Illinois House Floor Debate — January 13, 1982

"The House will be in order and the Members will please be in their seats. We'll be lead in prayer this afternoon by Father Costa from the Church of the Immaculate Conception of Springfield, Illinois. Father."

"Let us pray. God, our Father, You guide and govern everything with order and love. Look upon our Governor and this Assembly of our leaders and fill them with the spirit of Your wisdom. Help them to know what is pleasing to You and may their work and their decisions be for the peace and well being of the people of our state. We pray through Christ, our Lord. Amen."

"Thank you, Father. We'll be led today by the pledge by Representative Jay Ackerman." Ackerman, 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."

"Roll Call for Attendance. Take the record, will you, Mr. Clerk? With 149 Members present, a quorum of the House is present. Representative Lechowicz, for what purpose do you rise?"

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the record kindly indicate... Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the record kindly indicate Representative Vitek and Huff are excused because of illness?"

"Representatives who?"

"Vitek and Huff."

"And Huff. The record will so indicate. House Joint Resolution #63. Mr. Clerk, will you read the Resolution please?"

"Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the 82nd General Assembly of the State of Illinois, the 1  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 Senate concurring herein, that the two Houses shall convene in Joint Session on January 13, 1982 at the hour of 12:30 o'clock p.m. for the purposes of hearing His Excellency, Governor James R. Thompson, present to the General Assembly his report on the condition of the state, as required by Article V, Section 13 of the Constitution of the State of Illinois."

"Representative Telcser."

"Mr. Speaker and Members of the House, this is the Resolution which will convene the Joint Session. I now offer and move the adoption of House Joint Resolution 63."

"Gentleman moves for the adoption of House Joint Resolution #63. All in favor will signify by saying 'aye', all opposed by saying 'no'. The 'ayes' have it and the Resolution is adopted. House Joint Resolution #64. Read the Resolution, Mr. Clerk."

"Resolved by the House of Representatives of the 82nd General Assembly of the State of Illinois, the Senate concurring herein, that when both Houses adjourn on Wednesday, January 13, 1982 they stand adjourned until Wednesday, March 3, 1982 at 12:00 noon."

"The Gentleman from Cook, Representative Telcser."

"Mr. Speaker and Members of the House, I offer and move the adoption of House Joint Resolution 64, the Adjournment Resolution."

"Gentleman moves for the adoption of House Joint Resolution #64. All in favor will signify by saying 'aye', all opposed 'no'. The 'ayes' have it and the Resolution is adopted. The Regular Session of the House will now stand in recess. Mr. Doorkeeper."

"Mr. Speaker..."

"Just a minute, Mr. Doorkeeper. The House will be in order." 2  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982

"Mr. Speaker,..."

"Mr. Doorkeeper."

"...the Honorable President Rock and the Members of the Senate are at the door and seek admission to this chamber."

"Mr. Doorkeeper, will you please admit the Honorable Senators? The hour of 12:30 p.m., as designated in the House Joint Resolution having arrived and passed, the Joint Session of the 82nd General Assembly will now come to order. President Rock, welcome to the Illinois House. Senator Philip, welcome to the Illinois House. Will the Members of the House and our esteemed guests in the Senate please take their seats? Mr. Clerk, is a quorum of the House present?"

"A quorum of the House is present."

"President Rock, is a quorum of the Senate present?"

"Mr. Speaker, I'm happy to report that a quorum of the Senate is present."

"There being a quorum of the House and a quorum of the Senate in attendance, the Joint Session is convened. Mr. Clerk, will you read Joint Senate Resolution #4 please?"

"Resolved that the Committee of Ten be appointed, five from the House, by the Speaker of the House, and five from the Senate, by the Committee on Committees of the Senate, to wait upon His Excellency, Governor James R. Thompson, and to invite him to address the Joint Assembly. Members of the House are Ted Meyer, Tuerk, Jake Wolf, Katz and Leon. Members of the Senate are Senators Joyce, Buzbee, Egan, DeAngelis and Keats."

"The Chair recognizes the Majority Leader, Arthur Telcser." 3  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982

"Mr. Speaker and Members of the House, I now offer and move the adoption of Senate Joint Resolution #4."

"The Gentleman moves for the adoption of Senate Joint Resolution #4. All in favor will signify by saying 'aye', all opposed 'no'. The 'ayes' have it and the Resolution is adopted. Pursuant to the Resolution, will the Committee of Escort please convene at the rostrum and then retire to the rear of the chamber and await His Excellency, the Governor? While we're waiting for the Committee to come to the rostrum, I'd like to point out to you folks here today that I'm joined on the rostrum by the Secretary of State, Mr. James Edgar and by the State Treasurer, Mr. James Cosentino. That's Jerry Cosentino and James Edgar. He threatened my check if I didn't straighten that out. Representative Collins."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. I would like to introduce some distinguished Ladies in the gallery. First of all, the wife of our Secretary of State, Mrs. Brenda Edgar, the...the wife of our Speaker, Mrs. Laura Lynn Ryan and her two daughters, Jeanette and Jan...Jeanann..Joanne, the wife of our Majority Leader and family, Mrs. Dorothy Telcser, his daughter Sharon and Karen, and his mother-in-law, Mrs. 'Harliv'. On a personal note, Mr. Speaker, my bride of six weeks, Donna Collins. In addition to the Ladies, may I introduce the Governor's Chief of Staff, Arthur 'Quorn' and the Illinois Republican State Chairman, Don Adams."

"Mr. Doorkeeper."

"Mr. Speaker, the Honorable Governor of the State of Illinois, James Thompson, and his party wishes to be admitted to this chamber."

"Well, admit the Honorable Governor, Mr. Doorkeeper. Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, it's my 4  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 honor to present to you His Excellency, James R. Thompson, the Governor of the State of Illinois. Governor Thompson."

"Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Members of the 82nd General Assembly, my fellow constitutional officers and my fellow citizens, this message, my assessment of the state of our State marks the half-decade point in two relationships; my relationship with the people of Illinois as their Governor and my relationship with Members of the General Assembly as partners in our efforts to make and keep our Illinois government wise, prudent and compassionate, and to offer our people the opportunity where policies of State Government can make a difference to enhance the quality of their lives. In preparation for this address, I have reviewed the five previous messages which I have delivered to you. They set the context for what must be said today, and so, for a moment, let me go back. When we met for the first time in 1977, relationships between the Executive and Legislative Branches of government, business and labor were as frozen as the weather we endure in Illinois today. I described our fiscal condition as "not good" because three years of reckless deficit spending had drawn our bank balance down to unacceptable levels. We had been led to believe we could continue to spend but not tax, with no clear plan for economic enhancement and no regard for the morrow. Indeed, in the year of 1977, so inextricably was the state of our State bound up with our fiscal condition that my address was combined with the first budget message and delivered to you in March. The road back to economic common sense in Illinois was a long one built, in part, on our efforts and, in part, on a reviving national economy. Since that time, while the road has winded up and down, our mark has been steady for we have rebuilt the economy of this State in the 5  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 last five years by designing and living within a basic plan. That took leadership; yours and mine. What was that plan? First, to keep the increase in state spending each year below the rate of inflation. We have done that five years out of five. Second, to keep the increase in state spending from the general funds below the growth in personal income for Illinois citizens. We have done that five years out of five. Third, to keep state spending below current revenues. We have done that for three years out of four. The verdict on fiscal 1982, our current year, is not yet in, but with firm action by you to follow the stringent economic measures I have set in place, we have a chance to achieve it even this year. The only year we did not was in fiscal 1981 where, by thoughtful, deliberate and common agreement between the General Assembly and the Governor, we spent down some of the money we had put away for the hard days of recession so that we could avoid a general statewide tax increase that might dampen economic expansion or deep, hurtful cuts across the board in vital state services needed by our people. This drawdown of a balance deliberately built up as a cushion against the consequences of economic hard times was, I believe, the only proper course for that fiscal year, and it was done in measured, deliberate fashion. We did not spend our resources as though there were no tomorrow. We spent them so there would be a tomorrow. What is the result of following these three rules for the last five years? First, we have maintained our Triple-A credit rating - the only major industrial state in the nation to still have it. That means our creditors know that we keep our fiscal word. Second, we have managed to live within our means, an old-fashioned and rarely seen concept for governments at all levels today. For at least three years, we lived 6  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 within our current income but always within our total resources. That means that, for the majority of the time, we have been budgetarily balanced. We have always been constitutionally balanced, and unlike some of our neighbors, we are not broke, going broke or going to borrow money to support spending that we cannot afford. Third, State Government in Illinois is delivering more services of greater quality to more people than at any time in our history. Fourth, we have achieved this proud record while, as a sum of the last five years, making State Government and its cost a smaller, not a larger, part of our peoples' lives. Having suffered recessions in the last decade, having seen the cost of state services wrenched by double digit inflation for part of that time and having withstood a general increase in state taxes for nearly a dozen years, that is no small accomplishment. That is calm, confident, steady and progressive leadership. That is an administration that knows where it is going and has had the ultimate trust and agreement of the peoples' legislative Representatives. For that, I thank you and so do the people of Illinois. For without resolute leadership, it could have easily been otherwise. If we had not sought and won the savings suggested by the Governor's Cost Control Task Force between 1977 and 1979, we would be bankrupt today. If we had not ultimately forged a compromise to phase out the sales tax on food and drugs year by year, we would be bankrupt today. If we had not agreed to temporarily hold back full business and farm machinery tax relief, we would be bankrupt today. If I had not vetoed, in four out of five years of my administration, spending and tax relief beyond our means and been ultimately upheld by this Assembly, we would be bankrupt today. If I had not, with the bi-partisan aid of our state's congressional 7  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 delegation this year, fought and won crucial battles within the administration and in the halls of Congress, our state would be bankrupt today. For that, I thank the President and our congressional delegation and our people ought to thank them too. Finally, and sometimes overlooked, all of this was achieved under the first administration in the history of the state to give general tax relief to our people. That tax relief, in the five budgets of this administration, will total more than one billion dollars. And yet, unlike some other states which also gave tax relief, we are not broke, we are not borrowing to pay bills and we are not cutting vital services. At this point, it would be appropriate to say a few words about our new local/state/federal relationships - the new federalism. First, the march of the national administration and the Congress towards a new relationship with State Governments began in the last administration, not the present one. Federal budget cuts in state programs began in the Carter administration, and it was the Congress of 1980 that voted an end to state revenue sharing - a flat out loss of 113 million dollars a year for Illinois. Had we kept only that one program, our state's budget balance would be ample to meet almost any contingency today. This is not to say that we should not have begun the process of weaning ourselves from free federal dollars, that were never free, much sooner. We should have. And this is not to say that the present administration and the present Congress are not basically right in their goal to alter state/federal relationships. We need more freedom to control our own destinies, and define our own priorities even at some fiscal cost. And I do not believe that in the years ahead, no matter who is President and which party controls the Congress, that we are ever going back. Nor should we. 8  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 Continued saying 'yes' to every voice that says 'spend', saying 'no' to every voice that says 'pay for it', and running the federal printing presses 24 hours a day would ruin this nation. And we all know it. Second, only the growth in federal spending has been restrained. There still remains the ability to fight for and achieve our fair share of available federal dollars to which our citizens, as federal taxpayers and national consumers, contribute. Since the beginning of the Reagan administration, in January of last year, I have made 23 trips on official business to Washington, to the White House, the Cabinet and to the Congress. A rough calculation shows that we gained 190 million dollars in additional resources in transportation funding beyond that which we originally might have expected, and we prevented the loss of 256 million dollars in Medicaid reimbursement, unemployment compensation taxes and borrowing costs and local revenue sharing. That works out to about 20 million dollars earned or saved a trip; clearly worth the time investment of 32 days and; also, beyond dispute, a necessary, even imperative function of a Governor's job in the decade of the 1980's. Third, I have felt free, in our administration's actions on Capitol Hill, to try and impact the middle lines of the Reagan budget to the benefit of Illinois while operating within the bottom lines acceptable to the President and necessary for the economic health of the nation. That is why, with current defense spending estimates at 200 billion a year and projected to go to 230 billion dollars next year, I have asked the President and the Secretary of Defense why a relatively modest amount, say three or four percent, could not be shifted to down-home defense measures. That money invested in domestic spending would quickly aid economic recovery, for 9  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 example, in transportation and housing, or permanently strengthen our economy, for example, aid for older cities with infrastructures in place and paid for. And this is just as important to our national defense as is military hardware. For the question to be answered by defense spending must always be; spending for what, to protect against what, for the defense of what? I believe the country we are to defend should be one with compassion for those in need, one possessing a sound economy and a strong dollar that nurtures the dreams of the young and keeps our promises to our senior citizens. That is why our down-home defenses, our internal defenses aganst unequal economic opportunity, must not be ignored in calculations of total defense spending. Looking back through five State of the State Messages and legislative agendas reminds us of remarkable achievements beyond the fiscal side. Let me just highlight some. Senior citizens: For example, more than 10,000 senior citizens will receive in-home care this year from an appropriation of more than 12 million dollars. That program did not exist in 1977 when I first warned against the danger of over-institutionalization. It began under this administration. Children: Millions more spent to fight the worst of crimes - child abuse and neglect; new programs to safeguard health and education; laws freeing up adoption restrictions to bring love and a permanent home to those who have neither and want both. Crime and correction: Tough new sentencing laws that put people who belong in prison in prison for longer periods of time, thus stretching the time of our freedom from their criminal violence; thirty-five hundred new, humane prison bed spaces rationally planned, built and paid for, though more will be necessary, and more resources for state and local law enforcement and training. Agriculture: More equitable 10  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 local taxing policies, encouragement of agricultural research and development through Food for Century III, soil conservation and land use programs. Those in need: Increases in grants for needy persons, targeted reductions of Medicaid to preserve vital services, increased assistance for the handicapped and greater access to the world in which most of us live, higher quality care and better programs for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled. Education: Record appropriations for elementary, secondary and higher education and elimination of disparities in educational funding between sectors. Governmental changes: Agencies consolidated and reformed, new and necessary agencies created, Human Rights, DCCA, Law Enforcement and Nuclear Safety, for example. The highest participation in leadership positions by women and minorities in the history of this state belongs to the Thompson administration. And, corporate personal property tax... (applause)...corporate personal property tax equitably replaced after a decade of inaction, and fair administration of election laws achieved. Energy: Renewed emphasis in conservation and new emphasis on coal utilization, coal conversion of state facilities and greater state use of alternative energy resources. Renewing and enhancing our infrastructure: New and important buildings on college campuses. Concrete and steel, not wishes and promises, on roads and bridges. The State of Illinois Center in Chicago, the Revenue Computer Center and agriculture buildings in Springfield, renovation of the State Fair, these are but samples of leadership of which you and I can be proud. I do not mean to imply that others were not achieved or are less important, but history surveyed to put current services and failures into perspective must necessarily be sketchy. I must also, 11  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 however, confess my deep disappointment with the failure of the legislative process in at least two areas - transportation and the Equal Rights Amendment. I feel compelled to observe to my friends, at least on the Democratic side, that had their votes followed their applause we would have had no disappointment in either. I think it fair to recognize that when I became Governor in 1977 the greatest opportunity to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, when there was less opposition and when other states around us were ratifying, had already been let slip away. On the other hand, I have called and worked for ratification since I had been a candidate and a Governor, and I will continue to do so. It may be that time has run out for national ratification. It may be...(applause)...It may be and is now probable that the issue will be decided in the Supreme Court. Whatever the national outcome, however, I do not understand why there is not overwhelming support, even three-fifths support, in these chambers for extension to our brothers and sisters across the nation of the same right to equal treatment that we have enjoyed in our State Constitution, without controversy, for more than a decade. I believe... I believe that in the heritage of Illinois we owe that duty to the nation, no matter what the nation or the Supreme Court does, and we ought to do it. We must do it before the first of July. At the same time, however,... At the same time, however, I continue to believe, as I have publicly expressed time and again, that boycotts, single issue candidacies and retribution in place of persuasion are, within the context of the Illinois political system in 1982, not only divisive, but self-defeating. In every State of the State Address, since the first in 1977, I have urged this Assembly in the strongest possible terms to give us additional resources to 12  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 build and rebuild our highway system. The need was critical in 1977. It is even more critical now. I am enough of a political realist and a transportation pragmatist (sic, pragmaticist) to understand and agree that this issue cannot be addressed and should not be addressed without consideration of some additional state assistance, beyond that which we currently offer in equipment purchases, for properly operated mass transit in the RTA area. First, though the dollars are small, the principle is well established. We currently give operating subsidies to downstate mass transit systems and the pressure to increase those subsidies, if federal subsidies are phased out, will be strong. Second, the establishment and maintenance of an efficient and well-run mass transit system in the Chicago metropolitan area is critical to the continued economic health of our state, our whole state. And whether they will admit it or not, everybody knows it or ought to know it. This is not to say that the current mass transit system in the RTA runs well or has ever run well. It does not. It has not. Though efforts at reform of the CTA by the Mayor and the Board appear to be making some headway, the state's voice in the operation of the CTA is a minority one and properly so, I believe. But the state's voice in the operation of the RTA, for which subsidies are sought, is now and always has been non-existent. Neither the Governor nor the General Assembly have a single appointment to the Board, and the attitude displayed by a majority of the RTA Board to the General Assembly consists of a combination of poor mouth and arrogance, and their unequal treatment of commuters within the system has been demonstrated time and again. Four principles must be established in practice, therefore, before additional aid can and should be considered: (1) 13  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 There must be significant progress toward containing administrative costs. Management must be willing to make sacrifices. (2) Wage and condition settlements with employee groups must be moderate. In times when the survival of essential government services is at stake, labor must be willing to make sacrifices. (3) There must be significant commitment to self-help measures, and revenues raised locally must reflect, at least in rough measure, services received allowing for economic interdependence of closely aligned geographic regions. (4) There must be a governance structure that is responsive to its constituents and allows for strong financial management. The RTA Board must be reapportioned to fairly represent the citizens within the district. If there is progress is each of these areas, then you and I should consider: (1) The appropriate level of state subsidy, if any. (2) Alternative reimbursement or payment schedules for funds which might be owed the state to ease cash flow difficulties. (3) Short term or interim financing measures. The time has long passed for a solution to our transportation problems. Regional and political differences must be put aside. Philosophical and financial differences must be debated and decided. In the matter of our economic health, we are all one people. In the matter of economic opportunity, we are all one people. When one part of our people hurt, we all hurt. When part of our people lose their jobs, we all hurt and we all pay for unemployment compensation, for public aid, for job-retraining, for related unemployment. And it is time we recognized that, while many elements are important to the building and maintenance of a good business climate, one which fosters both the ability to have and hold a job, make a profit and invest, none is more important or more 14  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 common to all businesses, trades and professions than well-run, affordable, diverse, transportation systems for people and goods. They are literally our economic backbone and we can't afford to break it. Where do we go from here? We must continue the course of sound fiscal planning and tight control of spending during the balance of this year and into next. Though increases in spending in this fiscal year over last have been held to less than one percent, the lowest in 25 years, we must implement two immediate steps in addition. First, because of rapid changes in economic conditions, federal cutbacks and the recession; we've experienced a drop in both sales and income tax revenues and an increase in welfare spending. Normally, we could absorb mild swings in the national economy with little difficulty. However, it has become necessary to meet these downward economic swings with adjustments to the state budget. In order to strengthen our cash flow position, I am proposing that the double school aid payment we make in June be spread over a two month period, June and July, for fiscal years 1982 and 1983. Under the details of this program, no school district will lose one cent of appropriated school aid, and I will shortly meet with representatives of elementary and secondary education to reassure them on this point. Second, in November I announced a 116 million dollar proposal to boost our general funds balance. This plan included a new tax enforcement program to increase the collections of present state taxes and a requirement that state agencies implement a two percent reserve in their operational funds during the current fiscal year and a change in our method of taxing alcohol. This liquor tax proposal, the first change since 1969, would equalize our tax on alcohol by taxing the amount of alcohol purchased rather than the quantity of 15  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 liquid and raise the equalized taxes approximately 15 percent, or little more than a penny a drink. The change would mean an additional 12 million dollars in revenues in fiscal year 1982 and more than 50 million in fiscal year 1983. These revenues, in turn, would be used primarily for budget stablization in the areas of education and mental health programs. My proposal would provide a more equitable means of implementing a liquor tax, and I think our people would overwhelmingly trade a penny a drink for better education and mental health. In the longer range...(applause)...In the longer range, I believe at least three additional steps are necessary to achieve state and local tax reform: (1) Last year I asked this Assembly to help the job climate of this state by passing a law which would prevent local government from unfairly reclassifying personal property as real estate to avoid the consequences of the Corporate Personal Property Tax Replacement (sic, Replacement Tax) which is working and working well. That Bill should be a high priority in this Session and should be passed. In addition, I have instructed the Department of Revenue to remove from the Assessors Manual any language which could possibly encourage wrongful reclassification of personal property. (2) Last year I signed the Truth in Taxation Act which gives our people greater knowledge and a greater voice in determining local property tax issues. The time has come for further reform of our property tax system. For some years, some local assessment officials have under-assessed property in their counties knowing that the state would be obligated, under our law, to review assessments and issue a multiplier to equalize assessments, both for the purposes of the school aid formula and to achieve equity in taxing districts which overlap county lines. But for these 16  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 purposes the state could simply get out of the multiplier business and let local government benefit or suffer from the action or inaction of local officials. Since this cannot be done, I propose we end this charade at tax time by making the multiplier a divider as well. While the multiplier would still be used to equalize assessments, it would also be used to divide the tax rate. The result would be that, if local assessing officials fail to do their job, local property taxes would decrease, not artificially increase as they do now. This simple change would put local taxes in local hands, something local government officials, long opposed to tax and spending ceilings, have advocated. Hopefully, their enthusiasm for this principle will not suddenly wane. (3) The last fundamental reassessment of our state and local tax structures occurred 13 years ago, in 1969. It is time we looked again. I do not know whether the aggregate tax burden of the average Illinois taxpayer should be lower, higher or the same. I do know that tax reform should be the goal of legislative action, apart from the question of total tax burden. To that end, I will shortly appoint a State and Local Tax Reform Commission representing all the people of Illinois to give me their suggestions and recommendations on this vital issue by December of 1982 so that action by the 83rd General Assembly may be fully debated and wisely enacted. Finally, the area most important to our immediate and long range future - how to bring more jobs to and keep more jobs within Illinois. First, Illinois continues to be a prosperous state. For the last 25 years, we have maintained our position relative to the other contiguous states. Despite slower growth rates for Illinois during the past decade, we have remained relatively constant in population, personal income and 17  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 non-agricultural and manufacturing employment. Let me say that another way. The paradox is that even though other states have grown faster during the past 25 years; for example, some Sun Belt states, they have not caught up with the basic strength of the Illinois economy. In fact, southeastern states remain the poorest in the country, even though they are some of the fastest growing. One of the first items on my agenda as a new Governor in 1977 was to reverse the decline of our state's business climate. The beginning for that plan of economic development was the move to put our state on a sound financial footing; because, it was apparent to me that no business would be interested in expanding or locating in Illinois if we could not even keep our governmental House in order. The second major step of this plan was the need to reorganize three departments under the umbrella of the new Department of Commerce and Community Affairs. In only two years, this organization has made extraordinary strides toward boosting our business climate. This past fiscal year alone, DCCA, together with the Governor's senior staff for economic development, assisted in the location and expansion of 47 plants employing more than 4,000 people. These accomplishments alone represent a total capital expenditure of more than 800 million dollars. Additionally, 35 foreign firms located in Illinois or acquired Illinois firms last year creating more than 2,830 new jobs. In 1980, Dunn and Bradstreet ranked Illinois fifth in the nation in the number of business incorporations and included in these new firms are high technology businesses. We have a strong existing base from which to grow, and just this past year Bell Labs announced plans to open a research and development facility near Naperville for telecommunications and software equipment. With this 18  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 operation, which will newly employ about 2,000 people, Bell Labs will have only two facilities outside of its New Jersey headquarters and both will be located in the State of Illinois, the only state in the union to receive these manufacturing facilities. Similarly, GTE, a manufacturer of high-technology switching products, plans to open a facility in Northlake in 1982 that eventually will employ 1,000 new people. A major reform in the business climate took place this summer in our unemployment insurance system, but this recent accomplishment represented more than reform. As you will recall, in 1977, there was extraordinary distrust between both business and labor and the Governor's Office to the point where they still talk about it today. I determined early on that we had to bring all sides together, and the common denominator for that partnership had to be trust. The results of the unemployment compensation reform marked one of the first major business/labor/state partnership initiatives in recent Illinois history, and I'm proud of that and you should be too. Because when businesses look at the economic climate in our state, they also look at the relationship between business and labor. This reform was a major indication of the willingness of these two groups to work together, and this is the spirit of cooperation and support that will carry us forward through the decade of the '80s. It will be a spirit of recognizing our faults, moving to correct them, but also talking about our strengths and there are many. Illinois is the second largest exporter in the nation and first in agricultural products. We rank first in commercial building. In the last year for which statistics were kept, 1980, no state out of the 50 put up more commercial buildings than the State of Illinois, and we rank second in housing 19  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 headquarters of Fortune 500 companies. Nearly one-third of the total gross national product is produced within a 300 mile radius of Chicago. Our central location makes us America's transportation center. Five interstate systems run through Illinois, and Chicago is the largest railway exchange in the country, followed by East St. Louis as the second major exchange. Our internal waterways ship more material than the Rhine River in Europe. We are blessed with an abundance of natural resources. Besides highly productive agricultural land, we are rich in oil deposits and in water, which is becoming increasingly precious in many states around the country. I'm fiercely proud of these strengths and you and I have done even more this past Session to make our business climate stronger. This year we expanded our Illinois Industrial Development Authority bonding ceiling from 100 million to 500 million. We created a Small Business Regulatory Task Force to look into burdensome regulations. In August, you sent me the investment tax credit Bill to encourage manufacturers, retailers and mining operators to expand operations and to locate in Illinois, and I approved it. That same month we agreed on another Bill allowing local taxing districts to reduce property taxes for new firms in Illinois. These measures augment our current phase-out of the state sales tax on manufacturing and farm machinery equipment which will provide well over a half a billion dollars in tax relief when fully implemented. To further expand our economic growth activity, I will be urging development in new areas: First, a continued strengthening of our business and labor relationships, second, capital formation. During the first of the small business conferences we held recently, leaders told me that access to capital is the biggest issue they face. Since that 20  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 time, I have been meeting with bankers throughout the state to encourage the need for capital formation. At out next meeting, we will further develop plans to build capital pools through private sector resources for small and medium business ventures throughout the state, those that employ 70 to 90 percent of all of our people. And we will again be looking at our own bonding authorities to aid in economic development. Number three, Pensions. Last year during the State of the State Message, I announced the creation of the Illinois Study Commission on Public Pension Investment Policies. This Commission is made up of representatives from business and labor including public employees and experts in the pension field. The first and foremost investment goal of these funds is to benefit the members of the retirement systems. But with more than 4.5 billion dollars in pension funds, this represents a substantial source of funds we can be channeling into job creation and capital formation throughout Illinois. I have just received their interim report in which they present ways to use these funds for economic development while protecting the interests of beneficiaries. Following public hearings throughout the state, their final report is expected in March. I will urge you then to take a fresh look at this important issue. Not only can we encourage the investment performance of these funds, but our willingness to be creative in using these investment sources will benefit both members of the retirement system and our state economy as well. High Technology: As I said earlier, we are agressively seeking new technology and high technology businesses, and with the amount and kind of dollars we will now put into higher education we're going after those businesses that will help us keep highly educated, young professionals in Illinois. Job Creation: 21  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 We will continue to concentrate our efforts to attract new firms to the state and encourage expansion and retention of firms already in Illinois. This includes job training and retraining programs in partnership with our state agencies and educational institutions. By working together on all of these economic initiatives, we can once again prove that a Midwestern economy need not be an unstable economy. But it will require the resiliency and the determination and the confidence of all of us. I have spoken of just a few examples of massive and successful efforts in this administration to bring new jobs to Illinois. Let me end by telling you just one success story of keeping jobs in Illinois, for it is becoming typical and that is just as important. Last summer, a company called Federal Signal, a national electronics manufacturer with a plant in Oakbrook, wrote a letter to me - actually a white paper of great thought and detail and length - saying that they thought the business climate in Illinois was lousy, that they had had it and that they were going to move 800 of our jobs to Tennessee. I assigned the letter to my senior staff man for economic development to work in conjunction with the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs. We responded in detail to the letter, pointing out all the achievements of the last five years in the business climate in Illinois. The company eventually replied. They were impressed by our willingness to respond and though they told us that they still intended to move to Tennessee, they also told us what Tennessee had to offer. We said we could match it and we went to work - job training and retraining, revenue bond financing, relative tax burden, reforms in unemployment compensation, self-insurance and reforms in workers compensation. And, finally, the bottom line came down, as it most often does, to new plant location and labor costs. 22  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 The Governor's Office, trusted now by both business and labor, brought the two sides together and got them to talk to, instead of past, each other. The result, all labor contracts have now been signed, and we located a plant in Park Forest South recently vacated when Johnson and Johnson withdrew from the disposable diaper market. That plant was sold and recycled to Federal Signal. And the end of the story, Federal Signal now likes and understands the business climate of Illinois. The 800 jobs will stay in Illinois and they will expand to nearly 1200 jobs in the near future because substantial segments of both business and labor in Illinois trust us, you and me; trust what we have done and what we intend to do. By telling the truth about Illinois, we take the first, simple step toward building an even brighter economic future, and our people will follow. 'We have not journeyed all this way across the centuries, across the oceans, across the mountains, across the prairies because we are made of sugar candy', said Winston Churchill about another people, and this is true of Illinoisians. They are hard-working, tough, skilled, smart, compassionate, caring people. They and their forefathers and mothers tamed this land. So, we will not give up, and we will not give in. We will go forward, and we will earn a bright and prosperous future. Thank you, very much."

