Illinois House Floor Debate — April 21, 2004

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let the record reflect that all Republicans are present.”

“I am proud to stand today to support and recognize the Lincoln Foundation for Business Excellence because for the past decade they have supported businesses and institutions throughout our state. They are here in the gallery with me today and I hope they would please rise to listen to this. Their goal has been to put Illinois organizations on the map. And they have succeeded. They have done tremendous work in helping companies and organizations to improve their business performance and become more successful. The foundation is helping Illinois organizations continuously improve their performance by encouraging, developing and highlighting excellence among all five sectors of the economy: industry, service, healthcare, education and government. Investing in quality principles and performance excellence pays off in increased productivity, satisfied employees and customers and improved profitability for both customers and investors and that’s good for our Illinois economy. When you were chosen for recognition by the Illinois Lincoln Foundation you can be assured you have earned it. The foundation awarded St. Mary’s Good Samaritan in Centralia and Mount Vernon the 2003 Lincoln gold award for achievement of excellence. Another 10 Illinois organizations have received the 2003 Lincoln bronze award for commitment to excellence. Please 09300117.doc 8  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 117th Legislative Day 4/21/2004 join me in a warm Springfield welcome in recognizing the Lincoln Foundation board members and staff and the 2003 award recipients with us in the gallery today.”

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to reiterate what Representative Pihos said about the Lincoln Foundation and the wonderful work that they do from the heart. One of the schools mentioned was District 158 in Huntley and I would like to congratulate them especially, because we are overrun with new students every year, hundreds and hundreds on new students come in and the fact that Huntley was able to… to cope with this and continue their excellence and innovative programs. So, congratulations to all of the schools. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.”

“Yeah, Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, I just wanted… if the people from Memorial Health System of Springfield, if they’d stand up, we’d like for them to stand up and congratulate ‘em. They’re here in my district and let’s give ‘em a big hand.”

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also join in to recognize the achievements that have been mentioned in the Resolution and in particular to also join in to congratulate 09300117.doc 9  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 117th Legislative Day 4/21/2004 Consolidated School District 59 in Elk Grove Village, Holmes Junior High in Mt. Prospect and the VIVA USA in Rolling Meadows for an outstanding work, outstanding hard work. And again, extend congratulations to each and every one of them. Thank you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to honor Friendship Junior High School from our area that is also being honored today. And hope that they would stand up and let us know where they are.”

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have with us today a true hero, someone that has served his country, someone who has earned a Bronze Star. Representatives in this Body, I’d like you to take note, Owen E. Stanfield and his wife Betty, are with us today in the gallery above me. And Owen and Betty, would you please stand today so that we may recognize you. If… if I may, Mr. Speaker. Ladies and Gentlemen, there’s a very famous picture from World War II of the allies entering Paris after the invasion. There’s a U.S. Army Jeep and a couple 09300117.doc 12  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 117th Legislative Day 4/21/2004 Jeeps driving passed the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, Owen Stanfield was one of the individuals in the Jeeps. So, we have with us today a true hero, a wonderful individual, a great friend of mine and I would urge passage of this Resolution. Thank you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. And thank Representative Burke for a moving tribute to a great man. Those of us from DuPage County knew Emmett McNamara as a great individual, but a very close personal friend of Speaker Bill Redmond, who was Speaker of the House from 1975 to 1981, not only his close friend, but also his mentor as well when Bill Redmond was Speaker. And of course, Emmett went on to become a member of the DuPage County Airport Authority and his wife, Jeanne, has served us in many capacities in DuPage County. Now, some of you may know, as you could gather, that Emmett was a Democrat. So, it may be unusual for a Republican from DuPage County paying this great tribute to this wonderful man. And he was a union man and he was a Democrat through and through 09300117.doc 18  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 117th Legislative Day 4/21/2004 and loved his politics and loved his state. But what a great individual and what a great person it was to know and to share some time with him. Now, Ladies and Gentlemen, this truly was a wonderful person who loved his country, who loved his work, who loved the people in the General Assembly in the State of Illinois. He really will be missed. And to his family, we send our heartfelt prayers and thoughts and thanks to you for allowing him to serve us in so many capacities. To Jeanne and the children, we send you our best, our love and our thanks for all that you have done for us as well. God bless you, Emmett.”

