Show 4A The Salt Lake Tribune Thursday February Senate Committee Votes to Cut Off Contra Aid 19 1987 - Tfcs Sen(UPI) ate Foreign Relations Committee voted Wednesday to cut ot' all American aid to the guerrilla army fighting to overthrow the Marxist led Nicaraguan government — an effort that even supporters said will WASHINGTON 11-- 9 jlti-mate- ly fail The action approved on largely party lines was the opening round of another bitter congressional debate on President Reagan’s policy of supporting the Nicaraguan “freedom 'Ijhters” Opponents said that while Congress might have the votes to pass the measure Reagan would veto it and there are not the votes to override a veto The measure would block delivery to the Contras of the remaining 40 million of 100 million in military and other assistance narrowly approved in 1986 In unusually strong language the State Department denounced the vote saying it "would abandon all Nicaraguans struggling to bring democracy to their country” “The Sandinistas would be compelled by this bill to do nothing — no reforms no democratization no respect for citizens’ rights no reduction in Soviet and Cuban advisers no end Lawmakers Want Global Ban On Gases That Destroy Ozone - WASHINGTON Members (UPI) of Congress concerned about a pos- sible environmental catastrophe urged Wednesday that Europe Japan and the Soviet Union stop using gases that damage the earth’s protective ozone layer Seven senators and several House members held a news conference to announce their support for a congressional resolution that backs up the US position to be stated at an international conference in Vienna on the dangers of chlorofluorocarbons known as CFCs Sen John Chafee I called the ozone depletion situation “a doomsday problem” with potential "catastrophic” effects The resolution urges the president to take immediate action to reduce the depletion of the ozone layer by negotiating with other nations that continue to allow CFC use The United States banned CFCs in 1978 The ozone layer protects the earth from too much ultraviolet radiation from the sun said a Sen Albert Gore draft version of an Environmental Protection Agency report on the risk caused by continued ozone depletion found that the United States at best “can expect during the lifetime of those people now living and those born during the next three generations an additional 40 million cases of skin cancer an additional 800000 deaths from skin cancer” to subversion of their democratic Soneighbors no halt to the inflow of viet arms” th? department's state- ment said milReagan has also asked for 105 lion in new military assistance for the rebels and it estimated 15000-1700- 0 is uncertain he can win congressional approval for it The furor over secret American arms sales to Iran and the reported diversion of excess profits to the Contras in violation of a congressional ban has seriously damaged administration hopes of winning congressional approval of future aid Reagan says the Contras are fight Owens Returning From Trip to Will Rogers Says what is "Well all I know just little testimony I read in the papers every day If a man is not testifying about oil or Central America bonds or votes why he is testifying about railroad Tribune Washington Bureau WASHINGTON — Freshman Rep Wayne Owens will return here late four-da- y Thursday night after a Amerito Central ” trip rates or miners' or wages something "fact-finding- “My School for ca Public Testifying that I wrote you about is gathering recruits every day Men that had no idea they would be called on a month ago are now enlisting for short courses in my school” — The Utah Democrat met with Costa Rican and Honduran officials on Wednesday is head and state Rep Harry Fritz shoulders above his colleagues in the House in Helena Howaide Ed Myers is not beneath him ever listening to his because Myers also just happens to be a part-tim- e lobbyist At House OKs By Dan Bates And Paul Roily April 8 1928 Selected and edited by Bryan Sterling All rights reserved for the Will Rogers Memorial in- sales-ta- x acked way to treat middle-incom- e taxpayers and also to drop the poor from the income rolls "We’re taxing people now at levels where people live on welfare” Rep Call stressed “This the flat rate is fair because it's a good contrast from the newly reformed federal tax sys- crease which would require Democratic support for passage a And the Senate resuscitated House-borhike meacigarette-ta- x sure that had been snuffed Tuesday However senators kicked an per pack proposal back to 8 cents as proposed at the outset Even after House Democrats tried to boost the single 575 percent rate higher to clear more revenue most representatives agreed to stick to the “flat” income-taconcept by a decisive bipartisan 0 margin — chief Rep Craig Call "flat-tax- ” 103 — Bill House of sponsor conceded he has a chore ahead in selling it to the Senate But he and other advocates insisted the flat rate — compared with Utah’s existing and largely disproportionate format — was the most n x 53-2- two-brack- tem” HB103 would allow a 5000 standard exemption plus a 2000 personal deduction It would allow no itemized deductions beyond that even for charitable contributions home-mortgag- e tithing interest or other tax- es family of four with an annual taxable income