The Knoxville News-Sentinel from Knoxville, Tennessee • 22

The Knoxville News-Sentinel -m Gore Sasser support congressional pay freezes Senate salaries in thousands of dollars term of office don't think it should be either raised or decreased except to take effect after the next (congressional) Gore said But he said his vote on the Helms amendment also was support for a pay freeze this year and added that he has never voted for a pay was not against a pay cut but in favor of freezing congressional salaries Just as he has voted to freeze several other major portions of the federal budget (a pay freeze) in itself win erode the purchasing power of congressional salaries by 4 to percent this year (due to inflation) he frustrated in 1983 with Congress' inability to set its pay that he proposed a constitutional amendment to allow a presidentially appointed commission the exclusive authority to set congressional salaries The amendment was not passed' Members of Congress face a conflict of interest every time their pay comes up for a raise freeze or cut Baker said so an outside panel would remove that conflict One reason Baker retired from the Senate was the prospect of making much more money in the private practice of law He reportedly makes about $700000 a year now just at his Washington law office and he also practices at his law firm with offices in several Tennessee cities Radio shows snd lus work on several corporate boards also are adding to Baker's current income by RICHARD POWELSON Ntws-Sentinel Washington WASHINGTON Tennessee's two US senators looking for ways to reduce federal budget deficits have voiced slightly different reasons for voting against cutting their $75100 salaries by 10 percent The senators had little time to consider the proposal May 3 when Sen Jesse Helms R-NC unveiled his salary-cutting amendment and said: we are asking everyone else to cut This simply asks members of Congress to share in this burden" No one debated amend-ment and it quickly was voted down on a 40-49 tie The tie meant that any one senator who voted against the pay cut could have changed the outcome in Helms favor Sen James Sasser said his vote Alexander House Democrats I $90 million apart on budget by TOM HUMPHREY News-Sentinel Nashville bureau NASHVILLE House Democrats are headed toward a $90 million in the state budget as drafted by Gov Lamar Alexander according to state Finance Commissioner Hubert McCullough In announcing state revenue collections through April the commissioner said Friday he would by" his earlier estimate of a $106 million budget surplus from the 1984-85 fiscal year Alexander allocates much of that money in his budget plan The difference between the administration plan and budget amendments adopted or pending in the Democrat-dominated House Finance Committee is $90 million McCullough said Republican members of the committee walked out of session with House Minority Leader Rep Jim Henry R-Kings-ton calling the proceedings a He said only committee Chairman Rep John Bragg D-Mur-freesbora and two other committee officers both Democrats dominated the decision-making complained that the Mika DuOoaaWaw Cardinal staff Melvin Meritt gets a face-paint design from Wanda Wood by during 20th anniversary festivities for the Knoxville-Knox County Head Start program 1-40 expansion set at $94 million Vi jr iV 1979 1983 1984 1985 Wayne BWdCMNnn-Sanlinal MaN those proposals as likely to bring more money into the state than -they cost The administration might look to an across-the-board cutback if trimming becomes necessary he said McCullough said the state had received about $969 million more than it had expected to get in re- venue by the end of April The April collection totaled $3894 million Sales tax collections were about $16 million over April estimates with a rate of growth for the month of 25 percent he said For the year to date the rate of growth is 81 percent McCullough said that if the rate -of growth remains at 25 percent in May and June which appears like- ly the previous estimate of a $106 million surplus would be reduced by $10 million But increases in franchise and excise tax collections will offset that loss and keep the $106 million figure on target he I said I The Legislature's Fiscal Review Committee has projected a surplus of up to $135 million McCullough said he would not characterize those figures as but said he was that the admin- istration figures would stand na border $775097 by Tennessee As-phalt Co of Knoxville for resurf ac- ing state route 9 in Campbell Coun- ty from Belle Meade subdivision to near 1-75 $120012 for paving on state route 33 in Blount County by APAC-Tennessee Inc of Alcoa The project runs from Old Niles Ferry Road to Cunningham Street $259903 by BR Rose Construction Co of Chattanooga for paving along the intersection of In- diana Avenue and Beech Street in the City of La Follette $267274 by Construe- tion Co of Mount Juliet Tenn for construction of a bridge over Gulf Fork Big Creek on Sparks Road in Cocke County 507240 by Renfro Construction Co of Knoxville for building a bridge over the Southern Railroad tracks on High Street in Loudon $277836 by Charles Blalock and Sons Inc of Sevierville for con- struetkm of a bridge over the west prong of the Little Pigeon River on Pine Grove Road in Sevier County Jack KvfclsndNswa-Sufinal Iff well as plays banjos is one of music and crafts festivaL Congressional salaries have risen seven times in the last 20 years sometimes due to votes by members and more recently due to automatic cost-of-living increases Senate records show salaries were at $30000 in 1965 and then rase to in 1969 $44600 in 1975 $57500 in 1977 $60662 in 1979 $69800 hi 1983 $72600 in 1984 and to $75100 in January of this year through an automatic in- Former Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker R-Tenn became so with her pony ride from Cathy Company also a Colgate-Palmolive company At the time he becJtne president the Knoxville company was known as Southern Athletic-BIKENelson The name change to BIKE Athletic occurred in 1980 BIKE headquartered in Knoxville is a leading manufacturer of athletic protective equipment and appareL Its main plant in the Forks of the River Industrial Park employs 725 people There are 115 employees at new branch plant in Cherry ville NC uum $48- 2UFB5 IH- 1965 1969 1975 1977 administration had "no into the decisions The committee is ex- pected to complete