"The House shall come to order. Members shall be in their seats. The Members will please take their seats. We shall be led in prayer today by Pastor Paul Thomason, who is with the Gibson City Bible Church in Gibson City, Illinois. Pastor Thomason is the guest of Representative Bennett."
"Let's pray, please. Gracious God, thank You for the gift of this day, the honor of meeting in this sacred place, and the providence of living in this great state. Thank You for springtime Illinois and the glorious reminder of renewal and resurrection and hope prompting us to declare with a writer of lamentations that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. Your mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness. Today, we recognize that every good and every perfect gift is from above; and therefore, we offer to You thanks. Thank You for the gift of government. Thank You for the role it plays in protecting and serving and helping the people who live under its authority. Thank You for the people who make up that government. Thank You for their gifts and their dedication and their investment in the lives of others. Thank You for sustaining them as they seek to carry an often heavy burden. Thank You for their friends and family who help share in their labor of love and service. I pray for them and ask that You would grant to them the freedom of a good conscience and the power of selfless service. Help them to not succumb to the acid of cynicisms or the corrosive power of unmerited criticism. Grant wisdom and decisions, fortitude and hardship, integrity and character, and love and motivation. Help them to have a vision of Your high calling on their 10000127.docx 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 lives. The calling of loving their neighbors, whether they're the children in Cook County, the farmers in Ford County, or the school teachers in Alexander County. Encourage them with the hope of Your help and strength, grant to them the knowledge that what they do is no small thing and that You are vitally interested in all that happens in this place. Thank You for the joy of spending our days and hours helping others. Thank You for the joy of making a difference or participating with You in the high calling of government. Bless these leaders, bless this day. Bless this day, we pray, in Your name, Amen."
"We shall also be led in prayer today by Sister Jean, who is the team Chaplin for the Loyola University Basketball Team."
"Good and gracious God, we give You thanks for this lovely day which reminds us of Your creation for the love of nature, for life, and for each other regardless of who we are or where we are in life's journey. You have created us and directed us to our special vocation in life, which is the call to service to our various constituencies. That we do when we meet and greet and make decisions when we are together. We ask You, oh God, to help us bring forth in a gentle but firm way what we believe to be right for our people. We also ask You to bless all who are celebrating Cancer Day with those who have survived, those who have been an inspiration to the recently diagnosed. Oh God, we ask Your blessing upon the men and women of the people's House and may all that is done this day and everyday be done for Your honor and glory, Amen. And go Ramblers." 10000127.docx 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018
"Members and guest are asked to refrain from starting their laptops, turn off cell phones, and rise for the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. We shall be led in the Pledge of Allegiance by a graduate of Loyola University, Representative La Shawn Ford." Ford – et al: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Speaker Madigan: "Roll Call for Attendance. Representative Currie."
"Thank you, Speaker. Please let the record show that Representatives Drury, Tabares, and Willis are excused today. And if I might add, go Ramblers."
"Let the record reflect those excused absences. Representative Breen."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Please let the record reflect that Representatives Frese and Sosnowski are also excused."
"Let the record reflect those excused absences. Mr. Clerk, take the Roll Call. There being 113 Members present for the Roll Call, there is a quorum present. Mr. Clerk."
Clerk Hollman: "Committee Reports. Representative Costello, Chairperson from the Committee on Agriculture & Conservation reports the following committee action taken on May 08, 2018: do pass Short Debate is Senate Bill 2295, Senate Bill 3082, Senate Bill 3246; do pass as amended Short Debate is Senate Bill 2298, Senate Bill 3072. Representative Fine, Chairperson from the Committee on Insurance: Health & Life reports the following committee action taken on May 08, 2018: do pass 10000127.docx 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 Short Debate is Senate Bill 2513, Senate Bill 3491. Representative Mitchell, C., Chairperson from the Committee on Economic Opportunity reports the following committee action taken on May 08, 2018: do pass Short Debate is Senate Bill 2281. Representative Ford, Chairperson from the Committee on Financial Institutions reports the following committee action taken on May 08, 2018: do pass Short Debate is Senate Bill 331, Senate Bill 748, Senate Bill 2433, Senate Bill 2615, Senate Bill 3182. Representative DeLuca, Chairperson from the Committee on Cities & Villages reports the following committee action taken on May 08, 2018: do pass Short Debate is Senate Bill 2450, Senate Bill 2543, Senate Bill 3464, Senate Bill 3561. Representative Turner, Chairperson from the Committee on Judiciary - Criminal reports the following committee action taken on May 08, 2018: do pass Short Debate is Senate Bill 2850 (sic-2580), Senate Bill 2891, Senate Bill 3108; do pass as amended Short Debate is Senate Bill 558. Representative Riley, Chairperson from the Committee on State Government Administration reports the following committee action taken on May 08, 2018: do pass… recommends be adopted is House Resolution 980. Representative Gabel, Chairperson from the Committee on Human Services reports the following committee action taken on May 09, 2018: do pass Short Debate is Senate Bill 456, Senate Bill 2446, Senate Bill 2461, Senate Bill 2524, Senate Bill 2655, Senate Bill 2835, Senate Bill 3004, Senate Bill 3223; do pass as amended Short Debate is Senate Bill 3532. Representative Soto, Chairperson from the Committee on Health Care Licenses reports the following committee action taken on May 08… 10000127.docx 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 correction May 9, 2018: do pass Short Debate is Senate Bill 2419, Senate Bill 2587, Senate Bill 2618, Senate Bill 3170, Senate Bill 3395. Representative Burke, D., Chairperson from the Committee on Executive reports the following committee action taken on May 09, 2018: do pass Short Debate is Senate Bill 2520. Representative D'Amico, Chairperson from the Committee on Transportation: Vehicles & Safety reports the following committee action taken on May 09, 2018: do pass Short Debate is Senate Bill 1008, Senate Bill 2285, Senate Bill 2511, Senate Bill 3024, Senate Bill 3028, Senate Bill 3241; recommends be adopted is House Resolution 914. Representative Crespo, Chairperson from the Committee on Elementary & Secondary Education: School Curriculum & Policies reports the following committee action taken on May 09, 2018: do pass Short Debate is Senate Bill 650, Senate Bill 3514. Introduction of Resolutions. House Resolution 1051, offered by Representative Stuart. House Resolution 1054, offered by Representative Harper. And House Joint Resolution 128, offered by Representative Moeller, are referred to the Rules Committee."