of 30000 under the new federal structure would pay a state tax bill of 97750 Under Utah’s existing format some 60 percent of all taxpayers wind up paying 775 percent — the state’s highest bracket — with existing deductions in place As a result the “regressive” 775 percent bracket brings in nearly 90 revepercent of Utah’s income-tanue Gov Norm Bangerter had recommended a “progressive" three-rat- e system but he has said he has no approblem with the single-rat- e proach Opposing the Call measure Rep Lake said the Ralph Tate Jr flat rate cheats the taxpayer who takes deductions unduly shifting the to the burden "from the itemizer" by as much as 40 percent "Utah is a state high on charitable e contributions and high on interest" Rep Tate em- - phasized “It the flat tax hits hard the segment of our society that contributes significantly to our society’s social causes It’s a blow to the young family or single person trying to buy a home” The flat-ta- x bill is “revenue-neutral- ” on the surface but the 575 percent rate would accommodate a 50 million “windfall" expected from federal reform anyway revenue In Utah all income-tagoes to public schools Gov Bangerter wants 106 million from next year’s income tax regardless of the format x x lt home-mortgag- Senate Sends ‘Message’ In 65-mLegislation ph A-- down guidelines for corporations to l to Congress” Sen Finlinson said “It lets them know we’re tired of them telling us what to do” The bill would hike the speed limit on highways and freeways from the federally mandated 55 mph to 65 mph But Sen Finlinson acknowl- edged it would cost the state about 4 million annually in forfeited federal highway funds by not complying with the federal mandate That’s why the governor would veto the bill he said But it would put the Legislature on record as stating the intra-stat- e speed authority should rest with the individual states not the federal government Two years ago the Legislature passed a bill that would make speeding between 55 and 65 mph a "fuel conservation” violation instead of a speeding violation Such a ticket would have had a smaller fine than the traditional ticket and it would not have resulted in “points" toward the suspension of a driver’s license But Gov Bangerter vetoed that bill primarily because of the fear the state mig lose the fedeil highway funds Meanwhile the Senate Transportat- ion and Public Safety Committee vanced House Bill 145 ad- which lays workers in boats and on shore picked up some of the 1500 birds that also died Each foot of shoreline had an average of 72 dead fish “and we calculated mileages to arrive at 7 million” said Thompson The US Fish and Wildlife workers burned the birds to prevent them from contaminating other wildlife at the refuge 60 miles east of Reno Wednesday’s fish count which in- creased the estimated total from 3 million took place as other federal Nothing is being done with the fish said Ken Merritt assistant manager of the refuge House Minority Leader Mike Dmi-tric- h moved in vain to set the rate at 6 percent to glean another 24 million for education's new budget "Now is the time to be statesmen on this bill” said Rep Dmitrich adding taxpayers deserved meaningful reform from the 1987 session In a caucus called minutes later many Democrats doubted Republicans would back more tax hikes next year while staring at 1988 elections Rep Call countered that raising the 575 percent rate “turns tax re- - A Resolutions Passed SJR8 (Cornaby) Calls for an amendment to the 16th Amendment to the federal Constitution that prohibits Congress from levying a tox on income from obligations of state and local governments A By LEGISLATIVE CTAJJEND'XR 38th Day SENATE Bills Passed SB96 (Bangerter) Exceptions to the vehicle Insurance survey law permit suspension of Insurance for certain vehicles Bv Senate 22-- 1 SB113 (Finlinson) Provides Irrigation districts with the authority to Issue bonds Bv Senate 21-- 0 SB 120 (Swan) Provides standards for establishing boundaries in actions to quiet title Bv Senate 17-- 9 SB154 (Finlinson) Relates to the chiefs of public safety deportments in cities of the first second and third class and towns By Senate 24-SB 157 (Carling) Establishes diversion programs for professional licensees accused for the first time of certain offenses under unprofessional conduct By Senate 27-- 0 Continued From evaporating lake was very salty and “should be right at their tolerance level” he said T ax Plan to F atten Utah Coffers Flat-Ra- te equitable Tribune Staff Writers The Utah House forwarded a personal “flat-rate- ” income tax Wednesday as a bid for true reform and way to net the state 50 million yielded by new federal law Lawmakers are counting on the money — and then some perhaps — to augment state government’s new budget year beginning July 1 Whether the “flat tax” comes away unscathed when the Legislature’s annual session ends in a week is anyone’s guess The issue is now before the Utah Senate Meanwhile senators were playing politics Wednesday with a Republican-b- On Thursday Owens will visit a Nicaraguan rebelcamp at the border and then fly to Guatemala Owens left Monday with 10 other congressmen on the trip which Owens press secretary Art Kingdom characterized as fact finding The tour is being funded by the House the State Department and the