PRESS CLIPS ss 718 WEST 5th Si. AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 477:6755 Enterprise Pecos, Texas JAN 4 1980 Did Texans save money? Tax bill under scrutiny By LEE JONES Associated Press Writer AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Some Texans are questioning whether they saved any money as a result of all the legislative noise about tax relief in 1978 and 1979. Gov. Bill Clements said Thurs- day he has heard the talk — in- cluding concerns expressed by Speaker Bill Clayton — and al- ready has a confidential report from his budget director on the sub- ject. He said budget director Paul Wrontenbery had "studied careful- ly" various tax relief 07-4-ions and submitted a report to Clements. The governor, who still mentions tax relief as a possible special ses- sion topic, said Wrotenbery listed 19 options. -I am trying to evolve answers as to what would be the best course of action," Clements said at his weekly news conference. Tax relief legislation passed in 1978 and 1979 consisted mainly of exemptions from school taxes, but Clayton says some school districts simply raised tax rates to keep revenues from dropping. CLEMENTS ALSO commented on recent congressional action elimin- ating state-imposed ceilings on home mortgage interest rates until March 31, with a possibility the limits will come off permanently. He said the action was an in- fringement on state rights but in economic terms probably was justi- fied because the money market is na- tionwide and is affected by federal fiscal and monetary policy. Clements called high interest rates a "disgrace" and predicted they would rise past the point where Texas ccnsumers could afford to borrow money for homes or major applances. But he said a free market, where interest rates would respond to competition, supply and demand was "the only way we are going to get those interest rates down." THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED he appointed Donn D. Woolery of Amarillo and Glenn Heckmann of Brazoria as two of the six state commissioners who participate with the Board of Pardons and Pa- roles in making parole recommenda- tions. Woolery, sales manager for an oil jobber, is an ex-convict. Heck- mann, brother of Clements' deputy press secretary, is a prison guard officer, serving as field major at the Clemens Unit. On other matters, Clements said: —He probably will ask the 1981 Legislature for funds to upgrade buildings and other facilities at Texas Southern University, a pre- dominantly black school.