Illinois House Floor Debate — March 21, 2019

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Please let the Journal reflect that Representatives Bennett, Mazzochi, Parkhurst, and Welter are excused."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Point of personal privilege."

"Today we rise to pay tribute to the life and contribution of Effingham native and former State Representative, Charles Keller. Chuck passed away on January 22 of this year. It would've been his 80th birthday. Mr. Keller is a man that casts a long shadow in south central Illinois. He was always in the mix on everything and… Chuck made a… made a big impact on a lot of people. One of my favorite stories is a… includes a German foreign exchange student, Uwe Blab, who the Keller family hosted in their home 10100030.docx 3  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 30th Legislative Day 3/21/2019 in the early 1980s. People remember Uwe because he helped the Effingham Hearts Basketball team to the state championship game in 1980 and he went on to start at Indiana University and played professionally. And the most important point that I read is he still considers Chuck a father to this day. And Chuck was a… he had the vision to start the Thelma Keller Convention Center in Effingham, which has become a landmark location in our area. It's literally played host to almost every significant event in our region. And it's just really provided countless jobs and opportunities to the Effingham area. That was the Chuck Keller I always knew, the savvy entrepreneur who was a visionary and an icon when it came to development and job creation in Southern Illinois. Now I… I personally, I never knew Chuck Keller, the politician, that was far before my time. But in 1960, Chuck served as the President of the Young Democrats of Illinois and he was intimately involved in the successful campaign of a great American President, John F. Kennedy. He then went on to serve five consecutive terms in this very Body as a State Representative, representing the greater Effingham area from 1968 to 1977. So today, with the Keller family here in the Speaker's Gallery, we resolve that this Body should recognize, honor, and celebrate the life and achievements of Charles Keller, a man that served this state and his community with distinction and truly made a lasting impact in our region. Thank you so much. Thank you for being here."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is my honor today to introduce Logan Brinson. He goes to Alwood Elementary School, he's in Pre-K class. What's special about Logan is that he was actually featured yesterday on the NBC TV show 'Today Show'. Logan and his family, and his mom and dad are with him here today, Brandon and Leigh. Logan moved to our community of Alpha and discovered there was no library in the community of Alpha. So Logan, taking his own books first, made a little library. Taking an old newspaper stand box, removed the coin machine by the help of his dad and started placing his own personal books in that library. He then had a lot of receptive students come and it started to get recognized by the local 10100030.docx 10  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 30th Legislative Day 3/21/2019 media. He then established another mailbox or library in the town of Alpha, first appearing before the Alpha community mayor and the town board to ask permission to expand across the road, which they allowed. Earlier this week, he went to the town of Rio and petitioned their mayor and their city council to allow him to open a library in Rio, one of Logan's Little Libraries. As of today, Logan's received books donated from 24 states and 14 countries such as South Africa, Finland, Japan, Scotland, Germany just to name a few. Not only is he involved in his library, but in his school he plays soccer, he's in Pre-K, and also tee ball. And he's a Kuk Sool Won participant, too. He's recently tested for his white belt and blue stripe. Logan's just a great example of a young member of our community who saw something that could be fixed and at five years old, he took it upon himself to fix it. So if we could give Logan a great, warm welcome here today."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. I was… had to… had to call maintenance to change my lightbulb on my switch there for a minute but I rise to a point of personal privilege."

"Today is a special day for Representative Halbrook and I because we have the Arthur-Okaw Christian Conquering Riders Girls Basketball Team. This is the next generation of young, Republican, pro-life women. They had one team and one dream. Their dream wasn't to win a state championship but their dream was to win a national championship. And here a few weeks ago they journeyed to Bryan College in Tennessee to participant in the National Association of Christian Athletics at their national tournament. And the Conquering Riders that we used to abbreviate it AOC but we had… we had to change that too so there wasn't any confusion on what that was. But this is the… the girls Conquering Riders. And like I say, they were one team with one dream and they came home with a national 10100030.docx 13  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 30th Legislative Day 3/21/2019 championship, back to Arthur, Illinois and congratulations girls. I did want to acknowledge them personally. When I call your name, if you would wave to the folks down here, I'd appreciate it. Amanda Franklin, Madalene Henningsen, Anna Houk, Erin Oliver, Alexa Franklin, Lyla Kauffman, Lindsey Mast, Chloe Tiarks, Isabel Houk, Nancy Robey, Chloe Mast, Keisha Miller, Halie Rhoades, Liana Kauffman, Jodi Kuhns. Their coaches were Nicholas Kauffman, Schuyler Binion, Paul Henningsen. Their manager is Brian Helmuth, and the Athletic Director and Principal of the school is Greg Mast. Thank you very much and congratulations."

