The Independent-News, Volume 108, Number 41, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 17 March 1983 — Page 4

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- THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS - MARCH 17, 1983

[EDITORIALS I

NEARING THE END The 1983 session of the Indiana Legislature is rapidly approaching the end of their “long session’’. After this week only nine or ten days of business will remain and of course the big item is the budget for the next two years. This will be a crucial budget with the state’s economy dipping to a deficit last year and stop-gap measures and taxes added at that time in order to end this fiscal year, June 30, out of the red ink as by law Indiana cannot operate in the red. This past week the Senate did receive a $13.8 billion state budget from the house and this is now referred to the Senate Finance Committee where hearings should now be underway. Regardless of whether or not this budget gets much revision, cuts have been made in many programs and the fight for money by the various factions is underway. There is no way, with the state assuming more of the responsibilities of funding handed down by the Federal Government, that everyone will get what they want. Some areas are critical, and many special interest groups will feel the results. This session has been mentioned at times as a session where nothing has happened. However, considering the situation, this long session of the Indiana Legislature, has been a busy one and one that the big fights and sensational news stories just have not been present. It is asking a lot of our legislators to do in some 91 days of business over a two-year period, the job they are responsible for, running our state. This is especially true when times are very trying in Indiana and a budget must be planned and accepted for two years in advance. It will take some time after the legislative session is completed this year, not just weeks or months, but a year or two to really evaluate the job that has been done in the pressing economical time we are in and with money being such a crucial item this year. Only time will tell what will happen to the already passed increase in sales and state income tax in the emergency action that was the main part of the plan to get the state back in the black before June 30 of this year. At this time it appears the job being done is adequate, but only time will tell as we await the next year or two and see just what the economy does and what effect it will have on our state. when... 3^l

1973 The annual corned beef and cabbage dinner and St. Patrick’s Day dance will be held on Saturday by the St. Patrick’s Women’s Club of Walkerton. Frankie Kit will provide the dancing music. The John Glenn F.F.A. is sponsoring a donkey basketball game on Tuesday evening at the high school gym. The F.F.A. will play the G.A.A. in the opener and the men faculty and women faculty will play in the second game. 1968 Mark Fenstermacher has been chosen to be a student delegate on the basis of scholarship to the United Nations Pilgrimage, which is conducted nationally' by the Walkerton Lodge 437, 1.0.0 F. and Evening Star Rebekah Lodge, of Walkerton. Two Science Fairs are scheduled this week, one on Monday at the Harold C. Urey Junior High School and the other on Friday at John Glenn High School. At the market round steak was selling for 89 cents a pound; pork loins at 59 cents a pound; franks at 59 cents for a pound package; two pound chub of braunschweiger for 89 cents; three half-gallons of 2 percent milk for $1.00; six loaves of bread for $1.00; a two pound can of Manor House coffee for $1.19 and a quart jar of Miracle Whip for 48 cents; and a half gallon of ice cream for 69 cents. 1963 The banquet honoring the football, cross country and basketball teams, sponsored by the school will be held at the high school gym at 6:30 p.m. tonight. A pot luck dinner will be held before the awards program. North Liberty Bth grade squad has gained the finals of the County Junior High basketball tourney. They will battle Lakeville on Thursday night at the Lakeville gym. The Walkerton chapter of the National Honor Society will hold induction for new members at the

high school with the public invited. To obtain membership a student must carry a 3.25 average in their subjects in addition to living up to the four platforms: scholarship, leadership, character and service. The Junior Class of North Liberty High School will present the annual class play on Friday evening, March 21. at 7:00 p.m. The play, “Aunt Tillie Goes To Town”, is a comedy in three acts. 1958 The Menominee District of TriValley Council of Boy Scouts of America is conducting a campaign for sustaining membership in Scouting. Chairman of the district is Hershel Tow ns, principal of the Thomas Jefferson School, Plymouth. Liberty Township School will again host one of the several district Band and Chorus contests of NISBOV Association with more than 1200 high school and junior high school students in over 40 bands and choral groups on Saturday. March 29. A Family Night will be held at the North Liberty Elementary School for families having children between the 3rd and Bth grades, next Tuesday evening. There will be a basketball tournament between the 3rd and 4th grades beginning at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Sth and 6th grades at 7:00 p.m. and the 7th and Bth grades at 8:00 p.m. 1953 A complete renovation and redecorating job is nearing completion in the News Office building, formerly occupied by Hagberg's Dime Store, in North Liberty. The doors will open for business on March 27. This building is still your News headquarters where records and payments are made on new and renewal subscriptions, news items received and courteous and helpful attention given to your advertising needs. Also a complete line of pet supplies will be available and a gift line of china, glass,