Defense Department Kingdom said Kingdom said Owens plans to brief reporters about his trip on Friday The congressman who opposes aid to the Contras serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee On Monday and Tuesday Owens and the other lawmakers met with Salvadoran President Jose Napolean Duarte and other officials in El Salvador Five Democrats and six Republicans are on the trip which was organized by Reps David E Bonior and Mickey Edwards a Now 7 Million Fish Are Feared Dead at Refuge RENO Nev (AP) — Scientists more than doubled their estimate Wednesday of the number of fish killed at a wildlife refuge saying 7 million died in water that one called a “chemical sink” Nearly as many fish still in the water were not expected to live much longer said Steve Thompson a wildlife biologist at the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge The water in the ing to force Nicaragua to enact democratic reforms and oust their Soviet and Cuban advisers Critics say the Contras are ineffective and will ultimately pull US troops into the fighting — a step Reagan says he opposes The bill by Sen Christopher Dodd bans any US government assistance for the guerrilla force which was recruited in 1981 by the CIA It includes 300 million in economic aid for the democratic governments Reagan says are threatened by — Costa Nicaraguan subversion Guatemala Salvador and Rica El Honduras of the 100 Reagan won approval million Contra aid package last year conduct random drug and alcohol tests on employees The committee voted strictly down partisan lines with the four Republicans voting for the bill and the two Democrats opposing it Eddie Mayne president of the Utah AFL-CIdenounced the bill as a "liability immumtv bill” rather than a drug testing bill He said corporations in LTtah already conduct random drug tests on employees but HB145 would insure them immunity from liability if the test proved wrong and the innocent employee was wrongly accused He also complained the bill would grant a company having a drug test-in- g program immunity from third-part- y liability suits in the event a drunk or impaired employee causes an accident while on the job that causes injury to another “This isn't a drug testing bill” said Mr Mayne "We re in favor of legitimate drug testing This is an immunity bill This lets the company off scot-fre- e from any liability” But Rep Frank Knowlton the measure's sponsor said the bill does hold the employer liable for his own negligence SB165 (Finlinson) Modifies the 55 speed limit Bv Senate 17-SB170 (Carling) Provides additional dis- ciplinary sanctions which con be Imposed upon medical licensees By Senate 24-- 0 SB 198 (Bangerter) Amends the requirements for protective service security personnel for grounds and buildings under the lurlsdictlon of the division of facilities construction and management By Sen- ate 17-- 1 SB250 (Hlllyard) Provides appropriations to support state government By Senate 2 HB27 (Olsen) Defines and reorganizes processes for administrative procedures and rules By Senate 26-- HB72 (I Arrington) Specifies proce- dures for counties and cities to odopt ordinances permitting residential facilities for handicapped persons to be located In specified Senate residential zoned areas By 24-- 2 Outlav Down I Senate 20-- 7 HOUSE Bills Passed HB98 (Knowlton) Provide sunset dates on all sales tax exemptions By House 56-1- 8 HB 100 (Lewis) Amends technical provisions in the Insurance code By House 60-- 8 HB103 (Call Knowlton) Provide for a tax on adlusted gross Income By House 53-2- 0 HB109 (Lewis) Use of an automated dialing machine requires a certificate of convenience and necessity from the Pub0 lic Service Commission By House HB151 (Goodfellow DeMann) Local option sales and use tax revenues should be reported to the state tax commission on the basis of point of sale or use of transaction Bv House 65-- 0 HB174 (Richards) Makes changes in procedures 'n the Department of Corrections By House 71-- 0 HB175 (Skousen) Modifies applications of retroactive child support By House 65-- 4 HB215 (Walker) Allows procedure for removing names from a referendum or Initiative petition By House 70-HB236 (Wilson) Would deputize municipal attorneys to prosecute class A misdemeanors Bv House 70-- 3 HB246 (Bain) Exempts food purchased through WIC program from sales tox By House 67-- 0 HB272 (Knowlton) Amends the notice requirements given to taxpayers when rates increase and exempts certoln tax levies from notice ond disclosure provisions By House 72-- 0 HB324 (Christensen) Sets appeal procedures on state lond and forestry decisions and oddresses certain funding Issues By House 61-- 7 SB80 (Bangerter) Empowers the Utah Division of Alcohol and Drugs or a county oudltor to audit a local drug authority's books By House 66-- 0 SB 1 16 (Carling) Clarifies a definition relating to the offense of prostitution By House 56-- form into a tax increase and garbles the issue" During their Wednesday-mornin- g caucus House Democrats were prepared to block action on the flat-ta- x measure as “a bargaining chip” on other fiscal matters But in the afternoon most emerged ready to side with the concept “We’re putting all our confidence in the Senate raising the rate” Rep Dmitrich explained “We will not support any sales tax increase unless they