The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 2

A2 THE PANTAGRAPH, Wednesday, May 19, 1993 Dwight guards join rally for legislation on prison crowding Leaders agree to disagree LEGISLATIVE ROUNDUP AAA The PantagraphLORI ANN COOK Swan lake By DON THOMPSON Springfield bureau chief SPRINGFIELD Guards at Dwight Correctional Center for women said prison crowding and understafflng have led to high stress and absenteeism among workers. "Right now we're getting too much overtime. Staff is so stressed out they just refuse overtime to get some rest" said Lindell Stevens, president of Dwight's guard union. Stevens joined 200 other correctional officers in a rally at the state Capitol for prison crowding reform legislation. The bills would reduce prison crowding through early-release credits for involvement in educational programs, and allow more inmates to serve their sentences at home while wearing electronic monitoring bracelets.

However, law-and-order Democrats have opposed the measures. Stevens estimated the prison is understaffed by 23 guards, not including many female officers who are on maternity leave. He said the prison was designed to hold 450 inmates, but currently houses 780. Dwight guard Helen Dick said understaffed guards must face problems of crowding such as conflicts among inmates. "There's definitely conflict For people that have double rooms, we often have to move them around," she said.

Nonetheless, according to the Department of Corrections, Dwight did not record any assaults between inmates or on staff members, and Corrections spokesman Nic Howell said women already make up a higher percentage of early-release programs than men. Likewise, the early-release legislation is aimed at reaching greater numbers of non-violent inmates by encouraging participation in programs that cut down repeat inmates. State retirees protest Hundreds of retired state workers gathered at the Capitol yesterday to call for more funding of the state's pension systems. At the close of fiscal 1992, the pension systems had $17 billion in available assets, with obligations totaling $30.1 billion. Alexis Gordon, 2, and her father, Claude, of 9 Harvest Court, Bloomington, made friends yesterday with a swan from a lake near their home at Old Farm Lakes subdivision.

plan to bite Edgar budget 'Granny tax' By TOM PRENDERGAST Pantagraph Springfield bureau SPRINGFIELD House Minority Leader Lee Daniels, R-Elmhurst, proposed yesterday replacing a portion of the state's controversial "granny tax" out of Gov. Jim Edgar's budget Daniels has proposed paying for at least $45 million of the $118 million Medicaid cost of nursing home residents out of general revenue funds from this year's budget However, House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, and Edgar remained skeptical about robbing an already-strapped budget to pay for the program. The Medicaid assessment imposes a tax on nursing home patients who can afford it The tax is part of a larger assessment that helps the state capture basic program. Edgar questioned where to cut $45 million in his budget and is unsure of what type of new program Washington would OK Also yesterday, the nation's largest senior citizen lobby group demanded replacement of the "granny tax" through broad-based general revenue funds. "The $6.30 per-day fee is an unconscionable burden upon patients who tend to be poorly insured for nursing home expenses," said John Herman, member of the American Association of Retired Persons.

"They are being singled out to pay for a need that is broad-based and should be met by broad-based revenue." He said funding the program through Edgar's budget was Money sticking point in budget discussions By DON THOMPSON Springfield bureau chief SPRINGFIELD Gov. Jim Edgar and the four legislative leaders agreed on one thing yesterday as the General Assembly rushes toward its planned adjournment next week: They don't have enough "Money. Always a sticking point," growled Senate Democratic Leader Emil Jones, D-Chicago, after the meeting. "We're pretty far apart We're talking about a shortage of money for things like the Department of Children and Family Services, Mental Health, DORS (Department of Rehabilitation Services), Corrections," said House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago. House GOP Leader Lee Daniels, R-EImhurst, wants $45 million in income tax money to help replace the controversial "granny tax" on nursing home residents (please see accompanying story).

Madigan, meanwhile, wants money for Chicago schools. Edgar wants the cities' $211 million from the state's income tax surcharge, while Madigan wants that money for cities, particularly Chicago. "Anytime you take a dollar of surcharge money and give it to local governments, that's a dollar less to spend on the governor's spending plan," Madigan said. As reported in yesterday's Paragraph, Senate President James "Pate" Philip, R-Wood Dale, has proposed transferring the surtax money from the cities to the state over three years. But Madigan said he's not convinced that would leave cities enough money, although he didn't rule out a compromise.

Compromise likely Edgar, in turn, is willing to give up $100 million from his budget, which would be cut from agencies but not schools, Philip said after the meeting. The leaders plan to meet again today, with Madigan and Edgar suggesting Daniels' insistence on ending the "granny tax" may be the major disagreement between he leaders. "It's a bad political issue," said Philip. "Nobody can win on it and nobody has the solution to it" Among non-budget issues, Daniels and Philip continued insisting that property tax caps be imposed in suburban Cook County. But Edgar signaled he may be willing to give up on Lt Gov.

Bob Kustra's proposal to eliminate the Board of Regents and Board of Governors that oversee the state's universities. '1 think it's the right thing to do; there's a lot of I'm not probably going to get, particularly out of the Democratic House," Edgar said. Ewing gives up committee seat SPRINGFIELD As expected, U.S. Rep. Thomas Ewing of Pontiac announced yesterday that he will give up his state Republican Central Committee seat so former Agriculture Secretary Ed Madigan can be named state party chairman next month.

Ewing will step down May 29, clearing a committee spot to allow Madigan to take the party reins. Secretary of State George Ryan and Gov. Jim Edgar have led the move to replace current party chairman Al Jourdan of McHenry. Setting it right Twin City allergist Dr. Anjuli was not identified as a medical doctor in a story in Monday's Health section of The Pantagraph.

