Selected State
State Documents ■ Veto Messages and Other Messages to 79th Illinois General Assembly, 1975-76, Legislative Council, File 8-841 (March 1978), 377pp. In 1976 the Legislative Council published the governor's veto messages to the 78th General Assembly. The present volume continues that precedent, and the council plans to publish similar volumes in the coming years. It contains the state of the state messages, budget messages, special messages, a record of action on bills passed by the 79th General Assembly, a list of vetoed bills, Senate bills passed, House bills passed, special session bills, as well as both Senate and House bills that were vetoed. ■ Special Committee on Salaries for Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches of Illinois Government: Report and Recommendations (March 1978), 19pp. In March 1977, Gov. James R. Thompson appointed a committee of citizens to recommend appropriate salaries for the three branches of state government. This report is the result of that committee's efforts. It recommends increases in all three branches and provides supporting statements for each recommendation. ■ The Commission on State Mandated Programs established by Gov. James R. Thompson in April 1977 and chaired by Lt. Gov. Dave O'Neal, was divided into two subcommittees each of which has issued a report. Local Government Report (October 1977), 92pp. The subcommittee held hearings in 11 cities, looked into 25 issue areas and makes four specific recommendations to the General Assembly. Education Report, 28pp. The education subcommittee held hearings in 8 cities, studied the history of mandated programs, examined regulations for their implementation and attempted to develop criteria for prioritizing and evaluating current and future mandates. A number of recommendations are made. ■ Illinois Off- Year Primary Election Voter Turnout, Illinois State Board of Elections (March 12 and April 6, 1978), 16pp. By considering voter turnout since 1952, predictions are made for the 1978 off-year primary election turnout. The most valid general predictor turns out to be the economic index level; the best predictor of Republican voter turnout is the Republican vote index of the previous general election; for Democrats no valid predictor variable has been identified. ■ Illegal Aliens — Joliet, Illinois Legislative Investigating Commission (July 1978), 47pp. It is estimated that some 20 to 50 illegal aliens are brought to Joliet weekly from Mexico. A 1971 report on the general illegal Mexican alien problem in Illinois recommended legislation to deal with the situation; it did not pass the General Assembly. Committee members interviewed law enforcement officials, Joliet businessmen, Hispanic community leaders, informants and a number of local INS agents. The report concludes that the problem in Illinois has snowballed, and the committee again proposes legislation. The proposed bill calls for a system of penalties for those hiring illegal aliens. At least 10 other states have similar laws. ■ Arson, Illinois Legislative Investigating Commission (May 1978), 126pp. In 1976, 44 persons in Illinois died in fires set deliberately. Arsons in 1976 caused almost $22 million in property damage, and the projected losses for 1977 are even higher. This report contains interviews with public officials, private investigators and technical personnel, as well as convicted arsonists. It examines motives, describes the typical arson-for-profit scheme, and analyzes the difficulty of getting an arrest and conviction for arson. The report also contains a catalogue of the programs established in Illinois to combat arson and a discussion of how Seattle, Houston, and New York City deal with the problem. ■ 1978 Survey of State Residential Facilities, House Democratic Staff (April 1978), 151pp. Mental health facilities, adult correctional centers, juvenile correctional centers, children and family service facilities, and the Illinois Veterans Home were surveyed in January 1978 to provide an accurate inventory of existing structures. Comparisons were also made of current population to 1978 capacities and current population to 1965 capacities. The report concludes that the vast majority of the state's mental health facilities are underutilized while the correctional centers are at, or near, maximum capacity. ■ Illinois and Nuclear Energy, House Republican Committee Staff Report (June 1978), 47pp. With seven nuclear plants in operation (producing one-third of the electricity used in the state) and 10 more either planned or already under construction, this form of energy has clearly taken on an important role in Illinois. This report traces the history of nuclear energy in the state since 1942 and discusses some of the problems associated with nuclear power plants. ■ "Resource Materials: Parenting, Child Abuse, and Birth Defects," State Board of Education/Illinois Office of Education (revised February 1978), 16pp. This publication provides an annotated bibliography of instructional materials available to school districts wishing to teach students about parenting, child abuse and birth defects. The bibliography was developed by a committee of representatives from the Illinois Commission on Children, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and the National Foundation/ March of Dimes. ■ "I Want My Mommy: An