GOVERNOR Walker's "state of the state message," delivered to a joint session of the General Assembly on January 14, presented three executive priorities, outlined a broad legislative program, listed the accomplishments of his administration, and contained a bicentennial reminder "to draw strength from our heritage" in tackling future problems.
Emphasizing that Illinois is still "basically healthy," the governor advocated priorities of "personal safety," "holding the line on taxes," and "open and honest government" as three crucial goals for the current year. Specifically, he called for: 2. Watching the cash flow and holding the line on overspending to maintain and improve vital services.
3. Requiring disclosure of personal income by all elected officials. He also stressed that the state's fiscal condition will not interfere with the basic obligations of state government— "to educate, to provide for the health and general welfare of our citizens; to care for the less fortunate, and to take as little as possible from our citizens in order to free up the greatest resource we have: the initiative of the individual."
Gov. Walker noted that unemployment is still a critical problem and admitted that it is a problem affected by conditions beyond the control of the state government. "There are things Illinois can do and is doing to make certain that we stimulate the recovery process, and provide the right climate for business and industry and, therefore, jobs," the governor said.
EDUCATION: A substantial increase was made in aid to elementary and secondary education in the past three years totalling $485 million. The state share of financing public schools is now 46 per cent. Adding higher education to this year's state education spending, the total is $2.3 billion or "43 per cent of the General Revenue fund dollars available. . . .more than we're spending for any other purpose."
MENTAL HEALTH: Investment of $10 million in capital funds to provide "privacy and comfort" for state hospital patients, and legislation was passed to build this year "Specialized Living Centers" to meet the need for residential facilities for the adult developmentally disabled. The discharge rate of patients from state hospitals into nursing homes has slowed by 40 percent, and the "quality of care in nursing homes is improved." Work on a new mental health code continues.
PUBLIC AID: The ineligibility rate is "down significantly," from 15 to 9 per cent, and the department's review and audit program has already recovered some $.9 million of $1.8 million in bills that providers were asked to repay within the medicaid program. The average caseload has been reduced more than half and the bilingual staff has doubled.
CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES: New programs "to prevent and respond to child abuse" have been undertaken, and "out-of-state placements have been reduced from 770 in 1973 to 151 today."
LABOR: A major new system to process unemployment checks more rapidly and efficiently is scheduled to begin by July.
Ethics Consumer protection Equal Rights Amendment Generic drugs Mortgage practices Privacy Labor Judicial selection State Board of Elections Transportation
16. "Solve the rural railroad abandonment problem to assure needed railroad transportation in rural areas."
1. Require "full personal financial disclosure for all elected officials."
2. Require "disclosure of land trust beneficiaries, tighten up regulation of lobbyists, and prevent "double dipping."
3. "Abolish confession of judgment clauses."
4. "Revise the deficiency judgment law."
5. "Require more disclosure" in the areas of funeral practices, warranty, home repair, auto repair, and the dating of perishable foods.
6. Adoption of the ERA amendment, plus legislation "securing equal status for women in our society. . . .assuring that the rape victim is treated with dignity."
7. "Facilitate the filling of prescriptions by generic drugs instead of with brand names."
8. Adoption of "mortgage payment forebearance bills ... .to give homeowners a one-year period of grace in which to overcome economic hardship."
9. Reintroduction of bills "to prevent misuse of information by ... businesses and government."
10. Adoption of a "minimum wage bill to extend federal standards to Illinois workers."
11. Enactment of "a law establishing and regulating collective bargaining for all public employees."
Insurance
12. Provide "true no fault insurance which will lead to prompt payment of claims and lower — or at least hold the line on — the cost of insurance to consumers."
13. "A constitutional amendment calling for the merit selection of judges."
14. Implementation of "the Constitutional mandate."
15. Provide for "at least one independent member on the Board."
March 1976 / Illinois Issues / 25
Walker's assessment
CORRECTIONS: A "sharp increase in prison population" has slowed the program to provide one cell for each prisoner, but hot and cold running water and electrical outlets were installed in some 3,000 cells, and four-man tables have replaced long dining room benches. Work release programs have tightened procedures and show a 98.6% success rate. "About 4,000 correctional officers have now gone through the guard training academy."
REHABILITATION: The State Office of Education will have jurisdiction over the activities of the Division of Vocational Education on July 1, when new legislation takes effect. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation will remain under a Board of Vocational Education but with a requirement that four members, including the chairman, must be handicapped citizens.
AGRICULTURE: Legislation was passed removing the sales tax on fertilizers and pesticides. The department developed a farmers' hotline during the energy crisis and "has stepped up enforcement against merchants short-weighting customers."
CONSERVATION: Investment of $46 million in about 90 sites to open new outdoor facilities for citizens. State duck and salmon stamps were initiated "to generate funds for waterfowl and salmon management programs."
CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT: Becoming the largest contractor in the state, the board put over $200 million worth of construction under contract in 1975. New projects started include the Capitol Complex in Springfield, the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago, and an agricultural building on the State Fairgrounds.
TRANSPORTATION: "By the close of 1976, the state's interstate highway program [excluding the Crosstown] . . , will be virtually complete." During 1975, $592 million was awarded in construction contracts including $57 million for the supplemental freeway system. State support of all public transportation systems has increased, from $25 million in 1973 to $147 million this year.
INSURANCE: A consumer's buying guide to automobile insurance, a program to make insurance protection available to women, professional administration of licensing tests, and a rule requiring insurance companies to hire outside auditors were implemented. Solutions for medical malpractice problems are being studied.
EDUCATION AND REGISTRATION: "Tough" enforcement policies were adopted by the department; 136 licenses were revoked; and an investigation uncovered a "barber licensing racket" and another investigation is still underway on beautician licensing. Mortgage banking practices are now under "tough rules" in an effort to prevent "red-lining." The department has designated public members to sit on most licensing boards; and its Office of Consumer Advocate "has initiated major investigations into auto repairs, deceptive advertising, trade and vocational schools and unsafe toys."
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: Grants of $170 million for sewage treatment plants were awarded to municipalities in 1975. Pursuing a compliance program with polluters, the EPA in fiscal 1975 obtained compliance from more than 250 pollution sources, without resorting to litigation. In three years, the Illinois Industrial Pollution Control Financing Authority has financed $160 million in pollution control equipment for private industry.
VETERANS: A new Department of Veterans Affairs, replacing the Veterans' Commission, has "the responsibility for administering an expanded Veterans' Scholarship Program and for monitoring certain vocational training programs."
FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES: Expanded powers granted by statute this year allow the FEPC to initiate investigations and look into charges of discrimination in firms employing 15 or more persons. Minority hiring by the state and minority firm business with the state has increased.
RACING: "The ban on political contributions will continue and loopholes that allowed public officials and people of questionable background to have interests in racing we re eliminated" by new legislation.
ENERGY DEVELOPMENT: "In 1975 . . . Illinois emerged as the national leader in energy research and development for the future."
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS: This office created by executive order has led to the "firing. forced resignation or suspension of more than 30 employees for violations" of state law or executive orders.
26 / March 1976 / Illinois Issues