"Will the Escort Committee please come forward?"

"Mr. Speaker and Members of the House and Senate, I move that the Joint Session do now arise."

"You've heard the Gentleman's Motion. All in favor will signify by saying 'aye', all opposed 'no'. The 'ayes' have it and the Motion carries. The House will be in order and the Members will be in their seats. We'll be back in Regular Session. Agreed Resolutions." 23  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982

"House Resolution 601, Henry; 602, Barnes; 603, Donovan..."

"Representative Peters in the Chair."

"Agreed Resolutions. Mr. Clerk, would you start from the beginning again, please?"

"House Resolution 601, Henry. House Resolution 602, Barnes. House Resolution 603, Donovan. House Resolution 605, Leon-Breslin-Getty and Stuffle. House Resolution 606, Ryan. House Resolution 607, Robbins. House Resolution 610, Peters-Reilly-McClain-Barnes and Vinson. House Resolution 611, Kulas. House Resolution 612, Chapman-Macdonald-Roland Meyer. House Resolution 613, Bower. House Resolution 614, Bower. House Resolution 615, Bower. House Resolution 616, McAuliffe-Rea-Stearney-Irv Smith-Martire-Zito and Stanley. House Resolution 617, Daniels-Hoffman-Ryan-Republican Leadership-Democrat Leadership. House Resolution 618, Currie-Catania-Smith-Braun-Bullock-Epton. House Resolution 619, Mautino-Ebbesen. House Resolution 620, Terzich. House Resolution 621, Terzich. House Resolution 622, Terzich-Beatty-Kornowicz-Madigan-Keane. House Resolution 624, Madigan-Beatty-Kucharski. House Resolution 625, Madigan-Beatty-Kucharski. House Resolution 626, Greiman. House Resolution 627, Madigan-Ryan. House Resolution 630, Yourell. House Resolution 630, Yourell. House Resolution 631, Yourell. House Resolution 632, Yourell. House Resolution 633, Yourell. House Resolution 634, Breslin. House Resolution 635, Madigan-Beatty-Kucharski-Kornowicz-Terzich and Bianco, and House Resolution 636, Deuchler."

"Representative Conti on the Agreed Resolutions."

"Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen, House Resolution 601 by Henry, the Reverend Willie Treadwell and members of 24  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 the United Faith Tabernacle at 5209 West Lake Street in Chicago on Saturday, November 21, 1981 will hold their Third Annual Achievement Awards Banquet at McCormick Inn. House Resolution 602, the Most Holy Redeemer Parish, Evergreen Park, Illinois celebrated the 40th Anniversary of its establishment as a parish on November 28, 1981. A dinner-dance at the Martinique Restaurant will be held at 2500 West 95th Place, Chicago, Illinois. House Resolution 603 by Donovan, those individuals who have contributed substantially to the public welfare through a lifetime of endeavors wishes to commend Mrs. Lucille Finch for her many years of dedicated service on the occasion of her retirement. Leon-Breslin-Getty and Stuffle, House Resolution 605, Dorothy Yeakel of Springfield, Illinois retires December 31, 1981 as secretary to Representative John Leon and after many years of devoted services to several former and present Members of this august Body. We wish her well. House Resolution 606 offered by Speaker George Ryan, Bob Hawkins will complete almost 46 years of service to the people of Kankakee when he retires on December 31, 1981. Whereas, Mr. Hawkins significantly helped keep the people of his community informed about the news during his years with WKAN and the Kankakee Daily Journal. House Resolution 607 by Robbins, endeavors to wish to commend William E. Hoffee for his many years of service to the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges. House Resolution 608, Whereas, January 17 is a day of history and a day like many others, some good years and some not so good years; and Whereas, January 17 is the birth date of many famous and infamous... Mr. Speaker, can I have your attention?"

"Sir?"

"Is House Resolution 608 to be read by me or by someone 25  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 else?"

"Hold that one, Mr. ..."

