BRIEFLY
Edited by Rodd Whelpley
A pretty picture?
Lights, camera, legislation
Continuous television coverage may be coming
to the Statehouse. The University of Illinois
at Springfield, a public affairs-focused institution,
is exploring the idea of a TV network that would cover
Illinois state government, much as
C-SPAN covers Congress and
federal executive agencies.
As envisioned, the network would provide live, unedited coverage of House and Senate proceedings and executive agency hearings. It might also cover oral arguments before the state appellate courts and the Illinois Supreme Court. (Cameras are not allowed at trial courts.) When the General Assembly is not in session, the network could cover political campaigns and air candidate debates.
"Modern technology can make the visitors' gallery as close as an easy chair in Chicago or a classroom in Cairo," says Terrence J. Martin, who is directing a feasibility study. Martin was part of the congressional coverage team for C-SPAN and most recently worked as Statehouse bureau chief for WAND-TV, the ABC affiliate in Decatur.
Two grants — $396, 000 from the Joyce Foundation and $50, 000 from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation — are funding a two-year study by UIS'' Institute for Public Affairs. The study will explore funding for and operation of the new network. UIS Chancellor Naomi Lynn will chair an advisory committee and former Gov. Jim Edgar and former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon will serve as co-vice chairmen. All of the state's constitutional officers and legislative leaders have been asked to participate in the study.
Nineteen other states have public affairs television networks. Thus far, though, Illinois' lawmakers don't appear to be rushing for their make-up kits. Senate President James "Pate" Philip called the idea "boring."
By Beverley Scobell
Illustration by Daisy Juarez
DEATH PENALTY SCRUTINY
Illinois takes the lead
Gov. George Ryan got the world's
attention with his decision to put an
immediate moratorium on state
executions. In fact, the lights at Rome's
ancient Colosseum burned golden in
his honor, according to an Associated
Press report. The Italian amphitheater,
again according to AP, is at the center
of a worldwide campaign against the
death penalty.
Meanwhile, President Bill Clinton praised Ryan for his decision. Federal lawmakers are definitely taking another look. U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois has asked the leadership of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to hold hearings on the administration of death penalty laws.
And, most intriguing, U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat and a death penalty foe pushing his own reforms, called Ryan with a personal thanks.
The Illinois governor is an unlikely hero for the anti-death penalty forces. He supports the ultimate sanction.
But, calling the state's record of putting the innocent on Death Row "shameful," Ryan said last January he'll put a halt to executions until he can figure out why the system has gone awry and how it can be improved. He made the announcement after the 13th Illinois Death Row inmate was exonerated. Ryan said he'll appoint a commission to review implementation of the state's statute.
His panel will join reviews already underway at the behest of the General Assembly, the state Supreme Court and the Illinois attorney general's office. Since the death penalty was reinstituted in Illinois in 1977, 12 Death Row inmates have been executed. And, as of last month, there were 158 awaiting execution in this state, including three women.
Burney Simpson
8 / March 2000 Illinois Issues
Money Shouldn't Be All that Talks in the Next Election
A Message to Illinois Broadcasters
As political contributions flood into the 2000 campaign at unprecedented levels, we write to voice a concern —
and make an appeal — about the role of broadcasters in our democracy. More than one million political ads are
expected to run on television next year. Candidates in 2000 will spend six times more (in inflation-adjusted dollars)
on television ads than candidates did in 1972, yet voter turnout is expected to continue a steep four-decade-long
decline. Citizens are turned off by the ads and by the money chase that pays for them.
We call on you to open the nation's airwaves in 2000 to a different kind of campaign communication — one whose currency is ideas, not money. A blue-ribbon panel appointed by President Clinton — and made up of broadcast industry executives as well as public interest advocates — has recommended that television stations voluntarily air five minutes a night of "candidate-centered discourse" in the month preceding all primary and general elections.
We urge the networks to take up this challenge and broadcast brief nightly issue forums with the presidential candidates. We urge Illinois stations to do the same for our federal, state and local candidates. These segments could take a variety of forms, including interviews, issue statements or mini-debates.
From whom much has been given, much is expected. Broadcasters have been given licenses valued at tens of billions of dollars, free of charge, to operate the public's airwaves. In return, you have pledged to serve the public . interest. We can think of no greater public service at the start of a new millennium than to provide citizens with the information they need to choose their future. Nightly forums can help break the hold that money and ads have on our political campaigns.
