Illinois News Index

Wilmette Life (Wilmette, Illinois), 20 Oct 1966, p. 5

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WILMITTE EDITORIAL PAGE A HolHster Established Newspaper 1912 ·JEZSSI] RICHARD L. HOLLISTER President D A V I D A. R O E J. RICHARD LESLIE ....Managing Publisher Editor Second in the Nation First in Illinois For General Excellence Re-elect Sen. Arrington EPUBLICAN Sen. W. Russell Arrington, the R current leader of the Illinois Senate, is being challenged for re-election by an energetic Democratic state representative, John A. Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy, who heads the Chicago electronics firm he founded, is campaigning on the theme that he is more conscious of the 1st District's needs and thus will do a better job of serving it. One example Rep. Kennedy uses to prove his thesis is the Senate's defeat of the proposed halfcent municipal sales tax increase. The sales tax hike, proposed by Chicago Mayor Daley and supported by North Shore municipalities, was killed through Sen. Arrington's leadership because the mayor wouldn't agree on reapportionment. Rep. Kennedy also asserts that he has a better awareness of such local problems as refuse disposal, water and air pollution, education, and motor-fuel tax reorganization. The Winnetka legislator might offer more in these areas, but we don't think this is the key issue with a man of Sen. Arrington's background in the race. There is no doubt that Sen. Arrington's political interests and activities have become far more statewide than local in nature. As a 22-year veteran of the state legislature, he has climbed the political ladder in experience and intluence. We certainly don't advocate an end to his career because he has risen to the point where he serves the state as a whole more than strictly local interests. Sen. Arrington's biggest contribution to state government in the last session was his determined leadership of the Senate. Through greatly strengthening the position of president pro tern, he made the Senate the viable force the Republican Party needed to maintain a two-party balance in Springfield. Economy became the byword of the Senate. The House proposal to levy service taxes for an additional $300 million in revenue annually was killed in the Senate because it wasn't needed for the biennium. Another measure to add three cents to the motor-fuel tax and then transfer two cents to the education fund was killed for similar reasons, although the Senate did offer a compromise one-cent increase for roads only. These Arrington-inspired economy moves were harshly criticized by Democrats, who said the state would run short of funds. But then the president pro tern stuck by his staff's careful financial research, which now has proved to be accurate. Only the road fund has suffered a shortage, and Sen. Arrington tried to stem this with his one-cent offer. The Evanston lawmaker also led the Senate in adopting: · The Junior College Bill. · Increased state aid for elementary and secondary education. · A bill creating a commission to study the organization of the General Assembly. · A bill creziiug the Task Force on Education. · The proposed revenue amendment. · Ten important anti-crime syndicate bills. Since the 74th legislative session ended, Sen. Arrington has worked diligently with various legislative study groups, particularly the important commission to improve the operation of the legislature. He has led his party in giving bipartisan support to this landmark group headed by State Rep. Harold Katz of Glencoe. He now is campaigning throughout the state for Republican senatorial candidates in an effort to retain control of the Senate for his party in a year when the Democrats control the governorship and are expected to have a majority in the House. His leadership is needed again in the Senate to give the state the best talent available to face the mounting problems ahead in 1967. Our House Choices at-large election, the North Shore sent five representatives INto1964's the state legislature instead of the usual three. Four of these legislators--two Republicans and two Democrats--are seeking re-election to the House of Representatives. All are dedicated and upright public servants, but unfortunately only three can be elected. With its large Republican majority, the North Shore is virtually certain to elect the two Republicans, Mrs. Frances Dawson of Evanston and Alan R. Johnston of Kenilworth. Consequently, the contest is between Democrats James Moran of Evanston and Harold Katz of Glencoe. During her five terms in the House, Mrs. Dawson has concentrated on one of the North Shore's prime interests--education. She is keenly aware of area school district needs, and as a member of the School Problems Commission and the House Committee on Education has the influence to implement requests from educators and school boards. She was a sponsor of the new special education act, and supported bills to increase state aid to education, to permit New Trier High School District's instructional TV system, and to raise school district tax ceilings. She also introduced bills to relieve the nursing shortage. Mr. Johnston, too, has introduced and supported much worthwhile legislation for better government during his two terms in office. He successfully sponsored bills to update the state's criminal code, create a Cook County sheriff's police merit board, strengthen antitrust laws against price-fixing and hoodlum infiltration into business, and ease the procedure for voters to challenge incumbent committeemen. He was one of the primary authors of outstanding bills on election reform, but most of the package was defeated in the House. Mrs. Dawson and Mr. Johnston deserve to be returned to the House to continue their able and constructive representation. On the Democratic side, Rep. Moran supported legislation to improve state government and to meet humanitarian needs. His major accomplishment was creating a council on dope addiction, which is preparing bills for improved treatment and rehabilitation of addicts. Rep. Katz's record, though, is so outstanding for a freshman legislator that we urge voters to select him over Rep. Moran. He introduced a comprehensive package of pioneering auto safety bills, a number of which were adopted a year before the subject became a national concern of Congress. But his major achievement is a monumental bill establishing a commission to study how to improve the operation of the state legislature. He proved his exceptional abilities by getting the leaders of both houses of the legislature, House Speaker John Touhy and Senate President Pro Tern W. Russell Arlington, to sit on the commission and name its members. He has achieved bipartisan support for nearly 100 important recommendations for the 1967 session. Rep. Katz is needed to steer this vital legislation through the General Assembly. He would join with Reps. Dawson and Johnston to provide the North Shore with excellent minority and majority representation. Return Rep. Rumsfeld to Congress HE 13th District congressional race offers T voters a choice between a proven incumbent, Cong. Donald Rumsfeld (R) of Glenview, and James L. McCabe (D), a former Cook County assistant state's attorney from Arlington Heights. Cong. Rumsfeld is running on a record characterized by hard work,'sound legislative proposals, and increased stature within the House and his party. Mr. McCabe has directed most of the campaign to charges that the incumbent has voted "no" on major John. -^^k ^lik son Administration bills. Cong. Rumsfeld, seeking his third two-year term, has continued his efforts against unnecessary federal spending. At a time of increased expenditures for a wide variety of projects, he has urged the government to establish priorities in spendCong. Rumsfeld ing to get at one of the main roots of inflation. The congressman also has proposed legislation to curb the federal government's usurpation of more authority by spurring private initiative. For example, his answer to retraining of workers for new skills was the Human Investment Act, which would give private enterprise a tax incentive to train workers. In a similar proposal, the congressman suggested giving private industry tax credits for taking steps October 20, 1966 to eliminate the air and water pollution they create. The North Shore legislator also sponsored a bill to give parents a tax credit to help finance the college education of their children. One of his major accomplishments this year was helping pass a Freedom of Information Bill, which gives citizens the right of access to government information, except for classified security material. The congressman is a member of the House committee on science and astronautics, charged with legislative responsibility for the space program, and the committee on government operations, the federal government's watchdog. He is a member of the latter's subcommittee on foreign operations and government information and is the ranking Republican on its subcommittee on legal and monetary affairs. In July, he was named to the House Republican Policy Committee, the influential group which formulates daily policy for House Republicans. He also played a key role in the successful effort to revive House GOP leadership by naming Gerald Ford of Michigan the House minority leader. With each session of Congress, we have become more impressed by Rep. Rumsfeld's dedicated representation and his assumption of vital leadership roles within his party. Already, at the age of 34, he is one of the brightest young lights in the Republican Party. We think it is important for 13th District voters to return him to Washington to continue his valuable work there.

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