"Mr. Clerk, House Resolution 1045. Will the… would the Members please take their seats. The Members please take your seats. We're going to do a Resolution. Coach Moser will speak and Sister Jean will continue to be available. Please take your seats. Mr. Clerk, House Resolution 1045. Read the Resolution."
House Resolution 1045, offered by Speaker Madigan. 10000127.docx 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the Loyola University Chicago Men's Basketball team for their magnificent season this year; and WHEREAS, The Ramblers compiled a record of 28 wins and 5 losses during the regular season and advanced to the NCAA Basketball Tournament for the first time since 1985; and WHEREAS, Led by Head Coach Porter Moser, the Ramblers won the Missouri Valley Conference by defeating Illinois State University in the championship game 65 to 49 on March 4; Loyola ended the regular season on a ten-game winning streak; and WHEREAS, As a result of Loyola's great regular season, Porter Moser was voted Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year; and where the team has continued to excel throughout the rest of the season. RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Loyola University Chicago Men's basketball team for its great season and its tremendous success in the NCAA Tournament; and be it further RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Coach Porter Moser as a token of our esteem and good wishes."
"You've all heard the Resolution. Coach Porter Moser will now speak to the Resolution. Mr. Coach."
"Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Speaker Madigan. Thank you, Representatives for forcing my players to stand-up and applause me 'cause that… I appreciate that. We wouldn't be here without the 10000127.docx 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 student athletes and we are in-between final exams. They have a three-week window to go home. So, a lot of our out-of-state young men… but we do have three in-state young men that I first and foremost want to introduce. From Bloomington, Illinois, Jake Baugman, a junior. I see Dan Brady standing up. From Elgin, Christian Negron, freshman. And from Chicago, Illinois, Lucas Williamson. I believe Lucas was here, did you bring your state championship team here when you won with Whitney Young? Not here. Lucas won two state championships at Whitney Young and a very quick story about Lucas and one of the builders of our culture. When I took this job over 7 years ago, in the previous 30 years, they 27 losing seasons. In the previous 30 years, that's staggering. And one of the things we did was try to build a culture of young men that wanted to get a great education, do things right off the floor, and win. And to show it, we had seven young men on our team that won the state champions. Lucas won a state championship as a freshman at Whitney Young and he was the only freshman that got moved up to varsity. And his mother told me this story. So that when he was a senior, they didn't win it their sophomore, junior year. So when he was a senior, he was the only one in the school that had won a state championship and on his own, he gathered the members of his team and took them down to the Cubs parade to let his teammates know what it felt like to have their victory celebration. And he went on to beat Simeon in the state championship his senior year. And it was great leadership and that's the kind of culture we've built with young men like Lucas. The other great thing about what we've done is we've done it on and off the floor. All 10000127.docx 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 three of them just got their grades back in the Speaker's Office… they just all got their grades in, all three of them had over a 3.0 this semester. At Loyola… at Loyola, we are tied with Harvard for the number one graduation rate in the country, academically in the athletic department. And I… thank you, very, very proud of that. Thank you very much. And I can see Sister right now clenching her fist because I said that one time and she corrected me. She said, no, Porter. Harvard's tied with us. But very proud to do this in the state. I was born and raised in Naperville, Illinois. My dad was born and raised in Naperville, Illinois. The Wehrlis, thank you. And… so when I got the job at Loyola, we had one student athlete from the State of Illinois, one. We had seven this year, seven. And to do this in this state and see the excitement… to see the excitement that brought to the state, the City of Chicago was truly amazing and a blessing for us. I was told when I got this job. Porter, Loyola's going to be a very hard job. It's a pro-town. And I said, no it isn't; it's a sports town. They love blue-collar, hardworking, winning teams doing things the right way. And that's why I think the country really got behind our team, because basketball coaches and college coaching is similar to politicians, to lawyers. If something bad happens, we all get grouped together. And what happened to the scandal in college coaching this year with the FBI investigation, and to see a program like Loyola come from the bottom and the whole country saw the character of our student athletes. The whole country saw that we did it the right way, we didn't have to cheat, we have the number one graduation rate in the country, and we 10000127.docx 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 went all the way to the Final Four. Who would've thought? Thank you. It's amazing what you can do when you have a group of people who don't care who gets the credit and that was the real story behind our student athletes. Was a group that believed in a vision, that was totally unselfish, didn't care about who got the credit, and I feel like we've changed the word 'Loyola' forever, the perception of Loyola. To see the alumni all over the world, coast to coast, get excited. Pride is an amazing human trait and it has been really a blessing to see the pride come out with everyone involved in Loyola and the state. And that is a blessing and we hope to sustain it. And that's why I'm so excited to continue this journey. And I get it, I get what I signed up for it. Coaching's one of those professions, I've had… the expectations have risen. I've had boosters come up to me. Hey, Porter, we're excited for next year. We're with you win or tie. Win or tie? I understand that… that part of it. But this is exciting to sustain this, to move this forward, to raise the bar in expectations of doing it the right way. And I want to thank you for having our team here. I want to thank you for honoring us. It's a ble… it's a true honor to do this in this great State of Illinois where I'm from. And I wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavors. God bless."
