"The House shall come to Order. The Members shall be in their chairs. We shall be led in prayer today by the Reverend Keith Haemmelmann, of the First Congressional Congregational Church of Crystal Lake. Reverend Haemmelmann is a guest of Representative Franks. The guests in the gallery may wish to rise and join us for the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance."
Reverend Haemmelmann: "Let us pray together. Eternal and everlasting God, creator of the universe and partner in life. We give thanks for Your presence which provides us with courage, Your wisdom which leads us in a true direction. Your love which seeks to make us compassionate and Your spirit which fills us with dreams and noble goals. Without You, we know that we would be limited to our own devices, means, and objectives, which often appear good, but are not always Godly. Which might provide leadership, but not necessarily the vision required to move our world in a significant and hopeful direction. For we would be a people who look beyond what is to that which could be. We would be individuals who live above self interest and always for the common good. We would be leaders who seek within ourselves, not pride or envy or jealousy, but honesty, integrity and clarity. For we would be a state and nation committed to a future which is better, brighter and more beautiful tomorrow than today. Not for some, but for all. To this end we implore that You work within, above, beyond, behind, and beneath this legislative Body, in order that they might share opinions with conviction while listening with open-mindedness and sincerity. That the power within their grasp might be used on behalf of those who have no voice and little hope. That the politics of a partisan nature be set aside in order that a sense of 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 105th Legislative Day March 7, 2000 community with a higher calling might be put in place. Oh God, we would be ambassadors of Your will. Forget of us when we get caught up in promoting only our own. Oh Lord, we would be Your servants of Your kingdom. Pull us along when we become bogged down in the creation of personal fiefdoms. Oh vision beyond our wildest and grandest dreams. Lift up our eyes in order that through the words and deeds, spirits and decisions of these individuals, Your love might be made self-evident, on behalf of all those whose very lives have been placed in their trust. Strengthen and guide, bless and sustain, empower and support these Leaders in this place, that the tasks at hand might be caught up in that which lies beyond, that toward which we would always be living. Your realm of peace and justice, honor and compassion, wholeness and purpose, safety and security, promise and prosperity, for one and for all. Amen."
Speaker Madigan: "We shall be led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Representative Jay Hoffman."
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Speaker Madigan: "Roll Call for Attendance. Representative Currie."
"Thank you, Speaker. Please let the record show that Representatives Shirley Jones and Morrow are both excused today."
"Mr. Poe."
"Mr Speaker, let the record today, that Representative Kosel and Representative Hassert are absent... excused."
"Mr. Clerk, take the record. There being 113 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 105th Legislative Day March 7, 2000 people responding to the Attendance Roll Call, there is a quorum present. Mr. Clerk."
"Committee Reports. Representative Barbara Flynn Currie, Chairperson from the Committee on Rules, from which the following measures were referred, action taken on March 7, 2000, reported the same back with the following recommendation: 'to the floor for consideration to the Order of Second Reading' House Bills 4699. Introduction of Resolutions. House Resolution 644, offered by Representative Currie; House Resolution 646, offered by Representative Granberg; and House Joint Resolution #50, offered by Representative Lopez, are assigned to the Rules Committee. Introduction and First Reading of House Bills. House Bill 4709, offered by Representative Woolard, a Bill for an Act making appropriations. First Reading of this House Bill."
"The Chair recognizes Mr. Bill Mitchell for the purpose of an announcement."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise..."
"Mr. Bill Mitchell."
"Mr. Speaker, may I have the Body's attention?"
Speaker Madigan: "Ladies and Gentlemen, if you could give your attention to Mr. Mitchell, he's rising on a very serious note. Mr. Mitchell."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I awoke this morning to learn of the death of a volunteer fireman in my district. Mr. Don Wilson of Herrick, Illinois, who was fighting a fire on a roof yesterday evening in Herrick, which is in southern Shelby County. It's a little town of about 650 people. This is the first fatality in the line of duty, this year in Illinois. It's the first in Herrick history. I talked to the volunteer Fire Chief, and he and the family of 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 105th Legislative Day March 7, 2000 course... it's a trauma for Herrick and my entire district. Interesting thing is that the Wilson family... Mr. Wilson was 50. His son was a member of the fire department as well as his wife. In Illinois, we have about 42,000 firefighters, both volunteer and paid. If I could have a moment of silence for Mr. Wilson and his family, I'd appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you Members of the Body."
"Representative Wojcik."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just for an announcement. I want to thank all of you in the House who've been so kind to buy the Girl Scout cookies from me. Now, the chore is starting of getting them distributed. Thank you so much, and the Pages are going to bring them around to you."
