The Independent-News, Volume 107, Number 33, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 21 January 1982 — Page 4

- THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - JANUARY 21, IM2

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EDITORIALS

THE LEGISLATURE’S JOB It is no secret that the State of Indiana is in a financial bind. There are several key reasons for this and not a lot of key answers. There have been several considerations to help ease the situation, none of which is the true answer and not really a lot of solutions that will really ease the trouble. No one wants to see taxes rise to higher rates unless they absolutely have to, and this includes the legislators, especially in an election year. However, there is one problem the state has presently that has been cast upon them by the Federal Government that we feel should not be a hard decision to make. That concerns the governing and controlling of funds through the Block Grants, a new experience for the states that has been cast upon them wihout much warning or knowledge of the best way to administer and control these funds. We see no other alternative than to let the legislature do it. We strongly feel this should not be done by an individual, as the decision is to be made whether this is the governor’s or legislature’s job. We feel strongly that decisions that must be made in this area are certainly not one-man decisions, and though very possibly the results might be very similar, especially with the governor using his powers and expressing his views to both houses controlled by the same political party, the decisions should be made by our representatives and senators, not just one person for the best overall view and needs. The handling of such a program could really be a big job and one that could raise a lot of interest, disagreement, political trading, etc., as the matter approaches, but we still feel that the overall representation of the state is in a much better position to see and hear the needs and wants of the state more so than is one individual. We strongly urge the legislature to act upon this and put the responsibility where it belongs, in the hands of the legislature itself, not the governor’s. FJ^ememberJW WHEN... (Taken From The Files Qf The Independent-News}

1972 The Walkerton Dairy Queen, U. S. 6 East, will soon be opening their new facilities. The opening date has been set for Wednesday, February’ 2. The new store is owned and operated by Sam and Tom Frame. Playing at the Rialto Theatre this weekend is "Beneath The Planet Os The Apes". Coming next week will be "The Living Desert" and "The Vanishing Prairie". At the market round steak was selling for $1.29 a pound: sirloin tip steaks at $1.39 a pound; rolled rump roast at $1.29 a pound; a half gallon of Sealtest ice cream for 79 cents; two pound can of Sanka coffee for $1.78; five pounds of flour for 49 cents; three 300 size cans of tomato sauce for 79 cents; two bath size bars of Zest soap for 29 cents; six cinnamon rolls for 59 cents; eight 16 ounce bottles of Coca-Cola for 79 cents; a pound of butter for 77 cents; two one-pound bags of carrots for 29 cents; five pound bag of grapefruit for 69 cents; and 10 pounds of Idaho potatoes for 79 cents. 1952 Troop 93 of Walkerton entered the Klondike Derby at Plymouth, on Sunday, along with troops from Plymouth. Bourbon and Bremen. The boys won second place in the derby They will receive ribbons and patches. Dr Bernard E. Vodnoy, of Walk erton and South Bend, will give a short talk on Polio and the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, at the intermission of the basketball game at the high school gym on Friday. Also in the week ahead a house-to-house campaign will be underway for the collection of funds for the annual March of Dimes drive. 1942 Walkerton will get an additional 12 men s dormitories and 3(1) trailers to house defense workers employed at the Kingsbury Ordnance Plant This new assignment of de sense workers will give Walkerton a total of 16 dormitories, housing. 1.250 men, three hundred families

