October 2000 $3.95

IllinoisIssuesIllinoisIssuesA publication of the University of Illinois at Springfield

How high the bar? Is the integrity of the bench threatened when judicial races become more political? CONVERSATION WITH THE PUBLISHER THE BOARD

CHAIR Philip J. Rock, attorney, Rock, Fusco, and Garvey, Ltd., Chicago.

VICE CHAIR Doris B. Holleb, professorial lecturer, University of Chicago.

PUBLIC TV STATIONS MEMBERS Michael J. Bakalis, professor, public management and policy, Northwestern University, Evanston. WEIU James M. Banovetz, professor emeritus of public Charleston administration, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. WILL Penny Cate, vice president of government relations, Sears, Hoffman Estates. Champaign Robert J. Christie, director, public affairs, FMC Corp., Chicago. WMEC/WQEC/WSEC Christopher Cohen, attorney, Byers & Rubin, Macomb, Quincy Chicago. Jacksonville/Springfield Watch out for negative ads this Darcy Davidsmeyer, director, state government relations, Motorola Inc., Schaumburg. WQPT James L. Fletcher, attorney, Fletcher, Topol & month, and check out greedytv.org O’Brien, Chicago. Moline Nancy L. Ford, executive director, Institute for Public Affairs, University of Illinois at WSIU Springfield. Carbondale Sharon Gist Gilliam, executive vice president, by Ed Wojcicki Unison Consulting Group Inc., Chicago. WTVP Rey Gonzalez, home office director, diversity, McDonald’s Corp., Oak Brook. Peoria Samuel K. Gove, professor emeritus of political continue to have an interest in t’s always been my belief that not science, University of Illinois at Urbana- WUSI Champaign. Olney I what people generally call “nega- I all “negative” political communi- Jetta Norris Jones, attorney, Chicago. tive advertising.” Two years ago, I cation is bad. Candidates have to Robert J. Klaus, president and CEO, Oral Health WYCC America, Chicago. Chicago Harness the power tracked ads run by the gubernatorial distinguish themselves from their Jack H. Knott, director, Institute of Government candidates and the legislative opponents, and one way to do that is and Public Affairs, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. of public broadcasting candidates in targeted races. Later to compare character, experience Joan W.Levy, past president, Illinois Association of PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS I wrote a three-page essay about the and positions. What is an anathema, School Boards, Winnetka. William E. Lowry, vice president for Human pros and cons of such political in my view, is candidates resorting to Resources and Administration, The John D. and WBEZ FM across Illinois... communication. lies, distortions and partial truths Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Chicago. Roberta Lynch, deputy director, American Chicago We have no statewide Illinois that misrepresent themselves or their Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Chicago. WCBU FM races this year, but some targeted opponents. M. Veronica Lynch, chief deputy assessor, Cook Peoria legislative races are generating plenty One point Jamieson raises is that County. Chicago and the suburbs Diana Nelson, director of public affairs, Union WDCB FM of heat. So I encourage you once the amount of distorted or mislead- League of Chicago. Glen Ellyn Rockford to Carbondale again to send me copies of fliers or ing ads in the 1996 presidential Dawn Clark Netsch, professor of law emeritus, mailers that are negative in nature, election increased substantially over Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago. WGLT FM Taylor Pensoneau, president, Illinois Coal Charleston to Quincy particularly those that attack oppo- what was printed and broadcast in Association, Springfield. Normal Betsy A. Plank, principal, Betsy Plank Public nents. Send them to me in care of 1992. I hope the trend does not get Relations, Chicago. WILL AM Illinois Issues, UIS, P.O. Box 19243, even worse this year. Chuck Scholz, mayor of Quincy. Urbana Nina Shepherd, higher education governance Springfield, IL 62794-9243. consultant, Winnetka. WIUM/WIUW FM verybody Hates Political Paul Simon, director, The Public Policy Institute, athleen Hall Jamieson has a new Ads. Except Your Local Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Macomb, Warsaw “E Hon.William G. Stratton, vice president, Associated WNIJ FM K book out with some conclusions Television Station.” So blares an Bank of Chicago. that might surprise you. It’s called ad run by the Alliance for Better Douglas L. Whitley, Batavia, Ill. DeKalb, Rockford, Get the undivided attention of the most influential, Wim Wiewel, dean, College of Urban Planning & Sterling, LaSalle, Freeport educated, and affluent citizens in Illinois along Everything You Think You Know Campaigns, which is trying to Public Affairs, University of Illinois at Chicago. About Politics ... And Why You’re convince television stations to Edward R. Wojcicki, ex officio. WNIU FM with the top business decision makers. Wrong. Jamieson, dean devote more time to serious news Rockford, Dekalb of the Annenberg School for coverage of political campaigns in WSIE FM Tap into public radio and television stations around the state and make your underwriting dollars Communication at the University their communities. The irony is that Edwardsville of Pennsylvania, has been tracking a number of incumbent officials are work for you with a single phone call to the WUIS/WIPA FM political advertisements for years. not eager to spend a lot of time on MEMBERS EMERITUS Springfield, Pittsfield Public Broadcasting Cooperative of Illinois at She writes about media bias, the free television answering questions. (years served on board in parentheses) value of debates and her conclusion, They prefer to spend money on care- William C. Harris (1986-93), David Kenney (1978-90), Louis H. Masotti (1978-92), James T. contrary to that of many scholars, fully scripted ads.So is the problem Otis (1975-94), David J. Paulus (1988-94), Carl 630/585-7596 that negative advertising does not the TV stations or the candidates? Shier (1978-87). depress voter turnout. It’sa Or both? Check out www.greedytv.org debatable point, to be sure. for more information. ❏

www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 3 EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK STAFF Publisher: Edward R.Wojcicki Editor: Peggy Boyer Long Editor emeritus: William L. Day Circulation & IllinoisIssues A publication of the University of Illinois at Springfield marketing manager: Charlene Lambert Assistant to the publisher: Laura Hogan October 2000 Volume XXVI, No. 10 Business manager: Chris Ryan Statehouse bureau chief: Burney Simpson Projects editor: Maureen F. McKinney Associate editor: Beverley Scobell Sections editor: Rodd Whelpley Art director: Diana Nelson Contributing editors: Madeleine Doubek Patrick E. Gauen James Krohe Jr. Who is winning the presidential Charles N. Wheeler III James Ylisela Jr. debates? Scholars say the voters are Graduate assistant: Ryan Reeves Editorial assistant: Debi Edmund Political studies, page 26 How high the bar? page 14 Campaign harvest? page 32 by Peggy Boyer Long FEATURES DEPARTMENTS e went to press with this October and the issues does improve. This is not unreported or underreported from Wissue just as the two major the case for nonviewers. September 1 through October 9, 1996.” 3 Conversation 14 How high the bar? by Aaron Chambers with the Publisher presidential candidates were settling on Jamieson directs the Annenberg And she takes the networks to task for Judicial races are becoming more like other campaigns. dates, places and formats for their Public Policy Center at the University announcing the “winners” and “losers” by Ed Wojcicki nationally televised debates. It’s likely of Pennsylvania, and she has become, in instant post-debate surveys. How, she 18 Benchmark contributions by John Flynn Rooney that the first of these critical election- possibly to her surprise, one of asks rhetorically, do they locate and Cook County court primary candidates solicited big campaign bucks. 4 Editor’s Notebook by Peggy Boyer Long year events will be behind us by the time those much-sought-after campaign interview a national random survey of 21 Judicious spending by Aaron Chambers you sit down to read Illinois Issues.So pundits she writes so much about. voters so quickly? Her answer is that Interest groups expect to put more of their money into judicial races. we can’t pretend to know who “won” Nevertheless, her conclusions are they don’t really. Individuals are 6 State of the State and who “lost” the initial matchup. And well-grounded in numbers. contacted in advance and asked if they 23 Power play for Illinois by Lucio Guerrero by Burney Simpson that’s just fine with us. As a monthly, we In 1996, the center replicated the would be willing to be interviewed after Races in this state could help tip the partisan balance in Congress. Do political polls displace issues? face the challenge, and considerable findings of a 1992 post-debate study the debate. More important, those luxury, of assessing campaigns from a conducted by other scholars that found individuals are chosen in a random 26 Political studies by John Carpenter 8 Briefly more studied perspective. a 30 percent improvement in viewers’ sample weighted to reflect candidates’ We get more information from paid political ads. by Rodd Whelpley Of course, we urge you to watch all knowledge. “The reason is simple,” she predebate standings in the polls. Thus, of the debates. That’s because, contrary writes in her latest book, Everything You those samples are not a random 29 La diferencia by Kristy Kennedy 42 People to prevailing wisdom, they can provide Think You Know About Politics ... And selection drawn from the universe of all Illinois’ Latino voters could help put a president in office. by Rodd Whelpley important information about candidates Why You’re Wrong. “Debates contain those who watched the debate. And by Chuck Abbott and policy questions. Scholars conclude extended amounts of issue and because, Jamieson notes, “extended 32 Campaign harvest? Patience with federal farm policy could expire with the elections. that viewers of these quadrennial biographical information delivered forms of communication reinforce 45 A View from the Suburbs dramas are quite capable of gleaning in head-to-head fashion that invites existing dispositions, those who favored 35 Books by Madeleine Doubek what they need. They can, and do, comparison and contrast. And all of the front-runner are likely to judge that Drunken drivers still hit the roads screen out much of the distracting this occurs in a climate in which the person the winner,” barring a major Farm loss in America’s heartland by Maureen F. McKinney punditry. And they can, and do, make people with whom we come into even flub by that candidate. In general, she 36 Point of view 46 Politics up or even change their minds. This, casual contact feel comfortable asking concludes, “the way to increase the Potemkin farms by Harold Henderson by Charles N. Wheeler III despite cynicism in some quarters that what we thought of a debate. This sort likelihood of ‘winning’ a presidential A challenge for lawmakers debates are too scripted and too spun to of contact — which is in some ways akin general-election debate is to be ahead 39 Guest essay have meaning. to a rise in talk about the Superbowl the in the published polls on which the by Alan P. Mammoser Kathleen Hall Jamieson is one who Friday before and the Monday after — sampling frame for the debate is based.” At the city’s edges believes they do have meaning. She’s a involves the sort of conversation in We couldn’t resist checking a number political communications scholar who which information learned is moved of Jamieson’s conclusions while prepar- Credits: Art Director Diana Nelson photographed and designed this month’s cover. ©2000 by Illinois Issues, University of Illinois at Springfield, P.O. Box 19243, Springfield, IL 62794- served on a 1986 task force that spurred from short- to long-term memory.” ing this issue. Her center has conducted Editorial and business office: HRB 10, University of Illinois at Springfield, P.O. Box 19243, Springfield, IL 62794-9243. 9243. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or creation of the Commission on Presi- But Jamieson posits another reason studies, as well, on the impact of paid Telephone: 217-206-6084. Fax: 217-206-7257. E-mail: [email protected]. E-mail publisher: [email protected]. E-mail editor: in part without prior written permission is prohibited. [email protected]. Subscription questions: Illinois Issues, Subscription Division, P.O. Box 251, Mount Morris, IL Illinois Issues is published by the University of dential Debates. And she argues that why even highly educated voters gain television ads, polling and television 61054 or call 1-800-827-0266. Hours are 7:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. Central Time, Monday-Friday (except holidays). Subscriptions: Illinois at Springfield. In addition to university while debates do not usually determine knowledge from debate viewing: “More news. And on whether elections actually $39.95 one year/ $72 two years/ $105 three years; student rate is $20 a year. Individual copy is $3.95. Back issue is $5. Illinois support and subscription income, the magazine is Issues is indexed in the PAIS Bulletin and is available electronically on our home page: www.uis.edu/~ilissues. Illinois Issues supported by grants and donations. The contents of the outcome of a presidential campaign, than half of the twelve [issue] positions matter. No surprise, she concludes that (ISSN 0738-9663) is published monthly, except during the summer when July and August are combined. Periodical postage the magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of paid at Springfield, IL, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Illinois Issues, Subscription the university or the donors. viewers’ knowledge of the candidates [covered in the debate] were either they do. ❏ Division, P.O. Box 251, Mount Morris, IL 61054.

4 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 5 STATE OF THE STATE points behind. The volunteers and the care, comparing the positions of the money dried up every time a poll ran major candidates. because people pay so much attention He recognizes many news outlets to them,” says Poshard, a downstate Thomas Patterson, Bradlee would balk at highlighting the issues. Democrat. “Reader studies suggest people are not that candidates, news directors and professor at Harvard’s In two polls conducted in August interested. But coverage has to be the public will maintain that perspec- and October of that year, the Tribune Kennedy School of made more interesting. [Reporters] tive. Some observers have suggested reported Poshard was 21 points have to show how issues touch each steps to ensure policy questions get behind the eventual winner, Government, believes reader. A lot of the issue stories are plenty of coverage. Republican Gov. George Ryan. just plain dull, and they don’t have to But for politicians, the polls are polls affect the way reporters Things appeared to turn around just be,” Littlewood says. essential. “Polling is expensive, but before election day, when a poll in the cover the candidates. The media owe it to their readers to it’s an important tool to hone the Chicago Sun-Times found Poshard was explain the issues, says Simon, who campaign message and track the down by less than 3 percentage points, began his career as a journalist. “It’s impact of the campaign,” says John a statistical tie. “We got more money easier to write a story about a 3-point Do polls displace more thorough McGovern, campaign manager for in the last week. It was too late to even drop in the polls than on health care Republican Mark Steven Kirk, who is spend it,” recalls Poshard. or defense programs. But that’s what a reports on issues? Critics answer yes running for Congress in Illinois’ 10th Ryan ended up winning by less than campaign should be about.” District. 4 percentage points. “When [Democratic presidential A 1998 presidential commission For political junkies, and citizens by Burney Simpson The Tribune reported Poshard’s candidate Al] Gore was falling behind, asked television stations to devote at who just intend to vote, polls can be surge may have been due to voters he was portrayed as wooden, that he least five minutes every night in the fascinating because they track the rallying around Democratic couldn’t get out of Clinton’s shadow,” 30 days preceding the election to t’s flattering to be asked for an competition in a race. candidates as President Bill Clinton says Patterson. “If a candidate is candidate debate and discussion. Yet, opinion. Professional pollsters And for all the complaints, polls are I faced Republican-led impeachment behind, then reporters start to write a study by the Annenberg Public While it may be rare for a friend, nothing new in American politics. hearings. ‘What’s wrong with this guy?’ Policy Center and Alliance for Better relative or colleague to inquire, acknowledge the complaints Thomas B. Littlewood, journalism But pollsters can’t predict a last- stories.” Campaigns reported that the three “What do you think?” businesses that professor emeritus of the University about their business. minute turnaround. And the voters Still, while pollsters have no control major networks spent an average ask us questions and gather informa- of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, who usually throw a monkey-wrench over how news outlets choose to of 36 seconds a night on the presiden- tion on our tastes have been sprouting Indeed, there are several says so-called straw polls began as far into the works are the undecideds. approach their stories, the competitive tial candidates leading up to the Super like strip malls in suburbia over the back as Andrew Jackson’s run for the trade organizations that One well-known mistake in predict- aspect of an election does deserve Tuesday primary last March. last 20 years. Pollsters monitor what presidency in 1824. In his 1998 book ing election results was the Tribune’s extensive analysis because it is often In Illinois, only WGEM-TV we buy, what we do for entertainment watch for and condemn Calling Elections: The History embarrassing headline in 1948 that dynamic and changing, argues Warren of Quincy had agreed to the 5/30 and what we think about social issues. of Horse-Race Journalism, Littlewood questionable practices. Thomas Dewey had defeated Harry Mitofsky, a pollster for CBS news for proposal by mid-September. Polls that solicit our political writes that as early as the 1880s some Truman for president. Polls taken 27 years. In contrast, it’s rare for The station’s general manager Leo opinions have been multiplying, too. Boston reporters spent election night several weeks before the election had politicians to change their stands Henning believes that many broad- And the media have been covering monitoring key precincts for returns. indicated Dewey would win, and the during a campaign. “The horse race is casters, especially those in smaller those numbers thoroughly through- pretending to conduct an unbiased This early form of what we now newspaper had to go to press before a significant part of the story.” markets, already live up to the out what has come to seem like a survey. The push pollster is hired by a know as exit polling helped them the final returns were in on election Mitofksy believes pollsters can’t win standard. “Downstate we can do this never-ending campaign season. candidate to manipulate voters into spot the winners and scoop the night. with the media analysts anyway. He [for candidates running] at the federal But during the past few elections, suspicions about the opposition. By competition. But that race highlights another recalls the election of 1976 when CBS and state level,” says Henning. “We are there has been a growing scholarly the time the “survey” is over, a candi- Still, Littlewood recognizes problem for those who rely too heavily teamed up with The New York Times a public trustee. It’s good business, it’s backlash to the attention political date’s reputation has been trashed. reporting on the horse-race aspects on polls. Thomas Patterson, Bradlee for polling. Though the two organiza- good politics, it’s the responsible thing polls get from the media. An Professional pollsters acknowledge of politics is on the rise. “The true professor at Harvard’s Kennedy tions wanted to learn who was leading, to do.” increasing number of critics contend the complaints about their business. ratio of poll reporting to issue news School of Government, found that their coverage focused only on the And the station will control the they displace more thorough reports Indeed, there are several trade organi- has gone up dramatically,” he tells Dewey’s apparent lead influenced how issues. The result? “We were criticized format so that candidate statements on the issues. And that politicians, zations that watch for and condemn Illinois Issues. “The New York Times journalists covered the contest. by the press for not doing horse-race aren’t glorified advertisements. “They fearful of negative numbers, have lost questionable practices. But political does a good job of reporting both, Prior to Truman’s upset win, most stories. And academics criticized us aren’t going to get five minutes with a the ability to lead. surveyors insist news consumers take but you have to consider the whole stories portrayed him as abrasive and for not putting our numbers in plain wonderful backdrop and their hair “We’ve gone overboard,” says polls for what they are — a snapshot media scene. Smaller organizations out of control. But in post-election view. People who pay attention are perfectly coifed to tell us their vision former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, who of opinion on the days they were don’t have the staff or space.” reports, Truman was painted with the schizophrenic about what they want.” of the world,” says Henning. now heads the Public Policy Institute conducted. And representatives And the drumbeat of who’s up and tough “Give ’em Hell, Harry,” image, Littlewood and others have some Efforts like these could help to swing at Southern Illinois University. of the media argue poll stories are who’s down can thump the underdog according to Patterson. “The daily thoughts on increasing or improving coverage away from poll-driven “Candidates do polls to decide a legitimate part of campaign cover- when they least need it. reporter has to come up with stories issue coverage. He suggests papers try reporting. But it probably won’t their positions. That’s anything but age. (If the daily news is the first draft Glenn Poshard contends sorry poll that fit the polls. The main narrative is a team approach, with one reporter happen unless the public demands that leadership.” of history and polls are snapshots, numbers helped doom his run for who is ahead and who is behind,” says following the campaign trail. Other news directors make the precious In recent years, legitimate surveyors can we call a story about a poll a governor of Illinois in 1998. “Polls Patterson. reporters would specialize in writing space or air time available. have gotten a black eye from “push draft of a snapshot?) devastated us during the campaign. And that dynamic continues today. stories about such issues as health What do you think? ❏ polling,” a campaign strategy of As this election heats up, it may be The [Chicago] Tribune had us 25 to 30

