NEWS CONFERENCE 843

A. Well, if you will recall, the recommendations of the Nelson
Committee provided for the institution of certain deductibles which
allowed a continuation of the medically indigent people in the cate-
gory that were not covered by Federal assistance to be continued at the
same projected Health Department '69 budget figure. Now what
we've got to figure, and what Mr. Slicher's committee is now engaged
in is deciding, at least temporarily, how much of a cutback in the '69
budget percentagewise must be requested from the various agencies.
And then we'll have to await the reports of the agencies themselves
as to the areas in which they are going to effectuate the cutbacks. So
I can't really give you anything definite on that this early. There
will be an effort, however, to make the cutbacks as painless as can
possibly be accomplished with respect to the Medicaid program.

Q. Governor, do the travel restrictions apply to the other two elected
officials — the Comptroller and the Attorney General?

A. Well, of course I am not certain as to my authority to demand
that two elected officials in high capacity should curtail their personal
travel. I have enough confidence in these men to think that they
would certainly comply with the spirit of the directive. I have no in-
tention of making any demands upon them in this respect. I might
also mention, because it will probably come to light, that shortly I
will be at the Republican Governors' Conference in Tulsa, Okalhoma,
for a couple of days. This Conference is financed entirely by Party
money and there is no State money involved. I think that should be
made clear at the moment.

Q. Governor, how about the departments and special funds like
the Roads Commission and possibly parts of the University and so
forth? Will they be affected?

A. Well, the effect of dedicated money cutbacks is something that
I'd want to await the Attorney General's general impressions of, and
he is preparing at the present time a broad overview of those areas —
mandated areas of expenditure and areas which we are not justified
in reducing. When I have his report I will then be able to make a
decision about roads monies and also mandated education funds and
that sort of thing. I would point out, however, that if the situation
becomes of true crisis proportions later in the year the Legislature
has the authority under its normal procedures to pass laws which may
change the mandated portion of budgetary inclusions so that they are
not mandated.

Q. Has that been discussed?