living in trailers and 200 families in fabricated houses, which will mean in the neighborhood of 3,000 additional population. Following the "freezing” on sale of new cars and new tires by the government, the Walkerton Motor Sales will dispose of its stock of used cars and convert its enlarged showrooms into a service shop according to Omer H. Ball, manager. The annual basketball tourney will begin tomorrow with the following line-up. At 2.30 p.m. Woodrow Wilson vs Greene Twp.; 3:45 p.m. Lakeville vs Walkerton; 7:30 p.m. North Liberty vs Wash-ington-Clay; and 8:45 p.m. New Carlisle vs Madison. VOICE OF THE PEOPLE An Open letter To Those Os Our Community Who Value Their Freedom I hope you did not miss reading the complete article on page 3 of the January 9 "Pilot-News” captioned "Bill Would Allow Cameras, Recorders In Courtrooms". Tucked neatly down in the midst of this article, a bill being sponsored by Sen. V. Richard Miller (R-Ply-mouth) is described as follows: "Parents and childrenof Medicaid recipients who are hospitalized or living in a nursing home would be required to pay up to SIOO per month towards that care under a bill sponsored by Senator Miller. The bill would require adults between the ages of 21 and 60 to contribute toward the care of parents or children who arc living in a hospital, state psychiatric hospital or nursing home. County welfare departments could require relatives listed on Medicaid applications to disclose their income to determine how much they would have to contribute to help fund the hospitalization. Penalty for nonpayment is up to four years in jail and a SIO,OOO fine." 1 have experienced having a parent in nursing homes and hospital for over two years with severe parkinsonism who had broken a hip

while a patient at Miller’s Merry Manor, while recooperating from surgery for a similar break in the other hip. My surviving parent lives with me. I have dealt with Medicaid for a widowed childless aunt in and out of the State of Indiana, and 1 am at present spending a great deal of time fighting an insurance company for non-pay-ment of a skilled nursing home policy claim for a private-paying relative in a local nursing home. I mention this only to convey that I am no novice when speaking of the hardships families endure when trying to cope with the overwhelming financial burdens incurred at $43.50 and up a day not including medicines, doctors fees, etc., in nursing homes. SIOO per month might not sound like much to some, but to many it may make the difference as to whether they can lay aside some savings with which to remain somewhat independent and self-sustaining in their own "golden years". Once a bill of this type is passed, would it not be very easy to raise the amounts periodically? And, w hat of the penalty? Are you ready to serve a jail sentence of some length because someone else has the authority to budget your family’s income and you find yourself unable to comply? 1 personally feel outraged that a State Senator from our area whose family has vested interests in several (upwards of 10?) nursing homes would sponsor a bill that would require a jail sentence to those who would not accept this responsibility! The Federal Government is cutting back, the States need more money, and it looks like it is coming right back to the very families who can afford the least to pay. If a family can be required to disclose their incomes, why then should not the facilities offering these services be required to disclose their profits? Welfare caseworkers will confirm that often recipients were "well off" financially until illness depleted their resources."lt won’t happen to me” just isn’t so. In today’s economy even with two parents working, one family cannot afford the expenses of two families! Sooner or later this will affect your family in one manner or another if this bill is allowed to pass. I have requested a copy of the bill. Please read your paper, send for the bill, study the details yourself and send your opinions to Sen. V. Richard Miller, at the Statehouse, Indianapolis. Ind. 46204. Is Sen. Miller considering the welfare of the working class people who are among his constituents or is he looking out for his own industry? Diana Glissman Weekly Wrap-Up By Senator V. Richard Miller The highlights of the second week of the Indiana General Assembly included Governor Orr's annual State of the State address and committee action on numerous Senate bills. In his address Tuesday night, January 12, before a joint session of both houses. Orr called for reductions in state spending and speeding up the collection of corporate income taxes. He announced a hiring freeze for state employees, a delay of most construction projects involving general fund monies, and a general reduction of state expense, including travel costs. Orr went on to outline his legislative package, as well as his goals for education, corrections, economic development in Indiana, and nursing home reform. The Governor reiterated his confidence that Indiana will through a spirit of cooperation be able to resolve its problems. By a 48 0 vote the full Senate gave final approval to a bill which restructures tne law concerning the

THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS Publication Number 261460 ROBERT E. URBIN, EDITOR SUSAN R. URBIN, ASSISTANT EDITOR INDEPENDENT-NEWS CO., INC., Publisher 601-03 Roosevelt Road, Walkerton, Indiana 46574 Telephone (219) 586-3139 PUBLICATION TIME: Thursday of Eaclj Week Second Class Postage Paid At Walkerton, Indiana 46574 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 15C Per Copy; $4.50 Per Year (S(X Extra If Mailed Out Os State) STATE REPRESENTATIVE ED COOK'S M Indiana ' House Summary — r / jeiJ r MB I il) ®.-<*.•*« ~ f •[p—- — DISTRICT 18 Ua

The first days of the 1982 session of the Indiana General Assembly were overshadowed by the bleak, economic forecast projected for Indiana. For the fiscal year 1983, revenue forecasts predict a $68.5 million deficit in Indiana’s General Fund and a $69.1 million deficit in the Property Tax Replacement Fund. Added to these severe shortfalls is an estimated loss to Indiana of $32 million from the impact of Reagonomics including accelerated depreciation, All Savers Certificates, and Individual Retirement Accounts. Also, Indiana is expected to pay for lawsuits lost by the state. This all comes to a fiscal year 1983 deficit in the range of $204.6 million to $219.6 million. This economic picture for Indiana must spurn the legislature to take action. To date, two remedies are being discussed —a 10 day speed up in the collection of the sales tax and a permanent across the board 10% surcharge on corporate taxes. Since the sales tax speed up can only be utilized one time, the collection will only be shortterm and will do little to reapir the huge hole in the state’s budget through 1983. Therefore, the majority which has held control of the licensing of nursing homes and other health facilities. The bill now goes to the House. In the Senate Energy and Environmental Affairs Committee, testimony was heard on S. B. 112 which passed out of the committee by a 4-2 vote. The bill if passed would require Public Service Commission approval for electric utility territory exchanges or purchases if the transfer resulted in more than a 10% rate increase to the customers being transfered. S. B. 34, which provides uninsured motorist coverage in automobile liability policies to permit insured drivers involved in an accident to recover damages when involved with an uninsured motorist, passed out of the Senate Insurance and Financial Institutions Committee this week by a vote of 8-0. The bill requires insurance companies to offer a no-deductible provision, but companies may offer such coverage with deductibles of up to 1300. The bill is a result of work done by an interim study committee on insurance and is intended to provide an alternative to the insured motorist so that he will have to

state for 13 years, now must dea with the problem of Indiana’s sagging and slow economy. Th< question which remains is whethei or not the leadership will take a< tion before the 1982 elections in order to help Indiana's depressed economy which is so dependent on the automotive and steel indus tries. Other issues will be brought before the Indiana General Assem bly in the form of legislation nursing home reform, corrective adjustments in the reapportion ment map, construction work in progress (CWIP), overcrowded prisons, school funding, and Block Grants. The legislature has not been given much of a role in the ap propriation of Block Grant funds. It also has been determined that many services that had been pro vided by the government will bi drastically cut with the changeover to Block Grants. I will in future colums keep you informed of the issues and legisla tion during this short legislativesession. If you have any questions please contact me, in care of Indiana House of Representatives, Statehouse, Indianapolis. Ind. 46204, or call 1-800-382-9842. pay the deductible on his regular liability policy. Another bill dealing with motor ists passed the Senate Roads and Transportation Committee this week. S. B. 28 exempts licensed drivers from taking the written ex amination every four years if thes have fewer than seven active traffic points against them. This meas ure will not change the current law as it relates to those individuals years of age or over or those in dividuals applying for special li censes. After extensive studying of traffic accidents and violations, it has been found that violations d> not occur as a result of ignorance of traffic laws, but rather because drivers knowingly break traffic laws. The bill is designed as ar incentive for careful driving and will reward those w ho have a good driving record. During the session I hear fron’ numerous citizens groups, but 1 always welcome input from con cerned constituents. You can writi me at the Indiana Senate, State house. Indianapolis. Indiana 462(^ or call me at 1-800-382-9467.