"All right. You've all heard the Resolution. You've heard the coach on behalf of the Resolution. Those in favor say 'aye'; those opposed say 'no'. The 'ayes' have it. The Resolution is adopted. Coach Moser and Sister Jean and the players will be here for a short time to greet all of you. Thank you." 10000127.docx 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018
"Representative Lang in the Chair. The Chair recognizes Representative Wehrli on a point of personal privilege."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One cannot visit Naperville without seeing the true impact that the Moser family has had in one of the largest towns in our state. The Naperville Riverwalk would not exist if not for Porter's father. The Moser Carillon… is the largest carillon in the State of Illinois. It is… makes me immensely proud to see one of Naperville's native sons take Loyola Ramblers all the way to the Final Four. I cannot think of a more fitting individual from Naperville than Porter Moser to exemplify some of the finest that come out of our state. Porter, Naperville is extremely proud of you. Thanks for doing this with class and character. Go Ramblers."
"Thank you, Representative. The House will be in order. Mr. Clerk, House Resolution 980, Mr. Riley. Mr. Clerk. Mr. Riley."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. House Resolution 980 declares May 9, 2018 as Alpha Kappa Alpha Day in the State of Illinois. And I believe that the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha may be somewhere in the gallery. All right. Founded at Howard University in 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is the nation's oldest African-American sorority. Since its inception, AKA has focused on its mission to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, promote unity and friendship amongst college women, help alleviate problems concerning girls and women in order to improve their social status, maintain a progressive interest in college life, and 10000127.docx 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 to be of service to all mankind. Under the leadership of International President Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson, AKA continues to fulfill this service imperative of the organization's founders with the international program Launching New Dimensions of Service which focuses on educational enrichment, health promotion, family strengthening, environmental ownership, and global impact. Prominent women who have been members of Alpha Kappa Alpha include First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and the late civil rights leaders, Coretta Scott King and Rosa Parks. In the other chamber, Senate… Senator Mattie Hunter and Senator Toi Hutchinson are also members of AKA. So, to cormen… commemorate this great organization, I offer House Resolution 980, designating May 9, 2018 as Alpha Kappa Alpha Day in the State of Illinois. Mr. Speaker."
"Thank you, Representative and welcome to the State Capitol. Those in favor of the Reso… those in favor of the Resolution will say 'yes'; opposed 'no'. The 'ayes' have it. And the Resolution is adopted. Thank you, Representative. Congratulations to all of you. House Resolution 1042, Mr. Sauer. Mr. Clerk."
"House Resolution 1042, offered by Representative Sauer. RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor and celebrate the life of Tom Vanderpoel for his many years of dedicated service to his community, the Citizens for Conservation, and natural restoration."
"Mr. Sauer." 10000127.docx 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to pay tribute and to recognize the life of one of my community's most humble and hardworking leaders who passed away last year. Today, we are joined by his brothers, some family members, and his wonderful wife, Gail, in the Speaker's Gallery. Thank you for coming. The man I wish to recognize today with this Resolution is Tom Vanderpoel, who worked tirelessly for decades as a behind-the-scenes leader but the driving force behind the Citizens for Conservation in Barrington. For those of you who may not be aware, Citizens for Conservation is a volunteer organization. It's a nonprofit dedicated to restoring the natural environment that was once all of northeastern Illinois. CFC's members diligently worked to restore and to maintain over 431 acres on 11 separate parcels. And the organization has led the charge to preserve almost 35 hundred acres in and around the Barrington area. Now, the reason why I tell you that is because Tom wouldn't want me to talk about him. He would want me to tell you about the group, their work, and their impact. But the truth is, Tom was a pivotal cornerstone of that group, of their work, and his impact was seen by everyone around him and by everyone who met him. Tom's environmental stewardship, his knowledge, his understanding about countless living things, and his dedication to conservation made him an expert in the field and in his field. Tom was a transformational environmental leader. He led by example and rolled up his sleeves on every project on every acre of CFC's land. I had the pleasure of meeting Tom about 10 years ago at Grigsby Prairie and working alongside him one Saturday. His kindhearted and humble nature could bring any 10000127.docx 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 volunteer in and his ability to empower others kept them involved. Tom's passion for preservation and restoration have transformed my community, my district, my county, my region, and in many ways, myself. Tom's family and countless friends can tell you better than me better than I ever could, how marvelous of a man he was. State and national wildlife organizations would agree. But I believe that the greatest testimony to his life, not just the legacy he leaves with a great family and not just the legacy he leaves with CFC, can be seen through the thoughtless planning and persistence of the landscape of northeastern Illinois. The landscape that today, and I would argue 2 hundred years from now, will bear the mark of a great life… the great life of Tom Vanderpoel. So, I would ask the Body to vote 'yes' on this Resolution. I would also ask that the Green Caucus Members be added as cosponsors. And please recognize his life with me, not with a moment of silence, but with a round of applause. He was a game-changer; he was a great man, great family, great organization, and we're humble for his life. Thank you."