6 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 7 BRIEFLY Edited by Rodd Whelpley Photographs courtesy of the Illinois Department of Agriculture Photographs courtesy of the Illinois Department of Agriculture ALIEN MARAUDERS I migration. This study is pheromone traps, officials can deter- part of a nine-state mine the vicinity of a colony and kill “Slow the Spread” it before the larvae have a chance to Scientists can’t stop program initiated in inflict significant damage. A favored gypsy moth invasion 1992 by the U.S. treatment has been Bt, or Bacillus Department thuringiensis, a bacterial insecticide, of Agriculture. All and Dimilin, a larvicide. But there are esidents of Lake County north of five states that border naturally occurring agents that can R Illinois have signed on. be used, as well, including Gypchek, Chicago were the first to spot the small, The feds hope to curb a virus specific to the gypsy moth, odd-looking caterpillar. It had five pairs of an estimated $22 and a fungus called Entomothaga million in damage miamiaga, which has been found in blue spots and six pairs of red spots. And lots nationwide and contain Illinois near Zion and Gurnee, the moths’ movements. communities in the northern part of hair. That was in 1996. A short time later, The price tag for the of the state. Although both Gypchek oaks started losing their leaves and neighbors program is $10 million and the newfound fungus are natural to $12 million. Mean- alternatives to pesticides, both have Both the hairy caterpillar and the moth it becomes look harmless The gypsy moth has already been spotted in Illinois. watched as entire stands of trees went bare. enough, but officials fear gypsy moths will do $22 million in damage while, Illinois has their drawbacks. Gypchek is costly to trees. budgeted $202,000 and the fungus appears to slow for the effort this year. but not eradicate gypsy moth And if other Illinoisans haven’t inspected before leaving the county. nursery manager, says the moths moth’s reach in the rest of Illinois. The damage can be considerable. populations. seen this caterpillar yet, they will. The Still, gypsy moths are notorious will attach egg masses to objects left Last month, officials collected and Michael Jeffords, an entomologist at Though central and southern larvae of the gypsy moth is on the hitchhikers, and officials expect them outside, including firewood, campers counted some 10,000 moth traps the Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois have yet to see gypsy moths, move. Officials say they can only to start showing up in other parts or boats. They can then establish a throughout the northern region says a gypsy moth infestation can most experts agree that statewide hope to slow it down. of the state. new colony wherever the objects take of the state. The traps use defoliate and kill a white oak tree infestation is unavoidable. “All we In an effort to do just that, the In fact, the gypsy moth has been them. So Lake County residents also pheromones to attract the male gypsy over a period of three to five years. can do now is prolong the inevitable,” Illinois Department of Agriculture pushing its way westward from the have been asked to inspect any moth and, once inside, the moths He adds the larvae can kill most says Charlie Hulme, a research quarantined Lake County last Boston area for the past 130 years. personal items they move in or out are held by an adhesive that bonds evergreens in one season. scientist at the Illinois Natural summer, meaning all commercial The natural migration pattern of the of the county. to their legs. When the numbers have In an effort to save trees and kill History Survey. “These things are products that could house gypsy moth is 15 miles a year, but it gets a While that county is trying to been tallied, agency officials will be individual colonies of moths, the here to stay.” moth egg masses, including lumber lot of help from unwitting strangers. suppress the pest, the ag department able to determine where the moth federal program focuses on isolated Ryan Reeves and nursery products, will have to be Stan Smith, the ag department’s has been busy assessing the gypsy colonies are and how to slow their moth populations. By using the

ALIEN MARAUDERS II

Ladybugs’ picnic helps northern Illinois farmers Photograph courtesy of Gary Bretthauser, beat Chinese aphid, but downstate is still at risk Kendall County Cooperative Extension Service A soybean-eating aphid that earlier of ladybugs that ate them readily. The and the most recent reports confirmed had to determine just what the nearly distributed than originally thought. “A this summer had been bested by aphids also succumbed to driving infestations in Indiana and Ohio. microscopic green bug is and how lot of entomologists and plant pathol- strong rains, fungus and hungry lady- rains that washed them off the leaves Though natural predators have much damage it can do to Illinois ogists are planning to learn as much as bugs in Illinois’ northern counties has and a friendly fungus toxic to them caused aphid populations to crash crops. Ag scientists identified it as we can about the soybean aphid before made a resurgence in several down- but not to Illinois beans. dramatically, that’s not the end for this Aphis glycines, an aphid that has the 2001 growing season,” he says. state counties. However, a survey report completed newest exotic bug because it can over- caused considerable damage to “Although the soybean aphid is a new This summer the destructive new late last month by university scientists winter on buckthorn, a woody shrub Chinese soybean crops. However, the pest for us, we want to be prepared for pest from China gave some farmers shows the Chinese aphids have that is also an invading species. So pest is so exotic that references to it whatever it may bring next year.” and University of Illinois researchers infested soybean fields in several other scientists are trying to learn as much are almost entirely written in Chinese. Illinois grows 14.4 percent of the a moment of panic when it was found Illinois counties, though in much as they can about this newest University of Illinois entomologist nation’s soybean crop each year. Last in 13 counties north of I-80. But the smaller numbers than were found transplant from outside U.S. borders. Kevin Steffey, who helped identify and year’s harvest was worth $2.2 billion. aphids and the damage they can do to up north. Michigan, Minnesota and As they did with the Asian long- track the invader, says the latest survey Chinese aphids pose a threat to Illinois’ soybean crop. soybean plants were slowed by swarms Wisconsin also have been invaded, horned beetle, scientists have quickly shows it to be much more widely Beverley Scobell

8 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 9 Saving the soil UPDATES Decatur braces for fallout Farm Service Agency State ag agency Child support, guns, payday loans, gift ban from the Firestone investigation close to 20-year As the Justice Department and Congress probe who knew what when in the Supporting agriculture “T by 2000” goal • Lockheed Martin IMS, Tier Technologies and IBM, all major corporations with out-of-state headquarters, beat the deadline for bids to run the state’s Bridgestone/Firestone tire recall, all roads in this intensifying national story “Erosion is a long-term threat which beleaguered child-support payment system (see Illinois Issues, April, appear to lead to Illinois. requires long-term efforts at solution, page 14). The Decatur plant where many of the company’s 6.5 million recalled tires were and long-term efforts are not things manufactured has emerged as a focal point in the investigation into how faulty Illinois #1 that the state’s political system is good • Cook County Circuit Judge Stephen Schiller dismissed Chicago Mayor tires played a role in at least 103 traffic fatalities and more than 400 injuries. Natural at.” Richard M. Daley’s $433 million suit against the firearms industry, arguing It’s not an enviable position for Decatur’s residents, but unfortunately a familiar — James Krohe Jr. in a December 1981 the issue is one for the legislature rather than the courts (see Illinois Issues, one. Through much of the last decade the central Illinois community suffered Resource Illinois Issues article referring to a goal set April, page 14 and April 1999, page 6). labor strife, and last fall the local school board endured protests that drew inter- more than two decades ago to reduce soil national attention after it expelled six black high school students for fighting at a erosion in Illinois to a target level by 2000 • Renewable • Last spring, lawmakers authorized tighter regulation of the so-called football game. This time, the attention is on the city’s fourth-largest employer, and • Sustainable payday loan industry, and this fall Gov. George Ryan said he endorses the jobs of 2,100 Bridgestone/Firestone employees hang in the balance. At least this time, a government “We’re just praying for the best and preparing for the worst. That’s what we’re • Exportable agency has proven it can sustain a tougher rules and scheduled hearings on the matter (see Illinois Issues, March, page 40). doing. It’s really out of our hands,” Decatur Mayor Terry Howley says. “I think • Environmentally long-term commitment. The state that company is going to be hard-pressed to be in business a year from now from Friendly Department of Agriculture released a the financial impact this is going to have on them.” report last month that shows the goal • Will County Circuit Judge Thomas Ewert ruled that the entire state law that bans gifts and tightens campaign finance regulations is invalid (see The crux of the safety problems revolve around tread that separates from some set in 1979 has been “96 percent of Bridgestone/Firestone’s tires rotating at high rates of speed and causes drivers to “We help farmers grow plentiful, achieved,” says ag spokesman John Illinois Issues, September, page 42 and September 1998, page 38). lose control. Most of the unsafe tires were on Ford Explorer sport utility vehicles. affordable food for the people Herath. Dozens of lawsuits against the company and Ford Motor Co. already have of Illinois and around the world.” Over the past 20 years, Illinois farm- emerged, and some could be consolidated in the federal court district based in ers have altered the way they till the East St. Louis. soil. As a result, they have substantially Does she know something we don’t? In late August, attorneys involved in some of the approximately 80 lawsuits United States decreased the amount of black dirt Illinois was awarded $20 million by the feds for being among four states and the came to Decatur to interview four former Bridgestone/Firestone employees about Department of Agriculture that flows or blows off the fields. District of Columbia that managed to show a decrease in births among unmarried plant practices prior to the recall. The retirees told the lawyers they were required Spurred by the 1972 federal Water women. to use outdated rubber to make tires, some tires were never inspected and the Pollution Control Act to develop a In a printed statement, Department of Human Services Director Linda Reneé quality of work at the plant suffered under the strain of mandatory 12-hour shifts. water quality management plan to Baker says that’s a testament to service providers and lawmakers. And to Gov. Congress also has weighed in on the matter by holding hearings that zeroed in control pollutants entering water from George Ryan. on whether Bridgestone/Firestone and Ford lied and covered up the problem long so-called “nonpoint” sources such as The award was given for reductions in births to unwed women during the years before it was publicly disclosed last spring by a Houston television station and farm fields (see Illinois Issues, 1995 to 1998. Ryan took office in January 1999. subsequently by the Chicago Sun-Times. July/August, page 24), the state Two Illinois congressmen — Chicago Democratic Rep. Bobby Rush and Environmental Protection Agency in Collinsville Republican Rep. John Shimkus — heard testimony from apologetic 1977 appointed a task force to monitor Ford and Bridgestone/Firestone executives, who early last month appeared the problem. That group, described by WEBSOURCE Selecting judges before the House Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade and Krohe as “largely pro-farming,” con- Consumer Protection. cluded sediment was the gravest threat With more money going into judicial campaigns, voters are paying more “After hearing from government officials and Ford and Firestone, I believe to water quality in Illinois and named attention and asking more questions. Two Web sites give some background and that they all let this problem fall through the cracks,” Shimkus says, adding that farm erosion as its principal source. opinions on the best way to choose judges, one supported by the American Judi- he was “disappointed that these companies let pride and profits come before It recommended that soil losses on cature Society, a nonpartisan organization that focuses on judicial independence public safety.” all Illinois farmland be reduced to the and selection, and the other by PBS. The companies were sued over faulty tires as early as 1992 and large numbers so-called “T” level of no more than five For a discussion on merit selection of judges, go to www.ajs.org/select2.html. of claims stemming from tread belt separation were noticed by Firestone in 1996. tons per acre per year (the rate of loss For a history and overview of judicial selection in the United States, see the Then, in 1999, Ford recalled these tires in Middle East countries. at which soil theoretically can be page at www.ajs.org/select9.html. To read what the judges, lawyers and citizens As Congress mulls its next step, the damage against one of the best-known replaced by the natural process of soil of the judicature society believe is the code judicial candidates should follow brand name tires is likely to be enduring and possibly, as Decatur’s mayor and building) by the year 2000. during campaigns, go to www.ajs.org/hot27.html. These pages are maintained marketing experts suggest, catastrophic. “The ag department has done an by the American Judicature Society. “I think back to the Tylenol situation,” Loyola University marketing professor excellent job of educating farmers The public broadcasting site has the text and a video excerpt from a program Raymond Benton says, referring to the unsolved string of 1980s murders in the about no-till technology and ‘T by produced for television called “Justice for Sale,” described as an investigation Chicago area stemming from the tainted bottles of the painkiller. “They handled 2000,’” says John Hawkins, spokesman into how campaign cash is corrupting America’s courts. Go to it rapidly, decisively, and Tylenol’s brand name survives. for the Illinois Farm Bureau. “Any time www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/justice. From there click on links to “But for Firestone, as news keeps coming out, it looks like maybe they’ve been the state makes a long-term goal and “How bad is it?” a discussion with insiders; “How did we come to elect judges?” aware for a long time. If that turns out to be the case, this could be disastrous for comes within a hair’s breadth of a historical perspective; and “How should judges be selected?” a look at reform them.” reaching it, it’s a pretty historic event.” efforts. Dave McKinney Beverley Scobell Beverley Scobell Statehouse bureau chief, Chicago Sun-Times

10 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 11 Census regulations a boon for rural economies Excerpt Sider from the 23rd District, and If Illinois loses a congressional seat, U.S. Rep. Rod R. Blagojevich, a Small communities throughout of about 6,000, including more than funding on infrastructure improvement North Sider from the 5th District, Illinois will collect millions of dollars in 2,000 prison inmates. It receives around the local prison. Robert Karls, it should come from the city of Chicago could be threatened. Even under a federal benefits over the next decade approximately $200,000 annually city administrator, says the town Shortly before the beginning of the Illinois would fall 39,898 residents short Democratic-drawn map, the danger because more than 42,000 prisoners are in additional revenue due to that receives $120,000 annually because new year, the Census Bureau will deliver of holding its 20th seat. for either is that so many suburbanites being counted in the 2000 census in the population, according to Denton. of the 1,500 inmates housed at Pontiac the country’s decennial headcount to Overall, the state’s population might have to be added to reach the towns where they are incarcerated. While other small towns see similar Correctional Center. the president. That will set in motion a grew by about 615,000 since 1990, the required population that the district’s Under federal regulations, Illinois benefits to having a prison within city The prison is Pontiac’s second-largest reapportionment of the nation’s 435 estimates showed, but the growth was political complexion would become inmates are considered residents limits, Cook County will lose nearly $88 employer, with 900 workers. “Number U.S. representatives. The state legisla- not uniform within the state’s regions. too Republican. of these small municipalities, not million because its residents make up one, they [the prisons] are a major, tures then will draw new congressional While suburbia added some 487,000 Another possibility is that the 9th of their hometowns. As a result, almost 63 percent of inmates statewide. major employer and a steady employer. district maps within their borders. And residents, Chicago gained only about District along the city’s lakefront, now prisons often increase a town’s According to data from the state They’re pretty well insulated from Charles N. Wheeler III, who previews 18,000, while downstate grew by held by U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, an population dramatically. Department of Corrections, while economic downturn,” Karls says. this state’s remap for the Almanac almost 110,000. Evanston Democrat, could be moved Census tallies help determine federal Illinois inmates spend an average of 1.8 Still, some cities don’t attempt to use of Illinois Politics — 2000, published If the census confirms the trend, north and combined with the North and state funding for education, health years behind bars, most return to their the added census funds to improve by the University of Illinois at the city again would be entitled to only Shore’s 10th District, from which care, transportation and other public hometowns after their release. areas near the prison. “It’s for the Springfield’s Institute for Public five of 20 congressional districts; if [U.S. Rep. John] Porter [a Wilmette services. Further, prison inmates lower “Those folks should be counted city to use, not the Department Affairs, notes Illinois is in jeopardy Illinois drops to 19 districts, the lost Republican] is retiring. Indeed, such the per capita income of a city, making in the home cities,” argues Diane of Corrections,” says Donald L. of losing one seat. seat should come from the city. Based a move seems certain under a it eligible for even more federal dollars, Williams, president and chief executive Randich, mayor of Crest Hill, home to The projection rests on a study on the estimates, the suburbs would Republican map if a Democrat — including funds from the U.S. officer of the Safer Foundation, Stateville Correctional Center in Will by Election Data Services Inc., a be entitled to eight districts and down- most likely [state Rep. Lauren Beth] Department of Housing and Urban a Chicago nonprofit that provides County near Joliet. Nearly 20 percent Washington, D.C.-based consulting state to seven districts, whether the Gash [a Highland Park Democrat] — Development. services to former inmates and of Crest Hill’s population of more than firm. According to Wheeler, the EDS state’s apportionment is 20 or 19. wins Porter’s seat in November. But little, if any, of those funds go prisoners in work-release programs. 13,300 lives in the prison. As a result, analysis, based on state-by-state popu- If protecting minority incumbents Thus, given the prevalent demo- directly to prisoners, U.S. Census “That’s where they’re going to spend the city realizes approximately $270,000 lation estimates for 1999 released by becomes a priority in congressional graphic trends, Chicago seems certain Bureau officials say. “I’d be stretching the preponderance of those 10 years annually because of the prison’s the Census Bureau in late December, redistricting, the math suggests that to lose at least one congressional seat, to make an argument that there’s a [covered by the census].” residents, Randich says. shows that if Congress were reappor- two white ethnic congressmen, U.S. just as the city gave up one of the two direct benefit to the prisoners them- But Gore counters that it’s not tech- The additional census funds, tioned on the basis of the estimates, Rep. William Lipinski, a Southwest seats Illinois lost after the 1990 census. selves,” says Ed Gore, assistant division nically feasible to count people in their coupled with employment opportun- chief for field programs for the bureau. hometowns. The census, meant to ities and other advantages — the According to Gore, the only benefit to provide a snapshot of the nation’s prisons are generally the largest water inmates is “better infrastructure” such population, is designed to count and sewer customers in town — have as roads and sewers in the communities people where they are spending most encouraged other cities to woo the where the nearby prisons are located. of their days at the time of the census. Department of Corrections. The 27 Illinois cities with nearby state Most town officials agree prisons Stephen Turner, economic develop- prisons, however, celebrate the cash don’t impose additional local operating ment coordinator for Taylorville in windfall or other, indirect advantages a costs. And the extra dollars generated central Illinois, says his city would prison brings to town. (Eight of those through the prison population are receive more than $120,000 annually towns have not annexed prisons.) usually earmarked for infrastructure if it annexed the nearby Taylorville “It enabled a small community to lift and general city operating expenses. Correctional Center. itself up by the bootstraps,” says However, some note the state There are, however, numerous other Thomas Denton Jr., economic develop- realizes a return, too. “We spend a pluses to being less than a mile from ment coordinator for Pinckneyville, a portion of it on the facilities. We take a state penitentiary. Most of the prison community near the southern end of care of the outside area,” says Frank guards live in town, and prison work the state. “In the last three years, we Derickson, mayor of Chester, the crews are used for city construction and have had $435 million of capital southern Illinois community where cleanup, Turner says. Taylorville sells investment in our city limits [because the Menard Correctional Center is the prison water at twice the city rate. of construction of the prison].” located. Chester’s population increased But the prospect of added revenue Construction of infrastructure from 5,400 to 8,200 when the prison has ignited discussion about necessary for the Pinckneyville was annexed a few years ago. And the incorporation in the past. “We would Correctional Center, which opened in city expects to get more than $300,000 see some revenues coming back that 1998, helped that community move each year in added revenue due to the were calculated on population,” forward with the development of two prison population, Derickson says. Turner says. industrial parks, which, in turn, led to The city of Pontiac, a community in Molly Dugan the creation of 1,500 jobs. the north central section of the state Graduate student at Northwestern There are other benefits, as well. with a 1990 population of 11,428, also University’s Medill School of Journalism and former intern at The Chicago Reporter Pinckneyville has a population spends much of its extra federal