Published dally and Sunday by Tha Chronica Publishing Company. Second-clan postage paid at Bldbmlngton, IL (USPS 144760) 30.) W. Washington St, BloonHngton, IL 61702-HO7 TELEPHONE (309) Horns dsllvsry (37-7323 Classified ads Asian tiger mosquito threat to Central Illinois unknown Last year the Legislature took $21 million from a fund reserved by law for pensions to meet a budget shortfall. "The withholding of the employer's share of mandated contributions affects the future retirement funds of young educators and governmental employees of today," said Marjorie Shea, legislative chairwoman for the Illinois Retired Teachers Association. Speedier executions The House sent a proposal to speed up the execution process for inmates claiming insanity to Gov.

Jim Edgar despite warnings that the measure would be struck down in federal court The bill, sponsored by Senate President James "Pate" Philip, R--' Wood Dale, would repeal a law! that permits a condemned inmate to file a claim that he or she is mentally unfit for execution. Proponents said condenmned inmates often fake insanity to avoid their sentences, creating costly litigation. However, Rep. Thomas Homer, D-Canton, said that an existing federal Supreme Court decision prohibits the state from executing: prisoners who are deemed insane. Norplant Issue Judges such as McLean County's Ron Dozier would be barred from ordering women to use birth control as a part of their criminal sentence under a bill sent to Gov.

Jim Edgar yesterday. The bill will keep judges from "taking away the most basic and fundamental rights of women," said the Senate sponsor, Sen. Earlean Collins, D-Chicago. The Senate approved the House bill on a 34-22 vote. 1 Dozier came under fire after or- dering 22-year-old Lisa Smith of Bloomington to use the surgically i implanted birth-control drug Norplant as part of her sentence.

She agreed to use the drug. She fractured the skull of her infant ft federal matching funds and close a $1.4 billion budget hole. "When the (assessment) passed last July, the House Republicans stood firmly opposed to renewal of the Medicaid tax program," said Daniels. "We feel strongly we'll find an alternative. We'll have to do some shifting in the budget" He did not go into other specifics of replacing the "granny tax," although one option would eliminate Edgar's proposed 5.6 percent nursing home Medicaid rate increase and his 4.7 percent hospital rate increase with a price tag of more than $70 million.

Low-income patients can receive grants to help offset the tax, but the state has underfunded the grant program and delayed reimbursements. However, Madigan said the state needs to keep the laria, he said. In Central Illinois, human beings have contracted encephalitis from mosquitoes. Types of the virus can cause inflammation of the brain, which can result in retardation or death. An 1975 epidemic in St Louis caused 47 deaths.

Bob Keller, director of the McLean County Health Department, said he usually receives a special alert from state health officials when mosquitoes are expected to be out in force. The department then tries to educate Twin City residents, telling them to eliminate breeding grounds and habitats where puddles of water are nearby. This year there has been no such alert "We've had several dry years now in a row," said Haramis. "More rain equals more mosquitoes. What seems bad to people now (because of spring rains) is actually about normal." Keeping pests away can be difficult, although Haramis said the most common method, a repellent, is generally the most effective.

Because of environmental concerns, many cities no longer spray for mosquitoes, as is the case in Bloomington, according to assistant director of Parks and Recreation Jerry Armstrong. Normal sprays occasionally during special events, such as the July 4 celebration or theater productions at Maxwell Park, said Ron Blemler, director of parks and recreation. Avoiding exercise at night and going outside at sundown, the main feeding time, can decrease your chances of being bitten. Don't wear dark colors especially blue use cologne or anything with a sweet scent between sunrise and sunset and the playing field must be clearly marked and parking must be in designated areas only. Paintball is a combination of tag and hide and seek where players shoot paintballs at each other while trying to capture the opposing team's flag.

A rural McLean farmer, John Rehtmeyer, hopes to develop a commercial paintball field at Funks Grove. If the County Board approves the change allowing such a business to exist his next step will be applying for a special-use permit A 7fi or7 20 FF YGf Special Orders T3I By GARY MAYS Pantagraph staff Its name may sound menacing akin to the African "killer bee" but whether the Asian tiger mosquito proves a serious health threat remains to be seen, an expert says. The Asian tiger may be heading this way from Chicago and St Louis and has been found to carry numerous viruses. Cases of human beings contracting harmful viruses from bites, however, have not been documented. "Our main concern is the tiger does well in urban areas," said Linn Haramis, an entomologist with the Illinois Department of Public Health.

"In urban areas it's a good potential carrier of disease." But he said news reports and rumors have spread misinformation about the bug. While it will bite, the wound that's left behind is no worse than a regular mosquito bite, Haramis said. And it is not a huge bug smaller than some common varieties and no more aggressive. The main difference is that Asian tiger mosquitoes are day feeders. They also are short-range fliers.

Most mosquitoes have a range of five to 20 miles, while the tiger can travel about a mile. So far the native of Japan has been found in seven Illinois counties near Chicago and St Louis. They thrive in artificial containers, especially trash cans and old tires anything that holds water. Health officials are stressing prevention by eliminating mosquito habitats. Mosquitoes have been known to carry diseases, most notably, ma Paintball sport clears zoning hurdle End Tables $25 off Sale Price Lamps '15 off Sale Price Ensenberger's youtl led ilfftt A hwt- WEST SIDE OF THE SQUARE BLOOMINGTON FREE DELIVERY 10-6 Sat.

10-5 Sun. 1-4 McLean County's zoning board last night gave the nod to changing the zoning ordinance to allow paintball games. The 6-0 recommendation to allow the games as a special use in agricultural districts will be considered by the full County Board June 15. Sandra Scott, zoning director, said the recommendation came with stipulation the operators be members of the American Paintball Association and follow its rules and regulations, plus follow health department regulations on food and sanitation. Such a business could operate NEWSROOM EXT.

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