"Thank you, Representative. Those in favor of the Resolution will say 'yes'; opposed 'no'. The 'ayes' have it. And the Resolution is adopted. Our best to the family. Thank you for joining us today. Representative Mah is recognized."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a point of personal privilege."
"Please state your point."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to introduce my Page for the day, Elisabet Barrios. She is a master's in public policy student at DePaul University. She grew up in California, as 10000127.docx 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 I did, but is now a constituent of my district in the neighborhood of Bridgeport. A graduate of UCLA, this fall Elisa will begin a PhD program in sociology at UC-Ervine. Please give her a warm Springfield welcome."
"Welcome. We're happy to have you with us today. Thank you. Representative Mayfield is recognized."
"I also would like to recognize my Page for the day, Priya Uppuluri. She is also a master's student at DePaul in public policy. Everyone, can we give her a round of applause and welcome her to the Capitol."
"Happy you're here with us today. Representative Bryant is recognized."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"I'd like to recognize my Page for a day, Trinity Ince. Trinity is 13 and goes to Murphysboro Middle School. She plays softball. Her dad, Travis, and Travis's fiancée, Kathy, and their little boy, Owen, is there along with grandma and grandpa, Tom and Sandy Ince. I know everyone's going to find this hard to believe, but they're my cousins. So, very happy to have Trinity here today to serve as my Page for a day."
Speaker Lang: "Thank you. Welcome aboard. Representative Christian Mitchell is recognized." Mitchell, C.: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed." Mitchell, C.: "So, standing up on the Democratic side of the gallery… I can't see them but I believe that they're there… are two more students from the DePaul master's program in the 10000127.docx 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 School of Public Service, Courtney Peterson and Robin Crutchfield. Courtney is going to be a Dunn Fellow in the Governor's Office of Management and Budget next year. Robin, upon graduation, would like to serve in public affairs at the university. Let's give them a warm Springfield welcome and wish them well."
Speaker Lang: "Welcome. Thank you. Representative Bellock. Representative Bellock."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And I'm proud also today to introduce two of my Pages who are down here visiting. And it's Graham Wierzbicki, who's from Clarendon Hills, Illinois, and he's in the fifth grade. And it's Logan Schultz, who's from Hinsdale, my hometown, and he's in the fourth grade. And their moms are up in the balcony and they came today to see what… how… what it looks like to make laws in Illinois. So, I ask everybody to give them a round of applause too. Thank you."
"Thank you. Chair recognizes the Majority Leader."
"Thank you very much, Speaker and Members of the House. This is a point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"Yesterday, we were besieged in the Capitol by people, men and women across the state, hundreds of them, who would very much like Illinois to be the 36th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Now, all of you… all of you in this chamber know that Illinois's own Constitution, the 1970 Constitution, includes equal rights for women. That is one of the tenets of that document and guess what, the world has not gone to hell in a handbasket because women are equal in the 10000127.docx 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 State of Illinois. But without ratification of the Federal Equal Rights Amendment, women in other states do not have the same privileges and opportunities that we do. Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment should not be a partisan issue. When Congress proposed the Amendment in 1972, it was with strong bipartisan support. And when in this Legislature when there were opportunities to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment through the early '80s, again, it was not a partisan issue. Women's rights are human rights. They're Republican rights and Democratic rights. My understanding is that the Governor just the other day talked about how much he cares for equality for all people. Well, I, today, call on Governor Rauner and I ask him please to encourage the Republican Members of this chamber to understand the importance of equality for all. And I encourage him to encourage you to say 'yes' to equal rights for women. Thank you, Speaker."
Speaker Lang: "Thank you, Leader Currie. Mr. Phillips is recognized."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"You may proceed."
"I'd like to introduce my Page today. If you would stand up, please. His name is Scott Verhaegen from Mattoon, Illinois. He currently goes to Lakeland College. He's in criminal justice major with a minor in psychology, which he's going to need that quite a bit if he stays in Illinois. But anyway, we won't go there. He's going to transfer to Eastern Illinois University as soon and I'm thankful for that. We need all the people we can get at Eastern Illinois University. And he helped me with my campaign. He's interested in politics 10000127.docx 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 and I'll hopefully discourage him from that. But anyway, I'd like to welcome him as a Page here today. Thank you very much."
