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One hundred three years of editorial freedom
Vol. CIV, No5 Ann r, Tuesday, October Daily
Yeltsin crushes power bid
MOSCOW (AP) - Boris Yeltsin won a
bloody victory in the battle for Russia's future
yesterday, his tanks and paratroopers flushing
his hard-line opponents from a flaming Rus-
sian parliament building. Scores died as Yeltsin
crushed the strongest power bid yet by rem-
nants of the old Communist regime.
The mass surrender of lawmakers and their
armed supporters seemed likely to allow Yeltsin
to move ahead with plans to elect a new parlia-
ment in December, and pursue long-frustrated
economic reforms. He still faced daunting chal-
lenges in his effort to transform Russia's
economy and society.
Parliament leaders gave up after 1,000 sol-
diers raked the white marble parliament relent-
lessly with fire from T-72 tank cannon and
heavy machine guns, but at least some holdouts
remained at large.
After nightfall, red and green tracer bullets
streaked across the sky as flames shot up the
sides of the parliament, known as the White
House. Armored vehicles and heavy trucks
rumbled through the city, and Muscovites
rushed home to beat a new military curfew.
Snipers continued to fire from the White
House and surrounding buildings. The search
for holdouts was difficult because the 19-story
parliament building is an often-confusing laby-
rinth of twisting corridors and hidden rooms.
The storming of the White House broke
hard-line opposition in parliament. The attack
also could make martyrs of his opponents.
President Clinton and other Western lead-
ers were quick to support Yeltsin.
Parliament speaker Ruslan Khasbulatov,
Vice President Alexander Rutskoi and other
leaders of the two-week occupation of the
White House were taken from parliament to the
See RUSSIA, Page 2
AP PH
Hard-line defenders and supporters walk down the steps of the Russian Parliament
building after surrendering. More than 300 lawmakers marched out after the assault.
ol
Engler to propose new plan for school financing
LANSING (AP) - Gov. John speech of much of its drama. jected Proposal A, which would have That would send $500 million tor of the Mi
Engler worked late last night to fine- The leaks also have let lawmakers done that as a way to cut property more each year to the federal govern- School Board
tunehisschoolfinanceaddress,which andspecialinterestgroupsgetanearly taxes and revamp school funding. ment "that used to go to Michigan seen, the po
will help set the boundaries for the look at the plan. Rep. Lynn Jondahl (D-Okemos), schools," he said. wealthier dis
Legislature's work on the issue this The executive director of the co-chair of the House Taxation Com- Jondahl and some other lawmak- the best.
fall. Michigan Education Association said mittee, said news stories about the ers favor an increase in the state's 4.6 That's beca
chigan Association of
s, said from what he's
orer districts and the
Iricts would come out
ause the poorer districts
Engler is scheduled to deliver the
speech to lawmakers at 2 p.m. today.
In it, the Republican governor will
outline hisplan to rebuild Michigan's
*chool finance system and boost edu-
cational quality.
The governor and his staff have
been working on the plan for two
months and hoped to keep its details
under wraps until today. But nearly
all its major points have trickled out
over the past few days, robbing the'
the state's largest teacher's union
didn't like Engler's idea of asking
voters again to raise the sales tax.
"We're willing to look at a combi-
nation of taxes, but we would hate to
rely on a 2-cent sales tax increase,"
said Beverly Wolkow.
Wolkow said the Legislature
should have a backup plan ready to go
in case voters reject raising the sales
tax from 4 percent to 6 percent. On
June 2, voters overwhelmingly re-
plan left him with the impression that
"it's a little of this, a little of that,
without a clear direction."
"It looks to me like it's cobbled
together with bits and pieces. It's hard
to find a philosophy," he said.
Jondahl said he didn't like the idea
of switching from the property tax,
which can be deducted from federal
income tax, to the sales tax and a real
estate transfer tax. Neither of those
can be deducted.
percent income tax as the main way to
replace the $6.3 billion axed out of
school funding last summer.
The Legislature voted in July to
end the use of property taxes for run-
ning schools and Engler signed it in
August. The governor hailed it as the
biggest tax cut in Michigan history.
But now he and lawmakers are faced
with the biggest tax increase package
in state history to replace most of it.
Justin King, the executive direc-
would getfoundation grants of $4,500
per pupil, which would represent a
sizable increase for most of them, he
said.
The wealthier districts, which
spend more than $6,500 per pupil,
would be able to ask voters for a local,
property tax millage to keep their
spending high.
But districts in between would be
getting roughly the same amount of
See FUNDING, Page 2
Suent enjoy'
flights of fac
war
U.S. sends
new troops
to Somalia
after 12 die
WASHINGTON (AP) - The
Pentagon ordered fresh infantry and
top-of-the-line tanks to Somalia yes-
terday to bolster U.S. forces after at
least 12 Americans were killed, 75
wounded and others feared captured
in the fiercest fighting since the mis-
sion began.
The casualties, inflicted by the
forces of warlord Mohamed Farrah
Aidid, were the most for the United
States in such a short period since the
Persian Gulf War. The battle began
late Sunday and continued yesterday.
On Capitol Hill, some lawmakers
called for a U.S. withdrawal, but Presi-
dent Clinton insisted American forces
would remain until order was restored.
Reinforcements were being sent,
he said, because "I'm not satisfied
that the folks that are there now have
the protection that they need."
Disturbing pictures of dead and
captured American soldiers filtered
back from Mogadishu. Television
footage showed a frightened, wounded
soldier being questioned by his cap-
tors - prompting a warning from
Defense Secretary Les Aspin that he
should be treated humanely.
"We will respond forcefully if
any harm comes to those who are
being detained," Asp insaid heatedly.
The soldier identified himself as a
Blackhawk helicopter pilot; the Pen-
tagon said he was a warrant officer.
A gruesome photograph showed
cheering Somalis dragging by rope
the~ bod-v of an unidentified American
By KAREN SABGIR
DAILY NEWS EDITOR
Flight Controls. Free and correct.
Trim. Set for take off.
Oil pressure. Green..
Throttle. Full open.
Flaps. Up.
Engine instruments. Check.
In approximately the time it takes
o open a U-lock from a University
bike rack, a Cessna 172 is airborne,
flying north out of Ann Arbor Mu-
nicipal Airport.
Looking down from the pilot's
seat at an altitude of about 2,500 feet
The insect's perspective of broc-
coli forests and teardrop lakes emerg-
ing through Michigan's hazy skies is
familiar territory for student pilots
like Marla Schwaller, who said she,
flies two to four times a week.
Schwaller, a graduate student in
Chinese studies, said she is trying to
finish her training so she can take
advantage of a private flying license
- and fly her friends out to dinner.
Although she is working toward a
University degree and has had to post-
pone some lessons because of her
studies or weather conditions,
This aerial view of the athletic campus was taken from the plane the U-M Flyers will have on the Diag today.
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