"Representative Feigenholtz."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, today is a very special day. Not only has Joe Lyons brought corn beef sandwiches for all of us, but it is also the 50th birthday, 50, of State Representative Judy Erwin. Let's all give Judy a big hand."
"Representative Crotty. Crotty."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, I'd like you to welcome along with me, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Schultz, up in the gallery from Oak Forest. This is their first time here in Springfield. Welcome."
"Mr. Dart. We're going to call a Resolution that you sponsored. Mr. Clerk."
Clerk Rossi: "House Resolution 649, offered by Representative Dart." HOUSE RESOLUTION 649 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 105th Legislative Day March 7, 2000 WHEREAS, Mount Carmel High School has been referred to as the "Miracle of 64th Street", located on the south side of Chicago at 6410 S. Dante, with a history that spans almost 100 years; and WHEREAS, As Mount Carmel High School approaches its centennial, 780 young men commute to school from a hundred parishes in south metropolitan Chicagoland bound together by a common vision and a common goal, symbolized by the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel; and WHEREAS, In the Mount Carmel High School tradition, a student comes to Carmel as a boy; if he cares to struggle and work at it, he will leave as a man; and WHEREAS, In furtherance of that tradition, the Mount Carmel High School Football team has been named the 1990s Team of the Decade; and WHEREAS, The Mount Carmel High School Football team won the State Championship in 1990, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999 and was State Runner-up in 1995, with an overall record of 122 wins and 12 losses; and WHEREAS, The Mount Carmel High School Football team was the Catholic League Champion ten straight years; and WHEREAS, Mount Carmel High School is led by its principal, Father Carl Markelz, O. Carm., and its football team is led by Coach Frank Lenti, who has been named the High School Coach of the Century by the Chicago Tribune with a career record of 185 wins and 25 losses, leading the team to eight State championships; therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Father Carl Markelz, O. Carm., Coach Frank Lenti, and the 1999 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 105th Legislative Day March 7, 2000 Illinois State Champion Football Team of Mount Carmel High School for its extraordinary accomplishments; and be it further RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Father Carl Markelz, O. Carm., Coach Frank Lenti, and the 1999 Illinois State Champion Football Team of Mount Carmel High School."
"Mr. Dart."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members of the House. A couple of my colleagues mentioned when I was walking through the hallway today with some of the students from the football team, that was my new set of bodyguards that I needed, which is probably appropriate. It's a distinct honor and privilege for me to have down here today; I've got the principal of Mt. Carmel High School Father Carl, I've got the Head Coach, Frank Lenti, and I have four of the students who are back in the back of the chamber right now, who are the seniors who started for all two years of... for the Varsity Program, Dan Casasanto, Matt Piotrowic, I'm sorry Matt, Gary Young, and John Megaro. I wish you'd all give me a round of applause and welcome them to the General Assembly today. And If I could, I'd... typical of me I'm always late in getting around to it, I meant to recognize them a couple years back, but thankfully, for me, they won the State Championship in 1990, '91, '96, '98, and '99, so, they gave me enough time to finally get around to bringing them down here to recognize them. Thank you very much."
"And, Mr. Dart moves for the adoption of the Resolution. Those in favor say 'aye'; those opposed say 'no'. The 'ayes' have it. The Resolution is adopted. Mr. Clerk, are there further Resolutions?"
"Yes. Agreed Resolutions. House Resolution 626, offered by Representative Slone. House Resolution 627, 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 105th Legislative Day March 7, 2000 offered by Representative Dart. House Resolution 628, offered by Representative Dart. House Resolution 629, offered by Representative Osmond. House Resolution 631, offered by Representative Crotty. House Resolution 632, offered by Representative Schoenberg. House Resolution 633, offered by Representative Schoenberg. House Resolution 634, offered by Representative Schoenberg. House Resolution 635, offered by Representative Schoenberg. House Resolution 640, offered by Representative McGuire. House Resolution 641, offered by Representative Granberg, and House Resolution 642, offered by Representative Granberg."
Speaker Madigan: "The Clerk has read the Agreed Resolutions. Representative Currie moves for the adoption of the Agreed Resolutions. Those in favor say 'aye'; those opposed say 'no'. The 'ayes' have it. The Agreed Resolutions are adopted. The Chair is prepared to adjourn. There is nothing further to come before the Body. Representative Currie moves that the House does stand adjourned until 12 noon tomorrow. Those in favor say 'aye'; those opposed say 'no'. The House does stand adjourned until 12 noon tomorrow, providing perfunctory time for the Clerk."
"The House Perfunctory Session shall come to order. There being no business, the House Perfunctory Session shall be adjourned." 7