12 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 13 within their own campaigns and, judicial or nonjudicial candidates, but to some extent, in the media. But those who raise or spend more than elsewhere, they apparently fell flat. $3,000 in a one-year period are These two judges lost their high court required to file semiannual campaign campaigns, and neither of their races finance disclosure statements with the deterred other judicial candidates State Board of Elections. How high the bar? from raising and spending millions of According to those records, 20 “Clearly, when somebody comes dollars. winning candidates in the Cook out and says, ‘I’m against abortion’ Still, their efforts highlight what County Circuit Court races spent and ‘I’m gonna put the Ten Com- reformers argue is the single greatest more than $600,000 this year on 19 mandments in my courtroom,’ you Judicial races are becoming more like other campaigns. threat to the independence of the primary races. (Both parties fielded know those are things that a judge courts: Judicial candidates have candidates in only one of the races.) shouldn’t do and [those positions] Does that threaten the integrity of the bench? become more like other political In a four-way Democratic race for one shouldn’t affect what a judge is going candidates. They raise increasing countywide vacancy, candidates spent to do in any particular case,” says amounts of money — much of it from a combined total of more than Abner Mikva, a former federal judge lawyers, businesses and other special $460,000, which is believed to be a who co-chairs an American Bar Analysis by Aaron Chambers interests — to wage television ad record amount spent on a circuit court Association task force studying ways campaigns, some of which engage in race. Chicago lawyer Joyce M. Murphy to improve judicial selection. Further, public debate on controversial issues. won the race. Marvin Leavitt, who Mikva worries about appeals to There is no proving, of course, that came in second, spent nearly $284,000. conservative voters. “I have no doubt riminal Appeals Court Judge campaign contributions to judges, or The increasing role of money in in my mind that many of the state CPam Baschab went for votes the other political candidates for that judicial races has garnered the most court races, while they’ve been decided old-fashioned way. When she ran for matter, color their decisions while in attention from the media and in part by big money, they’ve also been chief justice of the Alabama office. And reasonable people within numerous task forces studying judicial decided by the fact that the more Supreme Court last spring, she the legal community can and do election reform, but that’s not the conservative candidates tend to get walked from one end of the state to disagree about whether the bench is only trend in judicial campaigning. this core of ideological supporters that the other. tarnished when some justices take to Candidates for the bench in some are much more involved in the judicial Judges in Alabama, as in most the airwaves in the heat of a campaign jurisdictions also are raising issues, races than the average citizen normally states, stand for election. So to argue policy questions. But on one even taking sides on such questions as would be.” Baschab, just like a nonjudicial point there is plenty of evidence: abortion, a move many in the legal For his part, Thomas downplays candidate, hit the road and met There has been a decline in public community believe could compromise the significance of his anti-abortion voters. The walk, in and of itself, respect for the judiciary that stems objectivity on the bench. Indeed, in message, saying while the issue might may not seem unusual in a judicial from this increasingly political states where races have traditionally have appealed to some voters in his race. But Baschab’s walk wasn’t just election process. been nonpartisan, political parties district, it was hardly the winning for votes. There’s no question, either, that have begun assuming a greater role in factor in his race. “I would suspect that “It was a pilgrimage against the judicial campaigns are getting more getting judges elected, helping to fuel if there were people that felt the same money,’’ she says. “It was a cry out to expensive. This year, candidates for the the debate on judicial independence. way I do, that they probably voted for the public to let the public know, the bench in several states broke previous me,’’ says Thomas. “But I really feel best way I could, without selling out, spending records. In Ohio, as much as And that brings us back to the that, in looking at the polls, there are that justice is for sale in Alabama.” $12 million is expected to be spent in Baschab and Wheaton races. Those people on the other side of the issue DuPage County Circuit Judge the battle for a single Supreme Court campaigns brought national attention who voted for me as well, who thought Bonnie M. Wheaton had a similar seat. Candidates in that state are limit- not only to concerns about campaign I was fair-minded and a man of protest in mind when she ran for the ed by a high court rule on how much cash but to concerns about how character and not afraid to say where Illinois Supreme Court last spring. they can spend, but the rule doesn’t judicial races are run. Issues were he stood on an issue of core values.” She spent $1.48 million of her own restrict spending by political action raised in those races that, some argue, Supreme Court Justice S. Louis money on her campaign, she committees. were designed specifically to appeal to Rathje, who also lost to Thomas in his says, to highlight the hundreds The spending hasn’t gotten that high conservative voters. Baschab lost the race to keep the seat he was appointed of thousands of dollars in contribu- in Illinois. Still, records were broken June primary to Etowah County to, disagrees. He says Thomas knew tions her opponents were taking. this year when three candidates for the Circuit Judge Roy Moore, a small- exactly what he was doing and that he “Why would people give such Illinois Supreme Court spent more town Alabama jurist who gained broke ethics rules to win votes. “It was large amounts of money if there was than $1 million each, and a fourth national notoriety by refusing to my belief that he, in essence, stepped nothing that they wanted in return?’’ spent almost that much. The $580,000 remove the Ten Commandments from over the bounds of Rule 67 in an says the judge’s campaign manager, spent in 1992 by Chief Justice Moses the wall of his courtroom. Wheaton attempt to garner a certain segment Grace McKnight. “That’s the point W.Harrison II is believed to be the lost to 2nd District Appellate Justice of the Republican voters,” Rathje says. she tried to make by using her own previous record. Bob Thomas, a former Chicago Bears Illinois Supreme Court Rule 67 funds.” In this state, there are no caps on placekicker who handed out fliers governs political activity of judges The judges’ messages resonated contributions or expenditures for touting his anti-abortion stance. and judicial candidates. Thomas says Illinois Supreme Court Building

14 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 15 he followed the “letter and spirit” Proponents of the elective system surrounding states. 88 percent of that state’s designed to satisfy voters’ desire to of the rule and points to a written counter that any alternative, including Thus far, moves toward an registered voters thought judges’ play a role in selection without statement by Justice James D. Heiple “merit” selection, or appointment of appointed judiciary have gone courtroom decisions were risking improper political influence that accompanied the high court’s judges, would be no less political. At nowhere in the Illinois legislature. At influenced at least some of the on a sitting judge, differs most from adoption of the rule in 1993. least with elections, that line of least three proposed constitutional time by campaign contributions nonjudicial elections. Candidates for Heiple’s interpretation was that reasoning goes, candidates can market amendments to provide for some form and 37 percent thought it was retention run unopposed on the the rule was adopted with the under- their credentials to the public. of merit selection have been intro- most or all of the time. ballot and voters simply choose judicature society, notes that some standing that Illinois has an elective “It’s a free society, and people can run duced in the House in the last two • A 1995 report by a special whether to retain them. Several states states have taken steps to prevent judiciary and that judges must involve and present their credentials,” says years, but they haven’t budged. committee of the Ohio Supreme use that system. unfair campaign tactics and to themselves in political matters. Illinois’ Chief Justice Harrison. Throughout the country, some Court found nine out of 10 Meanwhile, 17 states require some respond to complaints about judicial “Realistically speaking, it is not “However, that doesn’t mean that it’s legislatures have blocked moves Ohioans believed that judicial judges who are initially appointed campaigns. enough for the judge or candidate to going to be a lot less political if we have toward merit selection or alternative decisions were affected by to the bench by a nominating Illinois’ Code of Judicial Conduct merely give name, rank and serial some other group or person deciding plans for an appointive bench, reform political contributions. commission to run for retention. prohibits judges from articulating number as though he were a prisoner who the judges are going to be. I would advocates contend, because party Ironically, when states began to Though retention races are officially their views on issues that might of war,” Heiple wrote. “Rather, the rather have it with the people.” leaders believe they have more control adopt elective systems for the uncontested, in recent years some of come before them. Thomas, the public has a right to know the Still, pressure for some judicial over an elective system. judiciary in the early 1800s, it was those races have attracted big money. Illinois candidate endorsed by candidate’s core beliefs on matters of campaign reform is building. This “In states that have strong party because reformers believed electing Three California Supreme Court anti-abortion groups, was not deep conviction and principle. While coming December, the chief justices traditions, and Illinois is one, [passing judges would inspire public trust. If justices were ousted in 1986 after accused by the state’s Judicial the candidate is not required to dis- of the 15 largest states with judicial merit selection] is probably harder to bad judges were elected, they grass-roots organizations spent Inquiry Board of violating that close these beliefs, he should neither be elections are expected to meet in do,” says William T. Pound, executive argued, the public would have about $7 million opposing retention. code in connection with his deterred nor penalized for doing so.” Chicago to discuss the issue. The director of the National Conference recourse at the ballot box. But soon, And in Illinois this year, Supreme primary campaign. No one disagrees that getting a meeting, which is being coordinated by of State Legislatures. “The pieces are judicial candidates were taking Court Justice Charles E. Freeman The question remaining then is candidate’s message out costs money. the National Center for State Courts, linked, if I can say, through the party. campaign contributions from lawyers may face an anti-retention campaign whether, under an elective system, And television advertising, the most will include representatives of It’s not only legislators, but [also] local and litigants, raising questions about following controversial judicial judicial candidates should be expensive medium, is the medium California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, officials, county officials, judicial their impartiality. The American appointments he made in Cook expected to stretch and, in some of choice in highly contested races. Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, officials ... they are all part of a system.” Judicature Society suggested merit County. He has hired a public cases, skirt their unique campaign This year, candidates for Illinois’ high New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Whether campaign contributions to selection in 1913, shortly after that relations firm to advise him. rules to garner certain votes. Or court spent most of their money on Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, judges can affect judicial decisions nonpartisan group was formed. Efforts to reform the judicial should judicial candidates be television, other media and political Washington and Wisconsin. seems to be the $64,000 Question for Today, according to the judicature election system rest on the expected to rise to a higher standard? consultants. “To have any significant In the meantime, the Cook County most groups studying possible society, judges in 38 states stand for assumption that, though judges run “We hope that aspiring judicial impact in the metropolitan Judicial Advisory Council, a body that reforms. Judges who have taken large election at some level of the court for office like other politicians, they candidates would operate well above Chicagoland area, you need to expend studies problems in the judicial system contributions, and the contributors system. Thirteen of those states have should be held to a higher standard. the bottom line of acceptable a minimum of $300,000 to $350,000 and makes recommendations for who gave them, deny any link between a partisan system, the system that They are not democratic representa- conduct,” says Robert P. Cummins, over a period of two and half weeks,” change, announced in August that it money and court rulings. Reformers, has attracted the most attention. tives like legislators and governors. former chair of the inquiry board, says Thom M. Serafin, a Chicago- had formed a special task force to on the other hand, say the point isn’t Another 18 hold officially nonparti- Judges are supposed to represent the now a partner with the Chicago firm based media consultant who for a time provide voluntary guidelines for so much whether contributions buy san elections, though political parties rule of law, reformers say, and not of Cummins & Cronin LLC. “So worked on Rathje’s campaign. “That’s judicial candidates. The task force, influence, but whether politicized endorse in those races. Other states the will of the majority. when you’re arguing about how many a minimum.” formed to help candidates run profes- judicial races and the appearance use a form of merit selection or other A 1998 American Bar Association angels are on the head of a pin, over That is not encouraging news to sional and ethical campaigns, also of impropriety have eroded public appointive systems. Several states fall task force made several recommen- whether one can or can’t articulate a reformers. The judiciary, they argue, is plans to establish a hot line for confidence in the bench. into more than one category because dations for change, including view of a particular subject, then I supposed to provide a balance to the candidates with questions. Several recent polls found they do. the way judges for different levels of expanding judicial candidate think we’re in trouble.” popularly elected branches of govern- An Illinois State Bar Association • A 1999 survey by the National the court system are selected varies. disclosure requirements. Though But we get what we pay for. And so ment. Forcing them to raise money on committee also is looking at the Center for State Courts found that Illinois uses a modified electoral effective campaign disclosure has long as judges are elected, realists the stump, they say, necessarily erodes behavior of judicial candidates. 78 percent of the respondents system. Circuit, appellate and been federal law since 1971, the task say, candidates for the bench will do public confidence in judicial rulings. Three other committees, funded by agreed that “elected judges are Supreme Court candidates in this force wrote that judicial candidates what they have to do to win. ❏ “Money always leads to a problem, the Chicago-based Joyce Foundation, influenced by having to raise state run in contested, partisan and their campaign committees Aaron Chambers is a Statehouse an appearance problem,” says Thomas were launched last May to examine campaign funds.” elections for their first terms. Judges should be required to take additional reporter for the Chicago Daily Law R. Phillips, chief justice of the whether campaign contributions to • A 1999 survey conducted on who want a second or subsequent steps to ensure public access to the Bulletin. Supreme Court in Texas, where judges affect the judicial system and behalf of the Texas Supreme term run for retention, essentially in information. This story and the two that follow were million-dollar high court races have whether the judicial campaign funding Court found that 48 percent of a race against themselves. Mean- Some observers, meanwhile, argue partially funded by a grant from the Joyce been the norm for nearly two decades. system can be reformed. that state’s judges and 79 percent while, associate judges, who serve at judicial disciplinary agencies Foundation through The Sunshine Project At the very least, he argues, it leaves Those committees were formed by of its lawyers believed that cam- the circuit court level, are chosen by throughout the country have become of the University of Illinois at Springfield. the door open for people who lose the American Bar Association, the paign contributions significantly the elected circuit court judges. The more active in charging and prose- Joyce and the project has funded other lawsuits to complain. Chicago Council of Lawyers and influenced courtroom decisions. Supreme Court makes interim cuting judges who stumble ethically articles about campaign finance in Illinois To the extent possible, reformers the Helena, Mont.-based National • A 1998 report by a special appointments at all three levels of the on the campaign trail. Cynthia Gray, Issues, including “The four tops,” in would insulate judges from politics Institute on Money in State Politics to committee of the Pennsylvania court system to fill vacancies. director of the Center for Judicial November 1996 and “Cash vs. citizens,” in altogether. examine judicial races in Illinois and Supreme Court found that The retention election, a device Conduct Organizations at the October 1998.

