'When it gets to the final hours of the session, legislators just want to put something together and go home'

negotiations were the proposals of 10 research corporations and oil companies who sought involvement in Illinois' initial energy program.

Senate Republicans also opposed the establishment of a new State agency. Senate President William C. Harris (R., Pontiac) and other leading members of the Senate G.O.P. were angered at the recently established Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Republicans criticized the EPA for being "militant" in its relations with corporate interests in the State and felt another new agency would further alienate representatives of the Illinois business community. Walker aides argued that a new agency would contribute essential ad- ministrative expertise in this new field — something that a part-time legislative commission could not possibly offer.

'Delay, delay, delay, then bargain like mad at the end of the session'
A second staff meeting the following week produced some tangible results, and the issues became more clear-cut. The Republicans continued to attack the $100 million bonding figure, and suggested a State commitment of $10 million. But, according to Senate Republican staff member James Edgar, "That $10 million was just a point from which to bargain — we knew that we could work something out on the money question."

Senate Republicans remained firmly opposed to the creation of a new State agency, however. "So we just moved off our posture and tried to speed things along," said Duncan, bargaining for the Governor. Both sides then discussed the possibility of authorizing an existing State agency to distribute whatever bond money was agreed on. The Capital Development Board (CDB) was mentioned, but Senate Republicans were again wary, largely because of previous budget conflicts with CDB, but also because they felt the agency was "mismanaged," according to one staffer.

Another major disagreement developed regarding the energy commission legislation already moving in the House. Senate Republicans, now battling continuously with the Walker administration, became adamantly opposed to an energy commission under gubernatorial control. Although sponsored by fellow Republican Blair, the commission structure was opposed by Harris who stated he believed control of energy programs should be vested in the legislature.

Blair, who reportedly sought Walker's help on other issues, maintained that the Governor would be best suited to head the commission "because he was in a position in which he could command attention," according to a Blair aide. After a second staff meeting, it was generally agreed that no more progress could be made by staff members, and that Walker and the legislative leaders would have to work out the three major issues — total bonding commitment, the distributing agent, and the make-up of the overseeing body. Both Democrats and Republicans claimed to have tried to arrange such a meeting "but no one seemed to have the time," said one staff member. Other issues, including campaign finance disclosure, had taken precedence. Time and new frictions among leaders magnified the impasse, and the feeling grew that the issue should be fought out on the floors of the Senate and House.

It seemed that everyone wanted their names attached to Illinois' first energy program
With the session's scheduled adjournment less than three weeks away, no bonding bills had been introduced. The "good-will joint effort" to produce a bipartisan energy package had come to nothing. Harris realized that he didn't need the Democrats or the Governor to push through an energy package because of the one-vote Republican majority in both the Senate and House. On June 13, a Republican package of bills was introduced in the Senate. Senate Bill 1659 sponsored by Sen. Bradley M. Glass (R., Northfield), provided a bonding authority of $10 million, to be administered by the Capital Development Board. Harris chose Glass as the bill's sponsor, despite the fact that Glass represents a heavily populated Chicago area under which no coal beds lie. According to legislative staff members, Harris named Glass in an attempt to secure the popular senator's vote in the next session's G.O.P. leadership fight.

Less than a half hour later, the Democrats and Partee introduced the Governor's package, with $100 million bonding authority and the Capital Development Board as the agent. Because of the Republicans' 30-to-29 margin in the Senate and their control of the committees, it was their package which would eventually become law. The only Democratic item in the final package would be Senate Bill 1667 extending the right of condemnation for the purpose of land acquisition for coal development.

On the same day, Blair and Democratic Minority Leader Clyde Choate (D., Anna) introduced a joint-leadership coal development package in

WILLIAM LAMBRECHT
Springfield correspondent of the Alton Evening Telegraph. B.A. Political science, Illinois Wesleyan University; M.A. political studies/Public Affairs Reporting, Sangamon State University.

Illinois Issues/January 1975/25