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,
Mark Gruenberg, Milton Rakove,
Ed McManus, Anna J. Merritt,
Larry Smith, Beverly Fleming
Artist: Ed Dyson
Business staff: Bonnie S. Roberts
Student staff: Cheryl A. Tinsley, Claudia
L. Woolridge, Cynthia L. Konold
Pat Karlak

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

Natural gas: What's in the pipeline for Illinois?
By George Provenzano 6

13 New open meetings law: visions and revisions
By Dona Gerson

Farmland preservation: condos or corn?
By James Krohe Jr. 19

2Poltics Barbara J. Hipsman and Bob Springer
Supplies low on the Trickle-down trail

4THE STATE OF THE STATEDiane Ross
Pressure builds for new taxs

18 Book Review By Melba Buxbaum
Linguistic Isolationism

25 Legislative Action By Diane Ross
Let the Session Begin

31 Chicago By Ed McManus
County Board seat shuffle

32 THE Media By Tom Littlewood
Jim Squires of the Chicago Tribune

34 Washington By Robert Mackay
Percy Listens to Horror Stories of reg Enforcement

LETTERS__________5

SELECTED STATE REPORTS_______17

AUDITOR GENERAL OPINIONS_______25

EXECUTIVE REPORT__________26
An independent advocate for the developmentally disabled?/Two groups named to advise govenor on federal block grants

STATES STIX_______26

ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINIONS_______27

JUDICIAL RULINGS__________28
Court upholds ban on compulsory retirement before age 70/State jurisdiction in class action suits where most members are nonresidents

NAMES_____________29
It's official: Energy Director Witte, Labor Director Bernardi/Ryan elected chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court/Redmond resigns after 22 years in the House

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/$30 two years/$42 three years; student rate is $9 a year. Individual copy is $1.75. Second class postage paid at Springfield, Illinois. 51980 by ILLINOIS ISSUES, 226 CC, Sangamon State University, Springfield, Illinois 62708. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce any part of the magazine.

February 1982/Illinois Issues/3