Hon. Paul Simon-Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, and the following concerned Illinois citizens:
Bev Adamczyk-LWVLake Forest/Lake Bluff, Alberto Altamore-IL Coalition Against Unfair Utilities, Theresa Amato-Citizen Advocacy Center, Mehrdad Azemun-Chicago Recycling Coalition, Raymond Baranak-G.A.I.N., Henry Bayer-AFSCME, Charles Benton-Benton Foundation, Margaret Blake-Reaume-LWV
Lake County, Diane Brown-ILPIRG, Anita Buchholz-LWV Batavia, Carol Busching LWVRochelle, Hon. Dawn dark Netsch, Kathryn Clay- LWV Waukegan,
Hon. Jerry Costello, Nancy Cowles- Coalition for Consumer Rights, Hon. Tom Dart, Jeanne Davick-LWV Elmhurst, Hon. Miguel Del Valle, Susan Denecke-
LWV McDonough, Hon. Leonard Deville, Ellen Dick- IANO, Hon. Kirk Dillard, Arlene Doblin- LWV Winnetka, John Donahue-Chicago Coalition for the
Homeless, Michael Doyle- IL Center for Citizen Involvement, Hon. Richard Durbin, Tina Erickson -LWV Liberty' ville / Mundelein, Hon. Judy Erwin, Jan Flapan-
LWV IL, Hon. Barbara Flynn-Currie, Joan Fragen-LWV Winnetka/Northfield, Hon. Jack Franks, Hon. John Fritcliey. Hon. Susan Garrett, Hon. Adeline
Geo-K-aris, Kirk Goltry- United We Stand, Karen Grafe-LWV Park Forest, Rev. Dominic Grassi-St. Josaphat Church, Terry Griffin-LWV Oak Park/River Forest, Jacky Grimshaw-Center for Neighborhood Technology, Hon. Debbie Halvorson, Hon. Julie Hamos, Lawrence Hansen-Joyce Foundation, Ross Harano-
Asian Pacific American Democratic Org., Robert Hercules-Media Process Group, Hon. Jay C. Hoffman, Jim Howard-IL Common Cause, Laurie Huget-LWV
Oak Park / River Forest II, Kevin Jackson-Chicago Rehab Network, Hon. Jesse Jackson, Jr., Barbara Johnson-LWV JoDaviess, Dan Johnson- Weinberger-MDC,
Jan Korsvik-LWV Cook County, Hon. Carolyn Krause, Eugene & Barbara Krell-Protcstants for the Common Good, Hon. Louis Long, Laura Lee-LWV Glen
Ellyn, G Segvane Lawrence, Ricardo Loza - SEIU, Arthur Lyons, Pearl Mack-LWV Dolton Harvey/Riverdale, Hon. Mike Madigan, Hon. Lisa Madigan,
Carol Maier-LWV Chicago, Clayton Marquardt-IEA., Rose Marsaglia-LWV McLean County, Rev. James Martin-St. Benedict The African-West, Jane
McAfee-LWV Greater Rockford, Hon. Kevin A. McCarthy, Michael McConnell-AFSC, Hon. Jack McGuire, Patricia Mendoza-MALDEF, Hon. Abner Mik-
va, Hon. Newton Minow-Sidley & Austin, Hon. Andrea Moore, Hon. Rosemary Mulligan, Hon. Diana Nelson, Kathy Nesburg-LWV Cook County, Hon. Philip
Novak, Bruce Orenstein-Chicago Video Project, Barbara Pape-LWV Wheaton, Edna Pardo-LWV Chicago, Patrick Patt-Oak Grove School District, Rev. John J.
Pawlikowski-CTU, Stephen A. Perkins-CNT, William Peterson, Hon. David Phelps, Hon. John E. Porter, Hon. Pat Quinn, Eice Redmond-Access Living, Hon.
Patricia Reid Lindner, William Rentschler-Voice Publishing USA., Richard & Ruth Riha-OWL, Claire Saf ford-LWV Adams County, Mary Schaafsma - PCG,Caro/ Schaal-LWV PaloslOrland Park, Hon. JefT Schoenberg, Hon. Doug Scott, Hon. Sonia Silva, Jim Slama-SUSTAIN, Hon. Ricca Stone, Annette
Smith-LWV Naperville, Hon. Michael Smith, Faith Smith- NAES College, Susan Straus-Chicago NOW, Jerry Stermer -Voices for Illinois Children, Hon. Dave
Sullivan, Marge Sutaps-Health & Medicine Policy Research Group, Mary Ann Tate- LWV Park Ridge, James Thindwa-Metro Seniors in Action, Alene
Vlakanas-IL Arts Alliance, Gordon Waiek, Suzanne Wear -LWV Wheaton, Margie Weiss-LWV Highland Park, Sandy Wellan-LWV Oak Park River Forest,
Hon. Rick Winkel, Robert Wordlaw-Chicago Jobs Council, Quentin Young, MD. Organizations for identification only
Illinois Issues March 2000 / 9
BRIEFLY
TECHIE ALERT
Budget plan
contains cyberdollars
Gov. George Ryan's new budget proposal includes a five-year, $1.9 billion
"VentureTech" program designed to promote science education, biotechnology
and information technology projects.