"Mr. Costello."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"If I could have the Body's attention. We all live… we all live very busy lives. And we weren't here last week, but I think it's important to realize that we had the police memorial ceremony last week just as we had the fire fighter memorial ceremony yesterday. There are men and women out there working to protect the safety of our state and our families every day, every night, 24 hours of the day. There are some fire fighters, I believe, in the gallery, and there are many emergency services personnel who have gone out on shifts and not made it home. I would ask the Body to stand up, take a moment of silence for those men and women who have served our state and this country, and unfortunately, not returned home. And also, to pay respect to those men and women who serve us every day. Thank you."
"Moment of silence. Thank you, Mr. Costello. We appreciate it. Mr. Slaughter is recognized."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise on a point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed, Sir."
"Thank you. I'd like the Body to recognize that the greatest fraternity in the world ever, the great men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated who are here in the gallery right behind me. You heard that the AKAs were the oldest 10000127.docx 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 African-American sorority. Well, we are the oldest African- American fraternity in the country being founded December 4, 1906 on the campus of Cornell University. Our motto is 'First of All, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All.' We believe in manly deeds, love in mankind. If you delve into our 111- year history, you'll see that we've been at the forefront of addressing challenges and issues that confront the black community, but you'll also find that we develop leaders, we promote peace, and provide servicing and advocacy for our communities. If you didn't know, you work with us every day that you're down here. State Rep Chris Welch, Art Turner, Al Riley, myself as well as State Senator Elgie Sims are proud brothers of this organization. Please give our brothers, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, a well… a Springfield welcome. Thank you."
"Welcome to the Illinois House of Representatives. Thank you, Representative. Representative Flowers is recognized."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. A point of personal privilege, please."
"Please proceed."
"Would you please join me in wishing my granddaughter, Madison Jolee Perry, a happy birthday. She's seven years old today. Thank you."
Speaker Lang: "Thank you. Happy birthday. Thank you, Representative. Representative Gabel is recognized."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"You may proceed." 10000127.docx 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018
"Thank you. Just for the Members. I wanted to make an announcement that we are having a Green Caucus meeting today at 4:30. So, please come, Room 100, right in the Capitol. We'll be talking about some of the environmental Bills as well as the solar industry will update us on how many new solar projects we have and how many new jobs. We're ahead of schedule, so I'm interested to hear what they have to say. Hope you can come."
"Thank you, Representative. Mr. D'Amico."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed, Sir."
"I want to remind everybody here. It's that time of year again. Next week we're going to be having the House/Senate softball game. So, tonight we're going to have practice at 4:30 at Iles Park on South Sixth Street. So, please come on out. Get ready. We'll be having a few practices between now and game day next week. So, make sure next week you bring your stuff down, okay? Thank you."
"Thank you, Mr. D'Amico. Mr. Butler is recognized."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"Go right ahead."
"First of all, I'd like to recognize a former Member of this Body, Senator Chapin Rose, who asked me to recognize the Clinton Junior High dance team, just a few miles outside of the 87th District. They're here today as state champions of the junior high dance teams. So, please welcome the Clinton Junior High dance team today."
"Thank you for joining us. Congratulations. Mr. Crespo is recognized." 10000127.docx 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018
"Thank you, Speaker. On behalf of the Latino Caucus today, Nueve de Mayo, we invite you to our Cinco de Mayo event at the Abraham Lincoln from 6:30 to midnight. Gracias, Speaker."
"Si. Mr. Olsen is recognized."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"You may proceed. Are you going to speak to us in a foreign tongue?"
"I am not."
"Okay, Sir."
"Well, not… and so, I have a Page for a day. I have Rylee Monroe from Woodridge, Illinois. She is 11 years old in fifth grade at St. Scholastica. She's up there in the front on the Republican side. Let's welcome her to the House chamber."
"Welcome. We're happy to have you join us today. Representative Stuart."
"Thank you. Point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"Thank you. I also have a Page with us today. I would like to introduce Gillian Murphy. One week from today she will be a graduate of Edwardsville High School after she finishes there. She likes to read and she volunteers at an animal shelter and enjoys pet sitting. And after a road trip out to the Badlands and South Dakota and a fun summer, she's going to be attending DePaul and majoring in public policy with a minor in psychology."
"Excellent. Congratulations. Happy to have you with us. Representative Gordon-Booth."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A moment of personal privilege." 10000127.docx 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018
"Please proceed."
"In the gallery with us we have two women that are down here for AKA Day and they're incredibly special to me. We have Sister Beverly Thomas and Sister Paris McConnell, who are phenomenal leaders in the Peoria community, who are… who tirelessly give of themselves and give back to folks all across central Illinois. And I want to thank them for being here today. They have been women who have been in my life for most of my life and have had such an amazing impact on the woman that I am today. I just wanted to say thank you to both of them. Welcome to the Capitol."
"Thank you for being with us. Welcome. Mr. Ford."