"House Resolution 610, the Bipartisan Legislative Study Group on, that is by Peters-Reilly-McClain-Barnes and Vinson. The Bipartisan Legislative Study Group on Children and Family Policy was instrumental in the development and recent passage by the General Assembly of legislation concerning human and social services. So, be it resolved by the House of Representatives that we congratulate and commend the Taylor Institute upon its advancements in the administration of human and social services, and we recognize the humanitarian spirit of concern of the betterment of society expressed through the Institute by its founders and its members. House Resolution 611, the Ukranian-American Community...this must be by Kulas. The Ukranian-American Community will celebrate the 64th Anniversary of independence of the Ukraine and the 63rd Anniversary of the Act of the Union. Chapman-Macdonald and Meyer, House Resolution 612, Shirley Drazba of Arlington Heights, Illinois has been selected State Young Career Woman by the Illinois Business and Professional Women's Club. House Resolution 613 by Bower, the Golden Aces of Mt. Carmel High School became the Illinois State High School Association Class 3A Football Championship (sic, Champions) by defeating the outstanding team from Kankakee Bishop McNamara High School. House Resolution 614 by Bower, since the Paris Peace Accords were signed eight years ago, some 2,500 Americans remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, and Whereas, various live sighting reports, currently being investigated, indicate Americans are still held captive in Vietnam and Cambodia and Laos. Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the 82nd General Assembly of the State of Illinois, that we hereby 26  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 urge the Congress of the United States to demand that the governments of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos promptly account for the government of the United States for all the Americans missing in Indochina so immediate release of all soldiers held captive and return any Americans remaining which are still in their possession. Bower, House Resolution 615, the Soviet Union has exploited the United States peace initiatives to build up its strategic and conventional warfare capabilities; that this Body will join the Coalition for Peace Through Strength to work with other organizations and entities for the adoption of a National Strategy of Peace Through Strength, except that this legislative Body reserves to itself the right to make its own decisions as to how the principles shall be applied on individual issues, and be it further resolved that a suitable copy of this Preamble go to the President of the United States, the Senate, the Speaker and the United States House of Representatives. McAuliffe-Rea-Stearney-Smith-Martire-Zito and Stanley, Mr. Earl Stanley, the uncle of our colleague, the Honorable Roger C. Stanley and a long-time resident of Potomas Falls, Maryland, was recently elected President of the Federal Communications Bar Association in Washington, D.C.(sic, House Resolution 616). Daniels-Hoffman-Ryan-Representative (sic, Republican) Leadership, Democratic Leadership, House Resolution 617, and I would like to withold this Resolution for a later date to be read because of pride of authorship. There are two Resolutions introduced, and I would like to have the Speaker read these in full later on. That is House Resolution 617. House Resolution 618, Whereas, January 14, 1982 marks the 100th Anniversary of the publication of the first issue of the Hyde Park Herald newspaper. The Hyde Park Herald has fairly, accurately and 27  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 honestly served the Hyde Park-Kenwood community since January 14, 1882. James Guilinger, a Sycamore high school vocational agriculture teacher, was named National Vocational Teacher of the Year, and this House Resolution is by Mautino and Ebbesen; that's House Resolution 619. House Resolution 620, Terzich, it is believed that the first American "block club" was formed more than 260 years ago when the residents of the Elfreth's Alley in Philadelphia assembled to provide mutual aid and cooperate in clearing their narrow streets after the "Great Snow" of 1977 (sic, 1717). Be it further resolved that we congratulate the Block Clubs of the Quadrant Area of Archer Heights on the fine job they have done in beautifying their community. Terzich, House Resolution 621, Edward Wilke has retired from the Chicago Park District after serving as an instructor and supervisor for 37 years. Be it resolved we applaud and congratulate Edward Wilke on his 37 years of faithful and caring service to the people of Chicago, a well-earned retirement. Terzich-Beatty-Kornowicz-Madigan-Keane, the Greater Midway American, House Resolution 622, Community Development Committee, a highly active civic group headquartered in Chicago's great southwest side, recently presented its second annual Achievement Award Dinner and honored 51 of the area's finest citizens, and in the Resolution will be named all of the citizens that will be honored that night. Madigan, House Resolution 624, November 18, 1981 marks the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the Holy Cross Hospital Auxiliary and a year-long celebration of the occasion was launched on November 14, 1981. House Resolution 625, Madigan-Beatty and Kucharski, on October 12, a small Beechcraft airplane crashed on Austin Avenue in Bedford Park, Illinois. The workers... The several employees of 28  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 the nearby Borg & Beck plant, upon witnessing the crash, raced out of their building and, with the aid of a fork lift brought from their shop, helped free the surviving passengers from the wreckage. Their alertness, quick action, sense of composure and great courage of these men helped preserve the lives of three of the four passengers in the plane. The workers who carried out these brave actions are Ed Waner, a toolmaker, Dennis Teunissen and Al Newton, both of the cutter-grinders and Al Webster, a fork lift driver, all members of Local 484 of the Union of United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, and Bill Brown, the Master Mechanic. These men are to be commended for their bravery and their quick action. House Resolution 626, Greiman, Florence Jannusch has lovingly and tenderly protected the children of Central School for 27 years as the crossing guard at "her corner" at Thacker and Cora streets in Des Plaines. House Resolution 627, Madigan and Ryan, again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to have this Resolution read because of pride of authorship by the Speaker. House Resolution 630, Whereas, Blake-Lamb Funeral Homes, a family business based in Oak Lawn with homes throughout Chicagoland, has received the Bronze Eagle Award in recognition of its outstanding achievements in funeral services. House Resolution 631, Yourell, Whereas, the highest award of National Council of Boy Scouts of America can bestow upon a Scout is that of Eagle Scout; and that recipient is Patrick G. Cronin, of Boy Scout Troop 619. Yourell, House Resolution 632, Anthony DeSantis was recently knighted as a Commander in the Knights of St. Gregory in a ceremony held in a two thousand year old Church of Santa Caternia. Yourell, House Resolution 633, the highest award of the National Council of the Boy Scouts can bestow on a Boy Scout is that of 29  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 Eagle Scout where Steven A. Benesh was a recipient from Boy Scout Troop 619. Breslin, House Resolution 634, Whereas, Marie Repka of Ottawa, Illinois has been named Career Woman of the Year for 1981 by the Ottawa Business and Professional Women's Club. House Resolution 635 by Madigan, et al, on December 21, Marshall Peterson retired as managing editor of the Southwest New-Herald, Chicago, a position he's held for 36 years. House Resolution 636 by Deuchler, Whereas, Members of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association, representing more than 1,100 dedicated professional men and women in the practice of veterinary sciences, will hold their 100th Anniversary Meeting on February 12 to 15 in 1982. The Clerk has further Resolutions. I will now turn the Clerk over to further Resolutions and then later on recognize me for the adoption of those I read."

"Mr. Clerk, further Resolutions."

"House Resolution 637, Lechowicz-Ronan; House Resolution 638, Rea; House Resolution 639, Ronan; House Resolution 641, Keane; House Resolution 642, Keane; House Resolution 643, Keane; House Resolution 644, Terzich-Kornowicz-Madigan-Beatty-Kucharski and Bianco. Are there any more further Resolutions? House Resolution 645, Tate, which commemorates Maroa, (sic, Maroa-Forsyth) High School."

"Representative Conti, on the Resolutions."

"I have just presented these Resolutions. Lechowicz and Ronan, House Resolution 637, through a dark history of foreign intervention and internal disquiet, the Polish people have valiantly struggled to keep ignited the smoldering fires of national identity and self-government. Resolved by the House of Representatives that we urge President Ronald Reagan to perform the most forceful acts 30  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 possible to display our nation's horror on recent events in Poland and to transmit our nation's concern for pride in Lech Walesa and the Polish people; and be it further resolved, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be presented to President Ronald Reagan. House...Reagan. House Resolution 638, Rea, the Carterville Lions capped an outstanding season by making it into the Class 2A State Playoffs. House Resolution 639, John O'Leary has retired after many years of valuable service to the Illinois Department of Mental Health. That's by Ronan. House Resolution 641 by Keane, Whereas, Brother Rice High School of Chicago is the 1981 Class 6A State High School Football Champion. House Resolution 642 by Keane, on November 14, 1981, the Volleyball Team of Mother (sic, Motner) Mcauley High School capped a perfect 40 and nothing season by winning the Women's Class AA High School Volleyball Championship. House Resolution 643 by Keane, Whereas, on December 5, 1981, Mount Carmel High School capped an outstanding Football season by winning the Chicago Prep Bowl. House Resolution 64 (sic, 644) by none other than Terzich, et al, on December 31, 1981 Marshall Peterson retired as managing editor of the Southwest New-Herald of Chicago, a position he held for 36 years. House Resolution..."

"House Resolution 645 is sponsored by Tate. It commemorates Maroa High School."

"We're holding 645. We'll go to House Resolution 646. The year 1981 marks the 20th Anniversary of the incorporation of the Village of Westhaven of Cook County, Illinois. House Resolution 647 by Yourell and no other, Mr. and Mrs. Wilbert Sauerbier of Crestwood, Illinois recently celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Mr. Speaker, for the 645, Tate, honoring Maroa High School. 31  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 And, if that completes the Resolutions, I would like to move to adopt the Resolutions that I have read, but I understand there are further Resolutions to be read."

"The Gentleman moves the adoption of the Resolutions as read. Those in favor will signify by saying 'aye', those opposed 'nay'. The 'ayes' have it and the Resolutions are adopted. Speaker Ryan in the Chair."

"Let me tell you what the intent of the Chair is here for the rest of the day, if I may. We're going to proceed with some Resolutions that have to be done and then we will wait for the Senate to send over the machine gun Bill so we can act on the machine gun Bill. And I don't know what time that will be, but we will... that's going to be the only business that we will handle here today. It's just a matter of what time it comes around. So you all ought to stand close by. Agreed Joint Resolutions. Read the Resolutions will you, Mr. Clerk?"

"House Resolution... House Joint Resolution 65, DiPrima, et al; House Joint Resolution 66, Wikoff."

"Representative Conti."

"House Joint Resolution 65 by DiPrima, et al, Mr. M. E. Gene Heinly, an Air Force veteran of the World War II and native of Santa Ana, California, was elected Chief de Chimin de Fer of La Societe for the 1981-1982 term by the delegates of the 62nd Promenade Nationale of La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevauz held in St. Louis, Missouri, Illinois(sic). House Resolution 67 (sic, 66) by Representative Wikoff, Whereas, Donald A. Swift, the first traumatic paraplegic to retire from the University of Illinois, will celebrate his retirement at a dinner held in his honor on March 25, 1982. And, Mr. Speaker, I move for the adoption of the House Joint Resolutions."

"You've heard the Gentleman's Motion. All in favor 32  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 will signify by saying 'aye', all opposed 'no'. The 'ayes' have it and the Resolutions are adopted. Further Resolutions."

"House Resolution 604, Zwick."

"Committee on Assignment. ... Agreed Resolutions."

Clerk Leone: "House Resolution 617, Daniels-Hoffman-Ryan-Republican Leadership-Democratic Leadership; House Resolution 627, Madigan-Ryan."

"Representative Conti. The Gentleman moves for the adoption..."

"Mr. Speaker, I move for the adoption of the Resolution."

"Of the Resolutions. All in favor will signify by saying 'aye', all opposed 'no'. The 'ayes' have it and the Resolutions are adopted. Death Resolutions."

"House Resolution 623, Madigan-Beatty-Kucharshi, in respect of the memory of Clell Woods. House Resolution 628, Tuerk, in respect of the memory of George Luthy. House Resolution 629, Tuerk-Schraeder-Saltsman, in respect of the memory of William Kumpf. House Resolution 640, J. J. Wolf-Smith-Oblinger, in respect to the memory of William Glaze."

"Representative Conti."

"Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, I move for the adoption of the Death Resolutions."

"Gentleman moves for the adoption of the Death Resolutions. All in favor will signify by saying 'aye', all opposed 'no'. The 'ayes' have it and the Resolutions are adopted. The House will be in order. We have a Death Resolution of a former Member. Read the Resolution, Mr. Clerk."

"House Resolution 609, J. F. Dunn-Donovan. Whereas, This House is saddened to learn of the recent death of former Democratic State Representative John W. 33  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 Alsup of Decatur; and Whereas, John W. Alsup faithfully served his constituents as their Representative in the House of Representatives for 16 years; and Whereas, John W. Alsup was a Legislator who will be remembered by his former colleagues for his honesty, hard work and dedication to his constituents, family and friends; and Whereas, in 1954, John W. Alsup was elected Macon County Treasurer and during his term as County Treasurer, he served as President of the County Treasurers Association of Illinois; and Whereas, John W. Alsup was first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1958 where he was known to be a hard-working Legislator with special expertise in the areas of revenue and taxes; and Whereas, John W. Alsup served as Vice-Chairman of the House Revenue Committee, Vice-Chairman of the House Election Committee, and in 1970, was chosen to attend the White House Conference on Children; and Whereas, John W. Alsup was active in his community and in his church, being a member of St. Thomas Catholic Parish and Holy Family Catholic Parish in Decatur; and Whereas, John W. Alsup was a member of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus; and Whereas, John W. Alsup was married to the former Helen Marie Delaney in 1941; and Whereas, John W. Alsup is survived by his loving wife, Helen, and their children: a son, John, Jr., six daughters, Susan, Carol, Elizabeth, Josephine, Martha and Margaret, and ten great(sic) grandchildren; therefore, be it resolved, by the House of Representatives of the 82nd General Assembly of the State of Illinois, that this House joins the family, numerous friends and former constituents in mourning the death of John W. Alsup, a wonderful and dedicated human being whose life can inspire us all; and be it further resolved that a suitable copy of this Preamble and Resolution be presented to Helen, his wife of John W. 34  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 Alsup."