16 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 17 “The average spent by winners [in Epstein, for his race in the 9th judicial races] at least in comparison Subcircuit. Richard J. Holland, to other big states — $30,000 per director of investments for CIBC victor — is not a startling average,’’ Oppenheimer Corp., gave $5,000 to says Patrick M. McFadden, a Loyola Paul A. Karkula’s judicial campaign, University law professor who has representing the biggest contribution Benchmark contributions followed judicial campaign financing. to a winning candidate by a non- a branch of the American Judicature “You start to get startled when the lawyer. Karkula is a judge sitting by Society. “Obviously, someone who is total campaign expenditures become interim appointment who worked as spending most of their money on their multiples of the annual [judicial] an associate for Chicago lawyer own campaign is not going to be seen Primary winners in contests for Cook County court salary.’’ Edward R. Vrdolyak’s firm before as being beholden to their own con- Cook County circuit judges are joining the bench. tributors,” Andersen says. “But I seats solicited hundreds of thousands of dollars through their paid $132,184 annually and are Meanwhile, the Chicago Fire think the concern instead is that the elected to six-year terms. Judges Fighters Union Political Committee system is evolving so that only those campaign committees. Should we worry about their independence? elected countywide and from the sub- kicked $3,000 into the coffers of who can afford that kind of personal circuits serve all county residents and Matthew E. Coghlan’s circuit court outlay can run for the bench.” typically hear matters ranging from campaign. Coghlan, a Chicago fire- Yet even personal wealth offers by John Flynn Rooney traffic tickets to high-stakes personal- fighter and part-time assistant Cook no guarantee of victory. Leavitt was injury cases and constitutional issues. County state’s attorney, won a defeated by Murphy, who loaned her Illinois’ judicial ethics rules prevent primary race for a countywide seat campaign $5,500, money she consid- candidates from personally soliciting after spending $25,829. ers “well spent.” Murphy’s personal arvin Leavitt shelled out more show. The Illinois Election Code does doled out a total of $619,291 for staff or accepting campaign contributions. The cash can flow both ways, outlay of cash approximates the Mthan $280,000 of his own money not limit how much a candidate can salaries, consultants’ fees, media But the candidates can establish though. The Cook County $5,000 last-place finisher Thomas J. in an unsuccessful bid last spring to receive or spend, and the campaigns advertising, campaign literature and campaign committees to conduct Democratic Party endorsed candi- Lawler, an assistant Chicago corpora- win a Cook County circuit court seat. for the circuit seats encompassing fundraising receptions. fundraising. And the dollars for last dates in each of the dozen countywide tion counsel, estimates his campaign Though Leavitt’s tab was notably Chicago and suburban Cook County While some judicial candidates say spring’s races arrived from several vacancies, and most of those candi- spent altogether. steep, it reflects a trend. While the they don’t like their campaigns raising sources, with most coming by way dates transferred $13,607 from their While Leavitt received the backing high-profile Illinois Supreme Court money, they say it is nonetheless of contributions from lawyers and war chests or contributed to the party of the Democratic Party, he says he primary races earlier this year necessary with an elected judiciary. other individuals. Labor unions, organization, while the remainder later determined that some commit- garnered attention as big-bucks But critics charge such fundraising business executives and relatives transferred smaller amounts, records teemen weren’t going to support him, affairs, candidates in some less-visible can lead to the appearance of a con- of candidates also supplied cash. show. The party requires all slated prompting him to pump $216,100 in Cook County trial court races spent March 2000 flict of interest because most of the Sources of campaign funds can raise candidates, including those in nonju- loans into his campaign in the two more than $100,000 too. primary winners contributions come from lawyers. questions of propriety. For example, dicial races, to contribute funds months before March 17. He also In the race to fill the countywide “The problem is [that] to spend the should candidates accept contribu- toward the printing and mailing of kicked in $38,500 for “in-kind” vacancy created by the 1999 death money, you have to raise it,’’ says CANDIDATE RAISED SPENT tions from attorneys who may later campaign literature, says Thomas G. contributions to pay consultants and of Judge Joan M. Corboy, Leavitt and Marlene Arnold Nicholson, a DePaul argue a case in their courtroom? Lyons, the party’s county chairman. printing costs for campaign literature. three competitors spent about Countywide University law professor who has “I do not think judges or judicial Historically, Democratic In-kind contributions, services or $460,000, which is believed to be a 1) Mary Margaret Brosnahan . . .$13,062 . . . .$14,787 written about the funding of Cook 2) Matthew E. Coghlan ...... $32,983 . . . .$25,829 candidates should have to solicit candidates prevail in those races, and materials that are provided, are not record amount for a circuit court 3) Frank J. Dolan ...... $65,567 . . . .$67,586 County circuit court races. “That money, primarily from lawyers, to no Republicans ran in the March included in the total expenditures of contest. Ironically, the winner of that 4) Donna Phelps-Felton ...... -0- . . . . .$8,536 means [candidates’ committees] go finance their campaigns,” argues J. primary races for the countywide campaign contribution reports. race, Chicago lawyer Joyce M. Mur- 5) Michael T. Healy ...... $21,725 . . . .$21,891 to attorneys, which at least has the Timothy Eaton, a Chicago lawyer and spots. A lone contested circuit court “When I learned that certain of the phy, spent nearly $39,000, while the 6) Paul A. Karkula ...... $46,930 . . . .$59,840 appearance of a possible conflict president-elect of the Illinois State Bar race — for a seat in the 15th committeemen had indicated they second-place finisher, Leavitt, a circuit 7) Marcia Maras ...... $47,600 . . . .$38,753 of interest, or they have to use their 8) Joyce M. Murphy ...... $40,274 . . . .$38,878 Association. “Whether or not those Subcircuit — is expected to appear weren’t going to endorse me even court judge sitting by temporary 9) P. Scott Neville Jr...... $28,241 . . . .$32,100 own money.’’ lawyers ever actually appear before the on the November ballot. though I was the slated candidate, I appointment, forked out almost 10) Joan M. O’Brien ...... $11,212 . . . .$13,341 The victors in races for circuit and judges, it certainly gives the public the So intense was the drive to spend felt compelled to publish literature $284,000, with much of that cash 11) Thomas D. Roti ...... $26,879 . . . .$18,196 subcircuit seats, which represent appearance of impropriety.” on judicial primary campaigns that that I could distribute into the com- coming through loans from himself. 12) Colleen F. Sheehan ...... $36,430 . . . .$36,430 smaller geographic areas than those Campaign filings reflect more than personal loans from the candidates munity to demonstrate that I was (Leavitt says he wound up financing Subcircuits elected countywide, spent about the rising level of spending in circuit played a big part. At least 10 primary found highly qualified by almost every much of his own campaign and won’t 1st) John O. Steele ...... $16,295 . . . .$42,083 $30,000 on average, with one candi- races. They highlight the often- winners loaned their campaigns bar association and [was] superior to hold any more fundraisers.) 3rd) Peter A. Flynn ...... $21,400 . . . .$21,024 date spending only $3,200. Of the 5th) Loretta Eadie-Daniels ...... $3,235 . . . . .$3,219 personal relationships between approximately $115,000, ranging in the other candidates in the race,” The level of total spending in that 9th) James D. Epstein ...... $104,390 . . .$100,869 19 circuit court seats that appeared contributors and candidates. Reports amounts from $1,000 to $30,000, Leavitt says. race differs only in degree from other 13th) Anthony A. Iosco ...... $13,279 . . . .$13,238 on the primary ballot, 12 involved show, for instance, that the largest records show. Further, Leavitt, who received campaigns for seats on the Cook 14th) Maura Slattery Boyle ...... $34,360 . . . .$19,217 countywide races, while the other individual contribution to a winning In fact, these loans put a new twist nearly $25,000 in individual contribu- County bench. The 20 candidates who 15th) Marcella C. Lipinski (D) . . .$15,740 . . . . $15,534 seven contests occurred in subcircuits, candidate in the Cook County circuit on long-standing concerns about the tions, says he chipped in so much of Robert P. Parchem (R) . . . . .$26,896 . . . .$27,940 won March 21 primary races raised — districts created by the legislature races was $7,000 from the late Judge sources of contributions to judicial his own money for the race because and spent — more than $600,000, TOTALS ...... $606,498 . . .$619,291 to boost minority and Republican Joan Corboy’s father, powerhouse campaigns, says Seth Andersen, when he ran unsuccessfully for the campaign disclosure reports filed with * SOURCE: Campaign disclosure reports filed with the Illinois State representation on the bench in Cook Chicago personal-injury lawyer Philip director of the Elmo B. Hunter Illinois appellate court two years ago, Board of Elections the Illinois State Board of Elections County. H. Corboy, to her widower, James R. Citizens Center for Judicial Selection, he raised some funds from supporters.

18 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 19 related donation to the Epstein cam- with the firm contributed. They also paign might have generated debate. stress that none of the firm’s lawyers Epstein’s campaign took in $104,390, would ever appear before Epstein, and a little less than half of that who hears felony criminal cases in the money — $49,500 — came from court’s Skokie branch. lawyers or spouses of lawyers in Philip “If you have a system where “I didn’t feel I wanted to impose upon Corboy’s firm, Corboy & Demetrio lawyers are contributing to judicial Judicious spending a number of people like I did the first P.C., records show. Epstein, who is campaigns, what could be more time around,” he adds. Corboy’s son-in-law, spent the most assuring to the public than to know Records show his campaign paid — $100,869 — of the victorious that most of the lawyers who nearly $173,000 to various consul- circuit court candidates, after bringing contribute to the campaign could Lawyers put the most money into judicial campaigns. But that tants. “I brought in the consultant in $104,390, records show. never have their cases heard by the could change as labor unions, business organizations who advised that the only way to A judge sitting by interim appoint- judge to whom they are contributing, overcome my opponents ... was to ment, Epstein faced four others in which is the case for all the lawyers and other special interest groups put more dollars into those races make known my qualifications,” the Democratic primary for a seat who contributed from Corboy & Leavitt says. The largest piece of the in the subcircuit comprising Evanston Demetrio,” Epstein says. consultant’s pie — $136,000 — went and Niles townships and parts of Still, even he concedes that the by Aaron Chambers to A & L Consulting on Chicago’s Chicago’s North Side. money-raising aspect of a judicial Northwest Side. George Atkins, “He’s family,” Corboy says, adding campaign makes him uncomfortable. A& L’s president, says the money that the firm’s employees have long “But,” he adds, “you have no choice went toward more than 300,000 pieces known Epstein. “That’s why people under the current system.’’ ❏ llinois has joined the club. When spent nearly that much, this state for the high court seat won by Justice of direct mail, production and air around here were so fiscally respon- John Flynn Rooney writes for the Ithree candidates for the Illinois took its place next to such states as Mary Ann G. McMorrow in 1992 time for commercials on cable sive. To know Jim is to love him.” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and covers the Supreme Court spent $1 million in California and Texas, where millions spent a combined $804,000. television and automated phone Corboy and Epstein say they were Cook County courts. their primaries this year, and a fourth of dollars have rolled into high court By way of comparison, the messages to potential voters. unaware how much those associated races for nearly two campaign waged by Supreme Court The third-place decades. Justice Benjamin K. Miller in the finisher in that race, DuPage County 1980s was thought to be expensive. Dennis M. McGuire, an Circuit Judge Bonnie He spent $255,258 on both the assistant Cook County M. Wheaton spent primary and general elections in 1984. state’s attorney, spent $1.5 million. Cook Miller, a Springfield Republican, won $133,260 on his cam- County Circuit Judge the seat. paign; much of that Thomas Fitzgerald Three open seats on the state’s cash went for some two spent $1.04 million. high court, and a growing interest in dozen billboards, direct Appointed Supreme judicial races, are credited for this mail, radio commer- Court Justice S. Louis year’s cash rush. Most of that cials and newspaper Rathje spent $1.01 mil- money has been spent on television advertisements, records lion. And 1st District advertising, other forms of media and show. McGuire’s Appellate Justice political consultants. campaign received a Morton Zwick spent boost from a $40,000 $974,411. Whatever the reason for the rise loan provided by the The $580,000 in spending, some experts predict the candidate’s brother, Chief Justice Moses W. tabs for Illinois judicial races are likely Michael McGuire, Harrison II spent in to go even higher. After all, Texas, an options trader. 1992 on his primary California, Ohio, Pennsylvania and “We’ll do more and general election Alabama have had million-dollar high fundraising and if we races was the previous court races for years. Illinois’ high don’t raise [the record, says Kent court races can be expected to join $40,000], I’ll pay him Redfield, a political the trend. out of my own pocket,” science professor at the “[The costs of] all campaigns have Dennis McGuire says, University of Illinois at skyrocketed,” says Jim Collins, referring to his brother. Springfield. The executive director of the Illinois Trial McGuire says he plans $447,631 spent by Lawyers Association. to run for the bench Justice James D. Heiple “If one thing works for a given again, possibly in two that same year was the team, they all will try to do it,” says years. record spent on a A.L. Zimmer, general counsel to the Were it not for family general election race State Board of Elections. “So the ties, the hefty Corboy- alone. Five candidates contest becomes more intense. People

20 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 21 one high court candidate, state example, Fitzgerald took in $41,085 Sen. Carl E. Hawkinson, a Galesburg from labor PACs, including $3,500 Republican, running in the 3rd from UAW Illinois, $150 from Motion District. A review of state Board Picture Projectionists, Local 110 and of Elections contribution reports filed $1,500 from International Heat & through June 30 by the candidates Frost Insulators, Local 17. who will appear on the November 7 Fitzgerald, who raised $1,037,665 Power play for Illinois general election ballot indicates and spent $1,025,356 in the primary, want to win elections, so, if they find that business PACs gave a higher has no opponent in the November that advertising is effective, they say, percentage of single contributions election. ‘We’ll have more advertising,’ and to Hawkinson than to any other The race in the Republican-held A trio of races in this state could help tip the partisan that’s going to cost more money. candidate for the high court. 2nd District was even more expensive. I think it’s just the natural course Hawkinson took in at least $3,000 Appellate Justice Bob Thomas, who balance in Congress. The national political parties are of anything that’s greatly fought from business PACs, including $1,000 won the GOP nomination, spent over.” from the Illinois Hospital and Health- $522,000, though that was only half sending plenty of campaign cash Systems Association, $1,000 from the of what each of his opponents spent. But there’s an additional reason Illinois Chamber, $500 from the He faces Democratic Chicago by Lucio Guerrero judicial campaigns are getting more Illinois Construction Industry and attorney Larry D. Drury in expensive: Third-party political action $500 from the Illinois Association November. Drury was unchallenged rom the posh homes on the North because both major parties committees have begun to wage their of HMOs. Still, he also received in the primary. FShore to the middle-class towns in believe they have a good chance own campaigns for and against contributions from trial lawyers, the Thomas received money from central Illinois to the rich farm ground to capture that independent- judicial candidates. business industry’s traditional court- lawyers and law firms, of course, of the Mississippi River valley, Illinois minded voter base. In Ohio this year, as much as $12 room adversaries on such issues as including $250 from Barrington Hills will find itself in the national spotlight The district’s 20-year million is expected to be spent in a tort reform. Hawkinson’s trial lawyer trial attorney Bruce Pfaff and $250 come November 7. incumbent, John Porter battle over a single high court seat. contributors included $1,000 from from the Lake Zurich firm of Salvi, In fact, Illinois is poised to be of Wilmette, a moderate About half of that is expected to be Bourbonnais attorney Thomas E. Salvi and Wifler PC. He raised among a handful of make-it or Republican, surprised sup- spent by business political action McClure and $500 from Peoria $531,095, including an $18,000 loan break-it states in this fall’s battle porters when he announced committees trying to oust an incum- attorney Robert C. Strodel. from Chicago trial attorney Joseph A. for control of the U.S. House his retirement. Running for his bent justice who wrote the majority Even with the help of business and Power Jr. of Representatives, where seat are Kenilworth Republican opinion that struck down that state’s legal interests, Hawkinson, who raised Maisch of the Illinois Chamber Republicans now hold a Mark Steven Kirk, who was law limiting damages that plaintiffs $303,754 and spent $291,156, didn’t of Commerce says that as far as the narrow five-seat lead. once Porter’s chief of staff, and can win in civil actions, a so-called come close to some of the state’s Illinois business community is With two congressional Highland Park Democrat tort reform. highest spending judicial candidates. concerned, the big spending has just incumbents retiring and Lauren Beth Gash, a state Business PACs and other special Neither did his November opponent, begun. This state’s businesses, he the seat of another representative and longtime interest groups haven’t been as active Rock Island attorney Thomas L. Kil- acknowledges, have lagged behind under siege, the state is local activist. in waging their own campaigns in bride, a Democrat who raised $38,755 their counterparts in other states in already getting plenty of Central Illinois also is Illinois’ high court races, but that as of June 30. contributing to high court candidates. attention from the two losing a congressional could change. Small businesses, big But if the Illinois Chamber can help major political parties. incumbent in the 15th businesses and business PACs did The two Supreme Court contests it, he says, that will change. Read plenty of cash. District. The race to donate to Illinois Supreme Court at the northern end of the state were Illinois, like Ohio, used to have a So far, Republicans replace retiring Tom Illustration by Mike Cramer candidates this year, but their contri- far more expensive. Two candidates in tort reform law, but it was struck have raised a monumen- Ewing, a Pontiac butions paled in comparison to those the 1st District, which includes Cook down as unconstitutional by this tal $260 million nationally to hand put a lot of money into them to make Republican who was elected in 1991, made by lawyers and law firms, County, and two in the 2nd District, state’s Supreme Court. Maisch called out to candidates throughout the a difference.’’ promises to be close, too. The candi- who have historically kicked in the which runs west of Cook County to that 1997 decision the “toughest country. The Democrats have raised a The reasoning is simple: Con- dates are Normal Democrat F. bulk of contributions to judicial the Mississippi River and north to lesson.” not-too-shabby $165 million. Though gressional incumbents are almost Michael “Mike” Kelleher Jr., an candidates’ kitties. Wisconsin, raised about $1 million “Frankly, the Illinois business party officials won’t specify how many impossible to dislodge, given their American government professor, and “Very, very large sums of money or more each. And, in step with community is well behind business of those dollars will come to Illinois, overwhelming advantages in money, longtime state Rep. Tim Johnson, a have been going to judicial candidates tradition, lawyers and law firms communities in several other states — it’s likely a significant share will. name recognition and proven records. Republican from Sidney. for decades,” says Todd Maisch, vice contributed generously to several of Pennsylvania, Texas, Mississippi, Ohio “I would say that Illinois is one But open seats are another matter. In northwest Illinois’ 17th District, president of government affairs at the those candidates. They gave hundreds — that have been actively participating of the top four or five states that is A Washington Post analysis found incumbent U.S. Rep. Lane A. Evans, Illinois Chamber of Commerce. “The of thousands of dollars to Fitzgerald, in judicial races for a number of being looked at nationally because three in five of the competitive open a Democrat from Rock Island, is try- problem is that it’s only been lawyers and to his opponents in the 1st years,” Maisch says. “And it’s essen- some of the races are a toss-up,’’ says seats switched parties in the last ing to fend off three-time Republican that have been doing it. The truth is District, as well as to candidates in tially a very tough lesson that you can Ron Faucheux, editor-in-chief of election. And in Illinois, it’s the open challenger Mark Baker of Quincy, the business community is going to the 2nd District and 3rd District races. work very hard to pass important, Congressional Quarterly’s Campaigns seats that are hotly contested. a development rep for the Illinois stand up and take note, and we are Fitzgerald, like Kilbride in the 3rd, good pieces of legislation, only to have & Elections magazine, a nonpartisan The most compelling of these races Department of Commerce and not going to leave the judicial system also had solid support from labor, the courts throw them out. Then you’re publication for the political industry. is set along Lake Michigan’s affluent Community Affairs. The Almanac at the mercy of the law profession.” a traditional Democratic donor base. back to square one.” ❏ “The national committees are being North Shore. Illinois’ 10th District of American Politics 2000, published Illinois business this year did favor In the first six months of this year, for careful in targeting races, so they can has garnered considerable attention by the National Journal, calls this race