"Point of personal privilege, Mr. Speaker."
"Proceed, Sir."
"Mr. Speaker, there's been a lot of talk about businesses not wanting to come to Illinois because of certain reasons. So, I want to build on Representative Gabel. I had an opportunity to meet a few people today: Tim Sheldon from the Illinois Solar Energy Association from La Grange, which is in my district. But there were two other people that I had the opportunity to meet and that's Amy Hart from Sunrun and she's from Wisconsin. And she says that they're moving to Illinois to provide jobs because Illinois is a great place to do business. And I also talked to Tim Powers and he's from Indiana. And he told me that they're bringing business to Illinois because Illinois is a great place to do business. So, I'm very happy to report that Illinois is a great place for people to come and do business. So, welcome to Illinois to all of the people that's here to grow our economy." 10000127.docx 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018
"Mr. Welch."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A point of personal privilege."
"Proceed, Sir."
"I would like the Body to welcome my shadow for the day. We've had a great time since yesterday afternoon and all day today. Welcome my constituent from Hillside, Miss Brittany Alston, who's up in the balcony on the… on the right side. She is a 2017 graduate of Illinois State University in Bloomington, and she is in her first year at the great DePaul University studying public administration. She sat in on several great meetings today including our higher education workgroup and has many ideas on how to bring our students back to our state. And certainly, one of those is promoting our great private universities like DePaul University and Loyola University and many ideas on how to help boost our public universities like her alma mater, Illinois State. So, please everyone, let's welcome Miss Brittany Alston to Springfield."
"Welcome. Thanks for joining us. Mr. Reick."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A point of personal privilege."
"Proceed, Sir."
"Being from Woodstock where the movie was filmed, I'm here to say, again, it's Ground Hog Day, not because it's in February, we're through that, but I'm talking about what we're seeing again from those folks who would want to drive business out of Illinois by the establishment of a progressive income tax. We had hearings last week where we were told that Illinois has the highest effective state and local tax rate in the nation. That is true when you const… when you count 10000127.docx 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 all property taxes, sales taxes, personal property replacement taxes, excise taxes, and the like. Our flat income tax rate does not contribute to regressivity only because it's a flat rate, and a flat rate by definition cannot do so. We were told that Indiana is doing so much better than we are, but you know, Indiana has a flat income tax rate as well. When we look at state tax collections… state and local tax collections per capita, Illinois ranks 10th in the United States. And yet, what people want to do… those who want to have a progressive income tax want to do want to increase that. They want us to be higher on the list of personal income taxes. The corporate income tax in this… in this state gives Illinois a rank of fourth in the country in corporate income tax collections. There was a progressive income tax Bill that was proposed here in the House this year, House Bill 3522, which it… and COGFA said that we would end up with a $5.2 billion increase to Illinois taxpayers through that income tax and it would be attributed to 77 percent of all taxpayers. The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, not coincidentally, issued a report last week when we were talking about the progressive income tax resolution that wanted to increase the rate took long a certain thing. I invite you to read the… read the report because it's so full of inaccuracies I don't have the time to point them all out. But one thing they did not point out was the fact that cost of living in Illinois is so much higher. They didn't… they didn't compare the states based upon what the… what it cost to live in Missouri or Iowa compared to Illinois. We all know that magnets have the ability to attract or repel depending upon 10000127.docx 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 what pole is being pointed toward them of another magnet. Positive… positive to positive repels, positive to negative attracts. I say that in order to point out a simple fact. California has one of the highest progressive tax rates in the country. It has 12 percent of the nation's population, but it has 34 percent of the nation's public aid burden. I think what we're looking at with a progressive income tax in California is repelling the ability to pay and attracting those who would take the money that is actually paid in. We were told many times about how much better Minnesota is with its progressive income tax rate that goes as high as 9.65 percent or something like that. But the thing they don't… they didn't point out was several things that the Minnesota miracle has that we don't have. Their workers' compensation rates are much less than what we have here in Illinois. Attorney's fees for compensation claims are capped at $26 thousand. I would ask the Sponsors of the progressive income tax what they intend to do about that. Property taxes in Minnesota average one percent of the… of the property value of the house. We know what the property tax bill… burden in Illinois is. The prevailing wage rates are much less than Illinois, about one-third. So, unlike Illinois, Minnesota doesn't have the issues that we have with regard to cost control, which nothing in this Resolution seems to want to address. Minnesota pays its K through 12 teachers a lot less than we do and its higher education budget is considerably less. It also benefits from the issue… from the nearby Bakken Oil fields… Minnesota workers are going over to North Dakota and bringing their money home. So, what I'm saying is that we 10000127.docx 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 have… we have the ability to fix our tax problem in this state. But a progressive income tax… without the kind of substantive and structural reforms that go along with it: workers' comp, prevailing wage. Those kinds of things will do nothing but drive out good money… migra… the migration statistics are irrefutable. Money can travel. If Ken Griffin were to move out of this state, how much of an impact would that have on our budget? There was a gentleman who just moved out of the State of New Jersey to Florida and the loss of his income to the State of New Jersey amounted to $140 million a year in their budget. If we continue to tax the people who produce in this state, we're going to be driving out income. We're going to be driving out income taxes, and we're going to blow holes in a budget that this state has never seen. I urge everyone to reconsider their support for a progressive income tax. This is not a good idea. We do not need to do this. Our flat tax is sufficient. We need to focus upon the cost of doing business in this state. Thank you, Mr. Speaker."
