The Other 49

Lawmakers and the law
In action relating to an ongoing investigation of Gov. Marvin Mandel and a number of his associates over racetrack legislation in Maryland, federal prosecutors have issued subpoenas to every member of the Maryland Senate holding office during the years 1971-72. The lawmakers are being sought in order to have them testify about their respective roles involving a number of racetrack bills.

Teachers save "Big Apple"
New York City was kept from defaulting in October by the teachers' union when the latter invested $150 million of its pension fund in bonds issued by the state-created and backed Municipal Assistance Corporation, Other public employee pension funds contributed another $250 million.

IRS questions per diem expenses
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service has begun an inquiry into whether or not per diem living allowances of California state legislators ought to be considered as taxable income in the filing of federal tax returns. The lawmakers have retained an attorney to fight their case.

Drinkers still driving
The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Study Commission has reported that the state's effort to reduce traffic fatalities resulting from alcohol-related accidents was simply not working. The commission concluded that the laws in question are so stringent they are virtually unenforceable.

Fatherhood is legal
In October 1975 the Kentucky Court of Appeals issued an opinion in which unwed fathers were acknowledged as having a legal right to visit their children.

The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts has ruled that "fathering" an illegitimate child in that state is no longer a crime on the grounds that the statute was sexually discriminatory. The law in question made it a misdemeanor for the male parent, but not for the female.

Let Uncle Sam do the walking
Early last year the states of Iowa, New York, and Tennessee joined Utah in allowing voters to register by mail. The feeling is that this procedure will increase voter registration and perhaps even actual voting.

'Overequal' rights for women
The Oklahoma Supreme Court recently nullified a statute enacted by the 1975 state legislature which would have given a wife, in the event of a divorce, all of the couple's property. / C. P. R. 

BOOK REVIEW by SAMUEL K. GOVE
Director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois, he is also a professor of political science at the University.

Dan W. Lufkin, Many Sovereign States: A Case for Strengthening State Government ~ An Insider's Account. New York: David McKay, $7.95, 253 pp.

Connecticut businessman offers prescriptions for state government

A MORE ACCURATE subtitle for this book would have been A Businessman Enters State Government and Joins the State Government Crusade. Dan Lufkin, a Harvard Business School graduate, who became a partner in a successful Wall Street investment banking, brokerage, and management firm, was the first commissioner of environmental protection in his adopted state of Connecticut. After serving in that office for two years, he returned to private life. Unlike some others in similar circumstances, Lufkin did not resist the urge to write a book.

During his tour of duty, and afterward, Lufkin obviously gave much thought to the role of the states in our complicated federal system. He is well aware of state governments' structural faults and of their generally low esteem in the public eye. He has many answers, and he does not hesitate to spell them out. He appears to be the type of person needed in state government. As Peter Drucker writes in the book's introduction, "State policies . . . need to be framed by people who can think nationally — and increasingly internationally; who can relate what seem to be purely local problems to a much bigger world and who can give true leadership in the making of policy."

Lufkin has many prescriptions for state government, some new, some not. For example, he endorses the familiar proposal for federal administration of welfare programs. On the other hand, he would have a governor (perhaps the elected chairman of the National Governors Conference) given cabinet rank and invited to participate in the federal process of domestic program development. "1 realize that one individual from the ranks of state government is no match for the legions of the legislative and executive branches. But simply because he is one man speaking and listening for the states he would have unique stature and prestige."

Other novel suggestions reflect Lufkin's business background. He would get industry more involved in state government. Specifically, he would have the top 500 corporations in the United States establish an executive sabbatical program, underwriting the services to state government of one senior executive per year in each state in which the company has a significant facility. He would limit this program to state — not federal — service. The states are, in Lufkin's own words, "becoming increasingly the focal point of 'active' public policy and administrative action .... While I [Lufkin speaking] do not seek to erase all distinctions between public and private, I believe that those differences perpetuated out of fear and distrust are hurtful to society. By making the state a laboratory for corporate executives, we will not only provide skilled public servants but we will begin to bridge the knowledge and experience gap that yawns between corporations and the states in which they are located and do business."

Lufkin also proposes the creation of an Institute for State Government by the states, foundations, and corporations involved in the executive sabbatical program. This institute would "conduct research and make recommendations for the improvement of state government based on the collective experience of the corporate executives who have served in the program."

Another section deals with differences between business and government. According to Lufkin, businessmen think that politicians should operate like businessmen. "Government, however, is not business, and the bottom line is not earnings per share. The function of government is to satisfy the real or imagined needs of a majority of the people — retaining enough power to stay in office while distributing enough to keep the opposition satisfied." One would hope that the corporate executives in state government would understand this crucial difference between the private and public sector.

Little in this book is directed at Illinois specifically, although all of the discussion is germane. Lufkin does refer to Gov. Walker "as an effective newcomer to politics" who "chose to make his debut as a star in Springfield rather than as a member of the supporting cast in Washington, D.C." Dan Walker does qualify as one of Lufkin's businessmen in government, albeit on the elective side. 

January 1976 / Illinois Issues /11


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