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A CONVERSATION WITH OUR READERS

Readers have thoughts
on top issues for "97 session
by Ed Wojcicki

Well, ask and you shall receive, they say, and when we asked in our Question of the Month in December what issues other than "funding for education" should receive the bipartisan support of the General Assembly this spring, you offered many ideas.

Little did we know when we asked last month's question that the Democrats would regain control of the Illinois House. With that occurrence and with the Republicans still running the Senate, bipartisan support will be essential for major initiatives to be enacted. Anyway, here are just some of the issues readers rate as being of high priority:

• Infrastructure for downstate, "not just Cook County." Another reader mentioned making more investments in the entire state transportation system — roads, Amtrak, Metra and air travel. Funny, though, that nobody mentioned Meigs Field, and so I won't.

• "Not more money for education, but spending funding wisely. Teach students how to read, write and do math.... Don't emphasize athletics."

• Readers from Aurora and Lake Forest talked about welfare reform and welfare justice. Referring to a decline in federal support, the Lake Forest reader advised making welfare "equitable to both the taxpayer and the recipient. You can't pull out the rug if you don't have viable programs in place."

• Campaign finance reform was mentioned by a number of readers. Illinois Issues for the past two years has been directing the Illinois Campaign Finance Project, a combination of research and citizen education to raise awareness about what's happening with money in Illinois politics. What we have found is that many people — officials and voters alike — believe some reforms are needed, but a consensus is still emerging on exactly what changes are needed. This month, our Illinois Campaign Finance Task Force will release its final report and recommendations for some practical changes. We'll have a report on the task force's recommendations in next month's issue.

The beginning of a new year always evokes new levels of hope and optimism for improvements in many ways. It is no different here at the magazine. Editor Peggy Boyer Long has already lined up some excellent writers to analyze current public affairs topics.

We will also have some new advertisers, as more groups and businesses are realizing we have an audience unmatched in Illinois: legislators, constitutional officers, many corporate and association executives, local government officials and academics. If you want to reach a prime audience of people who make a difference in Illinois, look no further than Illinois Issues. Happy New Year! 

Illinois Issues January 1997/ 3