Casper Star-Tribune from Casper, Wyoming • 1

"I Partly cloudy, rold, flurries Senate OKs cRUhike Jit 1 vi A1 Regional tournament 1)1 1 1 King trial -T; rj opens today I 411 C6 1 rututtg jr Senate revenue panel backs sales lax hike, rejects higher gas levy Prime minister of Canada quits Country's divisions, poor economy dooms Mulroney ough debate of both tax bills. Meanwhile, (iov. Mike Sullivan told reporters Wednesday afternoon he believes both tax issues are of enough significance to deserve a full debate on the floor of the Senate. The committee gave the gas tax i I IS By JOAN BARRON Star-Tribune capital bureau CHEYENNE The Senate Revenue Committee Wednesday put a voter referendum back in the bill to hike the stale sales tax by one penny. But the committee rejected a second bill, House Bill 359A, to increase the tax on gasoline and dicsel, fuel by 8 cents per gallon.

Despite the committee's negative vote on the gasoline tax bill the proposal still can be debated on the Senate floor if a motion to suspend the rules and move up the bill is approved by two-thirds of the 30 senators. "I think it will be tried," Senate Majority Leader Boyd Eddins, SD16, R-Smoot, said late Wednesday afternoon. "I can't tell you what will happen." But Eddins added that he still believes that both tax bills will be debated on the Senate floor Friday. He noted that the GOP leadership made a commitment to have a thor -A2 ff r- must he held before Nov. 2 1 and it ill be up to party's new leader to set a date, probably sometime this fall.

Mulroney's tenure was torpedoed by his failure to come to grips with Canada's economic crisis, its soaring debt and an unemployment rate over 1 1 percent. He also was unable to resolve the constitutional crisis fired by French-speaking Quebec's desire for special status in the confederation. Mulroney's fellow Tories keenly aware of what happened to Mulroney's close political ally George Bush breathed a deep sigh of relief at the new s. "It's a new ball game, from the perspective of our image in the country," said Conservative party member Robert Corbctt. Waiting in the wings are many conservatives anxious to take over the top spot, including Defense Minister Kim Campbell, Trade Minister Michael Wilson, Communications Minister Perrin Beat-ty and Environment Minister Jean Charest.

But the Tories' most respected politician, Constitutional Af- Please see MULRONEY, A10 poison case means of control" taken away by federal regulation. Rosenthal quoted from a recent letter from Gov. Mike Sullivan to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture citing "an explosion" of predator populations in the state. At a press conference later Wednesday, Sullivan said he hoped his letter to the USDA had not been "misinterpreted" as a justification for the illegal use poisons.

Rosenthal claimed Strom's decision to sell illegal poisons to an undercover agent came only after "months of pleas" from the agent and was done to help control coyotes near his ranch. Strom told Beaman that his de-Please see STROM, A 10 AP Duck ami cover? First graders at George Walton Academy in Monroe, cover their heads with text books and huddle against a wall Wednesday during a statewide tornado drill for Severe Weather Awareness Week. OTTAWA (AP) Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, battered by the lowest popularity ratings in Canadian polling history, called it quits Wednesday, ending months of speculation about his future. Dogged by a three-year recession, unable to unite the country's bickering provinces or solve its French-English divisions, Mulroney bowed to the inevitable but went out insisting that he could have won again. But the man who has governed Canada since 1984 acknowledged that he would not be given that chance.

"The time has come for me to step aside," Mulroney said, accompanied by his wife Mila and two of his four children. "I've done my very -best for my country and my party and I look forward to the enthusiasm and renewal only new leadership brings." The 53-year-old Quebec lawyer who led his Progressive Conservative party for 10 years said he would remain in office until it selected a new leader. A leadership conference is expected in June. National elections Wildlife Service investigation. Another defendant in Colorado pleaded guilty last year to charges of selling poisons to undercover agents in the case.

Texas predator control specialist Roy McBride still faces charges in federal court in Cheyenne. A trial date has been set in that case. Strom and attorney Michael Rosenthal asked Beaman to consider the "incredible frustrations" faced by ranchers in the state who face pressing predator problems, but have had several "effective Legislature overrides veto on filling office vacancies Political parties will provide list of candidates to governor a do-not-pass recommenda tion on a 3-2 party line vote. The three Republicans on the committee, Sens. Mike Enzi, SD24, R-Gillctte, the chairman; Barbara Cubin, SD29, R-Casper, and Bob Peck, SD26, R-Riverton, voted against the gasoline tax hike.

The two Democrats, Sens. Carl Maldonado, SD13, D-Grecn River, and Jim Apnlcgate, SD8, D-Cheycnne, voted for the bill. The committee gave the sales tax increase bill. House Hill 373A, a do-pass recommendation on a 3-2 vote. 'Please see TAXES, A10 the law states.

Sullivan vetoed the bill last week saying the measure conflicts with the state Constitution. He said the bill contradicts provisions on succession in Jjk the event of TEOIS( 1 an unexpect- Icltlirci ed vacancy in f-'1993 1 governor's and other top elected posts. Vacancies in the U.S. House are filled by means of a special election. Republicans argued Wednesday that political parties should play a role in tilling appointments to rcllect "the will of the electorate" when naming replacements.

