The Michigan Daily - Monday, October 11, 1993 - 3
.Senate to begin work on Engler education package
LANSING (AP) - Lawmakers That's the ne
got a taste of Gov. John Engler' s ideas Engler's Dec. 311
for school finance and education im- new way of payin
provementlastweek.This week they'll The governor a
dive into a plate full of details. find a way to repla
Senate Majority Leader Richard property taxes the
Posthumus (R-Alto) created a pair of the summer.
select committees to handle the bills Engler spokes
implementingEngler'seducationplan. said a number of
The Committee on Education Re- duced tomorrow.
form and the Committee on School "He'd like the
Finance Reform will work on legisla- to take place in O
tion Wednesday and Thursday. activity in Novem
Health scare
*bill flood'
CapitHol Hl
WASHINGTON (AP) - The half-dozen health care
plans now before Congress parallel each other in many
ways, with their approach toward cutting red tape and
reforming malpractice laws.
Buttheprovisionsoncovering those currentlyuninsured
vary widely, and there are great differences in financing, as
well.
Withlastweek'sintroductionofaself-proclaimedmiddle-
ground bill by a group of conservative Democrats and
moderate Republicans, the main alternatives to President
Clinton's proposal are now in play.
They span the political spectrum, from one that would
have the government pay all the bills to two Republican
proposals that minimize government involvement.
In between lie Clinton's plan and two others that offer a
mix of government regulation to move people into cheaper,
managed-care systems, and new taxes to help finance cov-
erage for the uninsured.
Keeping track of all the plans is confusing.
"That's why it's going to take six to eight months of
debate fbr the American people to figure out which plan
actually guarantees them health care," said Rep. Jim
McDermott (D-Wash.). "It's going to take a while for them
to sort through all the sloganeering."
McDermott is the lead sponsor of a bill advocating a
government-run, Canadian-style system many say is the
most liberal of the plans. McDermott defends his plan as the
least bureaucratic of the bunch.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole of Kan-
sas said yesterday he was "mystified" that the White House
has yet to submit its health care legislation.
"I can't believe they're having hearings on a plan that
nobody has seen, and wp may not see for another 30 days,"
he said on NBC's "Meet the Press." "We ought to be able to
look at it line by line, word by word, page by page, so we can
start asking questions and making judgments."
Most of the plans share a number of provisions, such as
malpractice reforms to cut down on defensive medicine;
administrative reforms for a standard claim and electronic
billing; and antitrustreform to allow hospitals and clinics to
share facilities and equipment.
They also have prohibitions against "cherry-picking" by
insurers so they no longer can take only healthy clients. And
they would give the self-employed a 100 percent tax deduc-
tion for insurance, and provide "portability" so people
switching jobs could take their insurance with them.
Sothebigbattlesthatloom involvehowheavyahandthe
government should have in regulation; how to persuade
people to consider limits in doctor choice; and determining
how to cover everyone.
Clinton' splan is builton the employer-employee system
under which most people are currently insured. The presi-
dent would compel all employers to pay 80 percent of their
workers' costs. The other alternatives don't go this route,
partly out of fear that it would drive small employers out of
business.
Instead, plans by Rep.JimCooper, aconservativeDemo-
crat from Tennessee who led last week's middle-ground
coalition, and the Senate GOP are designed to make it more
affordable for small businesses and individuals to buy
insurance. They could band together in purchasing pools to
bring rates down.
Cooper's would provide subsidies to the poor on a
sliding scale.
xt step in meeting
goal for enacting a
g for schools.
and lawmakers must
ce the $6.3 billion in
ey wiped out during
person John Tniscott
bills will be intro-
committee activity
ctober and the floor
ber. Werealize that's
very, very ambitious, but also very
possible to get done. We think the
Legislature is ready to work on this,"
he said.
"While the critics are out there,
they haven't proposed any concrete
alternatives. They criticize our plan,
but they don't have any alternatives for
us.
"We realize the legislative process
takes compromise and negotiation, but
if you want to come to the table, you
have to have an altemative plan, and
nobody's done that."
Some of the criticism has been
aimed at the 4 percent transfer tax on
home sales. The Michigan Association
of Realtors came out against the tax,
which would cost a seller $4,000onthe
sale of a $100,000 home.