copper and brass as well as plants. The Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a chicken dinner to be given in the North Liberty school building on March 26 for the annual honoring of the basketball team members. The program is being planned by coach William Anderson to follow the dinner. Oplingers Greenhouse, Walkerton. now has potted fillies, tulips, hyacinths, azaleas, jonquils, hydrangeas and roses available for your Easter flowers. 1943 The Orville Easterday Post American Legion and Auxiliary will hold a Legion birthday party at the Legion Hall on Monday evening. March 15, for their 24th birthday Kingsford Heights, the federal government’s $15,000,000 “Victory City", which has risen from the fields two miles south of Kingsbury in less than a year, will received its first families on March 19. The women of Walkerton and Lincoln Township are asked to donate home canned foods or baked goods for the Red Cross fund raiser at the Gordon Appliance Sto e. on Saturday. Week// Wrap-Up By Senator V. Richard Miller The Senate recessed on Thursday and Friday of last week, to allow Committees to hold hearings on bills sent over from the other House. As of Friday. March 11, the General Assembly has used up 47 of the 61 session days allotted by law. Some of the highlights of the 10th week of the Senate session are listed below. The Senate formally received the $13.8 Billion state budget from the House, and will soon begin work on the three bills which make ud the state’s spending plan for the next two years. The bills have all been referred to the Senate Finance Committee, where hearings will begin soon. Among the highlights of the House passed budget: — An increase in the State’s Mental Health budget of about 21 percent; — Increases in Higher education spending of 6 per cent the first year, and 7.3 the second; — Increases in state aid to local schools of about 6 per cent in each of the two years; — About $4.5 million for Indiana's implementation of the new Federal Job Training Act. This appropriation clears the way for about $97 million in federal monies for job training purposes;, — About $43 million in various Economic Development Programs; — A doubling of the Office of the State’s Utility Consumer Counselor. which is a state agency that represents the public before the Public Service Commission on rate hikes sought by the state’s various utilities. In Committee action, the Senate Health. Welfare and Aging Committee approved and sent to the full Senate a bill that would allow for the private management and operation of the Larue Carter State Mental Hospital in Indianapolis. The bill, which was originally proposed by the Governor's Commission on Directions in Mental Health, creates a pilot program by the state to determine if a private operator could run the hospital in a more efficient manner than the state. If successful, it is likely that other state hospitals could be operated similarly in future years. This bill now goes to the Senate for a vote by the full body. The Senate Finance Committee has passed a measure expanding a 19 7 9 tax abatement program to include areas outside of municipal boundaries, and which extends the expiration date of the abatement