Sen. Charles Scott, SD30, R-Caspcr, said "clear differences" Please see OVERRIDE, Alt) Laramie rancher given probabtion in Strom, a former predator board chairman, says his crime was a 'last act of desperation' Btii tax panned; VAT touted Senate committee members hit Clinton plan By CHARLES PELKEY Star-Tribune capital bureau i CHEYENNE Republicans exercised their "veto proof majority in the Legislature when the Senate voted 20-10 to Gov. Mike Sullivan's veto of a bill limiting the governor's choices when filling vacancies in the state's top elected posts. The Senate vote follows Tuesday's 41-19 party-line vote in the House and marks only the second time in Wyoming history that the Legislature has successfully overridden a governor's veto. The new law, House Dill 35, is aimed at limiting a governor's options when choosing individuals to fill future vacancies in the state's top elected posts or in Wyoming's two U.S.

Senate seats. The selection would have to be made from a list of three names provided by the state central committee from the same political party of the person being replaced. HHtSfaUftJ Border To Border. Calendar Casper Area Classified Comics Crossword Landcrs.Omarr Legislature Letters Markets Movies Obituaries, Diary Opinion Sports Wyoming B3 A2 X8-I0 C4 CIO C3 C5 C3 B2 A6 UI Old Grouch The political winds sure blow from day to day. EZ I It's True You can choose the price of your own ad! If the value of the item you want to sell is the ad is free $51-1125 the ad is $5 $126-5250 the ad is HQ Catl 266-0555 or 1-800-442-6916 (Toll free in Wyoming) for more information.

By CHARLES PELKEY Star-Tribune capital bureau CHEYENNE A Laramie-area rancher was placed on probation and fined Wednesday for using illegal poisons to kill coyotes and other predators. Federal Magistrate William Beaman Wednesday ordered no jail time in the case out sentenced woolgrower Dick Strom to two years probation and fined him $10,000. He also is prohibited from owning a gun for two years. Beaman, in handing down the sentence, told Strom it was "mod-crate" punishment. Strom entered guilty pleas in November to five misdemeanor counts, and was facing a maximum penalty of five posed energy tax on the heat content of fuel is an unwise approach.

Wallop and other Republicans on the committee also criticized Clinton's proposed energy tax but disagreed with Johnston about the need for additional revenues to balance the budget. Wallop said Clinton's energy tax proposal "raises serious concerns of regional equity" and threatens to "divide America." Wyoming taxpayers would suffer an especially disproportionate tax burden under the proposed energy tax, he said, compared to res But in a letter to I louse and Senate leaders of both parlies. Sullivan said, after discussions with Attorney General Joe Meyer and others, he had concluded such legis-I a i "would be TtiGISfl 'I premature" latUrel I since the is-Jq993 LJ sue had not yet been addressed in Congress. In a Wednesday afternoon press conference Sullivan said despite his decision not to seek the "emergency" legislation this session the state still needs to consider the idea in coming months. By DAVID IIACKETT Star-Tribune Washington bureau WASHINGTON President Clinton's proposed energy tax received unfavorable reviews from members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Wednesday, including the chairman and the ranking Republican, Wyoming Sen.

Malcolm Wallop. Committee Chairman Sen. Bennett Johnston, said he is convinced that the federal government must raise taxes to reduce the budget deficit but that the pro years in prison and a $500,000 fine. The charges stem from a two-year federal investigation into illegal poison use in Wyoming. At the time that Strom committed the crime, he was the chairman of the Albany County Predator Control Board.

Strom said Wednesday that he is still a member of the board. Strom's sentence was similar to those Beaman imposed last month on three defendants charged in connection with the U.S. Fish and idents of other states. "It is hard for us to understand how our people can be called to make what has been called 'sacrifice' in the name of patriotism," Wallop said, especially since some of the new revenue is designated for new spending programs. Sen.

Don Nickles, said the president's proposed energy tax is unfair to certain industries as well. For example, he said, the energy tax would double the price paid by utilities for coal produced in Please sec Under existing Wyoming statutes the federal tax would be included as part of the per-ton price used to calculate state severance taxes on coal. Sullivan said the resulting "shadow tax could in some cases double the existing slate tax" on coal. Without the exemption legislation, Sullivan said the application of the federal Btu tax would generate between $100 million and $200 million in additional state revenues. But Sullivan argued the additional lax would place an impossible burden on Wyoming energy AP Sullivan postpones push to soften Btu tax impact on energy industry Major told Clinton that Britain Mill not join the projosol U.S.

oH'ration in Bosnia Major supports Clinton plan to airdrop food into Bosnia WASHINGTON (AP) British Prime Minister John Major said Wednesday that President Clinton's decision to airdrop relief supplies into Bosnia was "thoroughly welcome," but reiterated that his government would not join the operation. In the first meeting between the two leaders. Major said his government had made great progress in reducing sectarian strife in yihern Ireland, but Clinton still left open the possibility of sorr)ef S. role in the British province. r)ljrttr said his country was content to help distribute aid on the grounu it Bosnia.

Clinton said Britain was not asked to expand its role, fcmt other countries may get involved the U.S. effort. "I thik he has done his part. His troops are on the ground there." Clinton said of Major. the new policy in war-torn Bosnia will be soon.

Clinton said. Please see BRITAIN, AI0 By CHARLES PELKEY Star- Tribune capital bureau CHEYENNE Gov. Mike Sullivan said Wednesday he will not immediately pursue state legislation to keep a proposed federal B'u tax from being included in Wyoming's calculation of state mineral severance taxes. The governor on Tuesday had expressed interest in quickly passing a measure this session in order to keep the state's energy producers from suffering a "competitive disadvantage" in the event the federal Btu tax on energy is passed by the U.S. Congress..