European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 24, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 the stars and stripes monday August 24,1987 Florida governor seeks decision on sales tax Tallahassee Fla. A gov. Dob Martinez called saturday night for a special session of Florida s legislature to decide whether to put the stale s controversial services sales tax on the ballot. A three fourths approval from both legislative Cham Bers is needed during the special session sept. 14 to add the Issue of inc presidential primary ballot March 8. The House speaker Jon Mills a gains Villa Dis agreed with inc referendum idea and said he is willing to Back the sales tax and fight the Public relations  Martinez pressured heavily in recent Days by Law makers worried Over re election in 1988, discussed the referendum proposal at a dinner meeting at the Home  aide . Lipanovich. It was then thai he broke the news about the special session. We did t Call them Here to ask them about this. We re telling them we re going 10 have a special session said Susan Traylor Martinez s press Secretary. Although the governor supports the lax he also feels that the Public should be Given a Chance to vote on it Traylor said. The 5 percent sales tax extended to most consumer services is expected to raise $760 million in inc current fiscal year and More than is billion in 1988-8�. Flor Ida has no income Ian. Lawsuits have been filed against the new tax and some major companies have stopped advertising in the stale. The lax was approved july i after study groups said the state must have major new Revenue to cover needs such As roads schools waterworks and jails. Martinez Only the state s second Republican Gover nor since reconstruction campaigned hard for elec Tion last fall on a theme that he would save $800 Mil lion and that his opponent never Mcl a tax he did t  since then his leadership role in pushing through the sales tax on services has surprised Many people and has angered Many of his supporters. " i in Ink Martinez with his flip Flop on inc Tan package by telling the people one thing and then advocating and passing the biggest tax increase in the slate of Florida has done More to help the democratic party than anything we could have done in five Yarc said the stale democratic party chairman Charlie Whin head. He has lost All credibility with the voters of  key supporters of the legislation began feeling pres sure from unhappy constituents when they returned to their Home districts in june after the 198 7 legislature adjourned. Published reports that several prominent legislators were possibly in trouble with the voters increased the pressure on Martinez. Whitchead thinks he state s voters will throw out Many of the elected officials who played Central roles in passage of inc tax. I think the voters Are mad enough they won t for get he said. If voters reject the tax at a referendum during the March presidential preference primary the legislature could reconsider inc Levy in its next regular session in april and May. The governor will not propose a lax alternative be fore the Vole Traylor said. Carpet of fish Penny Cerritlli ies it Section of the Harbor of Milfurd conn., covered by thousands of floating dead fish. The fish that Are dying along Lang Island sound Are menhaden. They tie killed by a Lack of oxygen and by hot Waler temperatures. Menhaden Are by far the Roost abundant fish along the Atlantic coast and scores of million Are taken each year for use As bail or