22 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 23 “highly competitive” because Evans’ These candidates do differ, though, “We need an effective program, oddly enough, a paper clip — is play- farming is a major campaign issue in previous two wins were tight and on their assessments of their own and offering flexibility and a choice ing a major role in the election. This that race. because the demographics of the their opponent’s experience. of affordable plans to cover the cost month, the Democratic Congressional “It’s urgent we develop and open district continue to shift away from the A native of the district, Kirk began of prescription drugs.’’ Campaign Committee paid for new markets for our ag products,” Democrats. The almanac calls Evans his government career in 1984 as an And each candidate backs a plan Kelleher’s first television ad of the Baker argues. “We must pass trade “one of the most vulnerable incum- aide to Porter, eventually serving as his to protect the environment. Gash general election season. The ad agreements that open export markets bents in the country.” chief of staff from 1987 to 1990. Kirk supports Vice President Al Gore’s highlights a 1980 incident involving for farm commodities and machinery.’’ But the parties consider the race in served in other Washington posts and proposal to provide zero-interest bonds Johnson’s voting record at the State- But these candidates differ on the the 10th key. in 1995 joined the staff of the U.S. to local initiatives designed to protect house. A photo captured a paper clip specifics of trade policy, most recently That district is wealthier and better House International Relations open space and redevelop brownfields. that was lodged in Johnson’s voting over granting China permanent educated than the average Illinois Committee as counsel under Chairman Kirk is hoping to use his seat in Con- button so that he could vote along normal trade status with the United voting bloc, and more independent- Benjamin Gilman of New York. gress to further efforts to lower PCB party lines while he was out of the States. Evans voted against the minded. It has a median household While critics argue Kirk has spent contamination in the Great Lakes. chamber. The ad implies Johnson was measure, siding with a number of income of $50,000 and 66 percent too long living and working out of the While local voters will decide which legislating on autopilot. Democrats who are worried about that of its residents have a college degree, district, he calls the time spent in of these candidates heads to For their part, national Republican country’s record on human rights. according to data compiled by the Washington valuable on-the-job Washington, the national parties are leaders have sent some big names into Baker believes reducing restrictions on almanac. That’s high compared to training. “Washington is a very keeping close tabs on this district. the district, including U.S. House trade with China will be a boon for the state as a whole: The state’s median complicated place, and if you miss the “We’re going to go all out. Short Majority Leader Dick Armey, farmers in the district. income is slightly higher than $32,000, difference between an authorization of some meltdown on either candi- to help raise cash for Johnson’s Still, Evans has been popular with and 46 percent of all Illinois residents and appropriations bill, you could miss date’s part and the race disappearing campaign. farm organizations, receiving the 1999 have a college education. funding for a key issue in our district from the ‘most competitive’ column, On substantive matters, the candi- “Friend to the Farmer Award” The 10th straddles Lake and Cook like the air control tower that I got for we’re going to treat [the race in the dates in the 15th are raising issues that from the American Corn Growers counties, starting in the picturesque the Waukegan Airport,’’ he says. 10th] as if it is what it is. And that is face most of the nation: the debate Association. He backed federal lakefront city of Wilmette and continu- Gash, meanwhile, is running on a one of the most competitive races in over the need to reform Social Security legislation that calls for replacing ing north along Lake Michigan’s shores platform that features local ties. “I have the country,” Rhode Island U.S. Rep. and Medicare and improve access to petroleum-based methyl tertiary butyl to the Wisconsin border. It extends worked hard in this area and have Patrick Kennedy told the [Arlington prescription drugs. ether, or MTBE — a gasoline additive westward toward Wheeling, Arlington raised a family here,’’ she says. “My Heights-based] Daily Herald during The positions of these two candi- known to cause water contamination Heights and Vernon Hills. The district’s kids were in baby-sitting co-op here, so last summer’s Democratic National dates tend to follow party lines. On — with ethanol, which can be made communities are predominately white, I have driven the car pool and shopped Convention. As head of that party’s guns, for instance, Republican from corn. and most residents commute to at the local grocery stores. I know Congressional Campaign Committee, Johnson believes Congress shouldn’t “With agriculture facing the lowest Chicago to work in white-collar jobs. what’s important to the families here.’’ Kennedy holds the national party approve any additional restrictions prices in decades, increased ethanol However, there are a few blue-collar Gash has worked for former U.S. purse strings. until the executive branch “makes a production is one of the most effective pockets, home to employees of Sen. Alan J. Dixon and in Paul Simon’s Indeed, the contest in the 10th already good faith effort to enforce the current ways to stimulate increased domestic Outboard Marine Corp., Cherry 1990 U.S. Senate campaign. Gash won has drawn some big bucks. The candi- gun control legislation.” He would demand for grain, boost farm income Electrical Products and the Great her seat in the Illinois House in 1992 dates have raised more than a combined support increased funding for enforce- and create jobs,” Evans told a House Lakes Naval Training Center. and is serving her fourth term. She $1.2 million for the upcoming general ment of federal gun laws. Democrat subcommittee. But it’s the 10th’s tendency to swing chairs that chamber’s Judiciary election. And in last spring’s primary, Kelleher, meanwhile, slams Congress The outcome in any one of these to either party that makes the outcome Committee on Criminal Law and is two Republicans raised $1 million each for not doing more to prevent gun three Illinois races, each of which is in this year’s congressional election vice chair of the Committee on in their losing effort against Kirk, who violence. He would, for instance, expected to be tight come November, difficult to call. In 1996, the majority Elections and Campaign Reform. spent $400,000. require background checks for sales could shift the partisan balance in this of the district’s voters went with The concerns in the 10th, the candi- The national parties also are watch- at gun shows and establish harsher state’s evenly divided 22-member Democratic President Bill Clinton, dates say, are similar to those that most ing the race in Illinois’ 15th District, penalties for those who buy guns for congressional delegation — and help but in 1992 they backed Republican other Illinoisans worry about, includ- where U.S. Rep. Tom Ewing is felons. shift party control in Congress itself. President George Bush. ing health care. Both candidates stepping down after almost a decade A third Illinois congressional race is That puts this state in the spotlight. Porter, a fiscal conservative and support reducing the role of HMOs in of service. Democrat Kelleher, a attracting national attention. The 17th Still, the candidates say while national social progressive, has been popular treatment decisions. “Too often, the government professor at Illinois State District lies in the northwestern region attention is nice, it won’t decide the throughout the district. No surprise, quality of care we receive is obscured University, is facing Johnson, a 24- of the state. In this race, the GOP is races. “Sure the Washington Post and then, that both of the candidates by the insurance companies’ bottom year Republican state representative hoping the third time will be a charm the national finance people are looking hoping to replace him tout moderate line,” Gash says. “Too many health-care who manages a small farm. for its candidate, former broadcast at the race, but the critical thing is to credentials. As a lawmaker, for organizations have forgotten that their Though it reaches through some journalist Baker. He’s trying to unseat remember who is in charge here — and instance, Gash has been supportive primary responsibility is to protect the of the richest farmland in the state, Evans, who is seeking his 10th term in that’s the voters,’’ says 10th District of GOP proposals to reform education. health of their members.’’ the 15th is not strictly rural. It encom- office. candidate Kirk. “When you’re out Both support abortion rights and gun Kirk would offer seniors more flexi- passes many small towns and four Mostly agriculture, the 17th stretch- campaigning, the national attention control measures. They would require bility in federal prescription drug sizable urban areas: Champaign- es across 14 counties. Its largest city, just does not cut it.’’ ❏ trigger locks, ban assault weapons and programs. “No senior should have to Urbana, Bloomington-Normal, Moline is headquarters to Deere & Lucio Guerrero is a reporter for the Chicago impose strict background checks at choose between groceries and the Danville and Kankakee. Co., manufacturer of John Deere Sun-Times. He covers the north suburbs. gun shows. prescription drugs they need,’’ he says. Again, national party money —— and tractors. So it’s no surprise that

24 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 25 Analysis

POLITICAL STUDIES We get more information about the presidential candidates from paid ads and less from arm’s-length political campaign coverage. That may not be as bad as it seems

by John Carpenter

ere it is. Decision time again in so we’ve done our homework. We’ve family room and carefully listened to best we can to take their measure. Political advertising is up. This means the Annenberg School for HAmerica. heard their positions on the major their ads, weighing their credibility Or maybe we haven’t. the power of money is up, because Communication at the University We’ve all feverishly studied the presi- issues. We’ve sized up their answers to and lining up their positions against Strike that. We haven’t. advertising is expensive. And the of Pennsylvania found that the vast dential candidates and are poised to tough questions, looking for clues as to our own. And we’ve considered their The truth is, if history holds, most prospect of free television air time for majority of stations surveyed in make another informed selection. how they’ll handle a crisis. backgrounds, voting records and of us made up our minds long before political candidates — the Holy Grail 11 cities in the 30 days leading up to Leadership of the free world is at stake, We’ve shushed everyone in the affiliations, looked them in the eye as the campaign began, based our deci- for those who would level the presidential primaries this year aired sion on long-held party affiliations economic playing field of politics — an average of only 39 seconds of and general political leanings — sort is being thumped on the head by a political coverage per night. Three of a lifetime of political research. $600 million club. That’s the amount of 19 monitored — the study covered Political scholar Kathleen Hall of money television stations are stations in New York and Los Jamieson notes that the category expected to take in this election cycle Angeles, as well as primary battle- of “early decider” in presidential in return for running paid political grounds Iowa and New Hampshire — elections ranges from a low of 54 ads. It’s also a number the television devoted an average of about four percent in 1992 to a high of 79 industry’s powerful lobbying arm, minutes per night to politics. The rest percent in 1956. Veteran presidential the National Association of could spare less than a minute. political strategists use this rough rule Broadcasters, is feverishly trying to Nowhere was this more obvious of thumb: Each party’s candidate protect. (They protect it, of course, than in coverage of this year’s nation- claims about 40 percent of the vote, by giving money to politicians who al party conventions. To be sure, they with the remaining 20 percent of the are eager to accept the money so they lacked the drama of olden times, voters “in play’’ in any one year. can run more ads.) Illinois’ own when beefy cigar-chompers in smoke- Still, even those of us who are long- Tribune Company earned $25 million filled halls tallied ballot after ballot time Republicans or Democrats like — 2 percent of its revenue — from into the wee hours before naming a to think we go through some kind political ads in 1998. It’s no wonder standard bearer. But that drama is in of decision-making process before we Dennis Fitzsimmons, president of the the distant past. vote. And, certainly, the true “swing” broadcasting unit at the Trib, was Loyola University political science voters in any race do. But the very quoted earlier this year as calling professor Alan Gitelson argues the pertinent question raised in two free-time proposals “not realistic.’’ networks’ claim that the lack of air studies out this year is this: Where are Meanwhile, most network news time was because the conventions we getting our information? operations, where studies consistently have become slick partisan packages The answer isn’t pretty, at least on show most Americans get their news, is “absurd’’ and a smoke screen for first reading. We increasingly get our are covering politics less and less, their abdication of civic duty. information about presidential candi- meaning they are covering it worse “This is their time to talk to us,’’ dates from paid political advertising and worse. (That’s alarming in light Gitelson says of the major parties. and less often from arm’s-length of a finding by the Pew Research “It is their time to talk to us about political campaign coverage. But Center for People and the Press that where they stand and who they are.’’ while the results of these studies 65 percent of Americans consider If the conventions are too slick make for nifty sound bites trumpeting television their most trusted source and disingenuous, Gitelson says, the the usurpation of political discourse of information.) public is perfectly capable of detect- by those with the deep pockets need- Reformers had suggested that TV ing that and allowing for it when they ed for political ads, the full story is far stations cover politics for at least five make their decision. Likewise, the less simple and certainly less dire. minutes a night for the 30 days lead- public is able to do this with political Let’s begin with a simple fact. ing up to an election. But a study by ads, which he says are a “reasonably Illustration by Mike Cramer

26 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 27 good forum in which individuals can Traditional Values Coalition and the ads than Dole, though the taciturn learn about candidates.’’ Committee for Good Common Sense. Dole was perceived as the attacker in Indeed, Kathleen Hall Jamieson, “Because issue advocacy ads are not the campaign. director of the Annenberg Center, subject to disclosure requirements, the Even the presidential debates — by argues in her new book Everything press and public do not necessarily any measure one of the best chances You Think You Know About Politics … know who is funding the campaign or to evaluate candidates — are covered And Why You’re Wrong that studies how much is being spent,’’ Jamieson in the context of who won and who La diferencia reveal a public well-equipped to said in a statement earlier this year lost rather than what was said and evaluate political ads. announcing the group’s findings. “At what it could mean for the country, While the cable television screaming the same time, funders can camou- though Jamieson says debates remain heads and political scholars — often flage their actual agenda behind an one of the most widely used tools for The presidential campaigns are looking to Illinois Latino one in the same — decry negative innocuous group label, making it voters to gather information about advertising as if it were the plague, difficult for the public to assess the candidates. voters who could help push them over the top in this close national race Jamieson argues that policy-oriented group’s motives and credibility.’’ Newspapers are not immune to this attack and contrast ads are often most Steve Brown, press secretary for criticism, of course. They can be just informative, with contrast ads being Illinois House Speaker (and state as attracted to the drama of the horse the best. Attack ads, as the moniker Democratic Party chairman) Michael race as the networks. But just as CNN by Kristy Kennedy suggests, are simply directed at an Madigan, agrees ads are on the rise does a better job of political coverage opponent. Contrast ads, meanwhile, and that “there has been a continuing thanks mainly to the amount of time cast the opponent in a negative light shrinkage in news media interest in it can give to stories, so too do the and build up the advertisee. campaigns.’’ national dailies have the advantage aria Teresa Galvan made voter turnout in November 1998, “Our analysis showed that attack This is unfortunate, Brown says, of space and context. Mher way to the front of the and that number is projected to advertisements contained a greater because positive media coverage is It should be said, too, that the Pew line at the Joliet train depot to grow to 7 percent in 2000, accord- percentage of policy words than did still far more effective than good center has come up with another get a quick word with Texas ing to a study by the research arm advocacy or contrast ads,’’ Jamieson advertising, indicating that media discouraging statistic: Only 15 percent Gov. George W.Bush. “Los of Univision Communications writes, adding that contrast ads are reports still hold sway with voters. of Americans actually go through the votantes Latinos le gustan a Inc, the nation’s largest Spanish nevertheless “superior to those that The problem is that the television effort of looking for campaign news; Bush,” she told the Republican. language broadcasting company. simply attack’’ because “the ads media have cut back coverage so much 83 percent typically come across such (Latino voters like Bush.) Last summer, the Republican identify sponsoring candidates, which that they may have crossed the line information by happenstance. The presidential candidate and Democratic conventions makes it possible for those who from not doing as much good to cupped his hand to Galvan’s ear prominently featured Latinos disapprove of the attack to hold the having a negative impact by linking The flip side of this gloomy and whispered his response. and booked Spanish language perpetrator accountable.’’ coverage too much to polling data. picture, of course, is that the increas- Bush’s words thrilled Galvan, music acts. Bush and Vice And viewers do hold perpetrators Consider the example of 1996. ingly fragmented media world is a mostly because they were in President Al Gore made speeches accountable when they know who While no one is suggesting Bob candy shop for political junkies. Spanish. “Y vamos a ganar.” in Spanish and have Spanish- they are. Jamieson and her researchers Dole had much chance against Bill Voters with computers are mouse (And we’re going to win.) language Web sites. played two versions of a hypothetical Clinton in 1996, that campaign is clicks and literally seconds away from For her husband, Joseph And Galvan, the first Hispanic ad to a subject group. Most found the worth noting. Jamieson, wondering Web sites crammed with useful infor- Galvan, the chairman of the from Illinois tapped as an at-large contrast version responsible, while whether strategic, poll-oriented politi- mation about candidates and their Illinois Hispanic Republican delegate to the Republican most found the pure attack version cal coverage becomes a self-fulfilling views. And voters with cable can get Assembly, the moment ham- National Convention, is giddy irresponsible. Presumably, this would prophecy, notes that “with a single both C-Spans on television, allowing mered home how important with all the attention he’s lead them to have a negative opinion exception, the major polls dramatic- them to fall asleep on the couch to a Latinos are in this presidential receiving. of the person the ad wished them to ally underestimated Dole’s likely George W.Bush stump speech in an election. When Bush kicked off his have a positive opinion about. One percent of the vote.” Elks lodge in Oklahoma, or to an In fact, never before have “Change the Tone” campaign problem, of course, is that many so- “In the campaign’s final days, major Al Gore town meeting in upstate Latino voters, in Illinois and in Illinois after the convention, called “issue’’ ads these days, whether media polls had Clinton defeating Pennsylvania. across the country, received so Galvan was one of three people to pure attack or contrast, are from Dole by margins much higher than his The bottom line is this: Ads may be much attention. meet the presidential candidate at neither candidate. They are from eventual eight-point victory. One, a crowding out news, but the situation That’s because their numbers the airport. For that matter, such special interest groups and there are CBS/The New York Times poll, gave is far from hopeless. Though good, are rising everywhere, in the important Illinois Republicans as a lot of them. Clinton an 18-point advantage. Had substantive news may no longer be population count and at the Senate President James “Pate” By Labor Day this year, more than reporters known that the likely vote abundant on the mainstream televi- polls. Hispanics now make up Philip of Wood Dale and House $114 million already had been spent was much closer than the polls indi- sion news stations, it’s there in spades 11.7 percent of the U.S. popula- Minority Leader Lee Daniels of on issue ads, according to Jamieson’s cated, would [issue] coverage have on cable networks and on the tion (10.5 percent in Illinois), Elmhurst planned meetings with group. And more than 40 percent increased and strategic [horse-race] Internet, not to mention in the major and census projections indicate Galvan to talk strategy. of these ads were pure attack, coming coverage of Dole decreased, and with national newspapers. that Latinos will become the “It means they are taking us from such well-known groups as the these changes, would Dole’s prospects So relax. And vote. nation’s largest minority group seriously and that the guy [Bush] National Rifle Association and the have changed?’’ John Carpenter is a free-lance writer and within the next five years. is genuine. I don’t think you Sierra Club, as well as those with As an aside, Jamieson notes that former Chicago Sun-Times and Daily Further, Hispanics accounted would have had this 20 or even more nebulous names, including the Clinton, in 1996, ran far more attack Herald reporter. for 5.2 percent of the national 10 years ago, but you have it

