Income Tax Texas

After vowing to create a "new Texas" in her inaugural address in January, Gov. Ann Richards wasted little time starting to make good on her promise. With her folksy charm and down-home humor, Richards has taken the capital by storm. And her hallmark has been an aggressively populist approach to government. In contrast to her Republican predecessor, the nearly invisible Bill Clements, Richards has been an accessible governor.

It wasn't a political bombshell. More like a political cherry bomb. But it made waves all the same. During the hoopla of the Republican National Convention, a group of President Bush's critics took reporters to a lot he owns in an upscale Houston neighborhood and charged that Bush uses it as a tax dodge. Bush, to fortify his claim of Texas residence, had signed an affidavit in 1985 stating that he intends to return to Houston when he retires and to build a house on that lot.

In Texas, crisis time is approaching. The state's coffers are about to be depleted and the state will soon face a projected $4.6-billion debt over the next two years. And that is if the projected state expenses of $52.4 billion over the next two years are on the mark. A doomsday budget, prepared recently to show taxpayers what the state could not afford without new revenues, offered some sobering projections in a number of areas.

An independent political action committee is scheduled to begin airing television advertisements today accusing President Bush of exploiting a loophole to substantially reduce his personal tax bill over the past decade.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Clayton W. Williams Jr. on Saturday defended his admission that he paid no income taxes for 1986. He described it as a lean year for many Texans, yet one in which his Democratic rival, state Treasurer Ann Richards, drew "a fat government paycheck." Meanwhile, a poll published in today's editions of the Houston Chronicle showed Richards gaining ground on Williams as the campaign nears its end.

An independent political action committee is scheduled to begin airing television advertisements today accusing President Bush of exploiting a loophole to substantially reduce his personal tax bill over the past decade.

It wasn't a political bombshell. More like a political cherry bomb. But it made waves all the same. During the hoopla of the Republican National Convention, a group of President Bush's critics took reporters to a lot he owns in an upscale Houston neighborhood and charged that Bush uses it as a tax dodge. Bush, to fortify his claim of Texas residence, had signed an affidavit in 1985 stating that he intends to return to Houston when he retires and to build a house on that lot.

With San Antonio's wooing of Jason Kidd complete, the New Jersey Nets will get one final shot at keeping the player who led them to the NBA Finals the last two seasons. Net President Rod Thorn did not return telephone calls left by Associated Press seeking comment on contract talks with the perennial All-Star point guard. What is certain is that Kidd wants his unrestricted free agency resolved as soon as possible. The earliest he can sign is July 16.

They may not agree on much, but on at least one topic, Barbara Bush and Hillary Clinton seem to be in sync: the press. "Avoid that crowd like the plague," Mrs. Bush told Mrs. Clinton, gesturing to the nearby mob of photographers and reporters as the outgoing First Lady greeted her successor at the White House door Thursday. "And if they quote you, make damn sure they heard you." "That's right. I know that feeling already," Mrs. Clinton responded, laughing.

In her first political commercials of the campaign, Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Tuesday portrayed Rep. Michael Huffington, her likely Republican challenger, as a millionaire Texas carpetbagger who dodged California income taxes. Huffington (R-Santa Barbara) said he had done nothing to avoid paying his proper taxes and described the ads as "a desperate act from a desperate politician. There won't be any political impact because it will backfire on her."

After vowing to create a "new Texas" in her inaugural address in January, Gov. Ann Richards wasted little time starting to make good on her promise. With her folksy charm and down-home humor, Richards has taken the capital by storm. And her hallmark has been an aggressively populist approach to government. In contrast to her Republican predecessor, the nearly invisible Bill Clements, Richards has been an accessible governor.

In Texas, crisis time is approaching. The state's coffers are about to be depleted and the state will soon face a projected $4.6-billion debt over the next two years. And that is if the projected state expenses of $52.4 billion over the next two years are on the mark. A doomsday budget, prepared recently to show taxpayers what the state could not afford without new revenues, offered some sobering projections in a number of areas.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Clayton W. Williams Jr. on Saturday defended his admission that he paid no income taxes for 1986. He described it as a lean year for many Texans, yet one in which his Democratic rival, state Treasurer Ann Richards, drew "a fat government paycheck." Meanwhile, a poll published in today's editions of the Houston Chronicle showed Richards gaining ground on Williams as the campaign nears its end.