"The hour of 12:00 having arrived, the House will be in order. The Members will please be in their seats. Members and guests are asked to refrain from starting their laptops, turn off all cell phones, and pagers, and rise for the invocation and for the Pledge of Allegiance. We shall be led in prayer today by Lee Crawford, the pastor of the Cathedral of Praise Christian Center here in Springfield."
"Let us pray. Most gracious and most kind God, who is the author and the finisher of our faith, You are the giver and You are the sustainer of our lives. We humbly come before You with sincere hearts asking that You would pray Your blessings upon this august Assembly. We pray that You would bless the Leader of this House. We pray Your strength on his mind. We pray Your strength upon his body. We pray for every Member that You have called and chosen to serve here. We pray, as well, Your strength upon their minds. We pray, as well, Your strength upon their bodies. As they serve, I pray, that they will serve as servants just as You've served them. I pray as leaders that they will lead as wise men, even as You have done. We ask, last Father, that not one of them would lean toward their own understanding, but I pray that they would acknowledge You and ask You to direct their paths. This day, we pray. Amen."
"Representative Mautino, would you lead us in the Pledge."
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, 09500174.doc 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 174th Legislative Day 11/1/2007 one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Speaker Hannig: "Roll Call for Attendance. Representative Currie."
"Thank you… Thank you, Speaker. Please let the record show that Representatives Colvin, Fritchey, and Scully are excused today."
"Representative Bost."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let the record reflect that Representative Lindner, Hassert, Black, and Pihos are excused on the Republican side of the aisle."
"Mr. Clerk, take the record. There are 108 Members answering… 109 Members answering the Roll Call, a quorum is present. Representative Gordon, for what reason do you rise?"
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"State your point."
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, if I may have your attention just very briefly. I live in Grundy County; it's been my home my entire life, with Morris being my hometown. And as many of you know in this past budget, there were youth educators for the 4-H that were cut out of it. There were twenty-nine (29) across the state, which we put back in with our overrides and then the Senate put back in with theirs. But as my good friend, Chapin Rose knows and I know that there were some that they were cut from last year. Mine being from Grundy County and again from this year that were not included when they put back in that twenty-nine (29). One of them being from Grundy County and 09500174.doc 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 174th Legislative Day 11/1/2007 his name is John Davis. So I have with me today the Grundy County 4-H newsletter. And this man is a truly selfless man and I would like to make selfless the word of the day. And what John Davis wrote in the Grundy County 4-H newsletter is this, 'I saw a comment the other day that caused me to think. If you knew that you were going to lose your voice and never be able to speak again, what would you say and to who? I find myself in a similar situation. I think there will be funding available for the youth educator after September 15, 2008, but if not, I may have only eleven (11) months left and so much to do. I will continue to try to provide opportunities for the Grundy County 4-H members.' This man is a selfless man. He demonstrates true selflessness. He does it for the youth of Grundy County and also, Ladies and Gentlemen, for your information, he has two children that are also serving our country in Iraq right now, as well. So, the definition of 'selflessness' is the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others. It is acting with less concern for yourself than the success of the joint activity. So, if Governor Blagojevich was unaware of the definition of the word 'selflessness', he now knows it, because God knows he knows the definition of selfless… of 'selfish'. And I just wanted to make that clear to the Governor, but I thank all of you, Ladies and Gentlemen, for your selflessness and your vote. And I thank John Davis for what he does for the people of Grundy County and he thanks all of you as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker." 09500174.doc 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 174th Legislative Day 11/1/2007
"Representative Biggins, for what reason do you rise?"
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question of the Chair."
"State your question."
"Well, Mr. Speaker, here it is November 1, and in our prayer today we're reminded that we are an august Body. And we also since the time that we said the prayer that referenced this august Body in August, two more months have peeled off the calendar. I kind of looking ahead to wondering if we're going to be a December Body here and maybe that would be like thirteen (13) or fourteen (14) months in a row. I'm happy to be here, but I'm trying to plan for my future. I know the Governor's hinted at maybe asking us to come back in December sometime. Do you have any knowledge about when this august Body… what month we won't be meeting in this august Body?"
"I may not know, Representative."
"Oh. Well, I'll wait. Thank you."
"Representative Tryon."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise for a point of order."
"Yes, state your point."
