Governor acquitted of extortion
West Virginia Gov. Arch A. Moore, Jr.,
along with an ex-aide, were acquitted of
conspiring to extort $25,000 from a businessman for a bank charter. The businessman pleaded guilty to 37 counts of fraud and
denied ever receiving the bank charter from
the governor. However, the State Supreme
Court did not allow Moore on the primary
ballot to run for a third term.
Ban forced retirement
The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled
that forced retirement of agency employees
who have worked 25 years at a job and are at
least 50 years old is unconstitutional.
Ex-Oklahoma governor loses appeal
Former Oklahoma Gov. David Hall and a
codefendant, convicted of bribery and
conspiracy charges, were refused an appeal
by the federal appeals court in May.
New York sells bonds
New York State successfully sold $50 million of its own long-term bonds in May,
the first such sale since its fiscal crisis began
more than a year ago. The interest rate was
increased to 7.3 per cent, compared to the 5.7
per cent it paid the last time bonds were sold
in November 1974.
New Jersey schools
Unless the New Jersey legislature fully funds $378 million in new school aid, the
state's Supreme Court will cut off all
spending for schools. The present system of
funding relies on property taxes which create
wide disparities in funding between rich and
poor districts, according to the Supreme
Court. This was their sixth decision handed
down on the matter since 1973. The state
Senate rejected a state income tax in May for
the sixth time which would have alleviated the problem.
Mississippi reapportionment
The U.S. Supreme Court urged a lower
federal court to promptly hold hearings and
reach agreement on a reapportionrnent plan
for the Mississippi legislature to settle a
decade-long dispute. The high court asked
that any necessary special elections be held
by this November.
Conflict of interest bill
The Rhode Island legislature approved a
conflict of interest bill and sent it to the
governor for his signature. The bill also
requires financial interest statements from
state and local officials, but open meetings
and records measures are still before the
legislature. / T.S. B.
September 1976 / Illinois Issues / 19