"Gentleman from Macon, Representative Dunn." Dunn (John): "Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. It was not my privilege to serve in the Illinois General Assembly with former Representative John W. Alsup. However, it was my privilege to succeed him in this General Assembly when he retired after the end of the term to which he was elected in 1972. John W. Alsup is a man well known or was a man well known in our community in Decatur. He was a dedicated man to his family. He was a dedicated man to his church. He was a dedicated man to his Party and to the community in which he lived. He served long and well in public life. Almost all his adult life was in public office either as Macon County Treasurer or a Member of this chamber. He served with dignity. His image in his community was that of a man who worked hard who kept a low profile, not because of lack of things to do, but because his style was not flamboyant. John was a man who believed in getting things done and letting the job speak for itself. I am especially fond of him because, as we all know, when you approach a campaign for the first time to this chamber you are very confused and you don't know what to do. John Alsup was very kind to me from day one. He was very helpful to me. He was a man that I will always remember. There is a saying that someone told me one time and that is that when someone remembers to be kind, that's the kind of person to remember. And it is my fond hope that everyone in this chamber will always remember with kindness the memory of John W. Alsup, my friend and a friend of our community and a friend of this chamber. At this time, I would ask leave to have every Member of this chamber added as Cosponsor of this Resolution."

"Gentleman asks leave. Is leave granted? 35  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 Representative Telcser."

"Mr. Speaker and Members of the House, I did have the opportunity to serve some time with Representative Alsup, and I remember my first term in the General Assembly many years ago working on a number of matters with the Gentleman. And just as Representative Dunn said, Mr. Alsup was a hard-working, sincere, conscientious Legislator. He was a credit to the people he represented. He was a credit to the Democratic Party, and I know that he will be long remembered by the constituents he served so well for so long, and I am proud and delighted to have my name added to the Resolution."

"Representative Conti."

"Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, unlike Representative Dunn, I had the privilege of serving with John Alsup, and John Alsup was small in physical stature, but he was a mental giant in this House of Representatives. We differed many, many times philosophically, but he was a great, great Legislator and he was a true believer of representative government and representing the people in his district, and he fought hard. And I would like to also be honored if I could be placed in name on that Resolution."

"Representative Dunn."

"At this time, Your Honor, I move the adoption of the Death Resolution."

"Gentleman moves for the adoption of the Death Resolution. All in favor will signify by saying 'aye', all opposed 'no'. The 'ayes' have it and the Resolution is adopted. Special Resolutions. Read the Resolution, Mr. Clerk."

"House Resolution #608. Whereas, January ... "

"Could I have your attention, please? This is a 36  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 Special Resolution here. Will the Members be in their seats? Read the Resolution, Mr. Clerk."

"Whereas, January 17th is a day in history - a day like any other - some years good, some years not so good; and Whereas, January 17th is the birth date of many famous and infamous people, including: Peking-man Peters, who was known throughout his life for his aversion to appearing from his cave before 10:30 in the morning; and, Manny the Shepard, who walked the by-ways of the Fertile Crescent with his flocks spreading the message of dour and sour thoughts so effectively that he became renowned as the world's first Great Depressor; and, Norman the Pisher of Piltz, who floated to the endless stream until he invented Jello and bought a Denny's so he would have a place to serve it; and, Zaftig Zelda, who never stopped noshing while discussing her latest diet and exercise program; and, Copernicus Gustav Sanchez, who discovered the octagon when he was five and spent the next 80 years expounding on its political significance; and Whereas, any person born on this date may have been blessed or cursed with the idiosyncrasies of the birth-date-mates; and Whereas, January 17th of the year 1932 was an extraordinary day - a day on which Northwestern University beat Wisconsin to retain its Big Ten basketball championship - a day on which Prince Nicholas of Romania arrived in Paris with his "forbidden" bride - a day of inconsequential speculation about the coming election between Herbert Hoover and Franklin Delano Roosevelt - and a day on which Arthur A. Telcser took his first breath, after which he waid, 'A man is what he is, not what he used to be'; and Whereas, in the succeeding years, this young man formulated more homilies while earning his academic honors and entering the world of business as a pharmacist and drug store proprietor; and 37  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 Whereas, this restless young man soon delved into a mystical world of Chicago politics, entering the fray on the side of the mismatched underdogs, saying, 'If you can't bite, don't show your teeth'; and Whereas, in 1966, after toiling for Young Republican programs and candidates Ogilvie and others, he was elected Ward Committeeman and State Representative, titles he has yet to relinquish; and Whereas, the brilliance of his knowledge, eloquence and leadership have maintained him securely for 13 uninterrupted fun-filled years as a Member of his Party's leadership, a record unequalled in the history of this august body; and Whereas, the power of his intellect, intensity and inquisitiveness have not been dimmed, diminished or denied by sponsoring Bills to uplift the downtrodden, protect the defenseless, and bring justice to the oppressed, to say nothing to protect the ballot box, selecting judges by merit and imposing all manners of taxes and pension plans; Whereas, he has employed his oratorical skills, between snacks, to regale this Body with such pithy comments as, 'Rejoice not at thine enemy's fall, but don't pick him up either'; or who can forget, 'Worries go down better with soup'; and Whereas, not even twice a day sessions at Hamen's gym, the other form of supplication can stay the day of his golden birthday anniversary, an occasion of which we can be sure he will preside over with the same elan he has often demonstrated before this House; and Whereas, the inexorable march of time has not weathered his boyish - that's boyish, not goyish, - good looks, his irrepressible good humor or his aura of internal(sic, eternal) optimism because of three extraordinary women: his wife, Dorothy and his daughters, Sharon and Karen; now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the 82nd General Assembly of the State of Illinois 38  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 offers its warmest congratulations to our friend, colleague and Majority Leader, Arthur A. Telcser; and be it further resolved, that we wish Art a happy birthday this year and for many years to come, for he is one of a kind - an American original - after all, when some people see things as they are, they ask why. When Art Telcser sees things as they are, he says 'Oy Vey'; and be it further resolved, that suitable copies of this Preamble and Resolution be presented to the Honorable Arthur A. Telcser as a token of our friendship, fellowship and fraternity."

"The Lady from Cook, Representative Pullen."

"Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House... It looks as if it's on. Is it on?"

"You've been turned on, Penny."

"Thank you. Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, I rise to support the Resolution offered today on behalf of the bicen... no, not bicentennial, semi-centennial birthday of our Majority Leader, Art Telcser. The Gentleman and I have not always agreed on every issue, as many people might have noted, but I must say one of the great reasons that Art Telcser has become such an outstanding leader in the State of Illinois is that he was originally from the 4th Legislative District, a District that's often been characterized as having something for everyone, and I think that his roots go deeply within my constituency. Art is a... finally it's on. Art is a true leader, not just in title, but also in action, and he is one that I have great respect for primarily because Art Telcser, above all things, loves this House and is loyal to this House. I think that that could probably be said about just about everybody in this chamber, except, with Art, it is so deep and so apparent that it becomes a superlative part of his character. It 39  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 appears that Art might not run for re-election next year, although I hope he does this year, rather. If he does not, we will all miss him very much. I certainly will because he is a strong leader who cares about this House in a way to be admired and followed by many. Thank you."

"The Gentleman from Cook, Representative Wolf." Wolf(J.J.): "Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members of the House. I, too, would like to join in wishing my distinguished colleague, the House Majority Leader, Representative Telcser, a happy 50th birthday. Art and I freshmanned together and he is the only incumbent Republican Member of this House from the City of Chicago enjoying more seniority than I have. As was mentioned, Art has always been a great partisan member of the Young Republicans and I once told a story at a dinner, which is a very little known fact about Representative Telcser. He was an always enterprising young man in business. He was a pharmacist by profession. But, back some years ago when both the Democrats and the Republicans held their convention in the City of Chicago, Art's dog had a litter of puppies and here he had seven little puppies to get rid of and unload. So, being an enterprising young business man, he set up this little booth out in front of the convention headquarters. The Democrats were the first in town and he put a little red, white and blue ribbon around their necks with a little donkey and started hocking his puppies saying, 'Puppies. Puppies. Get your democratic puppies here'. And he sold three of those seven puppies at that particular time, and he sold them for ten dollars each, which he was advertising them for. Well, he had four left and a few weeks later the Republican's were in town. He had the same four puppies, a little larger now, of course. He got some more red, white and blue ribbon around with a little elephant tied 40  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 around their necks, set up his little stand out in front of the convention headquarters and hollered out, 'Puppies. Puppies. Get your Republican puppies here. Fifteen dollars.'. Well, somebody who had been there a few weeks before noticed that and he said, 'Say, son, aren't you the same kid who was here a few weeks ago?'. He said, 'Yes, sir.'. He said, 'And weren't you selling these same puppies here a few weeks ago as democratic puppies?'. He says, 'Yes, sir.'. He said, 'How come you sold them as democratic puppies for ten bucks and now you want fifteen and selling them as Republicans?'. He says, 'They got their eyes open now.'. Little known fact. I think we ought to have a Roll Call on this, Mr. Speaker."

"There's no question about that. The Gentleman from DeWitt, Representative Vinson."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. Notwithstanding the food item, the cake that is on Mr. Telcser's desk right now..."

"The Jello is forthcoming."

"Well, I was just going to say that you are what you eat and his favorite food is Jello."

"The Gentleman from Kankakee, Representative McBroom."

"Yes, Mr. Speaker and Members of the House, I, like many of you, have known Art Telcser for a long, long time, and I was tempted to add a word of levity to his birthday celebration, but I want to say something very serious, Arthur, to you and to the Members of the Illinois General Assembly, and I think most will agree with what I'm going to say from both sides of the aisle. Art Telcser is a skilled, talented, capable Legislator who will be long, long remembered by this Body after you leave here, Art. You've been a credit to your Party. You've been a credit 41  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 to the Illinois General Assembly, and I'm proud to call you my friend. Thank you."

"Minority Leader, Madigan."

"Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen, I rise in support of this Resolution commemorating Mr. Telcser's birthday, one that he wished he'd never reached, but he's there. In addition to offering my birthday congratulations to Art, I would just like to take this opportunity to say publicly that there is probably no other Member in this Body for whom I have more respect than Art Telcser. The Republican Members should be justifiably proud of the leadership which is provided to them by Art, in terms of his floor action and also his knowledge of the intricacies of the legislative process. I know this first hand because he has been a combatant of mine for several years now. Sometimes he has won. Sometimes he has lost, but he is always a formidable opponent. I think that when he does leave the Assembly, in about a year's time, that it will be a severe loss for the Assembly and also for the Republican side. I certainly will miss him when he leaves. I'll miss the opposition that he offers. I'll miss his enlightened speeches regarding my leadership of the machine in Chicago, which I only wish were true. Happy birthday."

"Gentleman from Cook, Representative Collins."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. I don't think there's anyone in this House who has known Art Telcser any longer than I. The years fly by and it was 20 years ago when Art and I first met and were working together as young men in the Republican Party in Chicago. And we also were elected to the House the same year in 1966. We haven't always been on the same side. There were times when we differed. There were times when we fought rather openly, but I think that we've always 42  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 harbored a respect for each other. I certainly have always respected Art as the complete politician, as the complete Legislator. And I think that his years of leadership have brought that respect from every Member of this House who have observed him in action and particularly in this last year as Majority Leader. I, for one, think that every Republican is proud of the way that he has represented us on this floor as a tactician, articulating our positions and just all and all as an all around, outstanding leader. I'm proud to have served with him in this House and as a Member of the Republican leadership with him. I just want to add my sincerist congratulations on your birthday, Art."

"Thanks, Representative Collins. And now that we've heard all of that nonsense, Art, from all of these people, we're going to hear the real truth from Representative Peters."

"Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, first, let me say it's appropriate that there are two cakes for Arthur because I'm sure, if he admits to 50, it is either less or more because I have not known him to really tell the full truth in the ten years that I have roomed with him. We also have the two cakes here because, as often as not, if you are out to dinner with him, he will eat your desert while his is on the way. So it's out of force of habit that those things end up happening. I think it is premature for all of us to suggest , to think, to believe that Art Telcser will not return to this General Assembly. In the ten years that I have roomed and known with him, I have known him to be able to figure out every and any kind of angle. And, if there is any way possible at all, under the sun and under the will of God that Telcser returns to this General Assembly, I assure you that he absolutely will. So do not count him out yet as a 43  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 Member here or, in fact, in the next leadership fight because that's kind of what keeps it all going. For those of you... For those of us that have looked to Art Telcser's abilities in securing pay raises and taking the blame for it along with a few of the rest of us for the City of Chicago and having many of you other go back home, vote for it but cash the check, you will have to end up finding some other way to get in those pay raises because Arthur will not be here. In fact, I understand he has got a Bill to roll them back in order to take retribution on one or two people here, as a nice kind of way. It's to the thing, if they're down don't kick them, just kind of step on them again. I should advise you that, in this next Session, it's his last shot and my last shot to make certain adjustments to the pension system that have really caused some inequalities and need some fine tuning. So, to let you know that when the pension laws come up, vote for them because they, in fact, will be in your long-term interests and the long-term interest of your constituents who may seek to retire you sooner than you may want to be retired. 1932 was a great year and that's the year Harry G. 'Lesley', a Republican, was Governor of the State of Illinois. That is the year probably of the worst part of the depression. Those of us who know Arthur know that in our conversations with him, I think it's because of this experience in the depression, he is always there full of joy and optimism and upbeat and never really sees the dark side of any kind of problem, to which end his nickname, the Great Depressor, does not, in fact, bespeak the truth. It is also the year in which "The Grand Hotel" was named the Best Picture. It was a picture, as you recall, with a lot of cameo appearances by a lot of people. Wallace 'Beerey' won the award for "The Champ", Frederick March won 44  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 the award that year as Best Actor for "Doctor Jeckel and Mr. Hyde". And those of you that have known, operated, been with Mr. Telcser know fully well that he has both played the role of the champ, Doctor Jeckel and Mr. Hyde, regardless of what may have been called for at the time to get done what happened...what needed to be done. The Best Actress was Helen Hayes who starred in "The Sin of Madeline 'Clauder'". I'm not going to get into the sin part. Mrs. Telcser is here and I don't want to involve myself in that at all. Ann Bankroft, Ellen 'Burstin', Edie 'Gormea', Joel 'Garry', Piper 'Laurie', 'Capterena Volinti', Robert Vaughn, Gerry VanDyke all were born in 1932. All actors. So those of you that feel that when Art Telcser gets up and makes his speeches it is speech number 46 out of his repertoire of acting skits, in fact, you may have something at hand and be correct in thinking that. What has been said in terms of seriousness about Art I can only add this: As a citizen, I have a great deal of respect and admiration for Art Telcser as a public servant. As a Legislator, I have a great admiration for him as my colleague and my peer here in the House for his skills. As a friend, I appreciate his confidence and his advice and the ability to work with him over these last ten years on a lot of problems, some of which were easy, some of which were very difficult, many of which he took the lead in when no one else wanted to take that lead. How does this all come about with Art Telcser? Art Telcser, a man born to immigrant parents who came and struggled in this country, took advantage of the goodness and grace that this country had to offer, instill in their son those virtues of citizenship and family and concern for your fellow man have all lent themselves to making Art Telcser the man he is. And with him his wife, Dorothy, and we read in the Old 45  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 Testament from the Book of Ruth, 'Wither thou goest I will go, wither thou lodgest I will lodge, thy people shall be my people and thy God shall be my God'. And so it was with Art Telcser and Dorothy Telcser these many years. A great team for the Telcser family, a great team for their community and a great team in the contribution to this Assembly and to the people of the State of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, with great pride for a friend, a real friend, I move the adoption of the Resolution and would ask that all Members be listed as Cosponsors."

"Thank you. Joining Art at his seat now are his lovely wife, Dorothy and his two children, Mrs. Telcser and Sharon and Karen. You've got a lot to be proud of there, ladies, and we've been proud of Art as a Republican. He's certainly been a guiding light for me as a Majority Leader and, Art, I only wish you another 150. And I want to tell you, it's better than the alternative. Good luck to you and God bless you. The Gentleman has moved for the adoption of the Resolution #608. All in favor will signify by voting 'aye', all opposed by voting 'no'. Representative Collins."

"Mr. Speaker, if this gets the required vote, I would ask for a verification."

"Have all voted who wish? Take the record, Mr. Clerk. Well, Art, you got 147 friends. I would like to have... The Resolution is hereby passed. The Gentleman from Cook, Representative Telcser."

"Mr. Speaker, Members of the House, how can I thank all of you for your gracious words, your kind feelings and your good gestures? Perhaps my remarks are better saved for the closing days of this General Assembly, but let me simply say that the greatest honor of my life has been to have the ability and the opportunity to serve in this General 46  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 Assembly. I only wish that every citizen of Illinois could spend some time serving in State Government, in particular, in the Legislative Branch. This is a magnificent institution. It is indeed, in my opinion, the finest form of public service that any citizen could perform, that is, serving in the General Assembly. I am grateful for the years that I've had here. I appreciate, very much, the opportunity to serve as a leader and perhaps more importantly I appreciate the friendship of each and every Member with whom I've had the opportunity to serve since the day I came to this General Assembly. It seems that everytime I listen to a Death Resolution, I look at all the Members I've served with over the years and those who have passed on. They are great people. All of you are magnificent. I thank you. I thank my wonderful family for helping me to attain this great privilege, and so let me simply say, thank you very, very much for all you've done for me by letting me serve in this Assembly and serve as a leader. And, in closing, let me say that I've thought of a way to resurrect my political future. Pete alluded to it and I think that this Resolution, which you're adopting today, is going to catapult me to the Governorship."

"The entire Membership, Representative Bluthardt included, are invited to my office for cake and coffee to celebrate Representative Telcser's birthday. There will be no jello and now we have a couple of announcements. We're going to stand in recess until we hear from the Senate. The Senate just came back from caucus so I don't know what they're going to do with their machine gun Bill. Representative Friedrich."

"Mr. Speaker, I just want to tell Art Telcser what a popular guy he really is. One of my friends in Rotary Club became ill and I made a Motion that we send him a get well 47  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 card and the Motion passed 6 to 5, but 147 to nothing, that is really something."

Speaker Ryan: "For Telcser you're right. Representative Brummer."

"Yes, these proceedings remind me of one of the, I think the very first time I spoke to Art Telcser and the words he said then. We had been in Session that day. It was one of the first days that I was serving the General Assembly and there was a major rules fight and Art got up and just harangued about some Democrat proposal. Of course, the Democrats had the majority and passed the proposed rule change and I really don't know what it was about, But he, in his great style, screamed and hollered and really impressed me as a freshman. I thought, there is a man who works hard at his job and very...feels very strongly about that. That evening Les Jones of Flora, who served in this House, invited the House Republican and Democrat Leadership down to a small restaurant in our district and George Ryan, and I think Dwight Friedrich was down there. Art Telcser was down there and I happened to be sitting next to Art and I said, 'I was really impressed with your speech today. You must have felt very strongly about that.' And he said, 'It didn't mean anything at all.' He said, 'You have to remember while you serve in the General Assembly you have to view things from the perspective of the moon and if as you sit on the moon, it looks important, it probably really is important.' These events are probably not too important today, but it is certainly nice to honor Art and thank him for the leadership he has shown here. I have frequently thought about, as I have been involved in some fight that I thought was very important and then lost it, as Art Telcser says, 'If it's important from the perspective of the moon it probably is, otherwise it's not.' Congratulations, 48  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 Art."

"Representative Bowman, it's too late to verify the Roll Call so I cannot recognize you. Representative Bowman."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had originally thought that I might rise to oppose the Resolution on the grounds that it didn't go far enough and maybe offer a few Amendments and love it to death. For example, it didn't mention anything about his fine tailoring and haberdashery and I really think the Resolution should have gone into some detail on that point. Also, his excellent memory. He gives the same speech on every Bill and how he can remember from one Bill to the next never ceases to amaze me. So, I really think that the Resolution was deficient because it did not go far enough in expressing our deep admiration for our colleague."

"Representative Greiman."

"Very quickly on one of his other attributes. He is probably one of the cheaper people that I know and the evidence of this is in the Illinois Handbook for all eleven million people to see. He has a picture that must be at least thirty years old. It is his bar mitzvah picture and I think that we all ought to chip in and get a more current picture of Art Telcser. In the first place, he is sixty pounds heavier and I caught the sixty, actually, but I think really, Art, it's time for a new picture. But a happy birthday, and as far as..somebody suggested before that it was a terrible thing you had gotten here, it's a hell of a lot better than the alternative, Art. Happy birthday."

"Now Representative Conti wants to tell you what was in the Agreed Resolutions besides the pay raise and the pension benefits. Representative Conti." 49  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982

"No, Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, everything that could have been said has been said about my good friend, Art Telcser, and being a few years older than Art, I have known him politically and socially. In fact he pushed a few pills at me when I first met him and they were ulcer pills, and of course, most of you know that ulcers are supposed to be a rich man's disease. So Art, I guess, took heed and dropped the pharmacists business and went into the land developing and the condominium and, like his political career, he's even more successful in that. And I know, Art, I don't care what you're going to do, or what you seek. Whatever you do with that wonderful family behind you, I'm sure you're going to be a tremendous success. We're all proud of you, Art. And, Mr. Speaker, with your kind indulgence, the Republican party is always fair, we would like to recognize a late Agreed Resolution from a Member of the opposite party that would like to have it read before we adjourn today, if that's alright with you? The Resolution by Representative Stuffle, would like a..Agreed Resolution before we adjourn today. Is that possible?"

"Yes, that's fine...We're on Agreed Resolutions."

"Yes, that's House Resolution 648, Tony."

"House Resolution 648, Stuffle-Woodyard-Miller."

"Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, Stuffle, Woodyard and Miller, House Resolution 648. Whereas, the Danville Schlarman High School football team, otherwise known as the "Hilltoppers", became Illinois State High School Association Class 2A Football Champions for the second year in a row in 1981 and I move for the adoption of the Resolution."

"The Gentleman moves for the adoption of the Resolution. All in favor will signify by saying 'aye', all 50  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 opposed 'no'. The 'ayes' have it and the Resolution is adopted. The House will stand in recess for about fifteen minutes, until 3:30. You're certainly welcome to come back into my office for coffee and cake now. We have to wait for the Senate to act on the machine gun Bill and they have just now gone back into Session. So we'll come back in here at 3:30 this afternoon. The House now stands in recess. The House will be order and the Members will be in their seats. Representative Davis, will you come to the podium, please? ...I'll tell you what the situation is, folks, we're...the Senate has passed the machine gun Bill and it is now in the Legislative Council for printing, to be printed and sent up here for distribution. We'll be another 20 to 30 minutes. Representative Davis."

"Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. That being the case, I have a staff analysis on my desk that explains the Amendment in great detail, incorporating the language of the Amendment. Now I'm wondering if a staff analysis has been distributed to each Member and if that, indeed, is the case, I would ask then leave of the House to proceed without the Amendment per se being distributed to the Members."

"Your question is, 'Has the staff analysis been distributed?'. I don't know if the Democrat side has got a staff analysis, I'm not sure that the Republicans all have their staff analysis. You don't have it on your side? And what is your...you ask leave for what, Representative?"

"My request was to ask leave of the House to waive the appropriate rule and proceed without the Amendment being distributed. However, if anybody is nervous with that, of course, we'll wait the thirty minutes for the Amendment to come up."

"The Gentleman has asked leave to proceed on the 51  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 Bill, on the Amendment, without having it printed and distributed. Are there any objections? Representative Greiman."

"I just...is it my understanding that you want to waive the rule as far as distribution? Is that what the reguest is?"

"Would you state your request again, Representative Davis?"

"Well, yes, Mr. Speaker. My reguest was; leave of the House to waive the appropriate rule that would provide for distribution of the Amendment."

"I would suggest that you can't do that if this is final action on that Bill because of the Constitution, not because of our rules. Because the Constitution provides that it must be on our desks, very explicitly, in the Legislative Article of the Constitution. I don't, you know, I don't care but I think we ought to observe the..."

"There have been objections noted, Representative Davis."

"I'll withdraw it. I'll withdraw it."

"We'll stand at ease for thirty minutes. The House will be in order. Those of you that haven't got your machine guns, this is your last chance. Representative Davis."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First, it's required by our rules that I ask for leave of the House to waive Rule 68C, D and E for immediate consideration of House Bill 65 as amended on concurrence in the...from the Senate to the House."