Introduction to Foster Care," by John A. Juskevice, reprinted in both English and Spanish by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services [1978], 114pp. The author is former president of the Illinois Foster Parent Association. This handbook provides a programmed learning sequence for foster parents to help them deal with problems involved with caring for their charges. Topics include child abuse, what the agency pays for, and foster parents becoming adoptive parents. ■ A Blueprint for Occupational Licensing Reform, report of the Special Committee on Licensing Examinations to Gov. Jame R. Thompson and Joan G. Anderson, director. Department of Registration and Education (May 1978), 53pp. The committee was charged with reviewing the methods, procedures and standards for the department's occupational licensing examinations and with recommending a set of basic standards for these exams. This report provides such recommendations, as well as others calling for extensive regulatory reform: the resources of the state and the department "should not be spread over a wide number of occupations where the health, safety and welfare of the people of Illinois are not the central issue." ■ "Fencing: Criminal Redistribution of Stolen Property," Illinois Legislative Investigating Commission (May 1978), 70pp. Property crimes in the United States have increased 182 per cent since 1960, involving thefts of $16 billion a year. Huge amounts of goods stolen from trucks, stores, docks, terminals; and warehouses are passed along to "fences," who in turn sell these goods under their fair market value. During its investigation of fencing in the Chicago area, the commission recovered $253,000 worth of stolen property with only $45,000 in "buy" money. Among the recommendations in this report to curb the fencing problem is a proposed amendment to the Illinois Criminal Code authorizing three times the amount of actual damages as a penalty. ■ "The Governor's Cost Control Task Force" (July 1978), 206pp. The Task Force was organized in July 1977 by Gaylord Freeman, honorary chairman of the First National Bank of Chicago, at the request of Gov. Thompson. It included over 70 study team members and the analytical work extended over a 14-week period. The report is an intensive review of the major executive branch operations of the State of Illinois. It does not include an appraisal of programs. Recommendations concentrate on restructuring internal agency organizations increasing management effectiveness and develop ing methods to measure performance and control costs. Other Reports ■ Reward for Effort in Illinois School Finance Policy Debate, Empirical Evidence, Legislative Implications, by G. Alan Hickrod, Ramesh Chaudhari and Ben C. Hubbard, Center for the Study of Educational Finance, Illinois State University, Normal (February 1978), 90pp. Up to a certain limit set by the Illinois General Assembly, school districts in this state that tax themselves more will receive more state aid then those that tax themselves less. Arguments are made both for and against this "reward for effort." A empirical study which investigated the determinants of tax rate change in Illinois both before the 1973 reform and after is also discussed The authors conclude that this approach presents problems for low property valuation/ low income districts and outline five strategies the General Assembly might follow. They suggest that a way be found to make the reward for effort portion of the Illinois grant-in-aid system somewhat less important in the overall funding system. ■ The Corporate Personal Property Tax Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission (March 1978), 120pp. and appendices. Written statements from 19 companies and organizations and transcripts of two oral reports February 1979/Illinois Issues/22 on implications of the proposed replacement of corporate personal property tax are presented in this report. An appendix provides an interpretation of Article IX, Section 5(c) of the Constitution calling for abolition of all ad valorem personal property taxes and the replacement of revenues thus lost to local governments and school districts. ■ Nursing Homes: A Need for Community Involvement, by Frances Buckley, R.N., Older Americans Committee, Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies (no date), 24pp. The booklet serves as a guide to local citizens' groups and private individuals who are interested in becoming involved in the problems of the elderly. ■ Lending Practices of Savings and Loan Associations in Chicago - 1977, by Philip M. Hauser and Hekmat Elkhanialy for Federal Savings and Loan Council of Illinois (September 1978), 31pp. According to data presented in this report, Chicago's higher-income areas get substantially more mortgage money than low-income neighborhoods, whether white or black. Since many factors are involved, the authors think it would be simplistic to claim that redlining and racial discrimination account for home loan practices. They feel it will take basic changes in national priorities to increase home loan flows to blacks and other disadvantaged groups. ■ "Subject Index to the Illinois Register: Vols. I and II through March 1978," Cook County Law Library, unpaged. Patterned after the Federal Register of new and revised administrative rules and regulations, the Illinois Register