Clements defines budget ills Nit) WO RePoicirie -7Et,EGeorof By RAMONA NYE Staff Writer 3 • Decreasing oil tax revenues have nothing to do with the state's budget problems, said Republican guberna- torial candidate Bill Clements Tuesday. "I think that all of you have been fed the myth that this budget crisis is due to the lack of petroleum tax revenue," Clements said Tuesday af- ternoon during a campaign stop in Midland. The state budget crisis is a direct result of Gov. Mark White's reckless spending and nothing else, Clements said. Before his defeat by White in the 1982 gubernatorial race, Cle- ments held the state's top office for four years starting in 1978. To deal with the state budget cri- sis, Clements said White should call a special session of the legislature, prioritize spending and scrub the budget. "A special session should be called. A careful examination of the budget should be conducted and an opened eye towards cutting out waste should be used. It is the only right step to take," Clements said. Clements said the budget is at an all-time high of $18.6 billion per year, and can be trimmed. Budget for pris- ons, mental health programs and CLEMENTS- (Continued from Page 1A) The number one source of taxes and revenues for the state is the sales tax, he said. Clements said his ownership of the oil drilling company SEDCO gives him a firm understanding of the pe- troleum industry. "Let's have a governor that under- stands the petroleum industry. "This governor has been no help whatsoever to the oil crisis." Clements said a division of his company SEDCO used to be located in the Permian Basin and he once had 16 rigs operating in the area. "I understand West Texas very, very well. We've just got to buckle down," said Clements, advising per- sons affected by low oil prices. "There is no quick fix for tough times. In the '50s and '60s I was here and it was equally tough." Clements is among three Republi- cans, including Tom Loeffler and Kent Hance, challenging White. public highways should not be cut and probably need increased fund- ing, he said. However, more than 200 state agencies should be evaluated to con- sider trimming duplication and over- laps, he said. Advocating budget cuts over tax increases, Clements said in a pre- pared statement, "There is no need for additional revenue. As governor, I will veto all tax or fee increases. We do not need any increase in taxes or in fees. Under Mark White, reve- nues are up 41 percent in three years. There are ample revenues." Please see CLEMENTS, Page 2A
