"The regular Session shall come to order. Is their leave to use the Attendance Roll Call of the First Special Session? Leave is granted. Mr. Clerk. All right. Ladies and Gentlemen, we'd ask all Members to please take their seats and we'd ask the staff to retire to the rear of the chamber. We're going to have a special ceremony today. So, if staff could retire to the rear of the chamber, if Members could take their seats. I'm very, very pleased to have with us today former Speaker of the House, W. Robert Blair, and several former Members of the House who served under Speaker Blair from years 1971 until the end of 1974. The occasion for this visit occurred because one day I was back in my office with nothing to do except convene Special Sessions and I thought that the prior renovation of the chamber had occurred under the administration of Bob Blair. And that it would be very appropriate to ask Bob if he would return, spend some time with us, view the changes that we've done in the chamber and then share with us some of his remembrances of what it was like here from 1971 until 1974. We're very pleased that several of the… several of Bob's seatmates and colleagues have joined us today and let me recognize those who have traveled here to be with us. So there's former Representative, current Chairman of the State Gaming Board, Aaron Jaffe. Aaron, please rise. Aaron is joined by his wife Charlotte. Charlotte, thank you for being here. Former Representative and member of the board…, I'm forgetting the name of that board, but former Representative Pete Peters, Pete. Another former Member, whoa was with us briefly, is current President of the 09500105.doc 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 105th Legislative Day 7/31/2007 Senate, Emil Jones. Former Representative Ray Ewell, Ray. Former Representative Gene Barnes, Gene. Former Representative Phil Collins and his wife Donna. Former Representative Dan Pierce, Dan. Former Representative Bill Kempiners, Bill. Former Representative Glen Schnieder, Glen. Former Representative Mike McClain. Former Representative and at the time assistant Minority Leader, Gerald Shea, Gerry. We're also joined by a former Representative, he didn't serve during these years but he was here for a long time, Jim Riley, Jim. We have three (3) Members of the media who with… who were with us at the time, Ray Serati, Bill O'Connell, Paul Lis. Again, I'm very pleased that Bob came down to join us. He was the Speaker when I started, and I know some of you think that Abe Lincoln was with us at the time but that's not true. Let me just take some parts of Bob's remarks. So when I arrived here in 1971, Members did not have offices, they did not have secretaries, they did not have cell… they did not have telephones and, of course, we did not have cell phones. There were about eight (8) to ten (10) public telephones behind the chambers and you could take calls through those phones or you could make outgoing calls. The size of the staff was extremely limited and I'm not certain how much the staff has grown over the years, but suffice to say that it's grown significantly. And you put it all together and it meant the institutionalization of the House of Representatives and Bob Blair deserves the credit for that institutionalization during those early years of the 1970s. So Bob, with no further ado, please join me on the podium." 09500105.doc 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 105th Legislative Day 7/31/2007
"Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate your kind invitation to come down and see the great work that has been done in refurbishing the House chamber and to address the House. Including the introduced Members… former Members that were here back in those days that we're referring to, and I want to tell each and everyone of you I've seen earlier today, but I'm delighted to see all of you here now. I believe the last refurbishment was done in 1973 when I was Speaker and some things stand out in my mind from that time. The change in number of Representatives from 177 then to 118 now. Obviously, much more room to move about the House Floor and while that's changed now. I was looking at the size of the Members names up there on the board, they were certainly larger now that they were then because we had… the difference between 188 an 77… 177 is 59, had those names come off. So obviously, there's much more room to move about the House Floor. Although when I was looking at the floor earlier today, I thought they really did a remarkable job of filling it all up again, even though they were 59 Members short. Also, the change in color from red to blue, we were advised and I know that you have green chairs now, but the predominate color, to me anyway, is sort of a red color in the carpeting. We were advised back in 1973, when we were making the changes Speaker Madigan referred tom we were advised that the color blue would have a calming effect on the spirited debates going on at that time. While I'm not sure that this is supposed calming effect, necessarily, affected the outcome of those heated debates. I do remember that two (2) to three(3) weeks after we came back to the 09500105.doc 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 105th Legislative Day 7/31/2007 refurbished House, the Senate, which had maintained its red color did have a fist fight break out on the Senate Floor involving some of its Members. So, to the present Membership, I say with red back in the House be careful. One more thought about the 177 Membership, at least the House has not had to go through a statewide at large election as it did in 1964, which was my first election to the House. For those of you who may not be aware of that event, just let me say that the orange paper ballot was three (3) feet in length. Each party had 118 candidates; the Democrat ticket was led by Adlai Stevenson and Republican by Earl Eisenhower, one of the Eisenhower brothers. 