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the state lawmakers know that more must be done.
With the defeat of House Majority Leader Jim Thompson in the November election went the leading proponent" of' * cdlfectltti bargaining for. public employees. Few legislators expect anyone to pick up where Thompson left off, although there is support for professional negotiations legislation. The state's leaders must also face the problems brought about by an election year. A carryover from the state’s November elections will be the problem of mandated programs. As painted by the localities, the state is demanding more services from local government but providing no money.
The story changes somewhat when you talk with state government representatives. They will admit that the state’s Standards of Quality for education are mandates for the local school boards. But they say that the majority of the mandates handed down originated in Washington. The place to complain, they say, is on Capitol Hill.
And hanging onver everybody’s head will be state taxes. No one seems to see the need, yet, for a tax increase.
Del. Alson Smith of Winchester said that if the state's economy continues to improve as it has in the last six months and if the General Assembly can hold the line on spending, “There is no immediate need for a tax increase.”
These are just a few of the issues facing the legislators as they meet in Mr. Jefferson's Capital. Others will come up. Good laws and bad laws will be made. Some legislation will be ignored in the rush. Other bills will take up everyone's time and get nowhere.
But that is what the General Assembly is about.
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