"The House shall come to order. The House shall come to order. Any Members, any individuals on the floor that don't... are not authorized personnel shall retire to the gallery. Be led in prayer today by Pastor Kwadwo Ntim with the Mount Hope United Methodist Church in McHenry. Pastor Ntim is the guest of Representative Franks. Guests in the gallery may wish to rise and join us for the invocation and the pledge. Pastor."
"Shall we please bow down our heads for prayer. Dear God, this is the day that You have made. You have made it possible for all of us to assemble this day. Thank You for being so gracious to us. God, You've called all of us, especially the men and women here. You've called all of us and we, the citizens of Illinois, have confirmed the calling by electing them to represent us. They are representing us as servants and as prophets. As prophets, sometimes they may make decisions that we, the citizens who elected them, would not like. But that is the role of a prophet. As servants, they are expected to make decisions and serve us in matters that will serve our best interest. This is a delicate balance, and they cannot do all this by themselves. They require wisdom from Heaven. So this we ask, we assemble, God, my plea is that Your wisdom would descend on all of us, especially these men and women, so that what they do would be done with great deal of conscience. In the name of Your Son, Jesus, I pray. Amen."
"Be led today in pledge by Representative Tom Johnson." Johnson, Tom - 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 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 96th Legislative Day February 17, 2000 justice for all."
Speaker Brunsvold: "Roll Call for Attendance, Mr. Clerk. Representative... Representative Currie, with excused absences for the Democratic side of the aisle."
"Thank you, Speaker. Please let the record show that Representatives Morrow and Stroger are excused today. And if I might, I'd like you to join me in welcoming the reason for Representative Stroger's absence, and that is the birth of a brand new Democrat, Ponce Eric Stroger, born at 3:21 this morning, weighing in at 7 pounds 1 ounce."
Speaker Brunsvold: "Congratulations, Representative Morrow... Stroger, excuse me. Stroger. Yeah. Morrow's already had his child. Representative Poe."
"Don't congratulate me. I don't need any of those. Mr. Speaker, let the record show that Representative Tom Ryder is absent today, excused."
"Thank you, Mr. Poe. Mr. Clerk, take the record, 113 'present', 5 'absent', we do have a quorum. Mr. Clerk, Committee Reports."
Clerk Rossi: "Representative Scott, Chairperson from the Committee on Urban Revitalization, to which the following measure was referred, action taken on February 17, 2000, reported the same back with the following recommendation: 'do pass as amended Short Debate' House Bill 4074. Representative Mike McAuliffe, Chairperson from the Committee on Veterans Affairs, to which the following measures were referred, action taken on February 17, 2000, reported the same back with the following recommendations: 'do pass Short Debate' House Bill 2967, House Bill 4450; 'do pass as amended Short Debate' House Bill 4340; 'be adopted' House Joint Resolution 38. Representative Gash, Chairperson from the Committee on Judiciary II-Criminal Law 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 96th Legislative Day February 17, 2000 to which the following measures were referred, action taken on February 17, 2000, reported the same back with the following recommendations: 'do pass Short Debate' House Bill 2888, House Bill 3221, House Bill 3430, House Bill 3929, House Bill 3986, House Bill 3989, House Bill 4045, House Bill 4072, House Bill 4097, House Bill 4116, House Bill 4124, House Bill 4136, House Bill 4148, House Bill 4267, House Bill 4537, House Bill 4626, House Bill 4697; 'do pass as amended Short Debate' House Bill 3292, House Bill 3465, House Bill 3899, House Bill 4017, House Bill 4279 and House Bill 4593. Representative Pugh, Chairperson from the Committee on Revenue, to which the following measures were referred, action taken on February 17, 2000, reported the same back with the following recommendations: 'do pass as amended Short Debate' House Bill 3120, House Bill 3169, House Bill 3192, House Bill 3360, House Bill 3428, House Bill 3467, House Bill 3898, House Bill 3980, House Bill 3995 and House Bill 4431; 'do pass Short Debate' House Bill 2899 and House Bill 3267, House Bill 3947 and House Bill 4020; recommends 'be adopted' Floor Amendment #1 to House Bill 665. Representative Murphy, Chairperson from the Committee on Personnel and Pensions, to which the following measures were referred, action taken on February 17, 2000, reported the same back with the following recommendation: 'do pass Standard Debate' House Bill 3173; 'do pass as amended Standard Debate' House Bill 4347. Representative Tom Dart, Chairperson from the Committee on Judiciary I-Civil Law, to which the following measures were referred, action taken on February 17, 2000, reported the same back with the following recommendations: 'do pass Short Debate' House Bill 4698; 'do pass as amended Standard Debate' House Bill 4039. Representative Dan Burke, 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 96th Legislative Day February 17, 2000 Chairperson from the Committee on Executive, to which the following measures were referred, action taken on February 17, 2000, reported the same back with the following recommendation: 'do pass Short Debate' House Bill 3610. Representative Jack McGuire, Chairperson from the Committee on Aging, to which the following measures were referred, action taken on February 17, 2000, reported the same back with the following recommendations: 'do pass Short Debate' House Bill 4047; 'do pass as amended Short Debate' House Bill 3309. Introduction of Resolutions: House Resolution 584, offered by Representative Fowler; House Resolution 585, offered by Representative Granberg; and House Resolution 599, offered by Representative Saviano are assigned to the Rules Committee."
Speaker Brunsvold: "Mr. Schoenberg, for what purpose do you rise?"