"I rise for a point of personal privilege."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I rise to honor a woman that changed her politics, and then changed history. I rise to honor Dr. Jeane Kirkpatrick, a towering figure in history, a trailblazing woman, a wife, a mother, a patriot, and a transcendent figure in the women’s… in women's history. Born in Oklahoma, Jeane’s father was an oil man. Jeane and her father moved to Mount Vernon when she was just 12 years old. 10100030.docx 19  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 30th Legislative Day 3/21/2019 Some folks don't know that Mount Vernon is the seat of the Oil and Gas Association for Illinois. After graduating from Mount Vernon Township High School, she went on to earn an associate’s degree from Stephens College in Columbia, MO, and her undergraduate degree from Missouri’s Barnard College at Columbia University. Her time at the University was spent as a member of the Young People’s Socialist League, the young wing of the Socialist Party of America. After college, Jeane went on to become a professor of governmental studies at Georgetown University. Jeane served as a campaign aide to Democrat Hubert Humphrey and was a member of the Platform Committee for the Democratic Party in 1976. But would you believe, that four short years later, Jeane would become Ronald Reagan’s foreign policy advisor? It's true, Ladies and Gentlemen. Jeane’s disillusionment with the party she had previously served in began when there was a nationwide shift in their policies from those of Truman and Kennedy to an anti- Vietnam War position. Her split with socialism was nearly complete in 1984, as she delivered a keynote speech at the 1984 Republican National Convention to nominate President Reagan for re-election. In April of 1985, Jeane switched her party affiliation to Republican. Jeane was named as the first woman to serve as United States Ambassador to the United Nations under President Reagan, where she regularly butted heads with globalists, statists, socialists, and communists. Regarding socialists, Jeane is quoted as saying, 'I came to the conclusion that almost all of them, including my father, were engaged in an effort to change human nature. The more I thought about it, the more I thought this was not likely to 10100030.docx 20  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 30th Legislative Day 3/21/2019 be a successful effort, so I turned my attention more and more to political philosophy and less and less to socialist activism'. Jeane continued here work after leaving government, becoming a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, and later co-founded the public policy organization, Empower America, and then served as a member of the National Association of Scholars, a group that works against liberal bias in American universities. In 2003, Jeane headed the U.S. delegation to the UN Commission on Human Rights. She died in 2003, a proud graduate of Mount Vernon Township High School, wrote a dozen books, was a member of the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame, a wife, a mother, and Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree. To close, let me provide you with my favorite of all of Jeane’s quotes, she said', 'I think that it’s almost always appropriate for Americans and American foreign policy to make clear why we feel that self-government is most compatible with peace, the well-being of people, and human dignity'. Thank you, Madam Speaker."

"Thank you. Point of personal privilege."

"Thank you. As we all know, we have many legislative caucuses in this… this Body. And I… matter of fact, I've lost count. But one of them that I'm involved in, it's very personal, is the Illinois Diabetes Caucus Foundation. It's very personal to me because I've told you about my daughter, who about eight years ago was discovered that she had Type 1 10100030.docx 21  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 30th Legislative Day 3/21/2019 Diabetes. It's a very tragic moment for any parent, for any child to be diagnosed with that infliction. What we've done over the past six years is that we've started the annual… we have a bowling tournament, which is a lot of fun. Which we do and this year it will be on April 9 at the AMF Strike Lanes from 6 to 8 p.m. What's important about this is that we raise money at it. And the money is going towards a very good purpose. One of the things that I found out for children who have been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, is that they feel isolated, they feel alone. But they often ask themselves, 'What did I do to have this come upon me?' And it’s a very, very sad moment for these kids 'cause they don’t know many other children in their schools that have Type 1 and it’s a lot of work. And it's very sad to watch a child have to live day by day checking their blood sugars, making sure that they aren’t going to get too high or too low, measuring their carbohydrates. In a sense, these children have lost their youth, I know it. But what's important, what we've done over the past few years and we've finally started last year, after raising money at this bowling foundation that we have been able to award scholarships to low income children who have been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes to attend the Over Night Camp by the American Diabetes Association. Which is extremely important, my daughter did this eight years ago, it has made a difference in her life. She is able to talk and to compare notes, but talk with other kids throughout the State of Illinois who also have Type 1 Diabetes. This is a chance for them to understand it's not their fault. And that there's a way to live a healthy life with a little extra work. It's 10100030.docx 22  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 30th Legislative Day 3/21/2019 extremely important and it's important that it's just not people of means, like me, who I can afford to send my daughter to that. But I want children who also have Type 1 Diabetes to be able to have that same experience. To be able to know that they are not alone, that they can talk to friends who have this infliction, and that they can continue on with a healthy lifestyle. Last year we awarded our first scholarships and thanks to everybody in this Body who have participated in this event. This is truly something which we do and we actually see a positive result come from it. So, I'm just encouraging everybody… I'm going to send out a sheet, if you could sign up and just add your name to the caucus. But more importantly, participate in this bowling match. And I'm glad to say that my team of ringers, I mean the people I have put together, have won every event since this started. And I'm seeing Representative Davis over there, and I'm glad that we'll beat you guys again next year. If you think you can actually put forward a team that can compete with my guys. So in any event, I guess that’s a throw down, as they say. And so, Representative Davis, if you want to have a gentleman's bet on the scores or the tournament, I'm more than open to it. But all seriousness aside folks, this has really been a great experience. It’s a fun event but we are finally accomplishing the goal in which this whole… the purpose of this bowling benefit is we are allowing these kids to have an opportunity who don’t have the money to be able to have a break. And also, more importantly, you know for those parents. It's a 24/7 job for parents to be able to watch their kids who have diabetes and this gives the parents a little bit of 10100030.docx 23  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 30th Legislative Day 3/21/2019 a breather to be able to know that their children are in good hands and they are safe. So thank you."