28 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 29 now,’’ Galvan says. “With Bush as a Hispanics that Republicans just can’t Champaign who follows Latinos’ paperwork. But while Democrats won the Fourth of July and he hopes his springboard, we can say this is the match, Delgado says. “Democrats live voting habits and wrote the 1996 book party loyalty from early immigrants next is born on Cinqo de Mayo. right party. It is a tremendous oppor- in Latino communities. We know the Counting the Latino Vote: Latinos as a by helping them in that fashion, “What’s up with that? What does that tunity and allows us to have a mission. Just coming into our neigh- New Electorate. today’s attempts are not as great as in have to do with how you will influence foothold in the Republican Party.’’ borhood and speaking Spanish is an So far, there hasn’t been much to years past, DeSipio says. education? It’s cute, but people want Indeed, there is evidence of a advantage, but not a catchall. I see motivate Hispanics in Illinois to vote, It will take a great deal of mobiliza- them to go beyond this.” growing Latino presence among Republicans as wolves in sheep’s he says. In the last several statewide tion for Latinos to gain more power, And Garcia says Latinos are skepti- Republican voters. Univision’s report clothing.” elections, races have been clear-cut says DeSipio. “There have been cal of Bush’s sincerity in speaking indicates that while 63 percent of the With two suitors aggressively and Latinos haven’t been needed. isolated Latinos that have done quite Spanish and using his Hispanic Latino voters identified themselves as courting their votes, Democratic and But, he adds, Latinos in Illinois well, but there isn’t a network. There nephew, George P. Bush, to campaign communities. Democrats in 1998, that share was Republican Latinos see this election become important in a close election hasn’t been the passage of power from on his behalf. “People like for people “It’s a full court press,’’ Giangreco down from 1996, when 73 percent as their chance to gain some clout and when every vote counts. one generation to the next. When that to speak to them in their own lan- says. “You have to earn Latino votes reported themselves as Democrats. respect. The political cliché long has And because there are elements in happens, it will be a sign of power.” guage. It’s nice to be recognized, but it just like anyone else’s vote.” Republicans’ efforts have not gone referred to the Latino population as a the Republican and Democratic Delgado, who has served in the doesn’t stop there,” Garcia says. Giangreco adds that Democrats plan unnoticed by Illinois Democrats, who “sleeping giant.” Latinos are anxious parties that appeal to Hispanics, many Illinois House for two years, says to have “an army of people” going think they have a Latino stronghold to see it awaken and show its strength. Latino votes are “up for grabs,” says Latinos have made small inroads, but The issues are what bring Latinos door to door in Chicago and suburbs that will be tough for the GOP to “Over the years, I feel the Latino Jesus Garcia, who runs a sophisticat- have a long way to go compared to together, DeSipio says. “They hold with concentrations of Latinos, such overcome. Still, they aren’t taking any vote has been taken for granted by ed, nonpartisan Web site called Hispanics in New Jersey and Florida, positions about the issues that we as North Chicago, Elgin and Aurora. chances — particularly not in Illinois. both parties,” Delgado says. “The Latinovote.com. where he also has lived. “I have found care about, only more strongly. They Democrats plan to put up a good If early polls and other indicators biggest test is this year. They have to Latinos long have been viewed as Illinois is a little bit behind the curve support big government, issues like fight for the Latino vote in Illinois, are right and the election turns out to fight for our vote and court that vote. strong partisans for Democrats who having political power in the state.” education, public transportation, says Gilberto Ocañas, campaign be a tight race, then Illinois — seen as This is our opportunity. Latino advocate a strong role for government It is a scenario that has played out public safety.” manager of the Democratic National a swing state — will be important. empowerment in Illinois is this sleep- and support immigration issues. in other states, including California, Illinois’ Latino voters are sure to Committee’s Latino Coordinated And that means Latinos, if they have ing giant lying down and opening one But second- and third-generation DeSipio says. “Part of the problem hear plenty about those issues as Campaign. “The task in Illinois a good turnout at the polls, could have eye at a time.” Hispanics and some new immigrants that any group faces is challenging Republicans and Democrats gear up will be to increase the turnout a real impact on the election. Galvan agrees. “Latinos have to aren’t as solid a voting bloc, Garcia those old networks. Here in Illinois, their campaigns for Bush and Gore. of Hispanics. We have a whole target The U.S. Hispanic population come out to vote. That is the only way says. “People don’t get from either Latinos are at a disadvantage because Hispanics for Bush plan to work of swing states, and Illinois is the topped 31 million in a March 1999 our state representatives and senators party a feeling that we really belong of the [established party] networks in phone banks, knock on doors and largest of those states and has the estimate done by the U.S. Census will get the message that Latinos are here.” the city and suburbs.” speak to Latino groups in an effort to largest population in the Midwest. Bureau. In Illinois, projections more than just demographics. This is Hispanics like the family values There are several barriers to mobi- get out the vote. Committees have It is key,” Ocañas says. indicate that by 2025 there will be 2.3 our springboard into greater inclusion message touted by Republicans. Many lizing the Latino vote, DeSipio says. been created to target specific Latino That party’s activists will begin by million Latinos, who would represent in the party and down the road in two also support the death penalty, and Many Hispanics who live in the groups: immigrants from Cuba, targeting community leaders and the 17 percent of the population and years in the state election.” many have become small business United States aren’t citizens and those Puerto Rico, Mexico, the Caribbean, media to get out the vote. Bilingual make Hispanics the largest minority There’s no guarantee. Census owners who are concerned about who are tend to be poorer, younger South America and parts of Central direct mail and phone callers will group in the state. Bureau voting figures from 1996 taxes, DeSipio says. and less educated, and as a result America. A media expert also has work to contact Hispanics. Spanish Indeed, Illinois ranks fifth in the showed that Latinos were the only By analyzing voting records and are less likely to vote, he says. But been hired to help make these efforts radio and television ads will go out nation in the number of Latinos over major racial-ethnic group to have studying the voting habits of people DeSipio says Illinois could see a quick more visible. with messages aimed at concerns the age of 18, accounting for 9 percent significantly increased their voting with Latino surnames in Kern County turnaround. He points to California, Illinois Democrats hope to register specific to Midwestern Latinos. of the state’s voting age population. numbers nationwide. In 1996, the outside Los Angeles, Garcia found where Hispanics have managed to get 150,000 new Latino voters in the Coordinators also will try to mobilize Of that number, 412,000 are U.S. number of Latino voters totaled 4.9 that Hispanics who had been voting two speakers of the House elected, as Chicago area by the mid-October college Latino voters in each state. citizens and 229,000 of them are million, a 16 percent increase over regularly over the last decade were well as a Latino lieutenant governor. registration deadline, says Peter Above all, those already involved in registered to vote. 1992 figures. But while more regis- more likely to take a Democratic The Hispanic vote also was key in Giangreco, a Chicago political consul- politics hope Latinos will go to the The presidential campaigns are tered to vote, only 75 percent turned primary ballot — about 70 percent electing Gov. Gray Davis in 1998. tant who is a senior adviser to the polls this year in record numbers. taking note. “In a tight race, states out to the polls on election day — of the time. Newer voters were about Garcia’s Web site has links to many Gore campaign. Smaller voter regis- “I think some of America has to get like Illinois are extremely coveted compared with 80 percent of black 40 percent Democrat, 20 percent other political sites, both Republican tration drives are underway in some over a demographic denial that some- by candidates,” says Rudy Lopez, voters and 83 percent of white voters. Republican and the rest Independent. and Democratic. It also offers politi- suburban communities and in down- how Latinos will go away. That’s not the national field director for the As a result, Latino voters made up 5 He also notes Kern County is one of cal stories affecting Latinos and some state areas with heavy Latino popula- the reality. I believe both parties have Chicago-based U.S. Hispanic percent of the total number of voters the most Republican in the state, and that have been critical of both Bush tions. “This is unprecedented,’’ come to realize that,” Garcia says. Leadership Institute, a nonprofit, nationwide in 1996. Latinos made up says his research probably is indicative and Gore. For instance, some articles Giangreco says. Also, localized radio “The Latino vote doesn’t at this time nonpartisan group that promotes 3 percent of the vote in Illinois. of other Latinos in the United States. portrayed Gore as pandering to and television ads are planned, along have the numbers to make wholesale Latino civic participation. (Census officials say there may be a “We’re up for grabs, in essence,” Cubans on his Elian Gonzalez stance. with national ads featuring Gore on changes in politics. The real test will State Rep. William Delgado 10 percent inflation over actual voting Garcia says. “I think he thought it would benefit Univision and Telemundo, the two be where we are five or 10 years from of Chicago says he and other elected and registration rates.) him,” Garcia says. “The vast majority major Spanish television networks in now. But we can get some attention in Latino Democrats will be working Latinos need to increase their num- Over the last decade, Delgado of Americans and Latino Americans the United States. this election.” ❏ phone banks and stumping for Gore, bers at the polls to have any dramatic says, Hispanic leaders in Chicago have thought this little guy should be with Gore is stumping in Hispanic neigh- Kristy Kennedy is a Naperville writer traveling to meet with Hispanic impact, says Louis DeSipio, an associ- been working to register Latinos to his father.” He also says Hispanics see borhoods in the Chicago area and who previously worked for the Daily groups throughout the state. ate professor of political science at the vote and have offered workshops to through Gore’s often-made remark talking about health care and other Herald. Democrats have a connection to University of Illinois at Urbana- help immigrants with their citizenship that his first grandchild was born on issues deemed hot in Hispanic

30 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 31 distinction in this state. Illinois, peren- Swenson said recently in one of the does little to brake a price fall. An nially competing with Iowa as the top milder critiques of the 1996 farm law. additional peril of higher crop sup- corn and soybean state, grows about Federal policy-makers, among them ports is that they encourage overpro- 17 percent of the U.S. crop. President Bill Clinton, say “Freedom duction and can price U.S. goods out Lawmakers have found it easier to to Farm” may not be to blame for the of the world market. Exports account ladle out extra doses of farm aid than grain glut, but it has failed to provide for roughly 25 cents of each dollar in CAMPAIGN HARVEST? to resolve a farm policy battle that is enough protection against the farm receipts. as much political scorekeeping as it inevitable downturn in prices. Still, No comprehensive suggestion for a Record U.S. corn and soybean crops and sour domestic grain prices is philosophical debate over the Congress has been markedly generous replacement of “Freedom to Farm” could boost demand for an overhaul of federal farm policy. But nothing will happen appropriate federal role in assuring an in its response — $21.7 billion in three has surfaced, let alone gained more until the new president and a new Congress are ready adequate food supply. Populists say farm rescue packages since late 1998, than scattered support. Democrats government must help small farmers roughly doubling the cost of the 1996 initially fought for higher crop survive, as well, although farm sup- law and putting farm subsidies back in supports but this year largely let the ports since creation of the ag program the old range of at least $10 billion a debate in Congress revolve around the by Chuck Abbott have been paid on each bushel or year. Republicans and Democrats, an size of the bailout. In the final weeks pound of grain and cotton that was eye to electoral advantage with a before the election, they are using the grown, meaning large producers get potentially pivotal bloc, have vied to taunt “Freedom to Fail” to win over the biggest share. be the farmer’s friend. Clinton abetted disgruntled farmers. And Democratic In any event, vast sums of federal the bidding war by vetoing the first presidential nominee Al Gore routine- dollars are being poured into U.S. of the bailouts as too paltry only a few ly criticizes the 1996 law as seriously agriculture. This year, farmers will weeks before the 1998 elections. flawed without being overly specific collect several billion in so-called loan Fixing the farm program has proven about fixing it. deficiency payments that become far more difficult than diagnosing its For their part, Republicans, who available when market prices fall shortcomings. As House Agriculture sponsored “Freedom to Farm,” regard below the minimum prices determined Committee Chairman Larry Combest the bailouts as preferable to changing by the federal government. On top said after a dozen hearings across the a law they see as the best way to of that comes $5.47 billion in annual country earlier this year, “We didn’t position relentlessly productive U.S. subsidies guaranteed under the 1996 find a clear consensus on how we farmers to benefit from food demand farm law and $7.1 billion in a farm should change federal farm policy.” that will grow more rapidly overseas bailout approved by Congress to For one thing, farmers have than in the stable U.S. market. Like further shield growers from low prices. embraced a fundamental feature of Democrats, they are willing to look When a smattering of money from the 1996 law, the “planting flexibility” at alterations that would mean more conservation programs and crop insur- that allows them to move from crop to money for farmers when prices ance is added, farmers will see a record crop without jeopardizing their farm are low. $22.7 billion in direct government subsidies, so any change in law will “It’s hard for me to see a better after payments this year, “stunning have to retain that provision. There is alternative out there that’s workable six decades of amounts” of spending, according to little interest in returning to the old politically and other ways,” says federal acreage-limiting Keith Collins, the U.S. Department system that often required farmers to Bob Peterson, leader of a farm and schemes. Conceived in 1996 Illustration by William Crook Jr. of Agriculture’s chief economist. set aside a portion of their land to business coalition that was an early during the halcyon days of high mid-1990s Without this year’s cash deluge, qualify for crop subsidies. “Freedom to Farm” supporter. “The market prices, the law was promoted took the edge off the equal to nearly $11,000 for each of Higher crop support rates, the hard answer is we have to be patient as the best route to farm prosperity by n that morally improving book appetite for U.S. farm exports, while a America’s 2.1 million farms, Collins favorite nostrum of farm populists, and have faith in markets, that they enabling farmers to supply the hungers Silas Marner, often force-fed to rare sustained run of good weather calculates net cash farm income, a quickly have become hugely expensive will work.” I of an increasingly affluent world. schoolchildren, author George Eliot built up a global grain glut. The widely used estimate to gauge the to the government and taxpayers — In such a highly charged political Federal farm subsidies were set at a observes that “nothing is so good as it record-large U.S. corn and soybean financial health of agriculture, would intolerable even with today’s federal environment, even a commonly few billion dollars a year, about two- seems beforehand.” It’s one of those crops forecast for this fall seem sure to be slightly lower than during the agri- surplus, unless they are accompanied suggested farm-law “fix,” creation thirds of past levels, and farmers admonitions, easily ignored but mock- bring a fourth year of sour domestic cultural hard times of the mid-1980s, by limits on how much farmers are of a “counter-cyclical” mechanism to gained broad power to switch from ingly self-evident in hindsight, that grain prices and renewed demands to remembered as the last big shakeout. allowed to grow or sell. Crop supports increase farm support spending auto- crop to crop to pursue profits. might be embroidered and framed rewrite the farm law long before it Instead, farm income has run at near- create a minimum price that is matically when prices slump and Reality, sadly, has not lived up to (as people of another age were fond expires in 2002. record levels of $55 billion to $57 obtained through government loans reduce them during good times, expectations, confounding the domi- of doing) by agricultural forecasters “Obviously, you’re talking about billion a year, a level obscured by the that take a farmer’s crop as collateral. remains an abstraction. To some nant theory that for 15 years has and policy-makers. very depressed farm income levels,” noisy complaints of activist farm In the old days, farmers could forfeit extent, Bob Stallman, the president steadily reduced the federal role in Hanging that insight on a few walls says Illinois Farm Bureau President groups and “Freedom to Farm” critics the crop and keep the money if prices of the American Farm Bureau agriculture and given greater sway to in the nation’s capital might prompt Ron Warfield of Gibson City. True, who argue widespread suffering and were low. Nowadays, they can pocket Federation, said in late summer, there the free market to determine financial some humility as we head into a fifth were it not for the billions of dollars in low prices. the difference between the loan rate has been a canny decision to wait until success. year under the federal “Freedom to farm bailouts approved by Congress “‘Freedom to Farm’ has reduced the and their selling price. It prevents the lawmakers are ready to act. A worthy Economic turmoil in East Asia, Farm” law that deregulated agriculture since late 1998. That’s an important viability of family farmers,” National government from owning huge, price- idea can be chewed to death if Latin America and Russia in the Farmers Union President Leland depressing inventories of grain but supporters are too specific too early.

32 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 33 Net cash farm income Books PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, PRAIRIE STYLE The farm crisis brings out the ugly side of an agricultural community

Billion $ by Maureen Foertsch McKinney 60 With government payments 55 EBT AND ISPOSSESSION ARM OSS IN MERICA S EARTLAND 50 D D :F L A ’ H by Kathryn Marie Dudley Excluding government payments 45 40 University of Chicago Press, 2000 35 “It’s like [people thought], How of the ’80s, according to Dudley. common. When forced to pin down 30 much can we beat on those people?” She gives the town, which happens why some farms failed and others did “They were taking every damn thing to be one where her extended family not, “members of this community 25 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 we got.’’ farmed when she was young, a focused on the moral character of the SOURCE: Keith Collins at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Year — a Minnesota farm couple pseudonym: Star Prairie. But she individuals involved to explain what describing the forced auction details real events after interviewing happened.’’ of their property about 50 farm families and such There is plenty of talk of farmers assorted other community members who play keep-up-with-the-Joneses. A sketchily outlined Clinton proposal, test the waters for targeting federal aid wreck of extreme surpluses now ooking through an anthropologi- as bankers and loan agents. But strangely, Dudley notes, no one for example, to funnel up to $3.1 on small- and medium-size farms — an building” in U.S. grain bins and argues cal lens at the aftermath of the Anecdotes about the farmer who admits to competing with the Joneses. billion to family-size farms to bring approach forcibly raised 20 years ago the next president may need “to go to L ’80s farm crisis, Yale professor fled from his family in the face Nor does anyone admit to being the crop revenue to 92 percent of the five- by then-Agriculture Secretary Bob Congress on an emergency basis ... Kathryn Marie Dudley paints a of financial ruin, and the one who Joneses. year average died quietly last spring. Bergland — or limit the amount for temporary acreage-idling disturbing portrait in her Debt and got the cold shoulder at church after Farm loss is a trauma, a socially “I don’t believe there’s anyone who of money big operators collect. The authority” to reduce crop output. Dispossession: Farm Loss in Amer- losing his farm, are true. rather than naturally produced knows where ag policy is headed,” says current limit of $115,000 in federal That would be similar to the Payment ica’s Heartland. Contrary to such “For every news clip of activists one, Dudley asserts. “The erosion Scott Irwin, a professor in the subsidies can be doubled through In Kind programs under former- popular portrayals of farm life as the protesting the forced sale of a family of human dignity that accompanies Agriculture & Consumer Economics receipts from two affiliated farm President Ronald Reagan that paid movie Country, it turns out that farm, tens of thousands of farm it happens at the hands of those who Department at the University operations or circumvented entirely farmers not to grow. farmers tended to turn on each other families avoided the spotlight, settled are your friends.’’ of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. through so-called commodity certifi- And Tom Buis of the National rather than organize a protest or help out of court or suffered for years Dudley’s replay of the interviews “Freedom to Farm” might survive, cates from the agriculture department. Farmers Union says he believes a neighbor in need. in silence behind closed doors,’’ with the farmers who have lost their he says, because it is “everybody’s Farmers who are nearing the limit on patience with the 1996 law will expire “A pioneering spirit runs deep in Dudley writes. land are chilling: “All our neighbors second-best alternative.” subsidies can use the certificates with the elections. “I think it’s next the hearts of those who till the land, The local newspaper’s lists of were like flies to honey. They all Practicalities could channel to redeem crop loans from the year, definitely,” he says, for rewriting and these settlers of the prairie have names, those who were delinquent on wanted the land. You know they Congress toward limited revisions government. “Freedom to Farm,” although never looked kindly upon those who taxes, bankrupt or facing an auction could hardly wait until it was over in farm policy. Writing a full-spectrum “There certainly has been discussion Congress has resisted that chore in succumb to adversity, blame their or foreclosure, drew little sympathy so they could pile in and buy the farm law can require a year or two ... and will continue to be” among the past three years. troubles on others, or start crying for the troubled. The general consen- land,’’ says the woman Dudley of work, to the virtual exclusion of farmers about payment limits and As writer Damon Runyon, king for help when the going gets tough,’’ sus among farmers was that if some- calls Jane. other initiatives. With only two years targeting benefits, Warfield says. of 1920s wise-guy argot, memorably Dudley writes. one lost the family farm they must The woman’s husband adds, “It’s left in “Freedom to Farm,” there is He says he’s optimistic about farm opined, the race is not always to the Dudley returned to her roots for her have done something to deserve it, the same thing when a farmer dies — little time left for fundamental change. prosperity in the long term because swift or the battle to the strong, but scholarship, heading to western like getting a big new tractor or a there’s somebody there to rent the So, despite dissatisfaction with attention is being paid to boosting that’s the way to bet it. ❏ Minnesota to interview farmers about barn worth more than the whole land before the body’s cold, and I’m repeated financial bailouts, “Freedom demand for crops by opening Chuck Abbott, who counts himself as how they weathered the disastrous herd. She writes of the farmer who not kiddin’ ya. I mean, it is that — it’s to Farm” could become the longest- overseas markets and making more part of the agricultural diaspora, is a agriculture economy of the 1980s. says the first of his neighbors to lose that tough a game.’’ lasting farm law in two decades. use of ethanol. commodities correspondent for Reuters in Low interest rates and rising prices in their farms were “hot dogs. ... They Tough and devastating for those Without a consensus on broad-scale Nonetheless, gargantuan harvests Washington, D.C. He has covered U.S. the ’70s lulled many farmers into a had a brand-new four-wheel-drive who must face the loss. changes, lawmakers are more likely to and a further softening in prices this food and farm policy full time since 1988 false sense of security. They borrowed pickup, and they went to Texas in the “Every day you work the land,’’ concentrate on complaints that federal fall could force dramatic action, and writes an occasional column on big, and, when prices collapsed and wintertime. They lived on credit Jane told Dudley through tears. price supports favor soybeans over despite the many reasons to expect agriculture policy. He won the top award interest rates soared in the ’80s, the cards, and I didn’t have too much “And when it’s taken away from corn and wheat, think about devoting smaller-scale action. Since midsummer, of the North American Agricultural losses were huge. More than 200,000 compassion for them when they went you, it’s like you lose some part more funding to environmental longtime agricultural analyst John Journalists in 1998 for contributions commercial farmers are estimated to broke.’’ of your life.’’ ❏ provisions of the farm program, Schnittker has warned of “the train to agricultural reporting. have defaulted on loans by the end That farmer’s assessment was