1964 was a Democrat year, all 118 Democrats were elected and the 59 Republican Representatives that were elected did not know that they had in fact been elected until thirty (30) days after the election because the time it took to tally the votes. A few other matters that came up during the 1973 refurbishment may be of interest to you. There was consideration to installing bulletproof glass to set off the gallery from the House Floor. And that was brought about as a result of the events that had occurred at that time in the U.S. House Chamber in Washington, D.C. Now that proposal as you can see, did not succeed nor did a proposal, to move the press boxes off the House Floor to the back gallery. However, there were some proposals that did succeed, which I am pleased to observe were retained in the current refurbishment. The first, a change in the design of the floor so that you could move laterally along the aisles without disturbing those seated. Second entrances and exits 09500105.doc 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 105th Legislative Day 7/31/2007 were substantially reduced and actual access to the floor was limited to Members and staff. And third, the aisles on both sides of the chamber were sealed off and certainly remain so today, in very beautiful fashion. They were sealed of so spectators who formerly disrupted proceedings be congregating along the open railings were consigned to the public galleries. And addition, as Speaker Madigan has referred to at that time, we were able to work out Members being given permanent offices from which to conduct their normal business affairs and were provided with permanent secretarial services. In the years before that time the Representative's offices was his desk and there was a stenographic pool upstairs and if you had some work that you would like a secretary to do, she'd come down and take dictation from you on the floor at your office, which was your desk. In reminiscing with the Speaker about other significant events that took place at that time, one stands out, reapportionment for the 1972 election. The 1971-72 Membership of the House was 90 Republicans and 87 Democrats. We were not able to accomplish reapportionment during the regular Session in 1971 and so the Reapportionment Committee provided for in the 1970 Constitution was appointed by the four (4) Legislative Leaders. The committee proceeded with its work and agreed on a new redistricting map. Resolved of the 1972 election for the House, based on that map was 89 Republicans and 88 Democrats. Which I believe, if you keep in mind the Session that we were in at that time, it was 90 Republicans and 97 Democrats. I believe that it truly reflected the bipartisan spirit with which the committee did 09500105.doc 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 105th Legislative Day 7/31/2007 its work and reached agreement. And the thought occurs to me that I should point out that Gerry Shea was deeply involved in working out the arrangements that were satisfactory to that committee and upon which we were able to reach accord and I've always appreciated that, Gerry. The Speaker's advised me that since then the Reapportionment Committees have not been successful on agreeing on redistricting maps and so they have been, fortunately or unfortunately, depending upon what side of the aisle you’re on, determined by the luck of the draw. In conclusion, I want to congratulate the Speaker and all of you for bringing about this outstanding refurbishment of the chamber and the myriad other improvements since the 1970s, including computerization of Bills and Amendments. Prior to that occurring, I remember that sometimes the paper Bills and Amendments were stacked up so high, on the desk at the end of the Regular Sessions that I could hardly make out the faces of the Members when they were seated. Best wishes for your satisfactory completion of the people's business in your special… and I had written Special Session, but I've been informed now that I should say in your Special Sessions and best wishes to each of you for your continued political successes."
"I was somewhat remiss. Bob's wife, Roxanne, is here, Roxanne Blair. Speaker Blair and the other Members will be here for a time for those of you who wish to socialize them and I'm sure they'll be in the building for a short while, so Members you can sit down if you wish. Feel at home. Mr. Leitch." 09500105.doc 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 105th Legislative Day 7/31/2007
"Mr. Speaker. I think we all owe you a tremendous debt of gratitude for the inspiration to bring these distinguished former Members to be with us today. Among those Members, I recall quite well, but there is no one who has impacted my life personally more than my dear friend, Bill O'Connell, who as Ray Serati, and Paul Lis, and Charlie Wheeler who's not here, and many others in that time would know to be perhaps the greatest political reporter ever to be under this dome. SO, as one Member, I would just express to you on a deep personal level, my gratitude to you for reassembling this wonderful group of former Members and for including some former Members from the press corps with that. So, Godspeed to all of you, and thank you so much for coming to Springfield."
"Mr. Clerk, Agreed Resolutions."
"On the Order of Agreed Resolutions is House Resolution 630, offered by Representative Cultra. House Resolution 631, offered by Representative Cole. House Resolution 632, offered by Representative Brady. House Resolution 633, offered by Representative Rose. House Resolution 634, offered by Representative Granberg."
