Southern Illinoisan from Carbondale, Illinois • Page 21

SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1982 Page Twenty One Carbondale-Herrln-Murpnysboro-Marlon uts called un EducaiBon Dry g-enf orcemeht likely roups now retain funding decide. Universities have done all they can, he said, by cutting costs and raising tuition and fees. State universities have raised tuition for next fall an average 15 percent the third straight year of tuition hikes at public, four-year schools. Under cuestioning, Wagner said Thompson proposed budget allows for no general wage increase for college faculties and staffs, would not meet expected increases in utility costs and could increase pressures for local property tax hikes to finance two-year community colleges. Higher education, under the Republican governor's proposed spending blueprint, would grab 12.2 percent of the entire allocation of state tax dollars, Wagner said.

He said five years ago, colleges and univer 4 subcommittee Tuesday, when le lation that would provide $1,209,000 was resoundingly approved with bipartisan support Earlier, Sen. Kenneth V. Buzbee, D-Carbondale and influential chairman of a Senate appropriations committee, made it clear to the Department of Law Enforcement that he would not tolerate a budget without MEG funding. Another key supporter is Attorney General Tyrone C. Fahner, who presided over outlays to the undercover drug units when he was director of the law enforcement agency.

Fahner told MEG officials from throughout the state meeting here in March that the continuation of MEG units was 1 'essential to the quality of life here." He said he had spoken with the governor and predicted Thompson's decision to eliminate the funding would be reconsidered. In submitting a budget without money for MEG, the administration argued several other priorities in law enforcement could not be accommodated within limited resources if funds for the undercover units were included. Discussion on how MEG money will be restored has included the possibilities of making cuts in other areas of the budget or earmarking revenue from certain tax sources for the undercover units. gift limit By Mike Lawrence Of The Southern lllinoisan -JPRINGFIELD Continued State funding for Metropolitan Enforcement Group operations is virtually assurea despite Gov. James R.

Thompson's move to eliminate it Numerous sources In the executive and legislative branches made that assessment Tuesday on the basis of private discussions within the Thompson administration and public action in the General Assembly. The only question seems to be how the governor's budget can be adjusted to provide the undercover drug-fighting units with more than $1 million in state funds during the fiscal year that begins July Without those funds, the units could no longer exist, it has been generally conceded. County and municipal bodies that participate along with the state in the program could not sustain it, state and local sources have insisted. 4 'We're going to have MEG money. The only question is where it will come from," said a high-ranking Department of Law Enforcement source, who asked not to be identified.

Although the administration has not officially sanctioned the addition of MEG funding, it has offered little resistance. The latest indication of strong backing for MEG came in a House SPRINGFIELD (AP) Gov. James R. Thompson's proposed cut in state aid to higher education could become unbearable if President Reagan's budget plans become a reality, an Illinois Senate budget committee has been told. The Senate Appropriations Committee is considering Thompson's proposed $1.2 billion budget for higher education in the next school year.

The governor recommends $1 billion in state money for higher education an $18 million cut from this year. Officials from the state Board of Higher Education, state universities, community colleges, the state scholarship commission and a teachers' union told the panel Tuesday that higher education deserves and needs more money. "Because of the fiscal crunch Thomp SPRINGFIELD (AP) Gov. James Thompson is promising to reject any gifts worth more than $100 to "clear up any doubts" about his integrity. "I don't want people to be 99 percent sure of Jim Thompson I want them 100 percent sure of me," the governor told reporters after announcing his new gift policy Tuesday.

Thompson made the pledge after being criticized for accepting a wide range of often costly gifts from people who could be affected by his decisions. In making the announcement, Thompson maintained that he has "never accepted any gift of any value from any person at any time because of any action on my part as governor. "And I never will," he added in a statement from his office. In addition to rejecting gifts worth more than $100, the Republican governor set a $100 limit on the total value of multiple presents from any person during a single year. Gifts from Thompson's family can exceed $100 under the new policy.

Thompson, a former federal prosecutor, promised to continue keeping open records in his office of gifts he has received. He is required by law to report gifts valued at more than $50 to the State Ethics Board, and also has kept detailed records available in his office. According to those records, presents have included $500 in cash son sities garnered 12.6 percent of state budget money. -'C: Sen. Roger Sommer, much of the decline in state sup-, port had been offset by a $l00-mil- lion-a-year boost in federal aid.

to higher education, mostly through, financial aid to students. But President Reagan's budget-proposal for the federal fiscal year beginning Oct 1 if approved: by" Congress could cut federal aid jp; colleges by up to 50 percent, Wagner" said. -rif Such federal budget cuts coming atop state cuts could be devastating! to higher education in the stated-he; said. rl Committee Chairman Sen. KohZ neth Buzbee, D-Carbondale, said ac tion on the higher education budget package was unlikely until at least next week.

