NATION/WORLD
Tuesday, September 7, 1993
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
7
Finnev's style unconventional
The Associated Press
TOPEKA — Joan Finney might be remembered more for her personality and her unconventional style than for anything she did in office, and other politicians say she has a mixed record as governor.
Finney, who announced last week she would not seek a second term, will leave office after having the state's school finance and workers' compensation systems overhauled on her watch. The state's economy, while not booming, has managed to remain steady.
At the same time, she waged a public feud with Attorney General Bob Stephan and faced criticism of some of her appointments. She fired two cabinet secretaries, withdrew the nomination of a third and had two more resign in the face of public controversies.
ANALYSIS
"And this is what has concerned me
"She was a governor who had a great heart and compassion for people," said Senate Minority Leader Jerry Karr, D-Emporia. "She had a mixed record, but much of her record will look better over time because of the really high peaks."
—the people, the people in the cafeterias, the people that I see in the grocery store and visit throughout the state, and this was the difficult part about this," Finney said.
Republicans often ridicule her populist rhetoric and suggest it is all blarney, but Finney built her career by attending small events in small towns.
In 1992, her late promise to sign an increase in the state sales tax rate gave the historic bill that overhauled
the state's school finance system the momentum it needed to pass. The measure cut property taxes in almost all of the state's school districts and by $273 million statewide.
This past session, Finney intervened personally in legislative negotiations over a workers' compensation reform bill. The 137-page measure passed, allowing a freeze in insurance rates that had increased by 50 percent in the two previous years.
However, Republicans and Democrats alike expressed concern that Finney had ignored other issues, such as the health care crisis, and they have questioned how much commitment she has to economic development.
"She's been very unconventional, and it's created a lot of problems for her," said former House Speaker Marvin Barkis of Louisburg, who is running for governor.
THE NEWS in brief
NEW YORK
Nixon and Kissinger targets for alleged terrorism by extremists
Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger were among the possible kidnap targets discussed by a government informer and the alleged leader of a radical Muslim terrorist plot, The New York Times reported yesterday.
Emad Salem, the informant, and Siddig Ibrahim Sidig Ali talked about kidnapping influential U.S. citizens, including the former president and his secretary of state, according to lawyers who have seen transcripts of tape-recorded conversations in the case.
The names were suggested by El Sayyid A. Nosair, who is in prison on a weapons conviction stemming from the 1990 slaying of radical Rabbi Meir Kahane, the unidentified lawyers told the newspaper.
The hostage-taking plan was aimed at winning the release of Muslims held in the Feb. 26 World Trade Center bombing, the Times said.
An indictment last month charged that Nosair, Siddig Alh and other members of a radical Muslim ring conspired to assassinate, bomb various New York targets and kidnap to
nurter its aims across the globe. The federal indictment did not identify the kidnap targets.
Salem and Siddig Ali had just returned from visiting Nosair at Attica State Prison on May 23 when the conversation about kidnappings was secretly recorded, the Times said.
Lesbian, her mom in custody battle
RICHMOND, Va.
Gay rights advocates are closely watching a potential landmark case in Virginia, where a judge this week will consider whether a woman may retain custody of her lesbian daughter's 2-year-old son.
It is a highly unusual custody battle because it pits a nonparent against a mother whose only alleged parental shortcoming has been her sexual relationship. A trial is scheduled for today in Henrico County Circuit Court.
Sharon Bottoms, 23, lives with her partner, 27-year-old April Wade. Kay Bottoms, 42, contends that fact makes her daughter unfit to be a mother.
"The question is whether a parent should be disqualified because of sexual orientation or lifestyle," said Donald Butler, Sharon Bottoms' lawyer. "We don't think the law should allow people to lose a child on that basis."
Compiled from The Associated Press
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12:00 - 1:00 on Wednesdays at the ECM Center, 1204 Oread.
AKU tradition since the 1940's, the University Forum provides an arena for commentary and discussion on a variety of issues.
discussion on a variety of issues. It is open to faculty, students, staff and persons from the Lawrence community.
It is open to faculty, students, staff and persons from the Lawrence community. The dates, topics, and speakers are as follows:
Sept. 8 "Cults" in the Wake of Waco, Tim Miller, Prof. of Religious Studies Misteries on Christianity and Homosexuality
Mini-series on Christianity and Homosexuality
Sept. 15 Christ and the Homosexual, bBirth/Married Prof. of Civil Engineering
Sept. 22 Christ and the Homosexual, Johnathan Knight, Pastor, Plymouth Congregational
Church (Christ)
Sept. 29 On Stage and Off with Lawrence Community Theatre, Mary Doveton, Director the Lawrence Community Theatre
Oct. 6 Spitting on the Sidewalk: Health Care Reform, Michael Roberts, Prof. of Human Development and Family Life
Oct. 13 Russia and Eastern Europe: Current Trends and the Legacy of Communism, Prof. of Philosophy
Oct. 20 The Kurds: How it Happened, Rose Greaves, Prof. Of History
Mith Academy
North America Free Trade Agreement, Phillip Kely, Prof. of History, Emporia
State University
Nov.3 Historical and Current Trends in World Population Growth, Helen Alexander, Prof. of Botrytus, Systematics, and Ecology
Nov. 10 U.S. Immigration Is Totally Out of Control Today? Suzanne Gladney, Managing Attorney at Office Legal Aid of Western Missouri
Nov. 17 Recent Advances in Genetic Technology and Their Impact on Society, Dean Stetler, Prof. of Biochemistry
Nov. 24 THANKSGIVING BREAK!
Dec. 1 Impact of T.V. on Society, Aletha Huston/John Wright, Professors of Human Development and Family Life
Dec. 8 Issues in 94 Kansas Legislature, Barbara Ballard, State Representative
Dec. 15 **SPRING UNIVERSITY** An optional soup and salad lunch is available ($3.50) by making a reservation the Tuesday before
the event. "The soup is also available. Coffee, tea, and soft drinks are also available."
the Forum. "Brown bags" are also welcome. Concerned teachers, the University Forum is sponsored by the Ecumenical Christian Ministries at KU (Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, Church of the Brethren denomination). For more information, contact Thad Holcombe. ECM Pastor, 843-4933.