is issued by the state. This index is expected to be compiled quarterly; subject headings are similar to those used in the index to the Federal Register. ■ Planned Appraisal of the Superintendent and Ten Exercises toward Planning: A Superintendent Appraisal System, by Ronald R. Booth and Gerald R. Glaub, Illinois Association of School Boards, 330 lies Park PL, Springfield 62703 (1978). Planned Appraisal, an 88-page handbook, describes a system developed by the Illinois Association of School Boards for evaluating school superintendents' performances on the job. Step-by-step guidance is provided in such areas as planning the school district's future and establishing candid communication between the school board and the superintendent. The companion workbook, Ten Exercises, helps the board and superintendent tailor the appraisal system to their own local needs. ■ "The Transportation System Management plan for Northeastern Illinois," Chicago Area Transportation Study, 300 W. Adams Street, Chicago 60606 (March 1978), 178pp. The Chicago Area Transportation Study is responsible for developing jointly with the area's transportation and planning agencies a workable transportation plan for the six-county northeastern Illinois region. Part of this plan involves how to use the existing transportation system most efficiently, and aspects of this and other program elements are discussed in the report. Continued from page 2. The state of the StatePrivate sector key to local growth government since the health of all is indispensable to the economy. But, at the same time, he argued that only the private sector is likely to come up with new ideas and solutions to the old problems that government has failed to solve — unemployment, urban decay, housing, pollution and economic decline. Klutznick quoted and praised an article by Gov. James R. Thompson in the winter 1978 Journal of the Institute for Socioeconomic Studies, in which Thompson encouraged "re-form" decentralizing "the decision making and management apparatus of the Federal government." Klutznick said that business must seize the time to make more investments and that government should encourage this with incentives and by doing away with unnecessary mistrust and red tape. A concordant opinion was expressed earlier during the conference by a panel of experts studying the current position and future possibilities of the Illinois economy. The panel represented the Task Force on the Future of Illinois created by the legislature; the Illinois 2000 Project of the State Chamber of Commerce; and the Illinois Committee to Strengthen Community Economies appointed by the governor. George A. Ranney of the Task Force, who also works with the Illinois Coal Company, had a surprise suggestion which may hint at something the Task Force may eventually propose. Ranney suggested the state consider creating a new agency to "look at the investment policy for the state" and to expand the budgeting process beyond a one-year plan. He said such an agency would have an "institutional capacity to analyze complex information as to whether capital or operating funds are being invested meaningfully" and "examine the relationships between government programs." More relevant to local economies, perhaps, were the comments of David E. Baker who heads the Illinois 2000 Project. Baker said there is a trend toward economic growth outside the suburbs, in a "second ring," offering a direct competition with older urban centers. At present there is a 100,000-acre decline per year of available prime agricultural land which is flat, well-drained and easy to develop. Baker said cities need to consider the need for investment incentives and the abolishment of disincentives if they are to prevent continued flight to such "satellite suburbs." Competitive changes could include a guarantee of good basic services and an assurance that business will be taxed like private citizens and not excessively. Earlier in the conference James E. Peterson, executive director of the National Council for Urban Economic Development and a former Illinois legislator, listed six general ways in which the public sector can encourage private sector investment: (1) money, which includes land, public works projects and cash rebates to businesses which rehabilitate neighborhoods; (2) powers, such as eminent domain; (3) regulatory functions like zoning and approving building permits; (4) organization and staff resources; (5) planning and technical expertise; and (6) role examination to assure adequate planning. Free enterpriseGiven the diminishing interest of the federal government in financing solutions to local problems, it is clear that crisp, imaginative thinking by those attending the conference and others will be required if local economies are to be strengthened. Klutznick articulated this possibility when he said that free enterprise is the best hope for the economy and individual liberty as well. He quoted Alexis de Tocqueville, perhaps the shrewdest of all observers of the American experiment, who was impressed by the unfailing enterprise of Americans when he visited the country in the early 1800's. Klutznick said this unique American quest for new solutions must be reemphasized now in both the public and private sectors. February 1979, Illinois Issues/23
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