On the drawing boards:
• A Genomics Institute at the University of Illinois ($80 million);
• An optical network connecting the state's universities and labs
($54 million);
• An expansion of the National Center for Supercomputing Applications
at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ($30 million);
• A biomedical research facility at Northwestern University ($30 million).
The second component of VentureTech is an additional $800 million fund
that will invest in high-tech, start-up businesses. Three of the largest state
employee pension funds and two other state investment agencies will contribute
to the fund over the next three years. The state treasurer will establish the fund
and oversee the investments.
And there's more
for the year-old high-tech network
Ryan also would like to use the VentureTech program to finish Illinois
Century Network, the $340 million fiber optic computer "spine" that would
connect the state's 4, 000 elementary and secondary schools, 48 community
colleges and 12 public universities. When completed, the network would also
include the state's private colleges and universities, government agencies,
libraries and museums.
The network would let high school students take college courses, allow the growing number of adults and nontraditional students to continue their training and erase geographic barriers to taking courses across the state.
Nationally, there has been a rise in virtual classes offered over the Internet by public and private schools. (See "Good Ole Virtual U," Illinois Issues, February 1999, page 22.)
The Board of Higher Education is asking for $15 million this year and a total of $92 million over three years to complete its portion of the network, says a spokesman.
Last year, Ryan got $17 million to begin building the network.
Burney Simpson
Follow-up
• The federal Housing and Urban Development agency granted the
Chicago Housing Authority unprecedented flexibility to carry out the
city's plan to demolish, rebuild and rehab low-income housing. (See
Illinois Issues, January, page 18.)
• Matt Hale is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overrule an Illinois
Supreme Court committee's decision to deny the white supremacist a
law license. (See Illinois Issues, July/August, page 30.)
Illinois Issues March 2000 / 11
BRIEFLY
Legislative checklist
Illinois lawmakers are
already more than halfway
through their self-imposed
schedule for the spring
session. And though anything
can happen, few new issues
are expected to grab the
General Assembly's attention over the next few
weeks. The following is a
short checklist of the
proposals legislators have
been debating.
RACE PROFILING
Charges that law enforcement
officials unfairly target minorities for
traffic stops and searches prompted
Sen. Barack Obama to propose a
study of "racial profiling."
Several former Highland Park police officers say they were encouraged to stop poor and minority motorists. Obama, a Chicago Democrat, argues such reports "create suspicion between the minority community and law enforcement."
His measure, which is supported by the American Civil Liberties Union, would require state police to record the race of every motorist they stop, though neither the driver nor officer would be identified in the report.
One goal is to find those areas where racial profiling may be going on. Obama says such a study would benefit minorities and law enforcement officials. "Police chiefs want their officers to operate lawfully," he says. "It's in their interest to ferret out wrongdoing."
The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police is not opposed to the proposal, but worries implementation could cause problems. Paul Dollins, manager of governmental relations for that group, contends asking questions about race could aggravate what is "already a tense situation between a police officer and a motorist."
The organization suggests printing racial information on driver's licenses.
CHILD SUPPORT
Legislators on both sides of the
partisan aisle moved to address the
fiasco caused when the state centralized its child support check distribution system in the DuPage County
circuit clerk's office.
Thousands of checks have been delayed since October when that office took over processing.
Coal City Democratic Rep. Mary Kay O'Brien is pushing a measure that would revoke the current contract, open it up for bid and set performance standards for the administrator.
However, Senate President James "Pate" Philip argues the current contract should be allowed to expire at the end of June. The Wood Dale Republican says changing the system now would only make matters worse.
The Wheaton center was chosen at the suggestion of the Illinois Association of Circuit Court Clerks. But Gov. George Ryan says he would be open to putting the contract out for bid. Previously, individual counties processed the checks. But federal rules called for a single statewide administrator.
The contract is worth $8.5 million to DuPage County. By January, the state had paid another $10.6 million in emergency funds to families that hadn't received their checks. Ann Patla, director of the Department of Public Aid, testified it could cost $17 million to fix the problem.
