NEWS CONFERENCE 705

bill, regional detention centers and quite a few other bills such as the
housing code and particularly these roads bills — the Redding Com-
mittee bills — and the business tax reform. And I'm expecting that the
administration program is going to do as well this year as it did
last year.

I think the Community Mental Health bill is in some trouble and
I feel a considerable amount of sadness because I think these bills are
terribly important. I am willing to discuss with the legislative leader-
ship any amendments which might make it possible to implement
these bills. I am worried about the Easter and the Driver decisions and
the impact on how alcoholic cases are being handled or will be
handled, and I sincerely hope that these bills won't fail in their en-
tirety. If they need to be delayed in certain aspects, I am perfectly
willing to accede to a waiting period while a committee of the Legis-
lative Council goes further into the area of how they are to be im-
plemented. But I did present the bills to meet a need and I provided
the financing for them. Let me say this much in addition. I think
this is most important. Local governments are bringing the constant
position before the State government that everything that comes out
of Annapolis must be financed at the State level. I don't think this is
realistic. Last year we provided the subdivisions with over 100 million
dollars of new financial ability to meet local needs. In addition to
that we provided the subdivisions with new tax resources by making
for the first time the income tax available to them, collected by the
State. I think with this new taxing ability and with the new help
that was given them last year on a continuing basis, it's not logical
for them to expect the State to finance everything they need to spend.
And I think the position that keeps being advanced that a bill is no
good because it requires a local effort is not a valid position. Cer-
tainly there has to be local effort. Certainly they have to take the
responsibility for raising the taxes to meet these needs. We've given
them the ability to do that. That's why we gave them the income tax.

Q. Governor, what are the chances for the passage of the anti-pinball
machine bill?

A. I'd say not too good. From what I hear I think it's effectively dead.
I'm sad about that. I'm very sorry that the Legislature's not able at
this moment to continue with its obvious statement of principle in
favor of that bill by doing something to abolish pinball machines,
but apparently it's not going to happen this year.

Q. About a month ago the chances looked a little better for passage,
did they not?