"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 'nay'. The 'ayes' have it. The Agreed Resolutions are adopted. Mr. Clerk, are there any committee announcements?"
"The following committees have been canceled. The Judiciary Civil Law Committee, which was to meet at 2 p.m. or immediately following Session, has been canceled. 09500105.doc 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 105th Legislative Day 7/31/2007 Judiciary Civil Law has been canceled, as well as the Juvenile Justice Reform Committee has been canceled. Telecommunications Committee has also been canceled. Telecommunications has been canceled."
"If there's nothing further to come before the House, the Chair recognizes Mr. Colvin."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, this morning at 9 a.m. in Room 122B, we had a presentation. I hosted a group of individuals from a company called Educational Services Product. They are a company who are working currently, in about fifty (50) school districts in the State of Illinois and about twelve hundred (1,200) school districts, more or less, across the United States dealing with the issue of Medicaid and the ability to capture more Medicaid eligible… more dollars for Medicaid eligible students in education. I believe… I meet with them a couple of months ago; I thought it would be in the best interest to have them make a presentation to the Membership, particularly those in the Elementary and Secondary Education Committees as well as the Members of the education caucus here in the House. Immediately following this afternoon's Session, at 2:00 or immediately following Session, they will be having another demonstration in Room 122B here in the State Capitol. I would encourage all of my colleagues to come by, those who are interested in capturing more dollars for education in school districts around the State of Illinois. I think you'll find the presentation, which should last… last a little less than an hour, very informative and very provocative. That's my invitation to 09500105.doc 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 105th Legislative Day 7/31/2007 you, many of you have probably got an invitation in your offices, if you could make room for one hour following Session today, or at 2:00, whichever comes latter, I guess, I would be mostly appreciative, and I think you'll find it well worth your time. So Room 122B, for a presentation dealing with Medicaid claiming in education. Thank you very much."
"There being no further business to come before the House, Representative Currie moves that the House stand adjourned until Wednesday, August 1, at 3 p.m. Those in favor say 'aye'; those opposed say 'no'. The 'ayes' have it. The House does stand adjourned until Wednesday, August 1, at 3 p.m. providing perfunctory time for the Clerk."
"House Perfunctory Session will come to order. Introduction and referral to the Rules. House Committee on Rules is Senate Joint Resolution 17, offered by Representative McAuliffe and Senate Joint Resolution 54, offered by Representative Watson. Committee Reports. Representative May, Chairperson from the Committee on Environmental Health, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on July 31, 2007, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'recommends be adopted' is House Resolution 602; 'recommends be adopted as amended' is House Resolution 620. Representative McAuliffe, Chairperson from the Committee on Veterans Affairs, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on July 31, 2007, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'recommends be adopted' House Resolution 622. Representative Howard, 09500105.doc 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 105th Legislative Day 7/31/2007 Chairperson from the Committee on Judiciary II - Criminal Law, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on July 31, 2007, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'recommends be adopted' House Resolution 153. Representative McCarthy, Chairperson from the Committee on Higher Education, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on November 26, 2007, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'recommends be adopted' is House Resolution 577. Representative Hannig, Chairperson from the Committee on State Government Administration, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on July 31, 2007, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'recommends be adopted' to Senate Joint Resolution 40 and House Resolution 535 and House Resolution 587. Representative Hoffman, Chairperson from the Committee on Transportation and Motor Vehicles, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on July 31, 2007, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'recommends be adopted' to House Joint Resolution 75. Introduction and reading of House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendments. Representative Bill Mitchell offers House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 27. RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the State for adoption or rejection at the general election next occurring at least 6 months after the 09500105.doc 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 105th Legislative Day 7/31/2007 adoption of this resolution a proposition to amend Section 1 of Article V of the Illinois Constitution as follows: ARTICLE V THE EXECUTIVE SECTION 1. OFFICERS The Executive Branch shall include a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller and Treasurer elected by the electors of the State. They shall keep the public records and maintain a residence at the seat of government during their terms of office. Except in emergency situations, the Governor must reside and be present at the seat of government each day that either or both houses of the General Assembly are in session, excluding purely perfunctory session days. This Constitutional Amendment takes effect upon being declared adopted in accordance with Section 7 of the Illinois Constitutional Amendment Act. There being no further business, the House Perfunctory Session will stand adjourned." 09500105.doc 11