The association complained it will
drive up closing costs, fall mostheavily
on the lower and middle classes and
taxes just one form of wealth without
touching stocks, bonds or other assets.
Engler is counting on the tax to
raise $479 million a year. Critics say
the money will be difficult to collect
and it will be an unstable tax, possibly
falling dramatically during recessionary
years.
One new wrinkle in the tax was
revealed last week by state Treasurer
Doug Roberts.
Homeowners would have an op-
tion of paying 16 mills of property
taxes for three years in lieu of paying
the transfer tax when they sell their
home, he said.
Ann Arborites
raise money to
halt hunger
through walk
By SANGITA POPAT
FOR THE DAILY
Ann Arbor residents never thought
they would be asked to "stay on the
sidewalks and obey all traffic signals."
Yet, many participants of the 19th
Annual CROP Hunger Walk had to
follow these guidelines in order to stay
on the route thatcontainedthe "CROP"
signs yesterday.
Three hundred sixty-seven partici-
pants, who collected more than $24,000
in pledges, participants in the event.
Last year there were 150 more partici-
pants and $10,000 more in pledge
money.
Laverne Jackson Barker, the coor-
dinator of this event, attributed the de-
crease in pledges to he fact that not as
many church congregations and local
groups participated as last year. Barker
added, "Hunger is an important issue
locally and internationally. I hope to
have more congregations and local
groups participate next year."
'Hunger Is an
Important Issue locally
and Internationally. I
hope to have more .
groups participate next
year.
- Laverne Barker
CROP Walk coordinator
The walk took place mainly off
campus and participants walked
through Gallup Park and SchefflerPark
Whilemostparticipants strolled the
whole way, Pioneer High School se-
niors AaronEckhauserandJoshCarsort
jogged the 10 kilometers and were the
first two participants to finish.
Carson stated, "We are involved
with KEY Club at our school. We try to
participate in as many projects as pos-
sible when we have the time."
Yet, getting involved with the
CROP walk is not as easy as showing
up on the day of the walk and signing
up to participate. The work for this'
event started in May with promoting
the event and getting participants inter-
ested. The next step was for the partici-
pants to get pledges from friends and
neighbors.
And while the walk is in effect, the
coordinators calculate how many
people actually participated, and how
much money was raised. When all the
money is collected, 25 percent of the
money is donated to local recipients
such as Food Gatherers, SOS Crisis
Center, and Women in Transition.
While a small percentage of the
donations goes towards administrative
costs, the rest of the money raised goes
to developmental projects in Sudan,
Guatemala, and Cambodia.
PETER MATTHEWS/Daily
Members of Los Hijos de Aztlan perform a traditional Mexican dance at the "Nuestro Talento Latino" Show.
E. Quad spotlights Latino talent
By HANI SHARKEY
FOR THE DAILY
In white outfits belted with a red cloth, the
young boys danced around their female part-
ners, whocamedecked in matching reddresses.
with rose-decorated white blouses.
These members of the Hispanic Roots
Dance Group of the Sacred Heart Chapel in
Jackson, Mich. performed "La Raspa," a
Mexican folklore dance, as part of "Nuestro
Talento Latino," or "Our Latin Talent."
The talent show, held in EastQuad Friday
night, was one part of the festivities honoring
Hispanic Heritage Month, which lasts from
Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
In addition to the beat of this spicy Spanish
music, 11 other presentations featured people
of different Hispanic backgrounds and a vari-
ety of ages proudly displaying their broad
artistic abilities.
Later in the evening, Minority Student
Services Hispanic Representative Katalin
Berdy sang and College of Pharmacy junior
Ivette Rodriguez provided guitarbackup. They
treated the audience to a moving rendition of
the National Puerto Rican Anthem.
To cap off the performances, School of
Music senior Alfonso Lopez and School of
Music junior Phil Perez provided a crowd-
pleaser with a surprising deviation from Latin
music. With Lopez on violin and Perez on
piano, the pair performed the classical piece,
"Praeludium and Allegro."
Jason Rosales, an LSA sophomore who
watched the show, saidhe came away pleased
with the event.
"I thought it was real nice to see people
from all ages in it ... and to see people come
and watch the show," he said.