"The Gentleman moves to suspend the appropriate rules, 68C, D and E, for the immediate consideration of House Bill 65. All in favor will signify by saying 'aye', all opposed 'no'. The 'ayes' have it and the rules are 52  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 suspended. Messages from the Senate. Read the Message, Mr. Clerk."

"A Message from the Senate by Mr. Wright, Secretary. 'Mr. Speaker, I'm directed to inform the House of Representatives that the Senate has concurred with the House of Representatives in the passage of Bills of the following titles to wit; House Bill 65 together with attached Amendments hereto, an adoption of which I'm instructed to ask concurrence of the House of Representatives to wit; Senate Amendment #2 to House Bill 65, passed the Senate as amended January 13, 1982.' Kenneth Wright, Secretary."

"The Gentleman from Will, Representative Davis, on House Bill 65. The Bill is on concurrence. Representative Davis."

"Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think we all know what this is all about. The Bill was passed recently in the Senate as much, as early as this afternoon. The Amendment was offered that is correcting the Amendment..was offered by Senator Sangmeister and Bowers. Senator Sangmeister is Chairman of Judiciary II in the Senate. Now, we all know that occasionally a misstep does occur during the legislative process, and, apparently, this did occur last spring. There is a considerable amount of ambiguity in the federal regulations regarding automatic weapons in the possession and issuance of federal permits to that effect. The Bill was introduced, House Bill 32, which this seeks to correct, was introduced to take care of some manufacturers of firearms and ammunition within the state who actually need automatic weapons to be transported and to be demonstrated throughout the country to their patrons and to their sales clients. And indeed, we would have been hampering business without this particular exemption. 53  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 However, the exemption went a little bit too far and in...during the testimony, which was quite extensive in both Judiciary Committees, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms testified to the effect that the federal restrictions were quite lengthy and that this Bill would have had no problem with it. That turns out to be not quite the case. So, indeed, in response to the uproar that has been going on, we come back to you now with House Bill 65 and the Amendment which repeals the one Section, or one line Section in House Bill 32 and adds in a new Section that is..quickly, and I'll read it for you. 'Persons licensed under federal law to manufacture any weapon from which eight or more shots or bullets can be discharged by a single function of the firing device, or ammunition from such weapons, and actually engaged in the business of manufacturing such weapons or ammunition, but only with respect to activities which are within the lawful scope of such business, such as the manufacture, transportation, or testing of such weapons or ammunition. During the transportation such weapons shall be broken down in a non-functioning state or not immediately accessible.' This particular change or exemption now to the Deadly Weapon Statute puts the manufacturers that we sought to protect from the felony classification under Deadly Weapon Statute in a position where they can conduct their legal commerce in this state. It also has another Section in the language, the amending language, that as a general policy statement of this legislator...Legislature and it does reflect the original intent of 32 and now of 65, and which says, 'This exemption does not authorize the general private possession of any weapon from which eight or more shots or bullets can be discharged by a single function of the firing device but only such possession and activities 54  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 which are within the lawful scope of such business." Now let me just say to you that I think this does what the Legislature originally intended to do. I think it's a good correction; however, I think in the spring we are already discussing, in both chambers, the necessity for completely revamping the Deadly Weapon Statute throughout the state or..in this state and probably imploring the feds to clean up their act and make some sort of regulatory changes within the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. We fully intend to do that. I offer to you now House Bill 65, Amendment #2 on concurrence and respectfully request your passage."

"Is there any discussion? The Gentleman from Cook, Representative Kosinski."

"Will the Sponsor yield, please?"

"He indicates he will."

"Jack, up to this point I've felt this has been kind of a tempest in a teapot and our response is that to the media rather than the need. It was my presumption, when our Judiciary Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Federal Prosecutor, presently the Governor, signed this original Bill, that it was well covered by federal regulations and there was a hysteria developed in the public that you could walk into 'Walgrens' and buy a sub-machine gun, and I've felt that it's been kind of blown out of proportion to the actual problem. What is your reaction to that, Sir?"

"Well, I'm not sure of the question, Representative Kosinski. I suppose that we do react in many instances to the media. However, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is suffering the same sort of budgetary restrictions that everybody is in the effort to bring the budget under control, and I find that they're probably not 55  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 even doing a fingerprint check these days on this kind of applications. So I think maybe this is a very good change back to the original statute with the exemption for manufacturers and that we should take a look in the Spring Session, when we get back down to the regular business, at the entire Deadly Weapons Statute."

"It would appear to me that in as much as we're going along with the eight bullets by automatic projection, seven would be perfectly okay."

"Well, that's the way the Deadly Weapons Statute reads right now."

"I understand. And also, I don't think we're excluding bazookas from our purchase here, are we?"

"Yes."

"Are we?"

"Yes."

"I think we're limiting this strictly to full automatic weapons. Bazookas, bombs and the rest will still be..."

"Well, there are no exemptions, Representative Kosinski, except this particular exemption we're talking about for the manufacturer of ammunition and automatic weapons."

"Yes, but bazookas then are not excluded? They're still purchasable under the original Act?"

"No, they are not."

"They are not? I thought this..."

"That is correct. This legislation would..."

"Excuse me, Jack, but..if I differ with you, but I had the presumption that any automatic, fully automatic weapon which discharges eight on the pressing of one trigger is now changed in terms of this Amendment. But originally, as I understood it, the Bill also included bazookas and bombs and all that sort of thing."

"That's indeed true, Representative Kosinski, but the 56  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 original exemption made the exemption a blanket exemption. What we are doing with this legislation now is returning the exemptive category only to the manufacturer of automatic weapons and of ammunition. In another words, we are returning the law to where it was with this exemption in the law. So those possessions now are still Class III felonies."

"Well, it's obvious that it's politically expedient. In view of the media oppression, it's politically expedient to vote for this Amendment. But, at the same time, I think this whole issue has been blown out of proportion. People have called me and I've indicated that we've been depending on the Federal Government to make certain guidelines. I do know in my City of Chicago that superintendent of police, 'Brezik', would hardly put his signature with a federal document if he had any concern about the person requesting such a thing. So I don't think it's that monumental, but it is politically expedient to vote for this. I think we're yielding to the media in this situation, at the public hysteria. I had no problem with the original Bill. I still have no problem with the original Bill, as they didn't in 35 states. I haven't heard of no mob massacres in 35 states where this Bill passed, other than by automatic weapons that were purchased through illegal sources, not through legal sources. So I repeat, I think this is blown out of proportion, but I think it's politically expedient to vote for it. I will vote for it, Jack. I'm a little sorry for you to be saddled. Thank you."

"Is there any further discussion? The Gentleman from Champaign, Representative Johnson."

"Representative Davis, how many other states, and I've heard the figures here, how many other states permit 57  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 individual citizens to purchase and possess the sort of thing that this...machine guns, for example?"

"It's my understanding there are approximately 35."

"Is there any...if your Bill passes, would there be any exemption provided for collectors? I've had at least two people in our part of the state, in fact, constituents, who've indicated that they're collectors, reputable citizens. Would they be able to purchase these items for collective purposes?"

"Well, they have to be rendered inoperative under the Deadly Weapons Statute, as it currently exists."

"Am I correct in saying, I realize you say they are overburdened with, or understaffed? There are fairly rigorous requirements that one has to go through with the Federal Government in order to possess these items, are there not?"

"Well, yes and no. I think they're rather rigorous but in reading them one might surmise that they're not, depending on the diligence with which BATF, or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, pursued the particular application process."

"Mr. Speaker, Members of the House, I absolutely agree with Representative Kosinski. This is a good example of where someone can make something sound horrifying when in fact the Bill as it exists...the Act, as it exists now, makes a lot of sense. Sure machine guns, when you think of them in terms of battlefield situations, are the sorts of things that we're afraid of. But I quite frankly, think the threat to the public of someone possessing a machine gun while it may seem at first blessed, like it's some sort of a severe danger to the public, it's probably vastly less than with handguns. And the majority of the Members of this Legislature, and I think correctly so, have said that 58  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 there are certain constitutional provisions and otherwise that protect citizens right to bear arms. And I...you know, I realize it is probably going to pass because the Governor has gotten on a political bandwagon. There's been editorials on it and it's made publicly to appear as though it is some sort of a threat to the public. But quite frankly, we're now one of 36 states, over three-fourths of the states, that permit possession of these items and it just doesn't make sense to me to yield to that sort of pressure in a situation where there is no compelling reason why it should. Very rigorous requirements that are posed by the Federal Government to possess these items and to simply yield to a little hysteria just doesn't make sense. I urge at least a 'present' vote if not a 'no' vote on the Bill."

"Any further discussion? The Gentleman from Cook, Representative Preston."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Gentleman yield for a question?"

"He indicates he will."

"Representative Davis, under this Amendment, if it becomes law, would an individual be able to own, possess and purchase a weapon that repeated seven shots with a single movement of the trigger?"

"Yes, under the present Deadly Weapon's Statute, the answer to that question is yes."

"So this Amendment only prohibits any weapon that would allow eight shots to be fired with one pull of the trigger not seven, six or five?"

"That's true and let me reiterate that that is...was currently the law prior to House Bill 32 and will be the law with this Amendment. That's true."

"And do I understand that it is your intent, as the 59  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 Sponsor of this Amendment, that a person who is not a law enforcement officer, or a manufacturer, or dealer of automatic weapons for sale to law enforcement agencies, or to reserve units, or to other agencies of the Federal Government, would be prohibited from possessing a machine gun? Anyone other than those people would be prohibited from possessing a machine gun, is that correct?"

"That's correct, that's the intent."

"May I speak to the Bill, Mr. Speaker? Yes, I can, thank you."

"Yes, proceed, Representative."

"One area that was mentioned by Representative Davis, that it was the intent of this Bill to do what the intent of House Bill 32 was, I would disagree with that only from this standpoint. It was told to me by the Sponsor of House Bill 32 that it was, indeed, his intention at all times that anyone not prohibited by federal law from possessing a machine gun be allowed to go and possess a machine gun. It is my understanding, from the Sponsor of this Amendment, that the intent of this Bill is different than that. It is the intent of this Bill, as amended, that anyone who is not affirmatively authorized by federal law, anyone who is not a law enforcement officer, or a manufacturer-dealer of machine guns, would in fact be prohibited from purchasing a machine gun in Illinois. I would disagree with some of the comments that were made by one of the previous speakers about the rigorous federal requirements. Indeed, there are almost no federal prohibitions to purchasing machine guns under present law. The only thing that federal law requires is basically that the person desiring to purchase a machine gun not be a felon, not be someone who is under indictment, not be an illegal alien, and a few other similar type requirements, somebody not being an unlawful 60  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 drug user. Well, that leaves you and me, and everybody on your block, and most of the people in this state fully authorized under federal law to go out and legally possess and own machine guns which is, in my view, bordering on insanity, itself. I would...I would ask that you support this piece of legislation but only as Representative Davis said, as a very first step, because, as was brought out, anyone desiring to purchase a machine gun that fires seven bullets with one pull of the trigger would be authorized with this legislation or without this legislation. This legislation just says that you can't go out and purchase a weapon that would fire eight bullets at one time. So as a first step, I think this is a good first step. There is subsequent legislation needed to prohibit the sale of other machine guns and automatic weapons that would allow seven bullets to be fired with one pull of the trigger. Thank you."

"If there's no further discussion...oh, Representative Conti."

"Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, first of all, can I ask anybody a parliamentary inquiry here? Can I have a parliamentary inquiry?"

"No."

"Is there...did you say no?"

"No, go ahead."

"Alright."

"I said, 'go', not 'no'."

"Well, I thought you said 'no'. First of all, is there such a thing as an Executive Order to withhold this Bill because of the misunderstanding in the Bill? Can the Governor withhold a Bill that he has already signed and became law on a temporary injunction against this becoming a law until this is clarified? I want that question 61  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 answered. Can anybody answer that question?"

"That's not a parliamentary inquiry, Representative. I would think you'd better call your lawyers and get aside with them on that question."

"Alright then, can I speak to the Bill?"

"On an inquiry to the Bill that is before us?"

"Can speak for the Bill then?"

