AT the opening of the 79th General Assembly two years ago, the Illinois House of Representatives broke all records for the selection of a speaker when the voting went on for 93 ballots. No one observing that struggle expected to see another similar event for many years. But as this is being written, the Illinois Senate still has not organized itself for the business of the 80th General Assembly which convened on January 12.
When the Senate adjourned on January 27 before the blizzard hit, 135 votes had been taken. From the beginning, there had been no noticeable shifts to break the deadlock and give one man the required 30-vote majority necessary to elect the Senate president. The Republicans remained solidly behind their leader. Sen. David Shapiro (R., Amboy). The Democrats, on the other hand, were dividing their votes among three candidates. Sen. Thomas Hynes (D., Chicago) had the backing of 21 members, most of whom were organization Democrats from Chicago. Sen. Terry Bruce (D., Olney) was backed by 10 members, who, with one exception, were from outside Chicago. Finally, freshman Sen. Harold Washington (D., Chicago) received the votes of four of the six black members of the Senate. The Republicans had hinted at the possibility of crossing over to end the deadlock, as several of their counterparts in the House had done two years ago, but they had not moved seriously in that direction as January ended.
There was little indication of when the deadlock would end as the "independent" and "black" factions within the Democratic Senate delegation called for a greater sharing of "power" through more committee chairmanships and increased staff resources for individual senators. There was some talk of compromise candidates but none had emerged by February 8.
The Republicans were beginning to get restless because Gov. James Thompson was, as required by the state Constitution, presiding over the Senate sessions while also trying to complete organization of his administration and carry out the duties of his office.
In the House, on the other hand, there was none of the chaos of 1975. Speaker William Redmond (D., Bensenville) was reelected to that post on the first ballot, defeating Rep. George H. Ryan (R., Kankakee) on a straight party line vote. Redmond had faced a minor challenge in the House Democratic caucus from Reps. Rolland Tipsword (D., Taylor- ville) and Richard Luft (D., Pekin), both of whom received a handful of votes for party leader. But their opposition had melted away before the balloting for speaker began on the floor, and Redmond was the only Democratic candidate nominated, making his re-election a certainty.
The major news in the House dealt with the speaker's selection of his leadership team and the appointment of committee chairmen. The most notable changes were the designation of Reps. Michael Madigan (D., Chicago) as majority leader and Thaddeus Lechowicz (D., Chicago) as one of the assistant majority leaders. Madigan, who was an assistant leader during the 79th General Assembly, replaces the retired Rep. Gerald Shea. Lechowicz, while being promoted into the formal leadership, vacates the powerful chairmanship of the Appropriations I Committee.
The full House leadership teams are Speaker William A. Redmond (D., Bensenville); Majority Leader Michael Madigan (D., Chicago); Assistant Majority Leaders Corneal Davis (D., Chicago), Thaddeus Lechowicz(D., Chicago), E. J. "Zeke" Giorgi (D., Rockford); Majority Whips Gerald Bradley (D., Bloomington)and Don Brummet (D., Vandalia); Minority Leader George H. Ryan, (R., Kankakee); Assistant Minority Leaders Bernard Epton (R., Chicago), Gilbert Deavers (R., Normal), Celeste Stiehl (R., Belleville); Minority Whips Arthur Telcser (R., Chicago) and R. Bruce Waddell (R., Dundee); Republican Conference Chairman William F. Mahar (R., Homewood).
All of the Republicans, except Telcser and Stiehi, are newcomers to leadership, reflecting the earlier action in which Ryan defeated Rep. William D.Walsh (R., LaGrange Park) for the minority leader's position at a December party caucus.
The list of committee chairmen for the 80th General Assembly, which was released on January 26, appears to be one of continuity. Nine of the 22 standing committees (excluding Rules which is chaired by the speaker) have the same chairman as in the 79th General Assembly. Three others are headed by members who chaired different committees during the past two years.
Seven of the 10 new committee chairmen served as vice-chairmen previously although not necessarily of the same committee. Only three chairmen are new to committee leadership posts, They are Reps. Richard O. Hart (D., Benton), Financial Institutions Committee; Raymond W. Ewell(D., Chicago), Higher Education; and Rolland F, Tipsword (D., Taylorville), Insurance. Tipsword, as noted earlier, was one of the opponents to Redmond in the Democratic party caucus.
The only returning chairman from the preceding General Assembly who does not head a committee this year is Lechowicz who vacated his position on Appropriations I when he moved into his assistant majority leader office. That committee is now chaired by Rep. John Matijevich (D., North Chicago) who previously headed the Executive Committee. Appropriations II is now chaired by Rep. Eugene Barnes (D., Chicago) who moves up from the vice-chairmanship to replace a retired member.
The House returned to begin its work for the session on February 1 even though the Senate had not settled its leadership selection and organization. The Senate was scheduled February 9 to try again with roll call number 175. / L.S.C.
26 / March 1977 / Illinois Issues