Page 4A Wednesday, November 4, 1998 The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise Seguin, Texas

Bob ThaxlonStaff witter

Agriculture needs Congress to control tax codeThese are tough times for Texas farmers and ranchers. On top of one devastating weather disaster after another, farm prices are as low today as they have been in many years. Farmers who experienced crop losses due to the adverse weather are in dire straights even if they have federal crop insurance. Insurance indemnities will help, but will make up only a portion of the lost income. In the final budget worked out by Congress in late October, there is a $4 billion emergency farm relief tax-cut package. In addition to some tax relief provisions, the plan provides $1.65 billion in market loss payments and $2.35 billion more in disaster payments. This'emergency package, combined with assistance already available through the 1996 farm bill, provides a substantial federal response to the economic situation fac-

Politicians show genuine concern for constituentsWhen Gov. George W. Bush toured parts of this area ravaged by recent flooding, some observers watching from the other side of the political fence criticized him for what they viewed as capitalizing on a tragedy to campaign for re-election. Their criticism rings hollow for several reasons. In the first place, they seem to have made the dubious assumption that Bush actually needed to go out and campaign for re-election. If public opinion polls were anywhere near accurate, his Democratic opponent, Garry Mauro, lagged so far behind Bush that going out and campaigning seemed akin to a football coach keeping his starters on the field when his team was ahead by three or four touchdowns late in the fourth quarter. At the time this was written, people were going to the polls to make their choices in the gubernatorial race and other contests, but the ballots were not being counted yet. It was too early to tell if Mauro pulled off the "upset of the century" that his supporters were talking about on Monday. It was too early to be absolutely certain that Bush didn't need to be hustling votes among flood victims. With upper-level politicians such as governors and presidents continually accompanied by an entourage of reporters, any foray into unfamiliar,. territory becomes officeholder^ a'ke" advantage of the media coverage. But that doesn't mean there's invariably an ulterior motive for tours of disaster areas. While trudging along behind Bush as he went doorto-door through a devastated neighborhood in New Braunfels, I was reminded of a similar tour long ago and far away. In September 1967, Hurricane Beulah blew through South Texas and flooded huge areas with torrential rains. President Lyndon B. Johnson landed Air Force One in Harlingen and boarded a helicopter for stops at various shelters where flood victims were housed. Before covering LBJ's visit to the Valley, I was not among his fans. But watching him during that tour generated more respect for the man. He was particularly impressive when talking oneon-one with people crowded into a school serving as a shelter for evacuees in Rio Grande City. 'Most of the shelter occupants were residents of Camargo, the city on the other side of the river, and most of them, especially the children, didn't speak much English. This wasn't a hindrance for LBJ. He 'talked with them in Spanish, and his fluency was surprising. But more impressive was what seemed to me to be his genuine concern for those people. In my view, Johnson wasn't putting on a show for the cameras. He really cared. Skeptics might have regarded LBJ's visit as politicking stumping for support in the election year ahead. But that year ahead was 1968, and Johnson decided to retire from politics by announcing in March that he would not seek re-election to the White House. In January 1969, he went home to his ranch on the Pedernales River. Bush stands poised for a possible run for the presidency; he's a long way from retirement. But, in my opinion, Bush shares an attribute with LBJ. He genuinely cares about the plight of victims of disaster.

Kay Bailey HutchisonUnited States Senatoring farmers. This tax relief package will help farmers and ranchers cope financially with some of the devastating losses they've had to absorb this year. The agricultural tax-cut plan includes four provisions: To help an estimated 100,000 farmers nationwide who suffered losses, the plan contains immediate tax relief. Net operating losses for farmers and ranchers will be given an extended carryback period, instead

of the general two-year carryback allowed. As a result, farmers and ranchers may be eligible to receive a tax refund using the net operating loss carryback. Income averaging for farmers will be made permanent. It restores for farmers the three-year income averaging that was removed from the tax code in 1986. This will protect farmers from unintended tax cpnsequences that result from wild income fluctuations unique to the agricultural economy. Farmers have little or no control over wide swings in their income or losses caused by weather conditions, unpredictable overseas markets and other factors. The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 allows farmers to average their incomes over a three-year span, but only through 2001. This section would make the provision permanent. Farmers will be protected from having

to pay taxes on farm program payments until the year in which those payments are actually received. This is a simple, commonsense change. Why should anyone be taxed on income they haven't yet received? Farmers who are self-employed will be able to deduct 100 percent of their health insurance costs by 2003, instead of 2007 as provided for in the old law. Enabling farmers and ranchers to fully deduct the cost of their insurance premiums is one of the impost important provisions in the bill. Finally, when this bill is fully implemented, farmers and ranchers will enjoy the same tax treatment as bur nation's largest corporations. Congress can't control the weather, but it can control the tax code. These changes not only are good tax policy, but represent a helping hand for people who need and deserve tax relief.

CMON,OLD TIMER? MOVE IT /

PUT IT IN WAgPPME,

LETTERS TO THE EDITORLocal columnist taken to task byeducatorsaware of with their fair and equitable approach to a very difficult issue." Perhaps, he wasn't a "second class citizen" in his education as a pre-teen and teenager, and he opted out of English grammar and took Distortion 101 instead. Teachers comprise one third of the committee he praises, the comments he derides may not even have been teachers' comments, yet Lykins accuses all teachers of being hypocritical and needing to learn from a student poll about school uniforms. His distorted accusations conierning his view of ^respect are particularly odious and unfound-: ed, when one considers-that teachers helped explain the survey to students, sat through special televised explanations of the survey, allowed class time for students to discuss the uniform issue, and then used class time for students to complete the surveys. Lykins obviously lacks respect for die time, effort, training, preparation, education, patience, stamina'and love required to teach. Sincerely, Corlea S. Plowman President Seguin Educators Association

Texas teachers deserve equal benefitsTo the Editor:(An open letter to Texas. Legislators) > >, '" '