"I don't know, can you?"

"Can I? Well, I'll try."

"Yes, you may."

"I'll try. Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, I'm confused. I don't care what Skippy Jacobson says I'm not going to be pressured into anything that that man goes on on Channel 2 and starts accusing this General Assembly because we have had many, many Bills on the last night of this Session with 60, 80, 90, 100 page Amendments to it. I didn't vote for this Bill because there are many a times I cannot vote and read a Bill fast enough to vote on a Bill intelligently. Now there are carbines, 36 aut carbines that can be shot and they will shoot more than 15 or 20 bullets at a time. There are German Lugers that will shoot more than nine bullets at one time with the pull of a trigger, and if I can go back home and tell people that I came back on January 13th and voted against the machine gun Bill when my neighbor goes out and buys himself a carbine that he can shoot 30, 35 bullets at a time, why in the hell didn't I let him shoot a machine gun in the first place? It'll kill just as many people as a machine gun. So for me to vote 'present' here just to satisfy Skippy Jacobson on Channel 2, I will refuse to do so. I will vote 'present' because I don't know what I'm voting for."

"Any further discussion? The Representative from Cook, Representative Cullerton." 62  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. I'll be very brief. First of all, just so everybody knows what the law is right now after we passed House Bill 32, we increased the number of exemptions for possession of a machine gun. We said that if it's authorized by federal law then it's okay. If federal...under the federal law an individual can own a machine gun but they have to fill, what's called, out a Form 4. In that Form 4 they have to get the authorization of the chief law enforcement officer of their community. It's very unlikely, and the media has misrepresented this, it's very unlikely the chief law enforcement officer is going to give permission to an individual to own a machine gun. However, there is that possibility, there is that possibility that in some local community a chief of police..law enforcement officer might grant that permission and that's the reason why we're here today, to try to correct that problem. Okay? Now what is important in defense to the General Assembly is that on the day that we passed this out of the House on Third Reading the Sponsor, the well-intentioned Sponsor, made the following comments; he said that there are only 20 people in the state that have a license to allow them to own machine guns and this Bill only affects those 20 people. He also said that you cannot bring one machine gun back into the state after you've taken it out and this was the purpose of the Bill to help the manufacturers to manufacture the guns and to be able to sell them. Now it's true that this language is...has been perhaps hastily drafted but I can tell you, I can assure you that it has the effect of eliminating the exemption under federal law that an individual can own a machine gun. Under this law, if we pass it, an individual cannot fill out that Form 4 and get a machine gun under 63  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 this language that we have here. It's true that if you have a gun as defined as eight shots, if you had one for seven you wouldn't be in violation of the law, but that was already the law and that's not...it wasn't...that problem wasn't created by House Bill 32. It's very important I think for the General Assembly to not feel as if we made a big, major mistake here. When this Bill was debated on the day after Saint Patrick's Day, which might be part of the cause for some of the confusion, it was indicated that this only affected manufacturers. It turns out that there was another exemption that allows for individuals and that's what we are clearing up right now. Thank you."

"Further discussion? The Gentleman from DeWitt, Representative Ebbesen, or Representative Vinson. Excuse me."

"Will the Sponsor yield for a question, Mr. Speaker?"

"Indicates he will."

"Representative Davis, would this Bill prohibit the Museum of Science and Industry from owning and displaying a machine gun?"

"Representative Davis."

"Under the Deadly Weapon's Statute if the weapon will not fire more than eight shots in a burst or the firing pin has been modified so that it's semi-automatic, the answer is yes they can own it, under the Deadly Weapon's Statute. If it does more than eight shots and the firing pin has not been modified so that it will fire first and fire more than eight shots at a time, it is illegal under the Deadly Weapon's Statute and remains so with the passage of this legislation. Does that answer your question?"

"Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, to the Bill. I think the Bill is overbroad. It prohibits anybody but a manufacturer from owning a machine gun. I think 64  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 there are certain cases, rare, I would admit, but certain cases where other people might legitimately own one. Nevertheless, we have the problem I believe where the current law is too permissive in the ownership of machine guns. And I believe that for those people who care about gun problems in general and the overly rabid atmosphere surrounding the gun issue and who might hope to do something in the future about what I consider to be the worst decision going, that being the Morton-Grove decision, I would urge that the rational course at this point would be to vote for this Bill, come back and amend it properly so that those other limited exclusions are permitted and demonstrate some degree of rationality and reasonability so that perhaps some people in the media understand that there are gun advocates who can be reasonable on some of these issues. So I would urge a 'yes' vote even though I think the Bill has some serious flaws."

"The Gentleman from Wayne, Representative Robbins."

"Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, according to what I read in the paper there are already 736 machine guns in Illinois that are legal. Now how many are there illegal? Of course I know from living in the area of the country that I come from that there is really no problem in the people that need a machine gun to get one and most of them know how to use them. So we are passing a Bill that is being brought on by pressure, that is going to accomplish nothing. I was in Chicago visiting and I walked by an Army surplus store and they had a flame thrower in there which all I had to do was get permission from the police department and I could have bought that flame thrower and take it back home and use it to burn cockleburrs which is what I intended to do when I started in trying to buy it. Now, there are many other weapons 65  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 that are more lethal and more dangerous than a machine gun. I feel like that the Legislature acted properly when they passed the first Bill. I think that if the first Bill was not interpreted too liberally, I think you will find that we passed a good Bill. What we are talking about here and this is a question I'd like to ask the Sponsor, how many people have applied, Jack...Mr....Representative Davis, how many people have applied for machine gun ownership under this new Bill?"

"Well, I have no way of knowing that, Representative Robbins. I really do not know how many people have applied since January 1st when the effective date of the Bill...of House Bill 32 was."

"In another words, we're trying to collect...correct what the news media has said as a mistake and this is just another step on taking complete control of all of the guns in the State of Illinois. I feel like if you want to have one hanging up on your wall to look at, it's kind of nice, and..."

"You can. You can."

"I want to make sure that some time that I might do that. I have seen the other end of them. Thank you."

"Representative Neff."

"Thank you Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. I think it is almost ridiculous to be a jumping into something here this evening when there is other legislation that we should be working on. Now it's been brought out here by several people that this...there is over 30 states that have practically the same law that this law is, and I don't think, you can check in some of these states if you wish, I don't think you'll find any problem with machine guns. People aren't going to buy a machine gun. I couldn't go buy a machine gun. I'd have to go 66  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 through a lot of red tape and anyone else will and I think we are overplaying it. I think this Bill has been very poorly represented in the newspapers and we're jumping because the newspapers say so. I think it's ridiculous to even be a spending time on it at this time."

"The Gentleman from Macon, Representative John Dunn."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Question of the Sponsor; if this Amendment passes will the state of the law be exactly the same as it was before the passage of House Bill...and enacted into law of House Bill 32?"

"Yes. Well, wait a minute. What was the question?"

"Will this Amendment put things back just the way they were before House Bill 32 became law?"

"With the exception of the exemption that's mentioned in this Amendment for the manufacturers of ammunition and of automatic weapons in the State of Illinois."

"And what is specifically is the language about the exemption?"

"It's the...if you got the Amendment..."

"Lines 25 through 34..."

"That's correct and on line 33, the policy of the state regarding this particular issue is set out in this Amendment."

"And does the language that is..that will become new law further restrict the ownership of machine guns in the State of Illinois or not?"

"No."

"What is the nature of the change?"

"The nature of the change is to allow fully automatic weapons that fire more than eight shots at a single burst to be utilized by manufacturers of automatic weapons and of ammunition for their legitimate commerce and manufacturer 67  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 activities."

"I hear nothing in there about individual ownership. Will that be..?"

"We're returning the law back to where it was and now under the current Deadly Weapon's Statute it's a Class III felony for possessing an automatic weapon, or a bazooka, or a flame thrower with particular reference to automatic weapons, for an automatic weapon that will fire more than eight shots in a single burst or that does not have the firing pin altered."

"And this will permit a manufacturer, however, to legally possess a machine gun, is that..."

"That's exactly right if you use them in legitimate commerce."

"And that is the only change that will be made in the law that existed prior to House Bill 32 becoming law?"

"That's correct."

"Thank you very much."

"Representative Ebbesen."

"Yes, Mr. Speaker, I apologize to the House, but I think it's...for interrupting for this purpose, but I have at my left, I think, a very distinguished, I know a very distinguished gentleman that shouldn't offend either side of the aisle, I'm a Republican and this gentleman is a Democrat, but this is Senator Harry Grotberg from North Dakota, John Grotberg's brother. I'd like to introduce him to the Members of the House."

"Well, I'll tell you one thing, he's certainly got my sympathy. Anybody that could have John Grotberg for a brother deserves all the sympathy that he can get. Representative Jones, Emil Jones."

"In the interest of the people of the State of Illinois, Mr. Speaker, I move the previous question." 68  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982

"Would you hold that a minute? The Gentleman has moved the previous question. All in favor will signify by saying 'aye', all opposed 'no', the 'ayes' have it and the Gentleman's Motion prevails. Representative Davis to close."

"Mr. Speaker, briefly in opening and closing, in opening my closing I would say to this chamber and to the State of Illinois that I think Skippy Jacobson is a turkey too. And many of the things that have been said are probably some what accurate in that particular vein as far as the media is concerned. However, you can see from the debate here there is a vast amount of confusion regarding the whole question of weapons. The question of Morton-Grove came up and the whole patchwork approach, the Federal Government and the states, locally here with their Deadly Weapons Statute, which I believe needs some revamping. I'm an opponent of gun control. I do not believe in it and if you think for one minute I'm going to stand here and propose a pro-gun control Bill, I'm not going to do that. So I'm simply going to close by saying to you, even the NRA and the IRA do not wish people to have automatic weapons at the whim of walking in and being able to buy one. They don't wish that to happen and I don't think the people of Illinois wish it to happen, and I don't think the Sponsor, Representative Polk, despite what one of the prior speakers said, wanted that to happen either. It's a good correction. It's an oversight that we made by going a bit too far. We're going to review the whole statute in the spring. In the meantime, this will restore a little bit of sanity and protect the manufacturer of ammunition and automatic weapons, and I urge an 'aye' vote."

"The question is, 'Shall the House concur in Senate Amendment #2 to House Bill 65?' All in favor will signify 69  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 83rd Legislative Day January 13, 1982 by voting 'aye', all opposed by voting 'no'. This is final action. It requires 89 votes. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record, Mr. Clerk. On this question there are 148 voting 'aye', 4 voting 'no', 8 voting 'present' and this Bill having received the Constitutional Majority is hereby declared passed. Representative Telcser."

"Mr. Speaker, Members of the House, I now move that the House stand adjourned until March 3rd, 1982, the hour of 12:00, noon."

"You've heard the Gentleman's Motion. All in favor will signify by saying 'aye', all opposed 'no'. The 'ayes' have it and the House now stands adjourned until March 3rd, the hour of noon." 70  STATE OF ILLINOIS 82ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DAILY TRANSCRIPTION OF DEBATE INDEX PAGE 1 JANUARY 13, 1982 HB-0065 CONCURRENCE PAGE 53 HJR-0063 3RD READING PAGE 1 HJR-0064 3RD READING PAGE 2 SUBJECT MATTER HOUSE TO ORDER - SPEAKER RYAN PAGE 1 PRAYER - FATHER COSTA PAGE 1 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PAGE 1 ROLL CALL FOR ATTENDANCE PAGE 1 RECESS PAGE 2 JOINT SESSION CONVENES PAGE 3 GOVERNOR THOMPSON DELIVERS BUDGET MESSAGE PAGE 5 JOINT SESSION ADJOURNS PAGE 23 REGULAR SESSION CONVENES PAGE 23 AGREED RESOLUTIONS PAGE 24 REPRESENTATIVE PETERS IN CHAIR PAGE 24 SPEAKER RYAN IN CHAIR PAGE 32 DEATH RESOLUTIONS PAGE 33 AGREED RESOLUTIONS PAGE 37 RECESS PAGE 51 SUSPENSION OF RULES PAGE 52 MESSAGE FROM SENATE PAGE 53 ADJOURNMENT PAGE 70