In 1974, the legislature substantially overappropriated, as they did in 1972. I don't recall the precise figures, but total general revenue fund appropriations in 1974 exceeded my recommended budget by well over one hundred million dollars. In both years I vetoed much of the overspending. The legislature overrode a number of my vetoes, thereby forcing overspending.

I waged a constant fight with the General Assembly about overspending. At the time, I was told that I vetoed more general revenue fund appropriations than any governor in the history of the state. In view of this, I continue to be amazed at the repeated efforts in the media to rewrite history to say that I "spent" the general revenue fund balance existing when I took office.
Dan Walker

Former Gov. Dan Walker should not be assigned sole responsibility for state spending during his term. Governors generally take an unfair share of the blame and credit for the fiscal gains or losses during their administration. In fact, Gov. Walker vetoed over $1.2 billion in general fund appropriations during his four years in office. The legislature overrode $144 million of that total, spending, in other words, $144 million in general revenue funds that he did not approve. Yet general revenue fund spending exceeded revenues by $138 million, $189 million, and $78 million in fiscal years 1975, 1976 and 1977 respectively. Only in the last year of his term was there an end to deficit spending from the general fund, with the state taking in $38 million more than it spent. — Eds.

Law Enforcement Commissions:

Twenty-one members were reappointed to the Illinois Law Enforcement Commission effective November 18. This was in accordance with legislation which reduced the number of commission members from 35 to 21. Members are; Daniel W. Weil, Chicago, attorney, reappointed as chairman; Allen H. Andrews, Peoria, Peoria police superintendent; Herbert D. Brown, Rockford, former Winnebago County sheriff and former director of the Illinois Department of Law Enforcement; Joseph Dakin, Carbondale, supervisor of corrections and law enforcement. Southern Illinois University, Carbondale; C. Bernard Carey, Chicago, Cook County state's attorney; Richard J. Elrod, Chicago, Cook County sheriff; Roy O. Gulley, Springfield, director, Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts; Dallas C. Ingemunson, Yorkville, Kendall County state's attorney; Mearl J. Justus, Cahokia, Cahokia police chief; Paul Klincar, Belleville, St. Clair County sheriff; Honoratus Lopez, Chicago, attorney; Circuit Judge Ben K. Miller, Springfield; Appellate Judge Richard Mills, Virginia; Ethel Payne, Chicago, cochairperson, Coalition of Concerned Women; Circuit Judge Philip G. Reinhard, Rockford; Circuit Judge Wayne C. Townley, Jr., Bloomington; Donald Turner, Cairo, Alexander County sheriff; Supreme Court Justice Daniel P. Ward, Chicago; Frank Wesolowski, Wheaton, DuPage County public defender; Robert H. Babcox, Waukegan, Lake County coronor; Ellen Flaum, Chicago, student, Northwestern University School of Law. Senate confirmation is required except for Justice Ward, Judge Townley and Gulley whose appointments are made under federal guidelines. All terms run until November 1981 and are unsalaried.

Dangerous Drugs Commission
Appointed to the Dangerous Drugs Commission in November pending Senate confirmation were Dr. Joseph H. Skom, a Winnetka physician, for a term ending in January 1979 and Stephen E. Delanty, a Palatine attorney, for a term ending January 1980. Skom replaced David M. Law, Washington, and Delanty succeeded Dr. Daniel X. Freedman, Chicago. There is no salary for serving on this three-member commission.

School Problems Commission
Appointed to the School Problems Commission effective November 15 for terms expiring July 1979 were: H. Michael Finkle, account executive, R. Rowland and Co., Inc., Danville, replacing Norella B. Welch, Mount Vernon; Harris W. Fawell, lawyer and former state senator, Naperville, replacing Mary Evelyn McDade, Peoria; Dr. Donald J. D'Amico, superintendent, St. Charles Schools, St. Charles, replacing Patton L. Feichter, Des Plaines; and Walter L. Bishop, professor, department of education administration, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, replacing William S. Adsit, Milford. Reappointed was Curtis E. Plott, executive secretary, Illinois Education Association, Springfield. The 15-member commission, whose members do not receive a salary, also includes five representatives and five senators.

Dangerous Drugs Advisory Council
To the Dangerous Drugs Advisory Council for three-year terms effective November 18: Charles A. Gruber, Quincy, replacing William D. Barta, Waukegan; and Harry Sholl, Lake Forest, replacing Susan M. Barton, Springfield. Positions on the seven-member council are nonsalaried.

Corrections' Adult Advisory Board
Four new appointments to the nine-member Adult Advisory Board to the Department of Corrections effective November 9: Margaret Morrissey, Joliet, warden, Dwight Correctional Center; Dr. Robert G. Culbertson, Normal, professor, Department of Corrections, Illinois State University; Wayne S. Shimp, Wheaton, sheriff, DuPage County, and president, Illinois Sheriffs Association; and Norval Morris, Chicago, dean, University of Chicago Law School. Their terms expire January 1983. Reappointed for a term expiring January 1979 was Reid R. Tombaugh, Pontiac, realtor and farm manager. The appointments are nonsalaried.

Local Governmental Law Enforcement Officers Training Board
Appointed to the 16-member Illinois Local Governmental Law Enforcement Officers Training Board for three-year terms effective August 7 were: Thomas B. Herring, city manager, Galesburg; and Robert B. Morris, city manager, Glencoe. Morris serves as the board's chairman. The positions do not involve salaries.

Tri-City Regional Port District
Appointed to the Tri-City Regional Port District Board, effective November 17 for a term ending June 1979 was Homer A. Huber, Granite City. Huber replaced Avery Schermer, Granite City, who resigned last July. The appointment is nonsalaried.

State Historical Library Board
Three persons were appointed to the three-member Illinois State Historical Library board of trustees in November. They are Sally Bunn Schanbacher, Springfield, chairman of the Historic Sites Commission; John R. Gehlbach, Lincoln, attorney and collector of antiques and rare books; Charles L. McMackin II, Salem, consultant and director of field operations. Southern Gardens Shopping Centers of Southern Illinois. These appointments require Senate confirmation and are unsalaried.