“Almost 20 years ago I came down here from a suburban area, which was primarily business oriented, and so it was pretty easy for me to support the business communities issues and their positions on these issues. But I wasn’t long after being down here that Emmett came to me and introduced himself and said that he wanted to make a point that he was able to work with Republicans and convince them that some of the labor issues were worthy of our consideration. He always prided himself on telling other labor guys that it really would be to their advantage to reach out to us on the Republican side also. And I was always pleased when he made a point of introducing me to other labor guys, saying, hey, this is somebody you can talk to, he isn’t always gonna vote with ya, but at least he’ll listen to ya. And I’ve always been proud of that relationship that I had with Emmett and that he was able to do it. He was a source and probably in some ways the only source that I had for many years down here on labor issues. And I would go to him and ask him, what does this Bill really mean to your guys and why is it something that your… that you want. And he would explain to me those issues, the majority of the time I did not go with him on those issues, but there were times when he made a good case and I found that I was able to vote with him on some of those issues. He also opened doors for me in just letting people know that I was somebody that people could work with. And I will tell you that I will miss his stories, ‘cause I would seek him out just to hear what the local scuttlebutt 09300117.doc 21  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 117th Legislative Day 4/21/2004 was and what was going on in the Capitol. I found that he was a great source, a great friend and I will miss this man, Emmett McNamara.”

“Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. Thirty years ago I was a newly-elected township official in DuPage and a member the party across the way here. And one of the first people I met was Emmett, who did not live in my township, but I… through Bud Loftus’ efforts and Chuck Hickman, names that are familiar to many here, I was introduced to Emmett and I began a long 09300117.doc 23  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 117th Legislative Day 4/21/2004 series in a few short year’s time of a lot of lengthy phone calls. And some of you… in those days we only had one phone in the house and only one line, so my wife had to remind that the kids were young and I had to sometimes end those conversations. But Emmett had all kinds of wonderful experience that he could relate and advice to give, suggestions and was a constant friend to me. I then went off to other business activities and would see Emmett from time to time as residents of DuPage County. And then when I came back and joined this Body, Emmett was there to greet me and we had some wonderful times together. A little different, we both were a little older. Jeanne’s kids, I know little Emmett was always at Emmett’s… big Emmett’s shoulder or leg or somewhere as he would peek around the different meetings at night. He would just keep his children with him whenever he could to come and take part in the meetings that we had. Emmett could talk, but he could also… he could always listen, too. And he was somebody that would do anything to help you. And he still did it now when I came in on this side of the aisle, and whatever I could do to help him he would do. And he… one of my proudest moments down here is a little one, I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned before, but a few years ago he asked me to vote for a Bill and I was… they tried to verify me off and I was one of the few on… the only one on this side that happened to vote for that particular Bill. But I stayed in the room and so I stayed on that Bill. But my own side didn’t get me off the Bill. But Emmett was very 09300117.doc 24  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 117th Legislative Day 4/21/2004 active, as you know, he can talk, wonderful talker. And in those days the phone was called the horn and Emmett would call… everything was the horn, I’ll get on the horn, I’ll do this and do that. And as I see his lovely wife upstairs and served so well in our county in another position and I’m reminded of the contributions Emmett’s made through my 30-year span of knowing him and being his friend and always remembering that if I could… if I ever had any need or a question I could always turn to him and he’d do the best he could to help me. So, I remember Emmett that way and his family and I salute them all and thank them for the opportunity to know him. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.”

