"We will now convene the regular Session. And with leave of the Body we will use the Special… the Quorum Roll Call for Special Session #1 as the Roll Call for our regular Session. All those… Leave is granted and the Quorum Roll Call for (sic-Special Session) #1 will be used for the regular Session. Mr. Clerk, Committee Reports."
"Representative Saviano, Chairperson from the Committee on Registration & Regulation, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on July 24, 2007, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'recommends be adopted' is Floor Amendment #4 to Senate Bill 149. Representative Smith, Chairperson from the Committee on Elementary & Secondary Education, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on July 24, 2007, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass' Senate Bill 849. Representative Chapa LaVia, Chairperson from the Committee on Local Government, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on July 24, 2007, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'recommends be adopted' is Floor Amendment #2 to Senate Bill 513. Representative John Bradley, Chairperson from the Committee on Revenue, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on July 24, 2007, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass as amended Short Debate' is Senate Bill 101. Representative Hoffman, Chairperson from the Committee on Transportation & Motor Vehicles, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on July 24, 2007, reported the same 09500099.doc 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 99th Legislative Day 7/24/2007 back with the following recommendation/s: 'recommends be adopted' is Senate Joint Resolution 37. Referred to the House Committee on Rules is House Resolution 619, offered by Representative Bellock."
"On page 15 of the Calendar we have House Joint Resolution 13. Representative Tryon. Read the Resolution, Mr. Clerk. Out of the record. Mr. Clerk, on Supplemental Calendar #1 we have Senate Bill 101. Read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 101, a Bill for an Act regarding disabled persons. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. Amendment #1 was adopted in committee. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."
"Third Reading. Mr. Clerk, we have Senate Bill 849. Read the Bill."
"Senate Bill 849, a Bill for an Act concerning education. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."
"Third Reading. On the Order of Resolutions, on the Supplemental Calendar #1, we have Senate Joint Resolution 37. Representative Phelps."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. Senate Joint Resolution 37 designates part of Representative Bost's and my district for designate… officially designates the Shawnee Wines Trail. This is over in Jackson and Union Counties mainly, brings in over a hundred thousand (100,000) people and over two million dollars ($2,000,000) a year. And if we officially 09500099.doc 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 99th Legislative Day 7/24/2007 designate, I think, we’ll bring even more revenue to the area. And I ask for your acceptance."
"Seeing no questions. The question is, 'Shall the House adopt Senate Joint Resolution 37?' All those in favor should vote 'aye'; all those opposed vote 'no'. The voting is now open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? The Clerk shall take the record. There are 108 voting 'aye', 0 noes', 0 'presents'. And this Resolution, having received the Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. On page 7 of the Calendar we have Senate Bill 363. Read the Bill, Mr. Clerk."
"Senate Bill 363, a Bill for an Act concerning criminal law. Third Reading of this Senate Bill."
Speaker Turner: "The Gentleman from Madison, Representative Hoffman."
"Just a quick inquiry of the Chair. Has Amendment… the Amendment been adopted, House Amendment #1?"
"Floor Amendment #1 was adopted to the Bill."
"Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. Senate Bill 363 as it currently reads as amended, 'Expands the offense of reckless homicide to include: unintentional killing of a person while driving a motor vehicle in a posted school zone when children are present or maintenance zone when construction workers are present. When either of these circumstances exist that the truer of fact may infer that a driver was reckless, where he or she was either driving a speed of more than 20 miles an hour in excess of the posted speed limit or driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.’ This is in response 09500099.doc 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 99th Legislative Day 7/24/2007 to a terrible accident that occurred down in the Metro-East area where an IDOT worker was working in a construction zone. A reckless accident occurred and unfortunately, the individual was killed at the jobsite. I would ask for an 'aye' vote."
"Seeing no questions, the question is, 'Shall the House pass Senate Bill 363?' All those in favor should vote 'aye'; all those opposed vote 'no'. The voting is now open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? The Clerk shall take the record. On this question, there are 108 voting 'aye', 0 noes', 0 'presents'. And this Bill, having received the Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. Mr. Clerk, Agreed Resolutions."
"On the Order of Agreed Resolutions is House Resolution 617, offered by Representative Osmond. And House Resolution 618, offered by Representative Washington."
"Representative Granberg moves for the adoption of the Agreed Resolutions. All those in favor say 'aye'; all those opposed say 'no'. In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the Agreed Resolutions are adopted. The Chair would like to share this information with the Body. It is the intent of the Chair to adjourn until Wednesday, July 25, but I'd like to let you know that tomorrow we will convene at 1:00. We will then do the Electric Utility Oversight Bill tomorrow after we convene. We'll go to committee and then the vote for the Electric Utility Oversight will be on Thursday. So, we'll convene tomorrow, Utility Committee will meet, and then we will vote on the Electric Utility Oversight Bill on Thursday. The 09500099.doc 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 99th Legislative Day 7/24/2007 Gentleman from DuPage, Representative Biggins, for what reason do you rise?"
"Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Question of the Chair, I guess. If… these days we've been doing things every day they're called Special Session days. Now, I was wondering over these days why they're called Special Session days. Now tomorrow, it appears that we're doing a major piece of legislation. Will that make tomorrow an extra special day?"
"With lights."
"Oh. Well, I’ll look forward to that. Thank you."
"The Gentleman from Vermilion, for what reason do you rise?"
"Mr. Speaker, an inquiry of the Chair."
"State your inquiry."