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, it came to my attention that the day before yesterday, one of our Members had a birthday. And although, I'm not sure of his age, we've got a calculator… we're working on it. But we have cake in room 4… in 314 in the back and would you join with me in wishing a happy birthday to Representative Mark Beaubien." 09500174.doc 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 174th Legislative Day 11/1/2007
"Representative Currie, you're recognized for a Motion."
"Thank you, Speaker. I move to suspend the posting requirements so that Senate Joint Resolution 55 and House Resolution 70… 768 can be heard in State Government Administration and Senate Bill 775 in the Fire Protection Committee. I know of no opposition."
"You've heard the Lady's Motion. Is there any discussion? Is there leave for the Attendance Roll Call? Leave is granted. And the Motion is adopted. Representative Currie now moves, that allowing perfunctory time for the House that the regular Session of the House of Representatives stand adjourned until tomorrow, Friday, November the 2nd, at the hour of 9 a.m. All in favor say 'aye'; opposed 'nay'. The 'ayes' have it. And the regular Session is adjourned."
Speaker Hannig: "We're going to have the Clerk read the committee meetings for today. Mr. Clerk."
Clerk Mahoney: "Committee schedule for today, 4 p.m. or following caucuses today. The Executive Committee will meet in Room 114. The Executive Committee in Room 114. Mass Transit will meet in Room 118. Mass Transit will meet in Room 118. State Government Administration will meet in Room D-1. State Government Administration in Room D-1. Fire Protection will meet in Room 122B. Fire Protection in Room 122B. The Revenue Committee will meet in Room 115. Revenue in Room 115. Registration and Regulation will meet in Room C-1. Registration and Regulation in Room C-1. All 09500174.doc 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 174th Legislative Day 11/1/2007 committees will meet at 4 p.m. or immediately following caucuses."
"Representative Brady, you're recognized for an announcement on your caucus. Representative Brady."
"Mr. Speaker, if you give me just a moment we're going to try to clarify our intentions."
"Okay. And so while the Repub…"
"And we will be… we will be caucusing immediately upon our adjournment in Room 118. A House Republican Caucus immediately following our adjournment in Room 118. Thank you."
"And the Democrats… just for the Democrats, we will caucus in Room 114 immediately after we adjourn. So we've now adjourned the House for the day. The Democrats will meet in Room 114, the Republicans in Room 118. And there will be committees this afternoon and the House will convene tomorrow at 9 a.m."
"The regular House Perfunctory Session will now come to order. Committee Reports. Representative Hamos, Chairperson from the Committee on Mass Transit, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on November 01, 2007, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'recommends be adopted' is Floor Amendment #10 to Senate Bill 572. Representative Moffitt, Chairperson from the Committee on Fire Protection, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on November 01, 2007, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass as amended Short Debate' is Senate Bill 775. Representative Saviano, 09500174.doc 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 174th Legislative Day 11/1/2007 Chairperson from the Committee on Registration and Regulation, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on November 01, 2007, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'recommends be adopted' is a Motion to Concur in Senate Amendment #1 to House Bill 1284. Representative Mautino, Chairperson from the Committee on Revenue, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on November 01, 2007, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'recommends be adopted' is a Motion to Concur in Senate Amendment #1 to House Bill 1514. Representative Lyons, Chairperson from the Committee on Executive, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on November 01, 2007, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'recommends be adopted' is Floor Amendment #2 to Senate Bill 783. Introduction and reading of House Bills-First Reading. House Bill 4159, offered by Representative Bassi, a Bill for an Act concerning safety. First Reading of this House Bill. House Bill 4160, offered by Representative Davis, Monique, a Bill for an Act concerning regulation. First Reading of this House Bill. House Bill 4161, offered by Representative Saviano, a Bill for an Act concerning local government. First Reading of this House Bill. House Bill 4162, offered by Representative Osmond, a Bill for an Act concerning animals. First Reading of this House Bill. House Bill 4163, offered by Representative Mautino, a Bill for an Act making appropriations. First Reading of this House Bill. Senate Bills-Second Reading. Senate Bill 775, 09500174.doc 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 174th Legislative Day 11/1/2007 a Bill for an Act concerning State Government. Second Reading of this Senate Bill. This Bill will be held on the Order of Senate Bills-Second Reading. There being no further business, the House Perfunctory Session will stand adjourned." 09500174.doc 8