“The House shall come to order. The Members shall be in their chairs. We ask all Members to turn off cell phones, pagers, computers. After the prayer we shall be led in the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem by the Department of Military Affairs-Lincoln’s Challenge Academy. And so when we finish the prayer people from the Department of Military Affairs will come down the center aisle, lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. We shall be led in prayer by the Reverend Jack Michealsen of the of Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Moline. Reverend Michealsen is the guest of Representative Mike Boland.”
“Let us bow our hearts and our heads in prayer. God of all life, You call us to live in community and teach us to care for one another in Your way. We pray for those here today and all whose positions and authority affect the lives of others. Inspire them with a vision of the community as it might be where love of neighbor and concern for one another overcome fear and hatred, poverty and hopelessness. Help us to work together with one heart and will with sympathy and understanding to serve the common good. God, ruler and judge of all nations, look mercifully on our land. Sanctify all that is good and noble in our traditions, grant that our ideals and aspirations may be in accordance with Your will. Take away pride and false pretense from our midst. Give us humility in our relations with others, bless our leaders and the people as we continue to build one nation under God. Help 09300049.doc 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 49th Legislative Day 4/29/2003 us to discipline ourselves so that our national freedom may be used for the common good and may bring us all to the knowledge of Him, in whose service is perfect freedom. Amen.” Department of Military Affairs – 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.” Department of Military Affairs – et al: “Singing of the National Anthem.”
“Roll Call for Attendance. Representative Currie.”
“Thank you, Speaker. Please let the record show that Representatives Collins and Giles are excused today.”
“Mr. Bost.”
“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let the record reflect that all the Republicans are present today.”
“The Clerk shall take the record. There being 116 Members responding to the Attendance Roll Call, there is a quorum present. Mr. Clerk. Chair recognizes Mr. Verschoore for the purpose of an announcement.”
"Mr. Speaker, as a point of personal privilege.”
“State your point.”
"I would like to introduce a group of students from Rock Island High School, along with their teachers Robert Coronado, teacher Sheila Guse, and her good friend Rhoda Humphrey. If everybody would give ‘em an applause I’d appreciate it. Stand up if you would, please.” 09300049.doc 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 49th Legislative Day 4/29/2003
“Mr. Brady. Mr. Brady.”
“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege.”
“State your point.”
“I, too, would like to recognize a group from my home district, that is the group that’s up in the gallery here to my right. It’s the Workers Compensation Claim Association from the Bloomington-Normal area. If they’d please stand and be recognized. Welcome to Springfield, ladies and gentlemen.”
“Representative Bailey.”
“Mr. Speaker, point of personal privilege.”
“State your point.”
“I would like for the House to recognize some visitors and guests from the Cook County Adult Probation and the Cook County Sheriffs’ Sortie. Would you please rise in the gallery.”
“Representative Mendoza.”
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise on a point of personal privilege.”
“State your point.”
"I, too, would like to recognize that we have a former Member of the House of Representatives with us right now who served in 1969 to 1972, Representative Jim Peterson. If we could all give him a round…”
Speaker Madigan: “Is there anyone else on the order of announcements? Mr. Hoffman, did you have any announcements to make? We’re pleased to see you joining us today. Mr. Moffitt.” 09300049.doc 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 49th Legislative Day 4/29/2003
“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to a point of personal privilege.”
“State your point.”
“Tomorrow evening Representative Mike Smith and I have, along with two Senators, have called for an organizational meeting to discuss forming a fire caucus. Be 7:00 tomorrow evening at the Chesapeake House. This is a direct result of the task force recommendation, the task force that you appointed, Mr. Speaker. It’ll be a complimentary dinner and all Legislators invited. 7:00 tomorrow evening, Chesapeake House.”
“Mr. Lang. Lang.”
“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would it be in order to make a motion to move a Bill from Third to Second or would you prefer I do that at another time?”
“Let us get back with you on that.”
“Thank you.”
“Mr. Osterman.”
“Personal announcement, please.”
“State your point.”
“Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, a week from tonight we’ll be having the Senate/House softball game. And in preparation for winning the fourth year in a row, anyone that’s interested in playing on that team, we’re gonna have a practice this evening between 5:15 and 6:15 at the park at Washington and Amos. So, please come out and join us.”
“Mr. Rose.” 09300049.doc 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 49th Legislative Day 4/29/2003
“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege.”
“State your point.”
“Thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen, I’d like to Matt Schubert to the chamber today. Matt is a Charleston High School social studies teacher. He’s up here behind me in the gallery. Thank you.”
“Mr. Clerk, what is the status of Senate Bill 1493? 1493, Senate.”
Clerk Bolin: "Senate Bill 1493 is on the Order of Senate Bills-Third Reading.”