"Mr. Harris." Harris, D.: "Thank you, Speaker. A point of personal privilege, please."
"Please proceed. I'm going to assume all of you have points of personal privilege." Harris, D.: "Okay."
"So, just proceed." Harris, D.: "All right. Thank you. And the Gentleman from the 116th District made reference earlier to the police officers in the State of Illinois and the job that they do. And it's no secret that being a police officer can be a dangerous job. 10000127.docx 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 And in recent years, it's even gotten tougher. However, I'd like to point out that there was a study done by a consumer finance site of all the 50 states and the District of Columbia and what it showed was that Illinois, among those states, is one of the best states to be a police officer. And the Land of Lincoln ranked higher than all of the surrounding states: Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kentucky. So, they do a dangerous job, but it's a great state to do that job and a credit to all of the police officers in the State of Illinois and a credit to Illinois for welcoming them so well. Thank you."
"Representative Stratton. Please proceed."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege. I'd like to introduce two young people who are visiting here today who are in the gallery and if they could please stand. First of all, Dulana Reese is getting her master's in public service from DePaul University and she is shadowing me today. And Kevin Beck is my district office manager from the 5th District in Chicago, who is also here today. This is their first time in Springfield. And I'd really love it if all of you could give them a warm Springfield welcome. Welcome to the Capitol."
"Welcome. Happy to have you here. Thank you very much. Mr. Bennett."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege, please."
"Proceed, Sir."
"This definitely is the peoples' House today with all the people that have come to share a number of things and to 10000127.docx 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 see what's going on. It's a… it's a wonderful thing to do. I have two points of personal privilege, if I may, please. With us today is Brandon Rigney, who is also from the DePaul University School of Public Service. He is shadowing with me both yesterday and today. If you could, Brandon. If you would please stand. If you could… could we give him a round of applause, please and thank him for coming."
"Thank you for being here."
"Thank you. And a second, too, if I may. The second has to do with… in the gallery, there's a group of advocates from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. If you would also please stand, off to my left here. May is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month. And they're here at the Capitol for the very first time, the first Illinois Advocacy Day. So, if you all… could you please give them a warm Springfield welcome, off to my left, please."
"Thank you for being here. We hope you'll return again soon. Mr. Skillicorn. Proceed when you get to your microphone, Sir."
"I just rise for a request of point of personal privilege."
"That's why I said proceed…"
"There we go."
"…when you get to your microphone, Sir."
"So, just like you, I've been waiting patiently for a budget and a revenue estimate. So, to my surprise, when I read this morning in the Southern Illinoisan about the willingness of a budget estimate. And it sounds like there's willingness, but the line that pointed out to me was this how 10000127.docx 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 much above-the-line spending was necessary by another colleague of mine. And I don't think we should be focusing on above-the-line spending. I would love to be focusing on below- the-line spending. And the… when I think of above-the-line spending, I think that might be jargon for not actually obeying the constitutional provision for a balanced budget. And that's one thing that I want to point out. I hope that the public hears this. I hope the public reads this article in the Southern Illinoisan because this is a crucial issue. We haven't had a revenue estimate in over three years now. Some of that might be… fall on my Party's side, but also falls on the other Party's side. So, I would hope that the Majority Party and the Minority Party can work together, come up with a revenue estimate and we can stick to that. And the idea of above-the-line spending just doesn't sit well with me. We should be talking about below-the-line spending. We shouldn't be talking about above, side, over there, here or there. Let's talk about a revenue estimate. Let's get this done. And let's pass a balanced budget. Thank you."
"Representative Cassidy."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wouldn't want my shadow to be left out in the parade of DePaul shadows. I want to welcome Michael Serna, who's also a master's student at the DePaul University School of Public Service. He's had an opportunity to see a lot of action here today. So, welcome, Michael. He's also a proud resident of Rogers Park, so it's fitting that he's here on Loyola Day." 10000127.docx 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018
"Welcome. Thanks for being here. The Chair would like to announce that he has no points of personal privilege. Representative Wallace is recognized."
"I apologize, Mr. Speaker. I did not hear what you just announced."
"I only said I had no points of personal privilege."
"Oh, okay."
"You may proceed with yours."
