," she added.

"Let it be given time to prove its worth. "We have a clear choice," Simons said, "whether to Invest in our children while they are young and their lives are being shaped or to ignore them. Falling to make the Investment now, we will pay the price later and It is a bitter price "Cutting education programs is a short-range solution to our economic! problem and leaves us vulnerable In every way In the long range," she concluded. changed to a no vote (by Rep. Lummis).

Whether it (the initial vote was intentional or spurious, I don't know." Lummis said, "I'm not sure what happened. I was going to vote from the back, but I didn't hear anybody vote for me. I think It was Just a mistake." SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE Bob Burnett warned the representatives -that they cannot vote for one another, after Burns' rose to report what he heard happen. While Burns and Pownall heard the phantom vote. Rep.

Al Wiederspahn, D-, Laramie, who sits next to Lummis, and Rep. Tom Trowbridge, D-Carbon, who sits across the aisle, said they did not hear the vote. "The whole point of bringing this up is because they said yesterday that this kind of thing happens with electronic voting," Burns said. "I know for a fact that the electronic systems no longer do that they've taken care of that. But We've seen that It can happen even here, where I think we have the best clerk In the country.

"I think we ought to watch this a li ttle closer," he added. government's claims for reserved and non-reserved water rights is about 45 percent complete, he said. The state will have a chance to respond to Roncalio's report before he issues the special master's final report, he said. Wyoming has spent $4.6 million on the case to date, and Freudenthal estimated it will take about $700,000 to prepare a protest of the special master's report, and another $1 million to prepare for the trytng of the case before Judge Herald Joffe In the Fifth Judicial District' By DAVE SIMPSON Star-Tribune staff writer CHEYENNE A biU making it a misdemeanor to promote obscenity was introduced Thursday afternoon in the Wyoming House. The bill, sponsored by Rep.

Sheila Arnold, D-Albany, received more than the required two-thirds vote for introduction in the House of Representatives. The Arnold bill specifies a $6,000 fine andor one year In Jail for those who make obscene material available to a minor. For providing the material to an adult, the fine would be $1,000, andor one year in Jail. The bill re-defines what is obscene as that which "applying contemporary community standards, depicts or describes sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and taken as a whole, lacks serious artistic, political or scientific value." "Sexual conduct" is defined as "patently offensive representations or descriptions of ultimate sex acts, normal or perverted, actual or simulated; sadomasochistic abuse, or patently offensive representations or descriptions of masturbation, excretory functions or lewd exhibition of genitals." REP. ARNOLD, WHO said she has three sons, and "I never wanted them to see this junk," said she has received support for the bill from a group known as Morality in Media, based in Casper.

She was Joined by By DAVE SIMPSON Star-Tribune staff writer CHEYENNE Somebody other than Cynthia Lummis cast a vote for Cynthis Lummis In the Wyoming House Thursday, but no one seems to know who. The Incident occurred Just one day after the House killed a bill that would have installed electronic voting equipment In the House and Senate. The sponsor of that bill, Rep. Ken Burns, D-Laramle, took care to point out what happened Thursday. Rep.

Lummis, R-Laramie, had stepped to the rear of the House chamber during discussion of a bill regarding treatment of non-resident traffic offenders. When the voice vote was taken, Lummis did not hear her name called, and did not vote. But Burns and House Chief Clerk Herb Pownall, heard a male voice cast an affirmative vote for Introduction of the bill. 'I saw the clerk put down a mark for Lummis," Burns said later. "But after the roll call was finished, Lummis entered her no vote." Pownal said, "I heard an aye vote and recorded it as such.

Then it was Rep. John Marion, R-Johnson, in sponsoring the bill. The bill received strong support in its initial appearance, receiving 51 votes In the 62-member House. Six votes, were cast against the measure. The bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee for further consideration.

Thirty-eight bills were considered in the House Thursday, as the Friday noon deadline for bill introduction approached: Legislators have until noon today to get their bills drafted and signed. They will be considered for formal introduction probably well Into next week. Of those 38 bills, 23 failed to garner the necessary two-thirds vote for Introduction. Fourteen were Introduced and referred to committees for recommendations, and one, which failed, will be reconsidered this morning. That bill, House Bill 69, would make it a felony to cause Injury or death to a person while driving under the influence of alcohol.

The initial vote was 40 to 17, narrowly failing. to meet two-thirds. But it will be reconsidered this morning, on a motion by Rep. Mary Odde, R-Fremont. House Bill 94, which would authorize the state Farm Loan Board to defer repayment of farm loans due to poor economic conditions, received 51 votes and was introduced.

That bill was sponsored by Rep. John Vlnich, D-Fremont. Also Introduced was House Bill 59, which would prohibit "longevity allowance" to judges and those whose that between February 1980 and October 1981, statewide employment in the uranium industry fell from 5,317 to 2,350, and noted that some mines are already closed and others will be closing soon. The measure would not, by itself, revive the ailing industry, which has recently been suffering from steep declines in the price of its major product, uranium oxide. But, Donley said, "this Is something we can do for the Industry, to say we appreciate your problem." Rep.

Mary. Odde, a Republican from Fremont County, where many of the industry layoffs have been concentrated, lent ber support to the bill, saying the number of people out of work is one of the most "depressing" things to happen there House kills proposal to halt export of state miter Uranium aid bill fails introduction in the House Water suit funds sought CHEYENNE (UPI) Rep. Rory Cross says the slate should be able to change its direction if it finds it Is on a disastrous course, but the Wyoming House refused to introduce his bill preventing export of water for a coal slurry pipeline. Cross said Energy Transportation Systems. Inc.

no longer needs to export the underground water because it has reached an agreement with South Dakota to use water from the Oahe Reservoir to send the coal through the pipeline to southern states. The Converse County Republican said the bill would not revoke ETSI's water rights in the Madison Formation aquifer. The 1981 Legislature refused to revoke the water rights because many legislators felt terminating the water rights, which are considered property rights, would be unconstitutional. Cross attibuted the 25-35 vote on Introduction to legislators' feelings that Wyoming Legislature approved ETSI's use of the water in 1974 and cannot change its mind now. "I don't buy the argument that we can't change," he said.

"If the state CHEYENNE A bill to aid the ailing uranium industry by reducing its tax rate fell just a few votes short of introduction to the state House of Representatives Thursday afternoon. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Russ Donley, R-Natrona, would reduce the severance tax on uranium oxide from 5.5 percent to 1.5 percent The bill gained 39 favorable votes, just three short of the two-thirds majority needed to Introduce a bill in the budget session. The vote was so close that Donley said afterward he might try to have the bill reconsidered today. The Legislative Service Office calculated the bill would reduce tax revenues by about $2 million per year.

Donley cited statistics showing CHEYENNE (UPI) The House budget committee has recommended passage of a bill to provide $3.27 million for the attorney general's expenses In iU suit to clarify water rights on the Big Horn and Wind rivers. Attorney General Steven Freudenthal told the committee the most expensive phase of the litigation, consideration of the Arapahoe and Shoshone tribes water rights claims before Special Master Teno Rone alio. Is about 99 percent complete. The state case on the federal.