“Put that Bill on the Order of Second Reading. The Chair recognizes Mr. Black.”
“Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have an inquiry of the Chair.”
“State your inquiry.”
“Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Joined by my colleagues on the Republican side of the aisle and realizing that the time schedule has changed since I looked at it when I got here this morning, it would be our desire to have a Committee of the Whole on the Elementary and Secondary Appropriations Committee. There is no specific Bill posted, it was the, as I understand it, it’s the Governor’s proposal for elementary and secondary education. I realize that my request may not be timely and it was not made in writing but as the hour grows late, would certainly appreciate the indulgence of the Chair if we could have a Committee of the Whole meet as the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee, Mr. Speaker.” 09300049.doc 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 49th Legislative Day 4/29/2003
“Mr. Black, would you permit me to take that under advisement? Don’t take my comment to mean that I’m adverse to the idea.”
“I… we would be most grateful, Mr. Speaker. That’s the biggest single part of the budget and it grows late and many of us are trying to get our… our hands around what the education budget will be. We’re having, quite frankly, a little trouble getting some of the printouts from the state board. And if you would grant us, all Members… if you would grant all Members that opportunity I think it can go a long way to clearing up some of the confusion. And, Mr. Speaker, your word has always been good with me. If you’ll take it under advisement we’d be most grateful.”
“Mr. Parke.”
“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to rise in support of that idea. I… I think that Members on both sides of the aisle realizing that education is one of the most important issues that we face as a state. And the appropriations for that higher… for education is something that we all need to get a better understanding. And I believe that if we meet as a budget… as a Committee of the Whole and ask the kinds of questions that I think our local districts need the answering, I think this is a step in the right direction and I’m pleased that you’ll take this under advisement.”
“Ladies and Gentleman, if we could have your attention. Mr. Burke, if we could have your attention, please. I think you all heard the request of 09300049.doc 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 49th Legislative Day 4/29/2003 Representative Black. The plan of the Chair is to schedule a Committee of the Whole of the Education Appropriations Committee next Tuesday, May 6, at 11 a.m. So, next Tuesday, May 6, 11 a.m., we’ll schedule a Committee of the Whole concerning the education budget and then when we finish we can go into regular Session to consider the Bills that are on the Calendar. Now, that will permit us to continue with the committee schedule that we’ve already set for this week, without interfering with that. So, next Tuesday at 11 a.m., right here on the House Floor, there’ll be a Committee of the Whole. We’re gonna request that Budget Director Filan be in attendance and also Mr. Schiller from the State Board of Education. And do we want Mr. Gidwitz, also, Mr. Black? Mr. Gidwitz.”
“Mr. Speaker, I’m not sure of Mr. Gidwitz’s status. Is he interim board president or former board president?”
“I read… I read in the paper that he was defrocked.”
“Well…”
Speaker Madigan: “There’s some Democrat that’s running the place.”
“I… I think just so we have a good representative…”
“Right.”
“…group of people who could take us through the education budzet… budget would be very helpful. And we thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.”
“Thank you, Mr. Black. The plan of the Chair is to adjourn and to schedule an immediate Democratic 09300049.doc 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 49th Legislative Day 4/29/2003 Caucus. And for that purpose the Chair recognizes Representative Wyvetter Younge.”
“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There’ll be a Democratic Caucus immediately in 114.”
Speaker Madigan: “Representative Younge has announced a Democratic Caucus immediately in Room 114. Before we do that, Mr. Clerk, what is the status of Senate Bill 1156? 1156.”
"Senate Bill 1156 is on… on the Order of Senate Bills-Third Reading.”
“Put that Bill on the Order of Second Reading. Is there anything further to come before the Body? Representative Currie moves that the House stand adjourn until 12 noon tomorrow, providing perfunctory time for the Clerk. All those in favor say ‘aye’; all those opposed say ‘no’. The ‘ayes’ have it. The House stands adjourned until 12 noon tomorrow, providing perfunctory time for the Clerk. And there’ll be an immediate Democratic Caucus in Room 1… 114.”
"House Perfunctory Session will come to order. Introduction and First Reading of House Bills… introduction and First Reading of Senate Bills. Senate Bill 377, offered by Representative Davis, Will Davis, a Bill for an Act concerning insurance coverage. Senate Bill 699, offered by Representative Molaro, a Bill for an Act concerning electronic transmissions. Senate Bill 1883, offered by Representative Currie, a Bill for an Act concerning taxes. First Reading of these Senate Bills. 09300049.doc 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 49th Legislative Day 4/29/2003 Senate Bill 1737, offered by Representative Saviano, a Bill for an Act in relation to real property. First Reading of this Senate Bill. There being no further business, the House Perfunctory Session shall stand adjourned.” 09300049.doc 9