Quayle, a Newspaper Heir, Voted for Tax Exemption on Newsprint

WASHINGTON — Republican vice presidential nominee Dan Quayle, whose family controls a $1-billion newspaper empire, voted last year to exempt newsprint from a new federal tax on most imported products.

Newsprint, the paper on which newspapers are printed, accounts for as much as 25% to 35% of the cost of putting out a daily.

Although the Indiana senator could have decided not to vote on the issue, as members sometimes do in cases involving a possible conflict of interest, Quayle voted with the losing side when the Senate, by a 69-29 margin, killed the proposed exemption.

Quayle’s immediate family owns the Huntington (Ind.) Herald-Press. His father is publisher; the senator is vice president.

Quayle’s most recent financial disclosure statement shows that he owns stock in Central Newspapers Inc. with a book value of more than $250,000. The law does not require a more specific figure, but newspaper industry analysts say his stock is worth millions of dollars.

The Wall Street Journal quoted Eugene S. Pulliam, son of the founder of Central, as saying Quayle owns less than 1% of Central stock. The Journal said a group of investors offered to buy Central earlier this year for $1.5 billion.

Quayle is a grandson of the founder of Central Newspapers, Eugene C. Pulliam. The group includes the Arizona Republic, Phoenix Gazette, Indianapolis Star and Indianapolis News.

Quayle’s vote on the newsprint exemption occurred on July 21, 1987, shortly before the Senate passed a bill overhauling U.S. trade laws.