1,,VILLIAM P. CLEMENTS, JR. GOVERNOR 011: ICE OF THE GOVLIiNOR STATE CAPITOL AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711 February 2?, 1980 The Honorable Mark White Attorney General of Texas (;upreme Court Building Austin, Texas 78711 Dear General White: Your letter of February 7, 1980 regarding the (Ruiz Case implies a political motivation that is inappropriate. With regard to my veto of the 2nd year appropriation for new construc- tion at the Texas Department of Corrections, please be advised that this decision was reached in close cons.ultation with Jim Estelle and only after I had received representations that it would not be possible for the TDC to obligate those funds during the biennium for which they. were appropriated and that the projects con[emplated in that particular appropriation would not impact bed space at the TDC. You fail to mention or apparently to understand that I have okayed spending $60,930,313.00 for new construction at the TDC during the 1980-81 biennium which will bring on line an increase of 35Dia, in bed space. I have great admiration for the Texas prison Sy' tern. I believe it is the best system in the United States and possibly in the world. I have no doubt that with adequate and competent legal representation from the Texas Attorney General, our federal courts will have the same opinion. Sincerely, 'Chian] P. Clements, Jr. Governor WPCJr:gtd