Jessica Rodriguez, a Minority Peer Advi-
sor Assistant in East Quad who helped orga-
nize the event, emphasized its significance.
She said that it was very important for people
to'understand Latino dance, music, and folk-
lore.
Areception inEastQuad's library capped
off the event with food and artifacts from
South and Central America.
Gorbachev considering a return to Russian politics
Political upheaval In the
former Soviet Union
prompts Gorbachev to
rethink his role in the
post-Cold War era
MOSCOW (AP) - Mikhail
Gorbachev, criticized in the Russian press
for condemning President Boris Yeltsin's
storming of parliament, said the violence
has led him to consider a return to politics
to "rescue" Russia.
"A week ago I was saying, I don't know
what can force Gorbachev to come back.
(But) after October 3-4, we are all living in
another country," the former Soviet presi-
dent said Saturday in the daily newspaper
Komsomolskaya Pravda.
"I must now think it all over. It's diffi-
cult to make a decision. But still, if the
situation in Russia urges me to give up
everything and to start dealing with Rus-
sian affairs, to rescue, to save the country,
I will do that," Gorbachev said.
In an interview yesterday with the Brit-
ish Broadcasting Corp., he said he would
"decide on this shortly."
Since the demise of the Soviet Union,
Gorbachev has headed a think tank and
goes on international speaking tours.
Gorbachev has little popular support in
Russia.
Student groups
U Asian American Association,
workshop: on the media por-
trayal of Asian Americans,
Michigan Union, Room D, 7
p.m.
U Comedy Company Writer's
Meeting, sponsored by UAC,
Michigan Union, Room 2105,
7 p.m.
U ENACT-UM, meeting, Dana
Building, Room 1046, 7 p.m.
U Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian
Club, Michigan Union, Welker
Room, 7:30 p.m.
U Michigan Campaign for Hu-
man Dignity, meeting, spon-
sored by Gay Liberation, Michi-
gan League, Henderson Room,
9 p.m.
U Ninjutsu Club, regular meeting,
IM Building, Wrestling Room,
7:30 p.m.
D PAC Week KickoffRally, spon-
sored by the Lesbian-Gay Male-
p.m., Women 3:30, 4:30, and
5:30 p.m.
Q Saint Mary Student Parish,
Administration Commission, 7
p.m.; Bible Study,7 p.m.; RCIA,
7 p.m.; 331 Thompson St.
Q Self-Defense Principles, CCRB,
Room 1200, 9 p.m.
Q Shorln-Ryu Karate-Do Club,
beginners welcome, CCRB,
Room 2275, 8:30 p.m.
Q Study/Discussion -
(re)introduction to the Bible,
sponsored by University Re-
formed Church, 928 E. Ann St.,
9 p.m.
Q Third Wave, mass meeting for
new feminist/womanist publi-
cation, Michigan Union, Room
1209, 7:30 p.m.
Q Tae Kwon Do Club, training
session, CCRB, Room 2275, 7
p.m.
_ r
University of Califomia-Berke-
ley, Frieze Building, Room
3050, 7 p.m.
U The Polical Economy of Peace,
Alan Richards from University
of California-Santa Cruz, Lane
Hall, Commons Room, noon
Student services
Q Psychology Academic Peer
Advising, sponsored by the psy-
chology department, West
Quad, Room K103, call 747-
3711 for info, 11 am.-4 p.m.
U Safewalk Nighttime Safety
Walking Service, 936-1000,
UGLi, lobby, 8 a.m.-2:30 am.
Q International Center, Interna-
tional Internships, Room 9, 7
p.m., call 764-9310 for more
info; How to spend the holi-
days, Program and Travel tips,
Room 9,4p.m.; Practical Train-
ing and Employment, Room 9,
ST. MARY'S STUDENT PARISH
announces a
Lecture
Catholic and Academic
A Contradiction in Terms?
by Professor James Turner
History Department, University of Michigan
Wednesday, October 13, 7:00 p.m.
at the Newman Center
331 Thompson Street
The first in a series of presentations on faith and thought and the
interplay between a Catholic religious commitment and the profession
of teacher and intellectual.
Open to all interested students, facuty and others.
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