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to rise on a point of personal privilege. And could you call the Body to order, please."
Speaker Brunsvold: "Yes. Let's give the Gentleman your attention. Let's give the Gentleman your attention. Mr. Schoenberg, state... state your point."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. I was awakened this morning to the very disturbing news that Matt Hale was going to be a guest lecturer at the University of Illinois at Springfield today at a class entitled, 'Social Responsibility in Ethics - Corporate and Public'. In my view, it's bad enough that leaders of hate groups can dodge and manipulate the existing law to legally insulate themselves from prosecution for crimes that inspire acts of violence. And I support the First Amendment. I support academic freedom. 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 96th Legislative Day February 17, 2000 These are principles which are central to our democracy. But I question how a public forum, paid for by taxpayer dollars, in a classroom setting, no less, can be used by so... to give legitimacy to someone who actively seeks to jeopardize the civil rights of others and whose mission is to inspire acts of violence against various individuals in our communities. This is beyond belief, in my view. I'm sickened by it. This isn't a case where a student organization, in order to have a provocative speaker, invites someone with these vile and repugnant views to an on-campus program. This is a case where this individual is incorporated within the curriculum of a academic program that we're paying for with taxpayer dollars. And whether it's happening in a public set... in a public institution or a private institution, that's almost secondary. There simply is no justification for this to happen. You can't help but wonder what kind of world we live in when something like this can happen. When a public taxpayer-funded venue can be given for someone whose sole mission in life is to inspire hatred and violence against others. We should not feel the obligation, under any circumstances, to give him such ready and available access to our young people. And I think that we need to have some kind of thorough and independent review, and I'm not quite sure yet under what form that should occur. But there needs to be some kind of thorough and independent review to determine how something like this can happen, as it will later today, and how we can prevent this from happening in the future. This individual should not be allowed to spread his poison in our classrooms. And when he jeopardizes the civil rights of others in our society and our communities, we have an obligation to responsibly determine how this is 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 96th Legislative Day February 17, 2000 happening and to guarantee that it doesn't happen again. Thank you very much for your time."
"Thank you, Mr. Schoenberg. Rules Committee Report. In regards to committees meeting after adjournment, Mr. Woolard."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to announce to the Body that the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee will be meeting in Room 114 immediately following Session. This will be to discuss a Bill presented by Representative Daniels."
"Thank you, Mr. Woolard. Mr. McKeon."
"Thank you, Speaker. The recessed Labor and Commerce Committee will meet in Room 118 immediately after Session."
"Thank you. Representative Gash."
"Speaker, thank you, Mr. Speaker. The House Judiciary Committee on Criminal Law will reconvene immediately after Session in Room 122-B."
Speaker Brunsvold: "Thank you. Those rooms were Elementary and Secondary, 114; Labor in 118; and Jud. II in 122-B. Mr. Burke."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On a point of personal privilege."
"State your point."
"I would like to take this opportunity to introduce the Body to Father Jack Claire from Misery Cordia Heart of Mercy in Chicago. And I'd like to welcome him to Springfield this afternoon."
Speaker Brunsvold: "Any further co... The road reports are on your computer... on your laptops on your desks. They are up-to-date in case anyone would like to check the roads going back to their districts. The Clerk read the Adjournment Resolution." 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 96th Legislative Day February 17, 2000
Clerk Rossi: "Senate Joint Resolution #58, offered by Representative Currie. Be it resolved by the Senate of the 91st General Assembly, the State of Illinois, the House of Representatives concurring herein, that when the two Houses adjourn on Thursday, February 17, 2000, the Senate stands adjourned until Tuesday, February 22, 2000, at 12:00 noon and the House of Representatives stands adjourned until Tuesday, February 22, 2000, at 1:00 p.m."
"Okay. All in favor of adoption of the Adjournment Resolution say 'aye'; opposed 'nay'. The 'ayes' have it, and the Resolution is adopted. The Chair is prepared to adjourn. Are there any other announcements? Are there any other announcements? Representative Currie now moves that the House does stand adjourned, allowing perfunctory time for the Clerk, until February 22nd, that's Tuesday, at the hour of 1:00 p.m. All those in favor 'aye'; opposed 'nay'. The 'ayes' have it, and the House does stand adjourned until February 22nd, Tuesday, the hour of 1:00 p.m."
Clerk Rossi: "Perfunctory Session will come to order. Introduction and First Reading of House Bills. House Bill 4705, offered by Representative Capparelli, a Bill for an Act to amend the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. First Reading of this House Bill. House Perfunctory Session will come to order. Committee Reports. Representative Larry McKeon, Chairperson from the Committee on Labor and Commerce, to which the following measures were referred, action taken on February 17, 2000, reported the same back with the following recommendations: 'do pass' House Bill 3177; 'do pass as amended Standard Debate' House Bill 4651. Representative Woolard, Chairperson from the Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education, to which 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 96th Legislative Day February 17, 2000 the following measures were referred, action taken on February 17, 2000, reported the same back with the following recommendations: 'do pass as amended Standard Debate' House Bill 3555. Representative Leitch, Chairperson from the Committee on Consumer Protection, to which the following measure was referred, action taken on February 17, 2000, reported the same back with the following recommendations: 'do pass Short Debate' House Bill 4271; 'do pass as amended Short Debate' House Bill 3926 and House Bill 7... 3979. Being no further business, the House Perfunctory Session stands adjourned." 8