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. I remember meeting Emmett McNamara and the first thing… it took about, as Representative Burke said, it took about 30 seconds for him to find out everything that he could find out about you. And when he heard that my grandmother’s name was Mahaffey and that my grandfather was a union… very active in the union carpenters, he couldn’t… he just couldn’t help but understand how a good, Irish, union, Democrat father… grandfather could produce a Republican. He worked on that from that point on. And one of the things was he would always try to… he always brought that up and, ya know, the funny thing is we spent a lot time at dinner and visiting. Regardless of your politics, Emmett McNamara was your friend. And frankly, I can… ya 09300117.doc 25  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 117th Legislative Day 4/21/2004 know, I’ve never met you before Jeanne, but I know you, because we were regaled with stories from the entire family whenever you’d sit and sit with Emmett and visit about what was going on. But more than anything else, I think Emmett McNamara is a throwback. And I mean this very positively, he is a dinosaur. Because in this age where it seems though partisan politics rules this House and rules this state and rules Washington, D.C., Emmett McNamara brought an air of civility. Regardless of whether… how you voted on a particular issue, it didn’t change his attitude, you were still his friend. And I think that is something, a lesson that can be taught to each and every one of us here. I wanna just say that I miss our dinners, but I’ll think about Emmett often. And I can’t help but think that right now up at the ‘pearly gates’ probably Grandpa Sorrill and him are arguing about whether the union carpenters or the electricians are more important. I’m betting on Emmett McNamara. Thank you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. I had the opportunity to meet Emmett McNamara before I served in the General Assembly. I came down here to pick up my dad, we were going on a hunting trip. And they said your father’s office is right in there. So, I walked in and behind the chair there’s a skinny Irishman smoking a cigarette, doing a crossword puzzle. And I said, hi, I’m Mike McAuliffe, he’s like, I’m Emmett. And just 09300117.doc 26  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 117th Legislative Day 4/21/2004 like the previous speaker said, everyone knew him as Emmett. While I was waiting for my father I had an opportunity to sit and talk, what we call like Irish talk and I felt just like I was back in the northwest side of the City of Chicago telling tales and maybe a couple of stretches there… here and there and reminiscing about, ya know, what it’s like to be down here and be an electrician and all the other things that Emmett brought to each of us. And then I remembers also, when I first got elected a couple years later, Emmett was one of the first ones that came up to me and said, ya know, kid, you’ll be fine, everyone loved your dad and you’ll do fine. And, ya know, I always remembered Emmett’s special place in his heart, my father and also to myself and his wonderful family, who I met last night. So, thank you very much for sharing Emmett with us and we’ll never forget him. Thank you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have an additional death Resolution that… considering today. I want to thank several people that are in attendance up in the gallery. The Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ 09300117.doc 30  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 117th Legislative Day 4/21/2004 Affairs, Director Roy Dolgos, Lisa Tisdale, the liaison, representatives of VFW, AMVETS and the Lieutenant Governor’s Office are with us. Yesterday, today, as well as several other times in the last year, the Illinois House of Representatives has paused to pay tribute to a fallen soldier. Some of you are aware that I often times wear a POW/MIA bracelet, which I have here on my desk today. Today we are paying tribute to the soldier whose name is on that bracelet, a soldier from Vietnam War, Major Arthur Ecklund, who was shot down April 3, 1969 and then just two and one half weeks ago, April 3, 2004, the remains of Major Ecklund were laid to rest in a Galesburg area cemetery 35 years to the day after he was shot down in Vietnam. Major Ecklund’s parents, Ralph and Edith Ecklund, are here with us today. Ladies and Gentlemen, they waited 35 years, 35 years to determine the sure fate of their son. Their long wait further shows the impact of war, it’s not only on soldiers, but on family and friends back home. The families also pay a huge price and deserve our thanks, they deserve our appreciation, they deserve our support and now in this case, they deserve our condolences. The Ecklund family have been serving their country and paying a high price for our freedoms for many years. Major Ecklund’s father, Ralph, who’s with us today, served in World War II, and his son, young ‘Artie’, was two years old before his dad ever had the privilege of seeing him and holding him, because he was serving his country. To the Ecklund’s, we realize that there are no words that are adequate to fill 09300117.doc 31  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 117th Legislative Day 4/21/2004 the void that was left by the loss of your son. However, we hope that you will accept the very grateful appreciation of the Illinois House of Representatives on behalf of the citizens of Illinois for your sacrifice and for the service and sacrifice of your son, Major Arthur Ecklund. Your son died a hero, your son remains a hero. We stand here today as free Americans only because of the thousands of brave soldiers, like Major Arthur Ecklund, who have served and protected this country since our beginning and continue to serve us today. Ralph and Edith Ecklund in the east balcony, would you stand up? Thank you. We’re honored to have you here today. But for that service, for that dedication, for that sacrifice that was shown by your son, Major Arthur Ecklund, the Members of the Illinois House of Representatives, on behalf of the people of Illinois, say thank you, God bless Major ‘Artie’ Ecklund, God bless Ralph and Edith Ecklund and God bless America. We thank you for that. It’s been an honor to wear his bracelet. And at no 35 years, he was 26 years old when he was shot down, Ralph you waited two extra years to even… even hold him, and you’ve waited another 35 years to find his final fate. Those efforts are appreciated. It’s a reminder of the high cost of war as we are recognizing some that are also paying that sacrifice here in the current war. For that, we say thank you.”

“Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a… it’s an honor to stand here and speak on behalf of a man that I didn’t know, but I knew some men like him. He flew a low observation fixed-wing aircraft in Vietnam. Those are used when the troops on the ground are engaged in battle, they need a vantage point wherein to call in… from which to call in artillery or air strikes or air support because their lives are on the line. And men like ‘Artie’ Ecklund, they could chose to make a decision to be with those soldiers and be with them and be right over them and do the right thing or they could maybe edge off to the side of the battle zone. I don’t have the exact details about how ‘Artie’ was killed, but I can tell you that I know that he was in the middle of that battle, doing what he was trained to do, not shirking at all. And I wonder sometimes, I know back then not everyone in America appreciated everything that every soldier did. Sometimes we… we forget that it’s us, the politicians, that start the wars and we forget that the young men like ‘Artie’ have to fight them and hopefully, finish them. We’re honored today to have Owen Stanfield in the gallery behind me, World War II Veteran, Bronze Star winner. We talked about Representative Bradley’s district we lost another soldier, Representative Granberg district, Patoka, young Lance Corporal Marine was buried on Monday in a touching ceremony. I asked Edith earlier, I said, ya know, it’s been a long, hard day for ya, I know, and there’s a lot of emotion in your heart, and what a strong woman you are. And she looked up at me and 09300117.doc 33  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 117th Legislative Day 4/21/2004 she said, ‘It’s been a long, hard 35 years.’ At what a price, what a price we pay. And ironically, Mr. Speaker, I received an e-mail yesterday from my son who is in Baghdad and I wish you would just bear with me. I had told him about the young man from Patoka that we had lost and I think maybe he was speaking in response not just about the Lance Corporal from Patoka, but about a larger issue, and that is soldiers who give the ultimate sacrifice. And my son says, I’m sorry to hear about the boy from Illinois. Hopefully, his death serves as a reminder to those back home that we’re still fighting a war over here and that freedom and liberty hang in the balance. Tell as many people as you can that the people that we’re protecting in this city thank us everyday for being here and they beg us not to leave. I’ll tell them that a boy from my state died, that a boy from my state died here recently and the women and children will cry and hand me flowers to lay on his grave. Just random women and old men we talk to on patrol will thank us as we pass by and they’ll hang black flags for us when we tell them that our friends have died. He reminds me that… well, he closes by saying this, and this isn’t just about Iraq or just about Vietnam or just about any war, but all wars. The vast majority of people here are good, hardworking people and a few expletives deleted are forestalling the birth of a beautiful nation. And that’s where we come in. Enough said, says my son. We have sent men and women into battle for now centuries and we’ll send them again in the next century. Edith reminded 09300117.doc 34  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 117th Legislative Day 4/21/2004 me that it’s a lot easier to go than it is to send, it’s much easier to go off into battle. And she reminded me that her son died doing exactly what he wanted to do, he loved his job, he loved the esprit, he loved fighting for freedom. She reminded me that it was hard to stay home. The Ecklund’s have had to wait 35 years, as our nation has. And Representative, I salute you, a lot of us wore those bracelets for awhile. As a Vietnam Veteran I wore one for a while, but even my… my heart grew weary and I just didn’t have the… what it took, like you did, to care and to wear that bracelet, you’d have worn until you died. And I know that ‘Artie’ appreciates that. We need more men like you. The world needs more men like ‘Artie’ Ecklund. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.”

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. Representative Moffitt, thank you for bringing forward such an important Resolution. Representative Stephens said it very well, the Vietnam era was a very different time than what we’re living today. That was my era, I’m the age that ‘Artie’ would’ve been. I’m the father of an active duty Army helicopter pilot who just came back from Iraq and will soon be returning again. So, I can only imagine the anguish that the Ecklund’s are dealing with. When I was a much younger man I was a smoker and in the Army I carried a lighter, a Zippo, that many of us that are veterans remember well. And during the Vietnam era many of us had a insignia on the side, and I know as I rehearse it from memory you will all remember it. It 09300117.doc 36  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 117th Legislative Day 4/21/2004 simply stated, ‘God and the soldier, all men adore, in time of strife, in time of war. When the war is over and all is righted, God is forgotten and the old soldiers slighted.’ There is nothing that could make me feel prouder than to know that Representative Moffitt brought this great Resolution forward and that all of us stand in honor of ‘Artie’ Ecklund and prove that that poem is wrong. He is not slighted, God is not forgotten, our country is again at strife, but thankfully this time, whether we support the war or support… don’t support the war, we see the signs everywhere that we support our troops. ‘Artie’ Ecklund truly died a hero and his memory will live on forever. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Ecklund, thank you, Ecklund family. You gave us a great hero. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.”