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I'AKE 2 P1.AINDEALKR - WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER H. 1*3 News views Roll Call: WATER PROJECT FUNDING DEFIED Fronj' comments of wholehearted support to disappointment, readers an­ swered the Plaindedaler's recent poll asking reaction to the newspaper's new, modern format. Unfortunately, the apathy we refered to in this column last Friday is apparent in the number who responded. The Plaindealer goes into about 8,000 homes twice weekly. Of that number, slightly more than 40 responses were made, hardly enough to get an idea of how most readers feel. General opinion views ranged from "strongly like" to "strongly dislike", and there were many comments ac­ companying the personal voting. Eighteen persons expressed support of the new format- 26 were opposed. One respondent grudgingly acknowledged, "Suppose it is o.k." ]V6 usin' &, nderin BY KAF Suporters frequently gave a message similar to the reader who said, "I read all of it from front page on to the last page. I enjoy it very much." Another, who was less pleased, commented, "I don't like anything about the new Voluntary remarks in addition to answers to specific questions would indicate that many long time readers have not yet become accustomed to the modernization process. "Hie old paper was ideal" was one person's way of relating that message to us. Probably the response that was most satisfying to a staff that has been putting in many overtime hours was the Viewing the newspaper^poll following which arrived after the o poll results had been tabulated: "Sorry I lost the ad in your paper asking the public to ex­ press the opinion about the new styling of the McHenry paper. "I am a senior citizen and want to say the larger type print is wonderful. My eyes are fair. I can read the print now if I have to without glasses. The paper is wonderful. I like the items of the same interest together. The paper is so big now, and easy to read. "I certainly am suggesting to my friends to subscribe for the paper now, everyone should. Also the price has not gone up, another great point of interest, no increase in price. "It is a peat hometown paper, and let me thank you for it. I can hardly wait till Thur­ sday to see my paper. It is wonderful news." Many comments were made after apparent deliberation and were meant to assist us in the kind of product we bring to the local public twice weekly. We like that. It is these constnictive suggestions from which we hope to profit in the months ahead. It is a known fact that the expression, "You can never go back" applies to moderniztion of newspapers as well as the numerous other reasons for those words becoming so popular. Nevertheless, we will try to the best of our ability to please readers on both sides of the poll with a product that continues to improve. But please - oh please - don't ask us to give up our ad­ vertising, as one respondent hinted in commenting there was "too much". Work days have been stret­ ching in hours of late. Our ef­ forts would be seriously cur­ tailed without the revenue which sends us to the lunch table each day. The Plaindealer will be happy to receive future comments, even if they are not ac­ companied by a questionnaire. WASHINGTON - Here's how area members of Congress were recorded on major roll call votes in the days before the Columbus Day recess. HOUSE PORK - The House rejected, 133 for and 271 against, an amendment to deny money for 20 of 43 water projects contained in a $119 million appropriations bill (HR 3958) that funds fiscal 1984 work by the Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation. Backers complained that the 20 projects have not been authorized by the House. In the congressional funding sequence, the authorization or justification of an outlay is supposed to come before aDDrooriation of the money. Also, they cited Administration opposition to the projects. And they said any appropriation should await action on a "user's fee" proposal to charge a Share of public works costs to those who directly benefit from the project. * . \ Foes of the amendment called the 20 navigation and flood control projects vital and said it was time to fund them now that a four-year moratorium on public works starts apparently has been lifted. HR 3958 later was sent to the Senate. \ Supporter Silvio Conte, R-Mass., said he\$shed House decorum permitted him to wear the pis mask he waS holding in his hand because the bill could become "the biggest pork-barrel bill that ever came down the pike." * » Opponent Jamie Whitten, D-Miss., budget (but) not at the expense of wc drain our nation and all its physical r< Members voting no wanted to appi unauthorized water projects. Illinois - Voting yes: Philip Crane, R- AMTRAK - The House rejected, 151 for and 198 against, an amendment permitting Amtrak to discharge its $800 million-plus obligation to the federal government by issuing^ preferred stock to the Department of Transportation, which is th$ guarantor of Amtrak's The amendment was offered during debate