34 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 35 Point of view

POTEMKIN FARMS The family farm is dead. It has been for a long time. Advocates left, right and center ought to give it a decent burial and plead their cases honestly

by Harold Henderson

ant to save the family farm? • When Bryan campaigned, most WStart by climbing into a time Illinois farmers ran the small, diversi- machine and setting the dial for 104 fied, nearly self-sufficient operations years ago. recalled in such books as Laura Illinois native William Jennings Ingalls Wilder’s children’s classic Bryan was barnstorming the country Farmer Boy. Now, the average farm is on the Democratic/Populist ticket. almost three times as large as it was Responding to the suggestion that then, and virtually every one is special- urban dwellers might oppose some ized, producing a few products for of his policies, Bryan replied, “The market and buying the rest at stores great cities rest upon our broad and just like the rest of us. fertile prairies. Burn down your cities • When Bryan campaigned, agricul- and leave our farms, and your cities ture made up very roughly a quarter of will spring up again as if by magic; the American economy. In 1960, it was but destroy our farms and the grass about 4 percent and in 1997, 1 percent. will grow in the streets of every city None of this is necessarily bad news. in the country.” Many fewer farmers working slightly Bryan was the greatest anti-corpo- less land are producing more food and rate champion the family farmer ever fiber than ever, with the rest of the had, and he lost decisively that fall economy growing even faster. On the to conservative Republican William face of it, we seem to be employing McKinley. The 1896 election set the both human labor and natural pattern for the future. Historian Ray resources more efficiently than in Ginger summed it up. “To the ques- 1896. That’s good news because we tion: Can farmers and wage earners have other uses for both. and reformers unite to win control of Ask anyone who is still trying to run the Federal government?, the answer a labor-intensive small farm these was no.” days, and they’ll tell you it’s almost Perhaps Bryan could have changed impossible to find help. Vanishingly the course of history if he had been few Americans today are willing to elected, perhaps not. But social and pay what producing food that way is economic forces since then have worth, and even fewer want to do the diminished his core constituency to hard physical labor themselves. Hence the vanishing point. machines and chemicals for most • When Bryan campaigned, there operators, and incredibly long days were more than a quarter of a million and nights for the faithful few. farms in Illinois. Now there are fewer As for natural resources, in than 80,000. There are as many teach- February, The Nature Conservancy ers in the Chicago public schools as bought 7,500 acres of rich farmland there are cattle farmers in the entire just across the Illinois River from state. Havana. Instead of raising corn or Illustration by William Crook Jr.

36 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 37 cows, the conservancy will return the Almanzo Wilder goes to town with his Anti-corporate activists hide behind land to the natural bottomland lakes father. There, a local wagon maker the myth, probably because it’s easier and wetlands that were there in the approaches them and offers to take on to bash big business for ruining the Guest essay early 20th century. If that land had Almanzo as an apprentice. That family farm than for taking over small been required for food production — evening, when Almanzo’s mother autobody shops or funeral homes. The as it would be if we were still farming hears of the proposal, she becomes main reason big business takes over is as in Bryan’s day — such a deal would irate. “A pretty pass the world’s com- because it can deliver good enough T THE CITY S EDGES have been both unthinkable and ing to, if any man thinks it’s a step up products more cheaply. Whether they A ’ unaffordable. in the world to leave a good farm and acknowledge it or not, advocates of the Should the current form and pace of development continue, all farmland Bryan’s rhetoric is now only half go to town! How does Mr. Paddock family farm are in fact advocating for may be gone from the Chicago metropolitan area by 2050. But by opening a regionwide dialogue true. If we had a 100 percent world- make his money, if it isn’t catering to either higher food prices or higher wide crop failure, we’d be in desperate us? I guess if he didn’t make wagons to taxes for farm subsidies. If more on the future of farmland, we might achieve a valuable blend of land uses for the future trouble. But if we had a 100 percent suit farmers, he wouldn’t last long! ... people were willing to pay the price for urban failure, today’s farms would Maybe he’ll make money, but he’ll organically grown, essentially hand- also be in trouble. Besides, these days never be the man you are. Truckling to made food, more of it would get by Alan P. Mammoser hypothetical apocalypses come by the other people for his living, all his days produced. But few of us are. dozen: a 100 percent shutoff of oil or — He’ll never be able to call his soul Conservatives trying to get rid of or many residents of the Chicago McHenry. But should the current form and flowers, as land with recreational a 100 percent loss of tread on all tires his own.” Wilder, who was writing in the estate tax hide behind the myth metropolitan region, farm ground and pace of development continue, all potential, as scenic open space, as a in use would be almost equally cata- the early 1930s, is describing a world because people are more likely to sym- F seems an undifferentiated run of corn farmland may be gone from the region way to maintain the region’s hydrolog- strophic. Our interdependent society is far distant from our own. pathize with a “family farm” having to and beans stretching from the edges by 2050. ical balance. If awareness of these more like a woven blanket than a ball Sentimentality aside, though, I be sold to pay the tax than with most of suburbia to Des Moines and There is as yet no consensus on what many real and potential values should balanced on a single point. suspect the myth of the family farm of the beneficiaries of abolishing that beyond, little more than a useful way should occur with this land. Thus, we rise, then a broad-based consensus lives on because it offers cover for so tax. In truth, repeal of the estate tax to hold land before development. Yet might ask ourselves what that 1,000 might be built to further efforts to Still, farming is revered in a way much political wildlife. will make little difference to anyone many local planners, and some farm- square miles should look like in 2020, protect farmland. It might be possible that no other industry is. “To curse a The farm industry itself hides other than the extremely wealthy who ers, are beginning to assert an equal or what it should look like for our to conceive of residential development farm,” writes Garry Wills, “is like behind the myth in order to fend off neglect to manage their estates. value in maintaining that land for children in 2050. Should a low-density in coexistence with agriculture. desecrating the flag.” To curse a new pollution control measures. Fortu- Jeffersonians lament that the demise agriculture. Such differing perspectives spread of auto-dependent, separated There are mixed emotions and some subdivision or factory, on the other nately, the larger and fewer farms of the family farm will mean the end may make it difficult to talk about land uses, so-called “sprawl,” widen in tensions on the urban fringe. Farmers hand, is all in a day’s work. become, the easier the logistics of of democracy. They believe that only preserving farm acreage at the city’s a ring around the metropolis and push continue to sell their land, normally at In Green Bay, Wis., paper mills have regulating them will be. The need for someone with an independent liveli- edges. Whatever our point of view, farmland outward yet another 10 or a very good price, and the region’s resi- been subject to stringent pollution regulation is obvious. In the Septem- hood can stand up to government and though, we must agree it’s a huge 20 miles? Or should the people of the dents tend to concur that this remains controls, but the water still isn’t clean ber issue of the Heartland Institute’s corporate power. But they, too, are a amount of land, and how it’s used will expanding urban region implement fully within their rights as landowners. enough. Now, the Chicago-based Environment & Climate News, the century or more late. None of us is have a tremendous impact on the management to preserve some land in Some farmers, however, want to stay Joyce Foundation is backing a pilot American Farm Bureau uses data independent in that sense — we can’t region’s future. With so much at stake, farms? By opening a regionwide on their land, and for the long term. “watershed-trading” project there in from the Illinois Environmental Pro- go home and live on what we grow in we should consider making farmland dialogue on the future of farmland, Their deep feeling for the land is which a paper mill might get credit for tection Agency in its defense. But even the back yard. Today, independence a prominent part of a broader we might achieve a valuable blend expressed in the words of Bruce pollution reduction “by paying the after the bureau’s careful massaging, can only mean (as individuals) being discussion on land use in the region. of land uses in the metropolitan area. Werner, a farmer who works the prime costs farmers would have to incur to its presentation of the numbers shows resilient and having economic alterna- A broader discussion will neces- First, of course, a key economic soil of Will County. “You can grow divert animal waste, reduce pesticide agriculture to be the sole cause of tives, and (as a society) having a strong sarily encompass near-term policies reality must be addressed. Illinoisans grain on about one-third of the U.S., use and take other steps to protect the more stream miles of impaired water constituency for civil liberties. There to make farming and suburban resi- who are concerned about keeping that’s all, and once the land is gone, it’s water.” quality in Illinois —15.1 percent — may be pleasure and satisfaction in dential life more compatible, policies farmland as farmland may find the gone forever.” He’s incensed at the Controlling farm runoff might ben- than any other single polluting activity. growing enough rutabagas to last out that touch upon zoning methods and quantity of land consumption alarm- paving of prime cropland, with little efit water quality more than additional Sprawl-fighters hide behind the the winter, but that doesn’t mean free- property tax structures. But the ing. Nevertheless, the land market on regard to the fertility of the soil. controls on the factory, and might cost myth, in some cases because they dom if the government is, meanwhile, longer-term issue of land value will the suburban fringe reflects the inher- “They’re taking the best of the best,” less, too. But the foundation offers no suffer from the urbanite’s delusion that intercepting e-mail or allowing big necessarily emerge at the center of the ent development value of farmland: he says. He doesn’t mean the best in reason why one polluter should pay to farming is “natural” because it is farm corporations to fix prices. dialogue on farmland. In the current market, a commercial Will County, or in the state, but some clean up another’s mess, except to say, sometimes scenic. In fact, expanding The family farm is as dead as About one-third of the land that or residential developer will pay more of the best in the world. “what’s too much for a farmer may be suburbs don’t fragment the natural William Jennings Bryan. It has been comprises the six counties of the than 10 times what a farmer will pay Joel and Linnea Kooistra, who very affordable for a paper mill.” What landscape much, they just redivide for a long time. Advocates left, right, Chicago metropolitan area is still for land. operate a dairy farm in McHenry other polluting industry gets this kind already fragmented farmland. The and center ought to give it a decent farmed, according to a land use inven- New and creative approaches by County, are determined to stay. They, of service from environmentalists? victims of landscape fragmentation burial and plead their cases honestly. ❏ tory performed by the Northeastern planners and farmers already are like many other farmers in McHenry, Partly it’s just sentimentality, the are birds that nest in deep woods, not Harold Henderson, a staff writer Illinois Planning Commission. achieving some success at raising the have deep roots. Some families go true religion of 21st-century America. those that flourish in farm fencerows. for the Chicago Reader, regularly examines Population increase and consequent economic value of land in agriculture, back four or five generations. They are One cure would be to re-read Farmer In order to help them, we need to buy environmental concerns. He has written expansion will leave about one-fourth thereby holding large areas of prime leaders in their communities. To sell Boy, a fictionalized but fairly realistic up and reforest large tracts of land — for Illinois Issues on endangered species of the land in agriculture in 2020, farmland intact. These efforts seek to their land is to give up, not just farm- account of life on a late-19th-century a strategy that is only conceivable protection and the genetic diversity of feed some 1,000 square miles, mostly in the exploit the multifaceted social value ing in McHenry County, but a whole farm in northern New York state. because farming has become so grains. His most recent essay, “Good outlying counties of Will, Kane and of farmland, as land for growing food way of life. This helps explain why Near the book’s end, 10-year-old efficient we can spare the acreage. sprawl,” appeared in June 1999.

38 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 39 Kane County planners may have flowers and sod. The Illinois Farm advanced this effort furthest with a Bureau lists 85 community farm comprehensive plan that lays out the markets in the metropolitan region, Farmers should play a county in three parallel bands: an all operated by local producers. highly visible role in a urbanized zone in the older settled Consumers’ desire to buy fresh Know Your Legislators areas nearest the Fox River, then a produce directly from the land, to see This excellent resource will provide you regional dialogue transition zone of newer growing where their food is coming from, is communities, with agriculture protect- increasing and will most likely create a with useful information about the members on future land uses. st ed in the large western portion. They growing demand in future years. of the 91 General Assembly are proceeding with consideration Further, there is a growing recogni- of purchase of development rights tion of the educational and recre- from farmers to ensure that land is ational value of farms near the city. Almanac of Illinois Politics – 2000 kept in agriculture. For now, however, The many apple orchards open for • Legislative assignments the plan largely relies upon intergov- picking in the fall have long brought ernmental agreements for implemen- these aspects of farm life to regional • Key votes tation. Sam Santell, a county planner, residents. • Election results residents in the still-rural areas acknowledges that some municipal And these are just a few of many • Campaign expenditures of McHenry are forming township annexations will lead to development potential values that must be taken • Top PAC contributors planning commissions, gaining limited out in the agricultural areas. Never- into account in an informed discus- ability to thwart the county’s power to theless, he says, “cooperation with the sion on farmland. In fact, new ideas Only change zoning to nonagricultural uses. municipalities has gone well, and this already are being developed to inte- Linnea is hopeful about the possi- is critical because agriculture is such grate farmland into suburbia. Perhaps $ 00 bilities of achieving coexistence with an important part of the county’s the most advanced effort is Prairie the expanding urban area. “We will be economy.” Crossing in suburban Lake County. 44 plus $3.00 here in 20 years. Farming will change Agriculture does indeed form an In that development, 150 acres of shipping & handling. in McHenry County, but it will important part of the economy in the agricultural land forms a farmstead remain in some form,” she says. She region’s rural areas. The value of farm and supplies a produce market. A sees some farm families in McHenry products sold topped $340 million family that lives in the development turning to alternative high-value crops from more than 1,200 farms in the runs the farm. That farm is consid- for the urban market, enabling them three counties, according to the 1997 ered valued open space for homeown- to gain higher profits per acre. Fami- agricultural census, the most recent ers who like to see vistas. But it is lies that farm 1,000 acres of corn and available. Farms have an average something more: The land is worked, beans, for example, might dedicate 40 property value of well over $1 million providing produce and recreation. of those acres to fruits and vegetables each, making up an irreplaceable part If nothing else, Prairie Crossing will Order now! and open a farmstand. of the tax base of the rural counties provoke discussion and suggest possi- Tom Halat is one farmer who while requiring far less in the way of bilities for the future integration of Almanac of Illinois Politics — 2000 made a successful transition to more services than residential areas. Still, agriculture with other land uses. ______@ $ 44.00 each...... Total: $______intensive land use for retail farm there remains a strong tendency to see Clearly, there are changes afoot in marketing. His 240 acres on the edge agriculture as a temporary land use, the region, changes that suggest new 2000 Roster of State Government Officials of Huntley in rapidly growing south- especially in a market where commer- ways for suburban dwellers to coexist ______#of FREE copies east McHenry County are now cial or residential uses command with farmers, and to gain value from Shipping and handling: ($3.00 per Almanac) $______enclosed by subdivisions. Compelled much higher prices. that proximity. In this sense, the Payment must accompany order. TOTAL ORDER: $______Payment by: to change his operation, he moved the Farmers should play a highly visible current efforts of planners and farm- ❏ Check Make checks payable to: family’s grain farming westward and role in a regional dialogue on future ers to protect some farmland now are UIS Bursar, P.O. Box 19243, University of Illinois at Springfield, expanded his planting of orchards, land uses. However, when other invaluable, as they will allow time Springfield, IL 62794-9243. vegetables and flowers. He sells from regional residents are called upon to for dialogue to emerge on new and ❏ VISA or ❏ MasterCard his store on Algonquin Road, directly discuss the value of farmland, they creative uses of the land. And new Acct. #: ______Exp. Date:____ to local residents, responding to a might ask, “What can farmland do for uses may bring about the rise in farm- Signature:______growing demand in the marketplace us?” Then the multifaceted value of land value that will be required for its Name: ______for fresh locally grown food. farmland must be discussed. long-term protection. Some county planners want peace- They might consider the nutritional Farmland, for now the cheapest Address: ______Plus with every purchase of an ful coexistence, too, because they value of this land close to the urban land, must be an important part ______Almanac of Illinois Politics — 2000 want to protect farmland as an core. Farmers in the region are now of the emerging dialogue on the uses City: ______you will receive a economic asset. And they want growing all sorts of things, not just of land resources in the metropolitan State:______Zip: ______growth to occur in an expected pro- grain for the world market, but crops region. ❏ For more information call 217/206-6084 FREE gression from urban areas outward, for the urban market on their Alan P. Mammoser is an assistant 2000 Roster 4-3-60002-0650 preventing the premature “leap” of doorstep: fruits, pumpkins, Christmas planner with the Northeastern Illinois of State Government Officials development into agricultural areas. trees, vegetables of every kind, herbs, Planning Commission.