Wherever he is, he's governor SPRINGFIELD (AP) Gov. James R. Thompson probably' thinks he has sufferea enough' troubles and indignities at the hands of the press. But things may have reached a low point Tuesday evening when the governor was forced to conduct an impromptu news conference in a Capitol washroom. It all started when the gover nor left his second-floor office and was greeted by several reporters wanting to question him about his just-announced gift limit policy and other subjects.

A workman using a noisy electric floor scrubber refused to" leave the area near the rotunda so that Thompson and the reporters could hear one another. Thompson ducked around a comer and into the men's room. Despite the unusual locations the interview with the ail-male-press contingent went well. A Ross Gift certificate for her is a great idea! MAY 9 mm owner security, -aid bills get OK Stevenson says Thompson indecisive, hurting ERA there probably will be some casualties in higher education," warned Sen. Richard Newhouse, D-Chicago.

Casualties likely would include teachers who leave for higher paying jobs at private universities, other state universities or industry, and students who may not be able to attend college unless scholarship and financial aid is boosted, he said. "There are those of us who are willing to appropriate more money to higher education," said Sen. Aldo A. DeAngelis, R-Olympia Fields. But to do that, he said the General Assembly probably would have to raise taxes.

DeAngelis asked higher education board Director Richard Wagner which taxes Wagner would raise to better finance higher education. Wagner said it wasn't for him to fa 4 1981 phOtO James R. Thompson seeking to dispell doubts from Louis Peick, a Chicago Teamsters Union official, and five Kruger-rands South African gold coins valued at about $2,700 from the late Harry Ash and his wife, Dorothy. The Ashes were the long-time owners of Inheritance Abstractors a Chicago firm doing about $1 million a year in state business to prepare summaries of inheritance tax returns for courts. Other gifts have included expensive paintings, antique silverware, photographs, T-shirts and a variety of trinkets.

Thompson, seeking an unprecedented third straight term as governor this fall, also has come under scrutiny for his use of campaign funds and state aircraft the issue despite his words that he's for the ERA has driven women away from the Republican Party," she said. Ms. Collins and Stevenson both chided Thompson for the decline in support for the ERA among Republican legislators since he first won the governorship in 1976, and for choosing as his running mates in 1976, 1978 and 1982 men who were known ERA opponents. "Gov. Thompson's inability to take a strong and consistent stand has been instrumental in blocking ratification of ERA in Illinois," Stevenson said.

"Since his election, nine Republican legislators have switched from supporting ERA to opposing it. Nine Republican opponents of ERA have been appointed to replace pro-ERA Republicans whose seats became vacant in mid-term." Stevenson also accused Thompson of switching his stand on the three-fifths majority to please his anti-ERA running mate, Illinois House Speaker George Ryan, whom Stevenson called "the power behind Governor Thompson's tottering throne." mam 2SG33 sets, a $100 yf i Ma (few" churning up farmland for development projects. The sponsor, Republican John Maitland of Bloomington, said it would write into the lawbooks an executive order signed by Gov. James R. Thompson two years ago.

In a statement supporting the proposed Illinois Farmlands Protection Act, local water and soil conservation districts said it could result in projects eating up less farmland than originally planned. The group cited the reduction from 1900 acres to 680 acres the amount of farmland lost in the re-routing of U.S. 51 north of Decatur. Maitland said Thompson would carry out the executive order, but legislation would be more lasting. In the House Agriculture Committee, a measure aimed at protecting farmers in case of failures by )' grain elevator bankruptcies was sent to the floor on a 10-0 vote.

A flurry of technical questions led the sponsor, Rep. Clyde Robbins, R-Fairfield, to say he might delay floor. consideration until any kinks have been ironed out Endorsed by the Farm Bureau and the Agriculture Department, the measure would put farmers' claims on their own grain ahead of creditors' demands when elevators', and grain warehouses go bankrupt. The governor has spent campaign donations on gifts for his vacations and baby-sitting fees. He later reimbursed the campaign for some of those expenses after they were made public.

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service is conducting an examination of Thompson's campaign and personal finances, and also has begun a review of gifts to the governor, according to published reports. Campaign money used for personal expenses must be reported as income on federal tax returns. Publicity about Thompson's spending and gifts also may have hurt his re-election effort. A Chicago Tribune poll released last weekend showed Thompson's Democratic opponent, former U.S.