senators support a higher income tax” The Senate after advancing a sales tax increase to a final vote on Tuesday tabled the bill Wednesday That puts the measure on hold and gives Senate Republicans time to bolster their forces for a majority tally or to at least convert a few Democrats The bill was tabled because several Republicans have indicated they will not vote for such an increase estimated to reap 60 million for the general fund unless some Democrats join the fold nt "They don’t want this to be a Reptax increase" said one GOP legislative leader “They want the Democrats to share some of the blame and they won't vote for it if the Democrats don’t come around” The eight Senate Democrats voted inas a block against the sales-ta- x crease Tuesday and Senate Minority Leader Rex Black Lake says his forces will hold fast unless the Republicans compromise on some of the tax increases Democrats want ublican-only lt Deputy State Budget Director Michael E Christensen distributed copies of charts to legislators hoping to dispel notions said a spokesperson that the current administration hasn't kept a lid on spendi The reduction figure assumes Gov Bangerter's current budget plan is adopted i House Tax-Reven- ue Continued From A-- l revenue forecasts predicted even less revenue than earlier thought available for next fiscal year which begins July 1 The administration predicted 19 million less tax revenue than the governor had contemplated when prefiscal-yea- r senting his 1987-8budget last December However the legislative fiscal analyst forecast only a 107 million decline because he al- 8 Data Show Bangerter’s Spending Has Dropped Combining expenditures of all funds Mr Christensen noted it was found real per capita average spending growth was about three percent a year in the Rampton era (1964 through 1976) Then in 1977 through 1984 the Matheson years growth hovered at near zero In 1985 the first Bangerter year growth in spending was a minus 16 percent This has happened despite the fact that Utah continues to rise above the average in its “school age dependen two-thir- Deficit Large To Complicate Budgeting (7c IVr Year Lawmakers Told Gov Norm Bangerter's administration has pared government expenditures 1 6 percent per year in real (inflation adjusted) per capita terms according to a data sheet given to lawmakers Wednesday "We’re going to hold steady unless they come around to some of our programs like adjusting the income-ta- x structure” Sen Black said They say they need about four of our votes” Senate Democrats caucused before the sales-ta- x vote Tuesday and four of them said they would vote for a sales-ta- x quarter-cen- t hike but none in- would go along with a half-cecrease “They say they need four of our votes" said Sen Black “And even if they get enough 15 votes to pass it they want our votes to give them a majority so it will go into effect early” If the sales tax hike passed by two- thirds it would go into effect April 1 instead of July 1 and would bring in an estimated 75 million for the current fiscal year But Democrats seem unlikely to join the Republicans on the sales-ta- x boost without concessions on their programs Democrats want the state income-ta- x structure changed so higher income groups would pay a higher percentage of tax But Republicans so far have balked at that idea The cigarette tax hike which died on the Senate floor Tuesday was resurrected Wednesday It was then amended from an 11 cents per pack — estimated to generate about 11 million — to 8 cents per pack estimated to bring in 8 million That measure now needs one more vote in the Senate before final passage It would then go back to the decy ratio”— a ratio of school-ag- e g pendents to persons in the years Mr Christensen said While the US average ratio has dropped from 45 dependents per 100 persons of working age in 1970 to 30 per 100 in 1986 Utah's ratio has gone from 55 per 100 in 1970 to 45 in the early 1980s to nearly 50 again in 1986 Thus while government spending by the Bangerter administration is "not only substantial by comparison to previous administrations Ait isj coming at a time when the school-ag- e dependency ratio is increasing” Mr Christensen noted wage-earnin- ready had anticipated about 10 million less than the governor The shortfalls forecast are for the state’s general and school funds the prime operating funds for general government and education funding Another option for gaining some additional money for this fiscal year without budget cutting is to accelerate by three months — to April 1 — the effective dates of proposed sales-ta- x and cigarette-ta- x increases initially planned to fund next fiscal year This however would require two-thirvoting support a hard count to come by and would yield probably no more than 8 million explained Sen Lyle Hillyard appropriations Last year Gov Bangerter was rebuffed by legislators in his proposal for a furlough day for public employees and school teachers to save money Sen Hillyard calculated a one-da- y y furlough for everybody could save about 46 million Another idea to garner more money for the budget discussed in both House and Senate caucuses was to consider immediate cancellation of some sales-ta- x exemptions Legislators took no immediate action pending the governor’s proposed solutions no-pa- |