on a Mil (HR 3648) to authorize $730 million in fiscal 1984 subsidies for Amtrak, the quasi- public corporation that runs most of the nation's passenger trains. Sponsor James Florio, D-N.J., said the amendment was needed because Amtrak's default with DOT "could seriously affect (its) Opponent Norman Lent, R-N.Y., said legislative intervention was "Superfluous" because Amtrak would resolve its technical default through negotiations with the government. Members voting yes wanted Amtrak to get out of default by issuing believe in a balanced it or letting go down the money for the 20 stock to the Department of Transportation. Illinois - Voting no: Philip Crane. * SENATE _ TOBACCO - By a vote of 57 for and 33 against, the Senate tabled (killed) an amendment to eliminate the federal tobacco program, which protects growers with price supports, marketing quotas and competition-limiting acreage allotments. Hie amendment was offered to a wide-ranging .dairy ana tobacco bill (S1529) that later was passed. The House is forking on similar legislation. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., who favored killing the amendment, said: "Tobacco is a vital contributor to the health of our economy. We must stand behind the program and reject any changes that are designed to weaken or restrict it." ' , Howard Metzenbaum, D-Ohio, who sponsored the amendment, called for returning tobacco to free enterpiwe and slid, the government has a "wildly inconsistent policy of actively discouraging smoking while at the very same time promoting the- production of tobacco/' i Senators voting yes wanted to retain the federal tobacco program.« Illinois - Alan Dixon, D, voted no. Charles Percy, R, voted no. * MILK -By a vote of 56 for and 37 against, the Senate tabled (killed) £ an amendment to prevent creation of a "diversion" program that would reduce milk surpluses by paying dairy farmers *to cuts production. • • • - / , , . ry/r .,s Off Z tP Sponsors said their amendment was a better way/to cut surpluses!! price support that is an incentive to produce. The Senate subsequently passed a bill (S 1529) that attacks* $ surpluses by paying farmers up to $10 per hundredweight for milk they do not produce. The bill also lowers price supports slightly (by 50 cents per-hundredweight) below their current $13.10 level. f The cost to taxpayers of dairy price supports has risen from $4 billion in 1980 to $23 billion in 1983. i Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who voted to table the amendment, said any sharp cut in price supports "would simply put the average family dairy farmer out of business." Daniel Moynihan, D-N.Y., who sponsored the amendment, said a paid diversion program would wore no better with milk than tt has with other commodities. Warren Rudman, R-N.H., called the . program "socialistic." ' Senators voting yes wanted to cut milk surpluses by paying,,, farmers to reduce production. Illinois - Dixon voted yes. Percy voted no. Crane questions U.S. troop deployment Marine deaths will probably increase pressure for their withdrawal tar CUff Ward Shaw-Free Press News Service Hie deaths of 161 U.S. Marines in Lebanon will increase Congressional pressure on President Reagan to remove the Marines from the multinational peacekeeping force, U.S. Rep. Phil Crane (R., Mount Prospect) said Sunday. Crane said the deaths, which he called tragic, were an escalation that was unavoidable due to the historic and current problems in the region. "I don't think their presence there is serving any useful WATCH THE WITCHE^ LIKE A NICE APPLE OR. SOME CAMPY? MO "THANKS> "They MI6WT WAVE A RAZOR IN '. YEAH... AND PIMS IN THE CAMPY &ARS iful of people at Woodstock High School. The congressman had hot ; 4 - . heard the news of the deaths until told by a reporter after tfie meeting, around 3 p.m. Sunday. The Marines, he said, could have been honorably taken out of the area after the other nations did not live up to their end of the Lebanese withdrawal agreement between Syria, Israel and the PLO. When asked if the latest attack would increase Congressional pressure on President Reagan for a withdrawal, Crane com­ mented "You can be assured." Before taking the Marines from Lebanon, Crane said Navy warships stationed off the coast stnrora ^'bombard... every -possible (terrorist) position they could identify" in response to the deaths. Crane also said the U.S. should "bank on the Israelis for the day of retribution. They have a very Old Testament view of trespass." In his talk, which occurred before he knew of the attack. Crane said the Lebanese situation presented a "no-win scenario" for the United States. "Hie more you study, the more you become convinced there are no solutions," he said, noting that America especially does not have the answers to solve the Mideast situation. Cran* Maimed the only solution to the region's problems would come through face-to-face negotiations between Israel and the Arab states. Conditions imposed by the United States, the Soviet Union, or any other country would be forgotten as soon as that