"Has the Electric Deregulation Bill, whatever that is since nobody on our side of the aisle has seen it, has it been posted? It hasn't even been filed yet."
Speaker Turner: "As we speak, the final version is being completed right now. It will be posted today."
"Then you need to… then you need to waive the posting requirement. You're not gonna have 24 hours. I assume you're gonna hear it at 1:00 tomorrow in committee."
"We go in at one and if we shut down now we could do it by 2:30 tomorrow."
"All right, Mr. Speaker, far be it from me to delay the inevitable train that you all have put on the track and not even let us or our staff have a copy. You've managed to fool about half of the media. They were on TV last night saying that we get a 70 percent reduction of our bill. That 09500099.doc 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 99th Legislative Day 7/24/2007 is absolutely false. The media once again is wrong. If you're lucky you may get a 70 percent reduction of the increase, but you're not going to get a 70 percent reduction of your bill. It's a fait accompli in the media. We don't even have a copy of the Bill. It hasn't even been drafted yet. And you know, I'm sick and tired of coming down here, driving 2 hours and 15 minutes, spending eight, nine, ten dollars ($8, $9, $10) a day for gasoline to come here and we do absolutely nothing unless you all are ready to include us in whatever surprise you have for us tomorrow. My mother- in-law is 95 years old, in the hospital, had a stroke. My… my spouse is the sole caregiver. I don't need to be down here. Now, I don't know what surprise you have in store for the ratepayers tomorrow. They got the shaft 10 years ago. You might as well finish it tomorrow, but at least be honest and tell them and tell the media this isn't any rate reduction, this isn't any solid money in their pocket. What are they gonna save, eight bucks a month? Hell, I hope everybody in my car… in my district goes out and buys a new car with your benevolent Bill that you've kept from us and worked once again in secret. Congratulations."
Speaker Turner: "The Gentleman from Bond, Representative Stephens, for what reason do you rise?"
"I don't know why the Gentleman from Danville is so upset. Representative, the Leaders of the Democratic Party from Chicago in the House and the Senate, the Attorney General, all Democrats from Chicago have joined with the utility leaders who obviously have our best interest at heart. I'm sure that the people of Danville have the utmost 09500099.doc 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 99th Legislative Day 7/24/2007 faith in Chicago and the utility companies of Illinois. And I don't know why you're upset, I think we're supposed to just trust 'em, I guess. They… have they ever done anything wrong to Danville in the past? Let's see, they've driven every job they can across the border into Indiana. That's gotta make your task easier as a State Representative. You've barely got anybody left to represent. They can't find money for downstate roads, but they can find money to waste on the exposition centers in Chicago and the Dan Ryan and that's what, three times over budget right now and they're begging and borrowing out of downstate funds. These are people that you should learn to trust. I just don't know why you're the least bit suspicious. These folks have your best interests at heart. I… I… oh, wait a minute, what am I saying? Chicago, Democrats, utility leaders, and I'm supposed to just believe them. Now, maybe you're on to something, Representative. We'd like to see a copy of the Bill."
"The Gentleman from Vermilion, Representative Black, you're name was mentioned in debate. Does your microphone still work?"
"Twenty million dollar ($20,000,000) microphone should be able to take a little bit of abuse. Upon further reflection from my good friend, Representative Stephens, there's a picture in today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch that I think summarizes all of my frustration and many of my colleagues. If you haven't seen it, you need to look it up. It shows a gentleman in a Cardinal's baseball cap from Granite City sticking his finger in Speaker Madigan's nose. And I think 09500099.doc 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 99th Legislative Day 7/24/2007 the subtitle is or the cut line is, 'We need a rate freeze.' It's a priceless picture. It is the only time I have ever seen Speaker Madigan's eyes wide open. Great picture. Every downstater should order a copy. I will have copies as soon as I can get them from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. I've ordered some glossies for all of us. And the Post- Dispatch, unlike some newspapers, you can even get a t-shirt with that picture on it. I will be selling those t-shirts for anyone interested and the gentleman from Granite City with his nose stuck in Speaker Mad… with his finger stuck in Speaker Madigan's nose, it is priceless. And those t-shirts will be collector's item, I'm sure. We'll sell them on the House Floor for what we think rate relief should be: be a hundred and fifty-two dollars ($152) a month, cash or credit card."
"Was that cartoon before they read the Bill or after? Anymore matinees? If not, leaving perfunctory time for the Clerk, Representative Currie now moves that the House stands adjourned 'til Wednesday, July 25, at the hour of 1 p.m. All those in favor say 'aye'; all those opposed say 'no'. The opinion of the Chair is the 'ayes' have it. And the House is adjourned 'til Wednesday, July 25, at the hour of 1 p.m. The Gentleman from McLean, Representative Brady, for what reason do you rise?"
"Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to inform the Republicans that we will caucus immediately following Session here and the adjournment in Room 118. A Republican Caucus in Room 118. Thank you." 09500099.doc 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 99th Legislative Day 7/24/2007
Speaker Turner: "The Republicans will retire to 118. The Gentleman from St. Clair, Representative Holbrook, for what reason do you rise?"
"Thank you. The downstate Democrats in the House will be meeting in 114 instead of 118, then, we'll move our room over to 114."
"Representative Colvin, the Gentleman from Cook, what reason do you rise? The caucus will be meeting in Room 122B? The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus will be meeting in Room 122B immediately following Session. Any other caucuses, BALLS, COWLS, Irish? The House stands adjourned." 09500099.doc 9