Meanwhile, the state auditor general and Bank One are investigating the foul-up.
GAMBLING
Several measures to rein in
gambling are on deck this spring.
A house committee approved proposals to prohibit gambling
facilities from cashing postdated and welfare checks and to raise the age for buying lottery tickets and betting on horses to 21.
Rep. Jack Franks, a Woodstock Democrat, said he planned to propose an amendment to prohibit automated teller machines from gambling sites once his measure on check cashing limits goes before the full House.
A debate on whether to exclude military personnel from the new age limits on gambling was ongoing at presstime.
TAXES
Legislators' hopes for a tax cut
this election year were dimmed by
Gov. George Ryan in his proposed
fiscal year 2001 state budget. Ryan
said his plan would allow for $481
million in tax relief by completing the
phase-in of the $2, 000 individual
income tax exemption, implementing
the tuition tax credit for parents and
giving corporations some breaks.
However, Ryan didn't show support for the other ideas floating around the Capitol, including a sales tax moratorium, a cut in the gas tax and tax credits for such expenses as child care, property taxes, prescription drugs and monthly rent.
Still, Ryan said he might be open to an "affordable" cut.
LIQUOR
Northbrook Republican Sen.
Kathleen Parker wants to repeal a
1999 liquor law that she says created
"a near monopoly" and is bad for
consumers. Liquor prices have gone
up 10 percent since the law went on
the books last spring.
The provision, commonly called the "Wirtz law" after liquor distributor and Chicago Blackhawks owner William Wirtz, made it virtually impossible for most wine or liquor suppliers to break contracts with their distributors. The suppliers sued, arguing it was unconstitutional. In January, U.S. District Judge Joan
Continued on next page
Illinois Issues March 2000 / 13
BRIEFLY
Gottschall ruled that more study was
necessary.
Ryan, who supported the Wirtz measure last spring, stepped away from it after the judge's ruling.
Though the law could be invalidated in court, Parker says it could take too long. "The problem is that consumers don't want to wait. I know my constituents don't."
SAFE HOODS
State Sen. Kirk Dillard has
reintroduced the so-called Safe Neighborhoods Act in nine separate proposals.
Among other provisions, the 1994 law penalized gunrunners. It was overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court last December because lawmakers failed to follow a state constitutional requirement that legislation be confined to a single subject.
Eight of the new proposals by the Hinsdale Republican went to the full Senate for a vote. The controversial provision that made it a felony for the first offense of illegally transporting a weapon failed to move out of a committee.
Senate President Philip, has said that he supported all of the original act but the felony provision.
Over in the House, Chicago Democratic Rep. Tom Dart proposed a revision of the original 1994 act, allowing a first-time offense to be reduced to a misdemeanor. But Dart says he isn't optimistic about his proposal's chances. "I'm not holding my breath that it will pass. We aren't in any different position than we were in December."
During a special session called by Gov. Ryan last winter, the General Assembly failed to re-enact the law.
DRUGS FOR SENIORS
The most heated debate in the
legislature so far this session came
after Rep. Franks introduced a plan
to provide discounted prescription
drugs for all Illinois senior citizens
without costing the state a penny.
Franks wants to enroll Illinoisans age 65 and over in a buying group, similar to those used by HMOs. For a $25 yearly registration fee, seniors would receive an identification card that would cut the cost of prescriptions by as much as 52 percent, according to Franks. Drug manufacturers, who oppose the measure, would be required to make up the difference by reimbursing local pharmacies.
House Republican leader Lee Daniels says if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. He wants to expand eligibility for two existing programs. Eligibility for Aid to the Aged, Blind and Disabled would be extended to an additional 85, 600 people and income eligibility for the Circuit Breaker program would be increased to $28, 000 for a family of two.
Daniels would also raise the annual prescription drug cap to $2, 000 and add Alzheimer's, cancer, glaucoma and Parkinson's Disease medications to the list of covered drugs. He estimates the expanded programs will cost Illinois taxpayers $46 million.
GENDER VIOLENCE
Gov. Ryan supports a
proposal that would allow women
and gay and lesbian victims of
gender-related violence to sue their
attackers in state court.
The measure, sponsored by Chicago Democratic Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, is similar to the 1994 Federal Violence Against Women Act, which allows women to seek damages from their attackers.
The act allows a victim to bring suit against an individual attacker or an institution or corporation.
It would also extend legal protection from the workplace to the home and other places where such violence is most likely to occur.
Heather Nickel and Burney Simpson
14 / March 2000 Illinois Issues