country left the region, he said. The United Nations' influence in the area is also limited, he added. "Frankly, I have no con­ fidence in the U.N. as a peace­ keeping organ," he remarked, adding a military presence is not the answer. t* fr. "We could blow Syria off the map, but what would be gained 3* from that?" he asked. yj The U.S. role should be v.1? keeping the lines of contfT munication open, urriagiq negotiations ana the end ofcqe hostilities, he said.,. Lawmakers consider governor's action The legal drinking age The presidential commission studying drunken driving and its enormous cost in life and property is said to be agreed the legal drinking age should be set at age 21. Whether such a recommendation can get through Congress, and whether it must be a constitutional amendment are questions yet to be finally answered. But in every state where the legal drinking age has been raised to 21, there have been a significant number of lives saved. It's very hard to answer that argument. Raising the drinking age is clearly a matter of life and death for hundreds or thousands of Americans-annually. The legislature met briefly to receive Governor Thompson's vetoes and recommendations for changes as the annual fall General Assembly session officially got under way, according to state Rep. Dick Klemm (R-Crystal Lake). Lawmakers returned to Springfield again Oct. 18, and will consider the governor's actions and begin the process of either accepting or overriding his recom­ mendations. Klemm said that of more than 1,200 bills passed last spring, Thomp­ son signed 873. The governor used his veto power to reject 173 measures and used his amendatory veto authority to make changes in another 161 bills. He also reduced or eliminated some items in 11 spending bills. Bills which appropriate state money follow slightly different rules. If the governor uses his . "item veto" power to completely eliminate funds for a program, a three-fifths majority is needed to restore the item. If the governor uses a "reduction veto" to reduce funds for a program, only a majority is needed to raise the appropriation back to its original level. If lawmakers fail to take either action, the bill goes into effect at the reduced level. Jhe actions that should most attract the attention of legislators will be the governor's alteration of bills affecting public emplovee collective bargaining, public access to government documents and requirements that state and local govern­ ments "Buy American". In addition to the vetoes, several major issues are also expected to come before the General Assembly, including prison overcrowding, mass transit assistance, no-fault divorce, and the 1992 Chicago World's Fair. Thompson has said he'll ask lawmakers to approve some form of emergency early-release to reduce prison overcrowding, along with an emergency ap­ propriation for new prison SERVICE LINE: A LISTING OF NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS COMPILED AS A PUBLIC SERVICE TO McHENRY McHENRY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 385-4300 FAMILY SERVICE «c MENTAL HEALTH CENTER 430? G West Crystal Lake Rd McHenry, IL 60050 815-385-6400 TURNING POINT-DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STRESS LINE McHerny County 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Parents Anonymous meetings on Tuesday ' Call 815-338-8080 FEDERALGOVERNMENT GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 202-755-8660 Hours: 7 30 a m to 5 30 p m week days •Ever had a problem involving the federal government and not known where to call7 And then been given the runaround or referrals by persons who meant-well but didn't know how to help' Ten specialists available at this center I . • NATIONAL RUN-AWAY SWITCHBOARD I Illinois Phone: 800-972-6004 (For confidential conversations on problems dealing with runaway children I MOVING HOTLINE Phone 800-424-9213 iComplaints about interstate moving by companies, buses or trams Spon sored by Interstate-Commerce commission i STATE CHAMBER GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS HOTLINE 217-522-5514 BIRTHRIGHT Pregnant? Need Help? Counseling Service 385-2999 24 hour Answering Service ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES 24 Hours Child Abuse Hotline . TOLL FREE: 800-252-2878 CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSSION 800-638-2666 (Operates five national lines Answers inquiries about or reporting on the safety of products from kitchen appliances to children's toys.) NATIONAL SOLAR HEATING AND COOLING INFORMATION CENTER 800-523-2929 P.O. Box 1607, Rockville.Md 20850 (Dispenses information on solar systems for heating and cooling to anyone from architects to home owners looking for a sun powered hot water system I • ' v ' YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU FOR McHENRY COUNTY 4719 W Elm St., McHenry Phone: 344-3240 24 hours Crisis Intervention and Confidential Counseling for youth and families NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION Phone 800-424-9393 (Answers questions about automobile safety defects or whether a par­ ticular model has ever been recalled Valuable for those interested in buying a used car I * , 1 MENTAL HEALTH I -800-892-8900 Crisis Center line for McHenry Co 24 hour Emergency number and professional staff will answer your call Sponsoring agency McHenry Coun ty Comprehensive Mental Health Service System NATIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH ASSOCIATION Pi'.t Off.ce Box 17400. Washington, D C. 20041 Phone(703) 471-0404 CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION 312-793-3580 Chicaqo, IL ILLINOIS STATE CHAMBER HOTLINE Phone:217-522-5514 Answer to questions on government regulations McHENRY COUNTY CETA OUTRLACH CENTER 566 Russel Ct. IL 60098 P:.