www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 41 40 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Photograph courtesy of Illinois State PEOPLE Black Civil War soldier University / The State Journal-Register Clements re-opens Edited by Rodd Whelpley earns Congressional Statehouse bureau Medal of Honor for Champaign paper Bishop takes the helm at Thanks, in part, to the efforts of Kate Clements is the new state liquor commission Illinois historians and legislators, Andrew Statehouse bureau chief for The News- SHIFTS AT THE TOP Jackson Smith, an ex-slave, will receive the Gazette of Champaign. A graduate of Mark Bishop is now the acting execu- Congressional Medal of Honor 137 years the Public Affairs Reporting program tive director of the Illinois Liquor Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar resigned from the Illinois State Toll after his Civil War heroics. at the University of Illinois at Control Commission. Bishop had been Highway Authority board. Claar, who was appointed in 1991, stepped On November 30, 1863, at the battle Springfield, she covered local govern- the chief financial and operations down after being questioned by the Chicago Sun-Times about the more of Honey Hill, South Carolina, Smith saved ment and politics for the Elgin bureau officer. than $100,000 in campaign donations he solicited from tollway vendors. his regimental and the American flag from of the Daily Herald, based in Bishop replaces Sam Panayotovich,a Two members of Lt. Gov. Corinne Wood’s staff have taken private falling. On June 20 of this year, Arlington Heights. The last full-time former state legislator and restaurateur, sector jobs. Tom Faulkner of Chatham resigned as Wood’s deputy chief President Bill Clinton signed a bill granting reporter at the Capitol for The News- who was named executive director of staff to work for Fuse Advertising on a project that will promote a Smith the medal, after his gallantry was brought to the president’s attention by Gazette was Michael Hawthorne,who last year by Gov. George Ryan. plan to expand the St. Louis airport. Pat Hogan, Wood’s director Smith’s family and U.S. Sen Richard Durbin and U.S. Rep. Tom Ewing. In a ceremo- left in 1996. Panayotovich resigned in August after of public affairs, has moved to a similar position with the Metropolitan ny slated for this fall, the White House will formally honor the soldier. reports that the liquor industry had Airports Commission in Minneapolis-St Paul. Lori Williams of Before his military exploits, Smith was a slave in Kentucky. He escaped across State comptroller honors donated money to a political action Spaulding has been promoted to director of policy for Wood. the Cumberland River into the protection of the 41st Illinois Volunteers, becoming a predecessor with committee that he promoted. Liquor Jo Warfield has joined the Illinois Department of Public Aid as chief the servant of Major John Warner, whose family home was in Clinton. Smith a fellowship program distributors, brewers and nightclubs of the office of media relations. Joyce Jackson remains as chief of the distinguished himself at the Battle of Shiloh by supplying Warner with three horses, A committee appointed by had given money to the South Cook office of communications. Warfield was director of the television office two of which were shot from under him. The third was a Confederate mount Smith PAC for its annual golf outing, at the University of Illinois at Springfield. She is a veteran of state Comptroller Dan Hynes will begin caught in the midst of the fight. Shortly afterward, a minié ball struck Smith in the reviewing applications this month according to records filed at the State government. Before joining the university, she worked for several state temple, but it did not go through his skull and was removed after the battle. Board of Elections. Until this year, agencies, including the departments of Children and Family Services for the newly established Roland W. Smith returned with Warner to Clinton in November 1862, but left to join the Burris Fellowship Program. Panayotovich chaired the PAC’s golf and Human Services. The public aid agency, which has been in the news 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry when he learned President Abraham Lincoln outing committee. often over the past year because child support checks it administers have Hynes created the program to would permit black troops to fight. Bumped to the 55th Infantry due to a large offer governmental public service The PAC was formed in 1996 to been late, also issued a one-year, $96,000 contract to Eric Robinson number of volunteers, Smith was officially placed in the color guard of Company B support political candidates. But the Communications to continue to develop a media program for the state’s experience to college students and on May 16, 1863. recent graduates and prepare them bulk of the $99,000 raised went to Kid Care program. That program provides insurance to children in low- That year at Honey Hill, Smith’s sergeant was killed by an artillery shell. Smith’s expenses to run the golf event. income families. Robinson was press secretary to former Gov. Jim for careers in government. The grandson, Andrew Bowman, writes, “Andy caught the falling Color Sergeant Robert fellowship is also a way to honor Panayotovich also had been reim- Edgar and Lt. Gov. Wood. King with one hand and snatched the flag with the other.” By the battle’s close, and bursed by the PAC for $492 he charged Peter Leonis of Springfield is the new director of state relations at the Roland Burris, a three-term comp- the Union’s defeat, Smith was carrying the federal and regimental flags. troller and one-term attorney general for wine on a 1998 trip to California. State Board of Education. Leonis started his career in 1989 as assistant Sen. Durbin and Rep. Ewing learned about Smith from Bowman and his aunt, State law forbids members of the legislative liaison for the Department of Rehabilitation Services. Most who was the first black in Illinois Caruth Smith-Washington, Andrew Jackson Smith’s 92-year-old daughter. history to be elected to statewide commission from accepting gifts from recently, he was top legislative liaison for the Illinois Department After researching his grandfather’s exploits, Bowman contacted Sharon the industry. of Human Services. office. MacDonald of Illinois State University’s history department and Rob Beckman, one Gail Lobin, communications In his resignation, Panayotovich said Pat McGuckin is the new director of communications at the Illinois of her students, in 1997 to help gather legal proof and evidence supporting a Medal that no decisions by the commission State Library. He will publicize the roles of local libraries. McGuckin director for the comptroller’s office, of Honor for Smith. says the program is an effort to had been affected by his involvement spent 17 years on the Democratic staff of the state Senate. He also pre- The scholars met at Bowman’s home in Indianapolis. “On the way home, Rob with the PAC or other community viously worked in radio at the Statehouse for what is now the Illinois “foster a mentoring relationship was looking through the papers Andrew had gathered,” MacDonald says, “and Rob between students and state govern- organizations. News Network, and later for WJEQ-FM in Macomb. He received a said, ‘Everything’s here to get Smith the medal right now.’” Panayotovich represented Chicago’s master’s degree in public affairs reporting at Sangamon State University ment.”Lobin also says the number MacDonald then studied the 1916 and 1917 laws on granting the Medal of Honor of positions offered could vary from Southeast Side in the Illinois House (now the University of Illinois at Springfield). and applied them to Smith’s actions at Honey Hill. “He met every requirement,” from 1983 to 1989. Originally a Demo- two to four, depending on budget she says, “which rarely ever happens.” constraints. The positions can be in crat, he switched to the Republican Ryan Reeves Party for his last term. He ran Play It either Springfield or Chicago, Again Sam’s tavern in Springfield but Aiken is third chancellor to leave U of I since 1999 depending on what experiences the sold his interest in the business when he Michael Aiken, chancellor of the Urbana-Champaign campus of the QUOTABLE fellows wish to gain. “We’re trying to was appointed deputy director of the University of Illinois, will leave his post next August. The university credits be as flexible as we can,”she says. liquor commission in 1993 by Gov. him with helping to raise more than $1 billion dollars since he was appointed Never has so much money done so little good The fellowship’s one requirement is Jim Edgar. chancellor in 1993. that applicants either have a bache- The commission oversees the His resignation means that each U of I campus will have replaced its “for so many. lor’s degree or be enrolled in a bache- chancellor since 1999. In that year, David Broski left the Chicago campus. lor’s program. The committee, which alcohol industry in the state and has Chicago Democratic State” Rep. John Fritchey to the Chicago Tribune in response to that the authority to issue and suspend Sylvia Manning was named chancellor there this summer (see Illinois Issues, newspaper’s report that Illinoisans who receive the pre-election property tax rebates agreed to by state includes Burris, will consider applica- liquor licenses, inspect establishments July/August, page 36). Meanwhile, the Springfield campus is in the midst politicians will have to turn around and pay income taxes on the windfall. Those rebate checks to tions from candidates in all fields of that sell alcohol and hear appeals on of its second search to replace outgoing Chancellor Naomi Lynn (see Illinois individual property taxpayers will total anywhere from $25 to $300. But as a result, according to state study. The deadline for applications is Department of Revenue calculations published by the Tribune, an estimated $36 million of Illinois’ October 15, and interviews will run suspensions. Issues, June, page 34). The administration has begun the process of a national share in the settlement with major tobacco companies now will have to be forked over to the federal search for Aiken’s replacement. government. Meanwhile, only $29 million was designated this fiscal year for anti-smoking programs. through November 30.

42 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 43 A VIEW FROM THE SUBURBS STATEHOUSE Coming in been arrested, convicted of DUI, jailed BUREAU CHIEF and returned to the streets a total of 12 Illinois Issues December 2000 times in Illinois. tatehouse bureau chief, Illinois Issues maga- Judges, including Patrick McGann, Szine, a monthly university-based magazine Our annual the supervising judge for Cook County’s devoted to in-depth coverage of Illinois politics traffic court, point to studies suggesting and public affairs. Directs Statehouse bureau in jail time is not an effective method for Springfield, Ill. Monitors all branches of state government and writes articles and a column for stopping DUI recidivism, though vic- each issue. Some editing involved. Requires “arts issue” tims and anti-drunken driving activists bachelor’s degree in journalism, public affairs — a great place to advertise argue it sometimes is the only way to reporting, political science or related field (mas- keep these offenders from driving. ter’s preferred); two years’ experience writing for anyone in Illinois interested The newspaper’s investigation and a and editing for a magazine, a newspaper or a wire service; experience in government reporting in promoting or supporting series of deadly drunken driving (Illinois preferred); experience in composing and accidents last summer prompted Demo- editing on a computer; and familiarity with the the arts. It remains difficult to keep cratic Secretary of State Jesse White to Internet and Web sites. Starting salary, $32,500, propose a legislative reform package. He depending upon qualifications and experience. drunken drivers off our roads wants mandatory jail time and vehicle Submit cover letter, resume, at least five pub- Deadline for placement: November 1 lished clippings, including in-depth articles, and by Madeleine Doubek immobilization options for motorists three letters of reference. Screening of appli- caught driving illegally, Breathalyzer cants begins October 23, but the pool remains have enough knowledge not to ignition devices installed more often on open until the position is filled. Reference letters drink and drive,” William H. repeat offenders’ vehicles and increased may be submitted separately. For advertising information contact “I The Daily Herald found Roberts insisted to a reporter. His claim penalties for those whose blood alcohol Chris Ryan APPLY: Chair, Search Committee, came during a county jail interview as he that nearly 5,400 Illinoisans level is twice the legal limit or more. Illinois Issues business manager Illinois Issues, Human Resources Building, GOP Gov. George Ryan echoed the con- Room 10, University of Illinois at Springfield, began serving time for a drunken driving had been convicted of driving P.O. Box 19243, Springfield, IL 62794-9243. 217/206-6084 conviction. “A couple of times I’ve cerns of legislators when he suggested driven drunk, but I don’t drink to the drunk at least twice. immobilizing repeat offenders’ vehicles Affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. [email protected] Minorities, women and disabled persons encouraged to apply. point where I’m loaded and don’t know may end up penalizing or stigmatizing what I’m doing.” family members, but Susan McKay, the Roberts’ record belies his claim. A states, lowered the legal intoxication ex-wife of a multiple DUI offender, former Streamwood resident, he was limit to .08. This state has enacted 24 encourages that move. “Anybody living convicted for driving under the influence drunken driving-related laws in the past with somebody like this is going to be in Illinois 17 times in seven years, giving four years alone. working full-time and using their own him the worst drunken driving record in But the story beyond the numbers car,” she says. She wants dealers to stop the state. And he has another five demonstrates just how difficult it selling cars to repeat drunken drivers. convictions in Wisconsin. remains to keep drunken drivers off our Some anti-drunken driving activists Roberts’ record may be extreme, but it roads. Alcoholics and others frequently called for a uniform system to evaluate is not isolated. An unprecedented study drive without a valid license. An exhaus- and treat drunken drivers. Ryan, mean- of repeat drunken drivers by the Daily tive study of 10 offenders, with five to 12 while, called for mandatory treatment or Herald found that more than 160 had at DUI convictions each, found they had counseling. He and others also have least five Illinois DUI convictions. 62 charges among them for driving on a suggested it may be time to end supervi- Nearly 5,400 had been convicted of suspended or revoked license and 86 sion for a majority of first-time DUI driving drunk at least twice. The paper’s drunken driving convictions. offenders. Judges argue that move would examination of the complete driving Yet Illinois’ judges struggle with the clog the court system. histories of Illinoisans with more than concept of long-term lockup for driving Defense lawyers will lobby against one drunken driving court action on drunk. Even these most chronic offend- many of the attempts at solutions to the their records between 1996 and 1999 ers regularly received jail time of only repeat drunken driving problem, and turned up 11,779 with one DUI convic- two years or less. Charges often were some in the powerful liquor lobby may tion and a supervision or license suspen- combined, previous convictions ignored join them. Changing drunken driving sion for driving under the influence. and concurrent sentences granted for the laws never has been easy in a Capitol (Illinois law allows court supervision for group of chronic offenders. Maximum where drinking remains the recreation of most first drunken driving arrests.) sentences rarely were imposed. choice for many. Will legislators, judges, The numbers of repeat offenders were Consider the history of former lawyers, counselors and others embark eye-opening in a state where the conven- Naperville resident Kenneth Davis. He on the tough search for workable tional wisdom is that attitudes about was arrested for drunken driving in solutions or choose the path of denial, driving while impaired have hardened 1995. Although he had seven previous like 22-time offender Roberts? ❏ and that lawmakers are on top of the DUI convictions, he served a total of Madeleine Doubek is assistant metro problem. After all, Illinois, unlike most only 66 days in county jail. Davis has editor/projects & politics for the Daily Herald.

44 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 45 POLITICS provided supplemental state aid, in the ways to get a more current count have form of poverty grants, to school been suggested over the years — kids districts with significant numbers of At the root of most school receiving free school lunches, for poor children. This year, the grants funding problems is a heavy example, or whose families are on food changes to the formula, including new range from $800 to $2,050 for each stamps — without policy-makers levels for both the basic foundation low-income student, based on the reliance on property taxes to agreeing on a new yardstick. Now the grant and for an extra per-pupil pov- concentration of poor children in the pay for education. Until more panel has to tackle the issue as part of erty grant for districts with significant district. But a district with fewer than its look at poverty grants. concentrations of low-income students. 20 percent of its students from low- of the bill is picked up by Whatever figures the panel chooses, income families receives no additional one critical element will be locking in The panel’s first report is to be filed other funding sources, we’ll with lawmakers on January 1, with help, meaning a small district could the new levels through a continuing updates every two years after that. lose tens of thousands of dollars in struggle to assure adequate appropriation. The task is not as simple as telling poverty grants if a middle-income At the root of most school funding the legislature to boost the foundation family moved to town and put the kids schooling for every child. problems, of course, is Illinois’ heavy School districts face budget level by another $100 a year in each of in school. reliance on local property taxes to pay the next two school years. Instead, A lower eligibility bar, as McGee for education. Until more of the bill is uncertainty unless lawmakers act board members must grapple with proposed, would assist districts now on A more vexing question is how to picked up by other funding sources, some of the underlying school funding the 20 percent bubble. To completely measure the number of poor children we’ll have to continue to struggle to preclude all-or-nothing scenarios, in a district. Under the 1997 law, the assure an adequate education for every by Charles N. Wheeler III concerns that prompted the 1997 formula revisions. though, the panel might consider a number of low-income families is child. ❏ he last “G’day, mate” has echoed Consider a couple that state schools sliding scale in which additional fund- drawn from the most recent federal Taway from the Sydney Olympics. Superintendent Glenn W.McGee out- ing is available for every low-income census, meaning that eligibility for Charles N. Wheeler III is director of Fans of the White Sox and the Card- The 1997 law that established lined for the panel as it began work: student, with the per-pupil amount poverty grants — and the amount the Public Affairs Reporting program at inals are looking forward to playoff a new general state school aid • Adequacy. The 1997 law says the increasing as the concentration of poor going to local schools — is based on the University of Illinois at Springfield. baseball, perhaps even a World Series foundation level represents “the children increases. 10-year-old census data. Alternative matchup. (Cub fans, as usual, are formula expires on June 30. minimum level of per-pupil financial looking forward to next year.) So a small group of citizens is support that should be available to Illinois voters are paying closer provide for the basic education of each attention to the November election, laboring to lay the groundwork pupil in average daily attendance.” In now just a few weeks away, and legis- for lawmakers to tackle one of reality, there is no one-size-fits-all num- lative candidates are talking about ber. The bare-bones cost of providing a what they’d do to address concerns the most important challenges basic education is not the same for a from abortion rights to zoning laws. third-grader as it is for a high school Meanwhile, away from the bright legislators will face when junior. Nor will a dollar buy as much lights, a small group of committed the 92nd General Assembly “education” in the Chicago suburbs as citizens is laboring to lay the ground- in southern Illinois. work for lawmakers to tackle one of takes office in January. McGee suggested the panel consider the most important challenges they will three different foundation levels: one face when the 92nd General Assembly districts for the amount of aid they’re for pre-kindergarten to third grade, takes office in January: determining entitled to under the formula, even if another for fourth to eighth grade and what constitutes an appropriate fund- lawmakers haven’t appropriated a third for high school. Including early ing level for the state’s public schools. enough money in a particular year to childhood education in the formula, The impetus lies in a 1997 law that cover all the claims. Thus, for the last the superintendent noted, would help created a new general state aid formula, three years, school officials have had a local school officials make long-range the complex calculation under which much better idea of available funding, plans for pre-kindergarten programs, most state assistance is funneled to rather than having to wait for lawmak- rather than having to wait each year to local school districts. The act set ers to decide how much money to allo- see how much lawmakers appropriated foundation levels for the next three cate for education. for the programs. years, ending at $4,425 per student in But both the annual increases in Moreover, if the goal of the exercise state and local resources for the current foundation levels and the statutory is to assure that every public school school year. guarantee the funds will be provided student is afforded a basic education, The new law also guaranteed for the are due to end June 30. Thus, school the panel also should recommend first time that the money would be districts again will face pre-1997 adjusting each grade-based foundation there to meet the new foundation levels budget uncertainty unless the level to reflect the cost of living in a by creating a continuing appropriation legislature acts. particular area. for formula funding. That budgeting Enter the Education Funding • Poverty. Recognizing that children device essentially requires the comp- Advisory Board. Created by the 1997 from low-income homes need extra troller to write checks to local school law, the board’s job is to recommend help to do well in school, the 1997 law

46 ❏ October 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues www.uis.edu/~ilissues Illinois Issues October 2000 ❏ 47