its work next week McCullough said the $90 million included $45 million in Democrat-backed tax relief plans including $28 million lost by repealing the 15 percent tax on home utility bills Alexander had allotted only $25 million for tax cuts in his spending blueprint Among items cited by McCullough were: $11 million for adding more guidance counselors in public schools $18 million for improving teachers' group insurance $6 million for reducing class size from kindergarten through the third grade At the start of budget proceedings the House committee had pending more than 200 amendments that would have added nearly $300 million in state spending Democrats have mentioned expanded tourism promotions and $2 million for Homecoming 86 project as possible targets for trimming the administration budget to make room for other spending McCullough however defended project will involve six miles of road from the 33-71 intersection to Hawthorne Street and then along 71 until it intersects 33 again $597402 for resurfacing state route 33 from its junction with state route 1 to Mineral Springs Road $218778 for repairing the bridge over Southern Railroad and Third Creek on state route 115 by Rogers Group Inc of Nashville for construction of a bridge over Beaver Creek on Harrell Road by Simpson Bridge Co of Charleston Tenn $95970 for widening the southbound 1-275 ramp to east-bound 1-640 at Sharps Gap interchange by Ralph Jenkins Excavation Gx Rockwood Low bids submitted for other East Tennessee projects included: $7786012 for slope stability work along 1-40 in Cocke County and for grading and drainage work on a future welcome center-rest area The bid submitted by Oman Construction Co of Nashville involves slope work on a 34-mile stretch starting at the North Caroli HM Marcum who makes as the performers for the Rugby The Helms amendment Sasser said was just "political for political purposes" Nevertheless Sasser recalled his "long of voting against pay raises and even offering an amendment in 1981 which killed a pay' raise plan He also noted that he refused in 1981 to make use of a tax break solely for members of Congress which would have given him a $14000 tax deduction Sen Albert Gore Jr said he opposed the practice of members setting their own pay for their current April Thomas gets a little help Potter petitive Corbett'S appointment is effective June 1 announced Roderick Turner executive vice president of Colgate-Palmolive in New York the parent company of BIKE Corbett 40 is marketing director and has been with the firm since 1971 A Chicago native he lives with his wife and two children in FarraguL Axford also of Farragut has been BIKE president since 1976 He previously was vice president and director of sales for the Etonic Shoe Head Start celebrates 20th year It was a festive way of saying Birthday Head With song dance and lots of reminiscing the national 20th anniversary of Head Start was observed cariiival-style in Knoxville Friday Little Melvin Meritt got his face painted Farragut Key Club put on a puppet show and clown act There were pony rides a picnic and bean-bag tossing The Austin-East Tapperettes did a tap dance routine Halls High School Jazz Band played jazz music and the Blue Earth Dancers a group of Indians from Cherokee NC danced An estimated 1000 children parents and Head Start volunteers supporters employees and former employees attended the carnival at the new East Head Start Center on Prosser Road Local dignitaries gave speeches The keynote address was made by John Jordan of Atlanta Head Start's regional director for the Administration for Children Youth and Families A network of special activities is taking place around the country to celebrate Head Start's longevity said local program manager Sylvia PoweiL Head Start began in 1965 as a demonstration summer project un-' der President Lyndon on Poverty" Today it is hailed as one of the largest single providers of health services to poor children providing education social services parent 1 involvement handicapped services and health The Knoxville program is operated by the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee It serves an average 500 children a year ages 3 to 5 and officials estimate more than 10000 local children have been served in the last 20 years News-Sentinel NashvHle bureau NASHVILLE The price tag for expanding 1-40 to six lanes from the Mabry Hood road interchange to the 1-75 interchange would be $94 million under an apparent low bid opened Friday state Department of Transportation officials said The low bid for adding two lanes in what is now the median for an eight-mile stretch was submitted by Renfro Construction Co of Knoxville If the bid is approved work should begin in six weeks and be completed by July 1986 under state plans Renfro is currently expanding 1-40 from four to six lanes from Pa-permill Road to Mabry Hood according to DOT spokeswoman Renae Pickens Bids were also opened on a number of other highway projects involving Knox County Friday Among the apparent low bids were: $97242 for repaving on state routes 33 and 71 submitted by Tennessee Asphalt Co Knoxville The spring festival offers music crafts from staff reports RUGBY If you like fbot-stompin' hand-clappin' country hoedown music you'll find it at Rugby next weekend If you like crafts woodworking glass blowing dolls baskets pottery quilts and needlework find that too But there are plenty of other choices for those who attend the spring music- and crafts festival and grand opening of the Rugby Village Centre May 18 and 19 The new buildings are the commissary which will contain crafts made in the area Newbury House Inn an inn for visitors and the Harrow Road Cafe which will be providing both homegrown specialties and food with the flavor of the British Ides Tours win be given of several buildings built in the 1800s and a continuous film program will be presented on the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area Hours are 10 am to 6 pm both days Admission is $450 for adults and $175 for elementary and high school students Preschoolers will be admitted free Corbett named BIKE Athletic chief James Corbett has been named president of BIKE Athletic Co replacing John Axford who has resigned to open his own firm Axford is opening a sporting goods sales representative firm which will represent BIKE in the Southeast and Corbett other sporting goods companies in ares in which BIKE is not com.