-,.. (oi 5 )338-7100 Job Training Offered McHENRY COUNTY ASSOCIATION FOR THE RETARDED Robert G Lambourn, Executive Director Phone:344-1230 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (815)455-3311 McHENRY COUNTY SENIOR CITIZENS COUNCIL 800-892-3272 Monday through Friday, 8 30 a m to 4 30 p.m. PRAIRIE STATE LEGAL SERVICES. INC. 800-942-3940 Free legal representation in civil cases to low. income persons Landlord- tenant disputes, demesne violence or improper denial o* benef'ts such as SoC<al Security. Public Aid, Food Stamps. General Assistance & Unem­ ployment Insurance SUPPORT GROUP FOR MEN WHO BATTER Meets every Thursday 6-7 p m For infoimation call 338-8080 • ' COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS McHenry County Chapter iFor bereaved parentsi Call 385-5732 construction. Thompson and legislative leaders have been trying to work out an agreement on the prison Eroblem since the state upreme Court ruled last July that the Department of Corrections had exceeded its authority by freeing some prisoners months before their sentences were com­ pleted. However, „ Thompson's proposal has yet to win support from legislative leaders of either party. During the summer, a special House Republican Policy Committee studied the issue and concluded that early release should only be approved after all other means of coping with prison crowding have been exhausted. The legislature is expected to again consider a mass transit reform which fell victim to infighting among Chicago Democrats during the final days of the spring session. The plan, which passed the House but failed in the Senate, would provide a $75 million state subsidy in return for a substantial restructuring of the Regional Transportation Authority. The measure is again in jeopardy, because RTA Chairman Lewis Hill (who stands to lose his job under the reform) announced recently that the mass transit agency could survive without a state subsidy. However, Hill's remarks have been disputed by Governor Thompson. A key factor in the fate of the bill will be Chicago Mayor Harold Washington's sup­ port. Washington helped scuttle the plan in June, because he thought the $75 million subsidy was in­ sufficient; however he now says he may be content with the original subsidy. During the session, Illinois could become the forty-ninth state to approve some form of no-fault divorce. A bill allowing divorce on the grounds of irreconcilable ifferences passed the Senate last spring, but was held in the House at the request of House Speaker Michael Madigan (D- Chicago). Madigan now says he'll allow a vote on the measure. Lawmakers may also consider granting the 1992 Chicago World's Fair Authority the power to raise money either through bond sales or special taxes. However, like the RTA reform, any action on the proposal will depend on Mayor Washington, who has not yet named his 12 appointees to the fair board. In addition to the World's Fair Authority, a Chicago exposition hall may seek either special taxing power or a state' subsidy. Mc- Cormick Place, a convention center and exposition hall located on the snores of Lake Michigan, would like $26 million a year in taxjkiney to expand. The mone/wbuld be used to nearly double the current building's space. Supporters argue the in­ crease is needed to keep lucrative trade shows coming to Chicago. Office changes to meet trends llie Office of the Illinois Attorney General, as chief legal officer of the state, is changing to meet the responsibilities of new trends in law, Comptroller Roland W. Burris has reported. Currently, the office is structured to address five major areas of responsibility: general support service, governmental r e p r e s e n t a t i o n , p u b l i c representation, criminal justice and inheritance tax, Burns said. But with the repeal of the inheritance tax and the increased needs in public in representation, a shift responsibilities has begun. The comptroller's regular monthly fiscal report contains an overview of the office mandated to uphold the Illinois Constitution, Statutes and common law. The Illinois Economic Picture details the trend of rising utility prices and what may be in store for the future as utilities must decide if coal or nuclear is the fuel for them. The regular report on the state's fiscal condition ooints to a general improvement in FY 1984.