program to 1991. The bill also gives local officials greater authority in setting the terms of the abatement. The full Senate approved a bill giving the Commerce Department the authority to make grants from the industrial promotion matching fund to eligible entities for the promotion of industrial and business development. Under the bill, each grant awarded by the state must be matched by the applicant. Cities, towns, counties, and not for profit economic development firms are eligible to receive funds from this program. Under the budget bill approved by the House. $2,000,000 has been set aside in an Industrial and Tourism Promotion Fund. The Sentate also approved a bill that deletes the current limit on the number of digits or letters that may be displayed on personalized license plates. Currently, these vanity plates are limited to six digits or letters. Finally, the Senate approved a bill that would allow Treasurer of the State to deposit excess funds in certificates of deposit, money market accounts of NOW accounts, and allow state agency and local officials to invest in money market deposit accounts. The bill is expected to resulet in a higher rate of return for those officials investing in the higher paying interest accounts. Once again. 1 remind residents to contact me if they have any concerns or thoughts on issues before the General Assembly. The Senate toll free number is 1-800-382-9467. Correspondence can be sent to Indiana Senate, State House, Indianapolis. Ind. 46204. Rep. Cook’s STATEHOUSE REPORT First, the good news. The Indiana House of Representatives recently cleared two major hurdles in as many weeks. It met the deadline for acting on bills that originated in the House by suspending the rules for one day. and it passed three budget bills worth some $13.8 billion. Now, the bad news. The Senate is hinting that it will not hear 18 bills that were passed by the House after the rules were suspended. Among these bills is HB 1900. which would continue the authority of local economic development commissions beyond their June 30 expiration date. The Democrats introduced nearly 40 amendments to the Republican budget during seven hours of floor debate. The proposals called for a re-arranging of priorities, with more money going to public education. higher education, mental health, and human service programs. All these Democratic amendments were defeated along a near party line vote. The General Assembly now enters the home stretch, during which each chamber considers bills that were passed out of the other chamber. Many of the most notable bills fall under five categories: unemployment, health, taxes, education and utilities. The following is a summarization of this legislation. UNEMPLOYMENT: SB 230 — Would increase by 6 percent the average weekly wages used to compute workmen’s compensation. SB 388 — Would change the workmen's compensation law to permit payments to a person who had been laid off during the usual qualifying period. HB 1726 — Would require that a person be actively seeking full-time work to be eligible for unemployment benefits. HB 1905 — Would establish a new rate schedule for employers' payments into the unemployment compensation fund. HEALTH: SB 555 — Would set up a com-

mission to study how Indiana can control hospital costs. SB 373 — Would reduce the penalty for a physician who fails to notify the parents of a minor girl that she requested an abortion. HB 1059 — Would provide a state income tax credit to an employer who operates or contracts for a child care program for its employees. HB 1064 — Would require physicians to specify on prescription forms whether generic medication may be substituted for brand-name drugs. TAXES: HB 1394 — Would allow each county to impose a local option income tax. HB 1546 — Would eliminate the state sales and use tax exemption for sales of gasohol. HB 1617 — Would increase the maximum income tax credit a corporation or individual may receive for contributions to colleges. HB 1744 — Would increase the assessed valuation limit for the property tax deduction for totally disabled veterans. EDUCATION: HB 1011 — Would allow state disclosure of tax returns paid by any taxpayer if the information relates to delinquent educational loans. HB 1663 — Would prevent the Indianapolis Public Schools System from annexing other school systems without their consent. HB 1962— Would grant tax credits to businesses that provide summer employment to math and science teachers in positioins related to their fields. HB 1962 — Would establish a state income tax credit for taxpayers who donate high technology equipment to schools. UTILITES: HB 1387 — Would prevent utilities from shutting off service to residential customers within 14 days of mailing the disconnect notices. HB 1497 — Prohibits the use of “trending” rates in the utility ratemaking process; also requires utilities to purchase fuel at the lowest possible cost; would allow the Public Service Commission to make rate changes in certain cases without public hearings. HB 1712 — Would prohibit utilities from assessing a late payment penalty for unpaid bills. The following is a summary of recently passed bills which cover a wide spectrum of issues: HB 1629 — Would provide tax incentives to businesses to locate in areas of low income and high unemployment. HB 1290 — Would increase the amount of money that corporations and labor organizations may contribute to political campaigns. HB 1569 — Repeals a law that permits motorists to move straight ahead at a red light at a T-inter section. HB 1820 — Would authorize the court in a child custody proceeding to award joint custody of the child irrespective of whether the parties have agreed to joint custody. And finally, there has already been some committee action on bills that have passed their house of origin. The follow ing is a list of those bills that are one step closer to becoming laws in Indiana: SB 126 — Would permit use of the dcalth penalty for certain prisoners who commit murder while incarcerated. Passed 7-1 by the House Judiciary Committee. SB 549 — Would prevent persons from using wages earned in seasonal employment to draw unemployment benefits after their jobs ended. Passed 5-2 by the House Labor Committee. HCR 56 — While in the Senate Roads and Transportation Committee, this resolution was re-worded to ask the U. S. Department of Transportation to switch Indiana from the Eastern Time Zone to the Central Time Zone. The Committee approved both the change in wording and the amended version of the resolution bx a 4-2 vote.