Illinois Issues

Established 1975
DECEMBER 1980 VOL. VI, NO. 12

ILLINOIS ISSUES is published by Sangamon State University. The magazine's board is appointed by the presidents of Sangamon State University and the University of Illinois. In addition to subscription income the magazine is supported by a grant from the Ford Foundation, support from the University of Illinois and Sangamon State University, and donations. The contents of the magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of either university, the Ford Foundation or other donors.

Publisher: J. Michael Lennon
Editor: Caroline Gherardini
Circulation director: John E. Cockrell
Editor emeritus: William L. Day
Associate editors: Margaret S. Knoepfle,
            Richard J. Shereikis
Fulfillment manager: Elizabeth A. Curl
Legislative correspondent: Diane Ross
Contributing editors: Tom Littlewood,
      Bill Miller, Robert Kieckhefer,
      Milton Rakove, Ed McManus,
      Anna J. Merritt, Larry Smith,
      Beverly Fleming, Robert Mackay
Artist: Ed Dyson
Business staff: Bonnie S. Roberts
Student staff: Becky Bradway,
     John G. Martin, Janice R. Herrin

The Board
Chairman: Samuel K. Gove, director, Institute
      of Government and Public Affairs, University
      of Illinois, Urbana
Vice Chairman: Thomas F. Roeser, vice
      president-government relations, The
      Quaker Oats Company, Chicago
John N. Collins, director, Center for
      Policy Studies and Program Evaluation,
      Sangamon State University, Springfield
William L. Day, editor emeritus, Springfield
Doris B. Holleb, director, Metropolitan
      Institute, University of Chicago
David Kenney, director, Illinois Department
      of Conservation, Springfield
James R. Kackley, partner, Arthur Andersen &
      Co., Chicago
Louis H. Masotti, director, Center for Urban
      Affairs, Northwestern University,
      Evanston
Odas Nicholson, lawyer, Chicago
James D. Nowlan, Institute of Government and
      Public Affairs, University of Illinois, Urbana
James T. Otis, lawyer, Chicago
Theodore Peterson, professor of journalism,
      University of Illinois, Urbana
Betsy Plank, assistant vice president, Illinois
      Bell Telephone Co., Chicago
Gerald H. Pugh, vice president and director of
      government relations, Combined Insurance
      Company of America, Chicago
Honorable Samuel H. Shapiro, lawyer,
      Kankakee
Carl Shier, international representative, Region
      4, United Auto Workers
Honorable William G. Stratton, vice president,
      Canteen Corporation, Chicago
James M. Wall, editor, Christian Century,
      Chicago
Samuel W. Witwer, lawyer, Chicago
James C. Worthy, professor of management.
      Northwestern University
J. Michael Lennon, ex officio member

Contents
	4 Scott's Justice By Steve Slack
9 Property tax assessment fraud in Cook County By Ed McManus
13 The cost of a drink By Cheryl Tinsley
	HOUSING SERIES CONCLUSION 17 New foundations for home financing By John N. Collins 20 The real estate industry toughs it out By Dona Gerson
2 THE STATE OF THE STATE By Diane Ross 1980: Illinois at the crossroads 22 SCIENCE By Julie A. Dutton Science issues of the 80's 25 LEGISLATIVE ACTION By Diane Ross The Illinois House — too much accountability? 32 CHICAGO By Ed McManus Getting mad and getting even: an Irish feud 33 WASHINGTON By Robert Mackay The new and newly powerful in the Illinois delegation 34 MEDIA By Tom Littlewood Sparks, polls and public enlightenment 35 THE ROSTRUM By John L. Lewis Economic literacy
BOOK REVIEWS __________________16 An uneven history of Illinois, 1899-1928, By Robert P. Howard/ Science and the state By John W. Ahlen SELECTED STATE REPORTS______16 LETTERS ________________________27 JUDICIAL RULINGS ______________28 State bonds for low-interest mortgages/Perceived perjury as evidence	EXECUTIVE REPORT ____________ 28 ELECTION REPORT______________ 29 STATE STIX______________________29 NAMES __________________________30 Marjorie Jones replaces her late husband in House/Gustafson to direct Department of Nuclear Safety/Local Government Finance Commission

ILLINOIS ISSUES (USPS 060-130) is published monthly (12 times per year). Editorial offices: 226 Capital Campus, Sangamon State University, Springfield, Illinois 62708 (telephone: 217/782-0294). Please address questions regarding your subscription to ILLINOIS ISSUES, Subscription Division, P. O. Box 251, Mount Morris, Illinois 61054 (telephone: 815/734-4151).

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ILLINOIS ISSUES, Subscription Division, P. O. Box 251, Mount Morris, Illinois 61054. Subscription rate: $18 year/$3O two years/$42 three years; student rate is $9 a year. Individual copy is $1.75. Second class postage paid at Springfield, Illinois. 1980 by ILLINOIS ISSUES, 226 CC, Sangamon State University, Springfield, Illinois 62708. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce any part of the magazine.