Legislative Action                                                        

By JENNIFER HALPERIN

Some Republicans call it a "Contract with Illinois." House Speaker Lee Daniels has pledged to pass reforms in business, education, welfare and criminal justice, as well as property tax caps for Cook County, during the 89th General Assembly's first 60 days.

To steer this legislative ship, Daniels and Senate President James "Pate" Philip designated members of their ranks to hash out proposals with the governor's aides. « In many cases, suburbanites got the nod. Their ability to forge a consensus will show whether state Republicans are up to their mission of quick, sweeping change.

• Daniels said property tax caps for Cook County should be relatively easy to pass, considering that voters there have voiced support. Sens. Walter Dudycz of Chicago and Dave Syverson of Rockford, and suburban House members Jack Kubik, Maureen Murphy and Bernie Pederson have been designated to negotiate on this issue.

But some legislators caution it is a complicated one. "Things get confusing when legislation is written that treats one region differently from others," said Sen. Steven Rauschenberger, a Republican from Elgin.

Cook is the only county with different property tax rates for three property classifications: Residences are assessed at 16 percent of their taxable value, industrial property at 36 percent and commercial property at 38 percent. All property in other counties is assessed at 33 percent.

Collar counties benefited from Cook's higher assessment rates, Rauschenberger said, because businesses left Cook for neighboring counties.

What's more, Dudycz said Republicans must garner a three-fifths majority to pass caps that will apply to home rule entities like Cook County and Chicago. "I'd like to see them included, but we're not sure now whether that's going to happen," he said.

And as Sen. Peter Fitzgerald, a Republican from suburban Inverness, explained, Cook (unlike other counties) now uses a property's previous year's value when figuring taxes. It's unclear whether caps would be based on that standard.

• Education reforms also make up part of the "fast track" package. Two suburban Republican senators — Patrick O'Malley of Palos Park, vice chairman of the Senate Education Committee, and Doris Karpiel of Carol Stream, former Republican spokeswoman on the committee -have been appointed to represent their chamber on this issue. (Sen. John Maitland, who has earned a reputation as a leader in education, will instead concentrate on budget matters.) In the House two suburbanites, Reps. Mary Lou Cowlishaw of Naperville and Doug Hoeft of Elgin were designated to carry the ball for that chamber.

O'Malley says he's confident such measures as charter schools will pass quickly if the House Education Committee can overcome teacher union opposition. "Much of this we've been able to move off the floor in the Senate," he said

• Welfare reform efforts will be headed by Reps. Ron Stephens of downstate 0'Fallen and Carolyn Krause of Mount Prospect, along with Sens. Frank Watson of Carlyle and Dan Cronin of Elmhurst. Watson's desire to end welfare benefits for additional children may not play well with Democrats or his fellow downstate Republicans. But GOP leaders know they must appeal to members outside the suburbs to pass welfare reforms, so compromises may be in order.

• For years, the GOP has been champing at the bit for business reforms. Republican Sens. Aldo DeAngelis of Olympia Fields and Marty Butler of Des Plaines were selected as players on this issue. DeAngelis formerly chaired his chamber's Revenue Committee; Butler chairs its Commerce and Industry Committee. In the House, Reps. Robert Churchill of Lake Villa, Ann Hughes of Woodstock and Bill Brady of Bloomington were assigned.

Although Republicans likely thought their pro-business agenda was in the bag once they took over the House, GOP members who are trial lawyers have given them pause. If, as expected, some Democrats can be convinced to vote for the reforms, however, the loss of Republican votes could be negated.

• Sens. Carl Hawkinson of Galesburg and Ed Petka of Plainfield have been working on criminal justice reforms, as have Reps. Tom Cross of Oswego and Tom Johnson of West Chicago. This issue may end up being among the least controversial this year, as just about everyone wants to look tough on crime without spending too many taxpayer dollars. *

Senate President James "Pate" Philip of Wood Dale (left) took command of his chamber two years ago. In a stunning upset, Republicans captured the House in November. After serving a dozen years as minority leader in that chamber, Rep. Lee A. Daniels of Elmhurst was elected speaker January 11.

32/February 1995/lllinois Issues