"Thank you. May I please have a point of personal privilege. Thank you. So, I'm rising, as I stated, on a point of personal privilege. And I just feel that it's important for us to have, as I often say, an intellectually honest conversation around every issue. And I think that that is true of the progressive income tax or a graduated income tax in the State of Illinois. I will not belabor the point because I've spent seven months of my life talking about it. But I do hope that when it is time to evaluate what is best for the State of Illinois, we not only take into account businesses, we not only take into account property taxes, corporations, workers' comp, all of those things, but that we really think about the fact that our human services infrastructure is destroyed. And we think about the fact that we will continue to need to invest in our education system in the State of Illinois. And we do need to be able to have, I think, some additional revenues that will create a situation where property taxes can be decreased. The only way that that is going to happen is if we had a truly honest conversation. I think that as a state we are an anomaly. When you look across the country, when you find states that do have income tax 10000127.docx 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 rates, we are one of the very few, a handful of states that have a flat income tax rate. And I don't know that that's necessarily the most appropriate way to be doing things. Our neighboring states have a number of rates and they even have corporate tax rates that are higher than ours. So, you know, the argument of comparing apples to oranges and oranges to apples is something that we need to stop. We need to singularly focus on this issue and make sure that we have the revenues necessary to build a future that we would want to have in the State of Illinois. Thank you."
Speaker Lang: "Thank you, Representative. Representative Hernandez is recognized."
"Thank you, Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"So, I can't give enough recognition and gratitude to the men and women who keep our community safe and protected. I ask the Speaker and the Members of the Assembly to please give a nice, warm Springfield welcome to the Cicero fire fighters, my good friends from my district, right here to my right. Say hello and welcome them here."
"Welcome aboard. Thank you very much."
"Thank you…"
Speaker Lang: "Thank you, Representative. Speaking of fire fighters, the Chair recognizes Mr. Olsen."
"Thank you… thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate it. I have some firemen in the gallery, fire fighters from the Downers Grove Fire Department. I'd like them to be recognized, thank them for being here."
"Welcome aboard. Thank you. Mr. DeLuca." 10000127.docx 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018
"For the purpose of an introduction."
"Please, Sir."
"Some fire fighters from the great City of Chicago Heights. We have Steve Koenig, Greg Taylor, and Mark Panici. Thanks for being here, guys. Thank you for what you do."
"Thank you. Thank you, Mr. DeLuca. Mr. Evans."
"Point of personal privilege."
"Proceed."
"I just want to thank everybody around the Capitol, all my colleagues and definitely all of the staff and everyone who has their gym shoes on for Suits and Sneakers Day today. So, give yourselves a pat on the back because you're sending a message to all of those affected by cancer whether it's the patients. We have our fire fighters here and it's apropos because when you call 9-1-1 you have an emergency. We know that our fire fighters are usual… are always there, our paramedics helping individuals whether it's cancer, whether it's… whatever your illness is. So, thank you all. But thanks to all of those who have your sneakers on today for Suits and Sneakers Day. There'll be a rally today after Session at some point. So, come down. The topic could be the Tobacco 21 or what have you. But come down and rally and thank you."
"Thank you, Mr. Evans. Mr. Halpin."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, want to just recognize the Quad City delegation of the fire fighters over my left hand shoulder in the gallery representing the cities of Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline. Please give them a warm welcome." 10000127.docx 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018
"Thank you. And welcome to the Capitol. Mr. Clerk, Adjournment Resolution."
"Adjournment Resolution. House Joint Resolution 130, offered by Leader Currie. RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that when the two Houses adjourn on Thursday, May 10, 2018, the House of Representatives stands adjourned until Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at 12:00 o'clock noon, or until the call of the Speaker; and the Senate stands adjourned until Tuesday, May 15, 2018, or until the call of the President."
"Leader Currie moves for the adoption of the Adjournment Resolution. Those in favor say 'yes'; opposed 'no'. The 'ayes' have it. The Adjournment Resolution is adopted. Mr. Clerk, Agreed Resolutions."
"Agreed Resolutions. House Resolution 933, offered by Representative Andersson. House Resolution 9… correction… 1052, offered by Speaker Madigan. House Resolution 1053, offered by Representative Davis. House Resolution 1055, offered by Representative Bennett. And House Resolution 1056, offered by Representative Sosnowski."
"Leader Currie moves for the adoption of the Agreed Resolutions. Those in favor say 'yes'; opposed 'no'. The 'ayes' have it. And the Agreed Resolutions are adopted. Members, I have two announcements. Two announcements. First announcement: upon adjournment, Democrats will caucus immediately in Room 114. I going to say that again 'cause someone will miss it. Upon adjournment, Democrats will caucus 10000127.docx 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 127th Legislative Day 5/9/2018 immediately in Room 114. Republicans, do what you want. The second announcement is that Friday's Session will be canceled. And now, leaving perfunctory time for the Clerk, Leader Currie moves that the House stand adjourned 'til Thursday, May 10, at the hour of 11 a.m. Those in favor say 'yes'; opposed 'no'. The 'ayes' have it. And the House stands adjourned 'til Thursday, May 10, at the hour of 11 a.m. Democrats, an immediate caucus."
"House Perfunctory Session will come to order. Introduction and First Reading of House Bills. House Bill 5873, offered by Representative Costello, a Bill for an Act concerning regulation. House Bill 5874, offered by Representative Costello, a Bill for an Act concerning law enforcement. House Bill 5875, offered by Representative Breen, a Bill for an Act concerning appropriations. First Reading of these House Bills. Introduction and First Reading of Senate Bills. Senate Bill 2885, offered by Representative Manley, a Bill for an Act concerning regulation. First Reading of this Senate Bill. There being no further business, the House Perfunctory Session will stand adjourned." 10000127.docx 33