Sen. Adlai E. Stevenson III, holding a narrow lead for the first time in the campaign. The survey showed 37 percent of those polled favoring Stevenson and 35 percent for Thompson, with the rest undecided. Stevenson, while saying he wants to avoid comment on Thompson's ethics, has criticized the governor's personal spending and said it is "improper for a public official to accept gifts of value." 71 VtSA 0 FREE 4 GIFT Wh WRAPPING A SWIM HOUSE NEW lifting SPRINGSUMMER DRESSES EXCELLENT SELECTION CHICAGO (AP) Gov.

James R. Thompson's vacillation on the Equal Rights Amendment has played a major role in the failure of the ERA to win approval in the Illinois General Assembly, his Democratic opponent said Tuesday. "Changing course has become a hallmark of Governor Thompson," former U.S. Sen. Adlai E.

Stevenson III told the Manufacturers Associ ation of Chicago Heights and the South Suburbs. "His in-decisiveness is now a well-established pattern." The Republican governor, accord-lg to Stevenson, "said the General Assembly's three-fifths rule for ratification of Adlai Stevenson III ERA should be repealed. Then he said he was neutral; the rule change was up to the legislature. And now, he says he supports the three-fifths rule." Stevenson himself came down in favor of abolishing the General Assembly's three-fifths rule for the ratification of amendments to the U.S. Constitution, a statement which won him praise from the Illinois ERA Countdown Campaign.

The group's co-director, Mary Jean Collins, said Stevenson's support for a simple majority rule in the legislature is one reason recent polls have shown a shift away from Thompson on the part of women voters. "This lack of active leadership on 'k Vs i' -v 20 0 OFF SPRINGFIELD (AP) Illinois farmers would get more protection in-grain elevator failures as well as incentives to try soil conservation methods under bills plowing through the'legislature. Ctoe of two bills recommended for passage Tuesday by the Senate Agriculture Committee would reimburse farmers up to $1,000 for any loss of yifld because of participation in an experimental tillage conservation project The sponsor, Sen. Jerome Joyce, D-Bradley, the Illinois Farm Bureau and, others said the measure would encourage experiments that might led to better methods of preventing soil erosion. "the future is in our soil and our agriculture," said Sen.

Vince De-muzio, D-Carlinville. Richard Davidson, legislative aide fof.the Department of Agriculture, testified the Thompson administration opposed the measure because oMs potential $1 million price tag. Davidson said even if the money were available, the department might rather spend it on its own research into soil preservation. Jhe measure, endorsed on a 9-1 vote, was sent to the Senate floor. Also approved by the panel, 10-O, ws a bill that would require state agencies to consider ways to avoid revenue-bond SPRINGFIELD (AP) Local governments hope to lure new industry to their areas with the help of a bill that is on its way to the governor's desk.

Without it local officials say they will be unable to finance special projects or go into general debt because no one will buy their bonds. Final action on the measure came Tuesday when the Illinois Senate voted 47-0 to adopt a House proposal attached earlier this month to the bill. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Steven Nash, D-Chicago, lifts or removes interest rate lids on bonds sold by local taxing districts to finance operations or projects aimed at luring industry to their areas. 4 Rt.

OKs LARGE SELECTION SPORTSWEAR JUNIORSMISSESX-SIZES BETTER POPULAR BRANDS 10 OFF interest limit The legislation removes entirely the lid on interest rates for Industrial Revenue bonds. Those are notes sold or sponsored by local governments to finance projects such as the construction of industrial parks and downtown business renewal, and re paid by the businesses using the projects. The bill effects local taxing bodies1 that do not enjoy special "home rule" taxing and other powers grant' ed by the state constitution. The bill being sent to Thompson )' would let Illinois' non-home rule districts offer interest rates on taxpayer-financed general obligation bonds at 25 percent above the mar- ket average as an incentive to attract buyers. 1 or portabte pod LAST GIFTY SUGGESTIONS LINGERIE (fl) SUITS OFF MODEL'S COATS SHOES HURRY! WEEK TO SPRING ALL-WEATHER COATS 20 OFF POOLS! ON ALL OUR HTH JEr Pace Chemicals Comploto Lino mr-t i Watch For The Opening Of Southern Illinois Pools In West DOWNTOWN IVJURPHYSBORO The Comploto Pool Shop 45 S.

Harrisburg 253-5806.