"Thank you, Representative Davis. I'll just say that our shirts will be very creative and I'm not sure that I'm at a place where I can disclose the name of this year's team, in this Body, in this forum. So anyway… so with that, I will just say that, let your spirit go wild and just expect the unexpected when you see our team show up ready to play. So with that, I also want to make one quick note, it's the 60th birthday of one of our most beloved staffers today. He's here on the floor. If we can give a round of applause for Frank Straus, over here on the right. Thank you, Frank. Happy birthday, Frank."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Point of personal privilege."

"I certainly commend my colleagues, Leader Durkin and all the Members who are so active helping the disadvantaged in our state, those who have medical conditions and illnesses. Today, I want to bring to your attention that this is World Down Syndrome Day. A friend of mine, Mary Tucker, back in 1978 in East Peoria, was a mother of a newborn with Down Syndrome. She and some of her friends in similar circumstances got together to see how they could help their children. Ultimately, they formed the Heart of Illinois Down Syndrome Association. This is the day they celebrate their children. Certainly, we know that the children have a genetic condition, but let me just share a few words that Mary posted today about her son. Her son, who has an interest in government and is going to be with us in a few weeks as a Page. She highlighted, Down Syndrome and those who have Down Syndrome bring with it 10100030.docx 26  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 30th Legislative Day 3/21/2019 the ability to see the good in people. To bring joy and happiness into our families and communities while bringing a special perspective that has the ability to change other people's perceptions and expectations. We all know people with Down Syndrome, they are loving, caring, and they are a bright light in our lives. I thank each and every one of you for what you do in your communities for not just those with Down Syndrome, but who have afflictions and who need our help and not just in our communities but those of us who step forward and offer legislation to help them. So thank you very much and happy World Down Syndrome Day."

"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Point of personal privilege."

"Had a little history made this week folks. For the first time one of our public sector unions brought up the word insolvency in a release. The Teacher's Retirement System issued the following on the 19th: The Teacher's Retirement System is currently 40 percent funded. The system is at a growing risk of insolvency in the event of an economic downturn. This danger is the direct result of eight decades of state contributions that have always fallen short and have actuary based funding. TRS's long term investment returns consistently exceed the systems expectations but investment income alone will not be enough to prevent insolvency. This is the first time any of our pension systems have used that word. They're finally realizing, and they're making us realize the danger that we are all in here. They go on to say that TRS opposes any fiscal 2020 budget for the State of Illinois that appropriates the system less than 4.813 billion dollars, the contribution calculated under the State Pension Funding Law and certified by the system in January 14, 2019. 10100030.docx 28  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 30th Legislative Day 3/21/2019 I am not the first one to say that the Governor's request for funding of the Teacher's Retirement System in the upcoming budget falls short of that amount by 200 million dollars but 200 million here and 200 million there and pretty soon you're talking about real money. Obviously, the first response of those who want to do this are going to say 'we need to raise taxes'. Why not, let's see where we can save some money? We do a lot of legislating based on press releases in this state. How many programs are out there that do redundant things that other programs do and waste money? Where are the… where is the examination or where are they audits of outside vendors to show that the money we're giving them is actually being spent wisely. Before we raise one dime in taxes, we owe the people of the State of Illinois the privilege of knowing how we spend their money. I offered up a Bill at the beginning of this Session, HB 275, that would create a commission on fiscal responsibility. Which would require a deep dive into every administrative agency in this state to see where redundant programs exist, where management practices fall short, where we have inadequate controls over how money is spent. I can't even get a subject matter hearing on that Bill. Instead we have people running around saying we need a progressive income tax, we need this, we need fees, we need that. Before we raise one more dime of revenue in this state, we need to figure out and tell people how the money that the actually give us is spent. If you want a pre fund or advance pay pension funds in order to eliminate the ramp and flatten the payments, well by golly, why don’t we find out how we can fund that… prefund that through cost savings in the money that we already have. 10100030.docx 29  STATE OF ILLINOIS 101st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 30th Legislative Day 3/21/2019 I cannot believe that there is absolutely no movement, whatsoever, in controlling costs in this state when we know darn good and well that every time we turn around, we're spending money we don't have. It's about darn time that what we do is take responsibility for our actions here and let's find out where the money is being spent before we put an extra 4.8 billion dollars into a pension fund that is on its way to insolvency through money that is raised, yet again, from the taxpayers and not coming out of what they already give us. We need to focus on this folks. We got a budget coming up and I don't know if we're going to be able to do it if what we're going to get is a $4.8 billion demand from a pension system and a Governor and a Legislature that's only willing to allocate a lot less. The first thing you have to do when you want to get out of a hole is to stop digging. We need to stop digging and we need to stop digging now. Thank you."