• Senate sends consumer interest rate bill out MST I hi CaLZEh MAR 1 6 '79 Despite claims small businessmen and farmers would suffer, a bill allowing money-lending institutions to charge as much as 18 percent interest on loans of $175,000 ar.1 more has won final Senate approval. Current law allows the high interest rate charges on loans of $500,000 or more. Sen. O.H. Harris, R-Dallas, at first had sought to lower the standard to $100,000 before agreeing to amend it to $175,000. The bill passed 21-8 Thursday and was sent to the House, despite continued criticism from a Ganado Democrat. Sen. Bill Patman, who threatened Wednesday to filibuster the bill until Harris accepted the compromise figure, said Thursday the measure would place undue economic hardship on small businessmen who need to borrow to keep their operations going. "I am deeply concerned about the economic plight of our small businessmen and of our farmers and ranchers," he said. "Before you vote for this bill, consider the economic bargaining power of the small businessmen, the mom and pop grocery operators." But Sen. E.L. Short, D-Tahoka, said the bill actually would give farmers and ranchers more opportunity to borrow money. "It would permit us to keep money flowing and allow farmers and ranchers to keep their land," Short told Pat- man. A Pampa Republican, Sen. Bob Price. said since most land deals in Texas are financed by insurance companies and the Farmers Home Administration, the measure would not help farmers and ranchers. Sen. Bill Meier, D-Euless, who has a bill pending that would raise the ceiling on the interest rate of home mor- L\c‘ 6o-)'9 Clements offers support to 'back to basics' in schools tgates from 10 to 12 percent, said interest rates were set on the supply and demand of loans. "You are just trying to divert attention to this bill," Meier told Patman. "Where is the testimony that supply and demand needs 18 percent interest rates?" Patman said. Clements announces support for law-and-order measures wni isToN oHRONFCLE Chrartie Austin Bureau MAR 1 6 79 AUSTIN — Gov. William P. Clements Jr. announced his support for a series of bills, including a limited wiretap law, that he said will allow law enforcement offi- cials to do a better job. Clements' laundry list of law-and-order lexislation he said he will work to help pass includes the following: • Electronic surveillance — a proposal by Texarkana Sen. Ed Howard, that pro- vides for wiretapping in narcotic and drug cases. Clements said it contains proper safeguards to prevent abuse. -• Drug enforcement — a series of bills that would make drug cases the highest priority in setting court dockets, allow the state to keep money seized in drug raids, and add the drug known as "angel dust" to state law penalty schedules. . • State's right of appeal — to give the AUSTIN CJIIZEN *AR [9-'---- B TERRY PETERS rACitizen Staff Gov. Bill Clements reemphasized his support for the , "back to basics" trend in public schools Thursday at a0, _ reception for meml2membersof:1.12t:a.u.S_PT.A.----e; bo-01-10—Aris1in PTA members were among the estimated 600 statewide representatives who lobbied for the PTA's legislative program during the third annual PTA Day at the Capitol. -We need to get back to the hard-core curricula.' Clements told the approving crowd. "In a simplistic phrase, back to the basics of reading and writing and arithmetic and discipline in the classroom." The governor noted his opposition to the 5.1 percen teacher pay raise proposed by the Legislative Budget Board. When added to step increases, the 5.1 percent would give a bigger pay boost to teachers than that proposed. for state employees, he said. "I'm far more interested in getting a better Top priorities inlcude a return to the semester/ education fo. our children than I am in the school system in high schools, state funding for "gifted ang teachers salaries," Clements told applauding PTA talented" programs, more money for textbooks and opposition to state-mandated competency testing, saidembers. Sherry Stanford, the s But he added that he favors greater participation by state group's legislative chair- teachersin the "system." "They should have the full support of the ad- ministration so they are not harassed by students in the,, lassroom." Clements said. . -governor also voiced his support for a state system of standardized student competency testing, which the Texas PTA opposes. Stanford said the organization wants competency testing left to the discretion of local school boards. Other activities at the PTA Day included visits to legislators' offices and a PTA coffee for legislators at the First United Methodist Church across from the Capitol. man. Winnie Gage, president of the Austin City Council PTA. said Austin's priorities are the semester system and state funding of full-day kindergarten on a local option basis. The latter proposal has been spearheaded by two Austin PTA members, Gail Leifeste and Linda West. Current law provides for funding of a half-day over the school year or a full day for half a year. Clements addressed a large gathering of the PTA members outside the Governor's Public Reception Room on the second floor of the Capitol. state, not just the defendant, the right to appeal the outcome in a criminal trial based on issues of law. • Bail bond reform — bills providing for court-administered bonds and increas- ing the penalties for jumping bail. • Juvenile Justice — lower the prosecu- tion age for criminal offenses from 15 to 14; allow indictment of juveniles aged 15 to 17 without prior waiver of jurisdiction by a juvenile court and provide for resti- tution to victims of juvenile crime. • Permitting oral confessions — expanding the circumstances under which oral confessions may be used as evidence in a trial. Clements said the legislative proposals he favors "will provide • Texas citizens with needed improvements in the area of criminal law enforcement" and said he has instructed his staff lobbyists to work actively for their passage. cv
