"The hour of 11:00 having arrived, the House will be in order. The Members will be in their seats. Members and guest are asked to refrain from starting their laptops, turn off all cell phones, and pagers. And rise for the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. We shall be led in prayer today by Reverend Brian Rahn who is the pastor of the Lamarsh Baptist Church in Mapleton. Reverend Rahn is the guest of Representative Smith."
"Let us pray. Our Father, we thank You for Your goodness and Your blessings on us. We thank You for even as our great State's Constitution says that You are the… You are the one that is the source of our liberties; our political and our religious and our civil liberties; And Father, we thank You for that. We thank You that we live in such a great place as this. And God, we're met here today to try to preserve and promote that which makes America great. And God, we come to You and we humble ourselves and we acknowledge that without You we're nothing. God, we know that you've said that if any of us lack wisdom that we can ask of You and… and Father, we say that freely, we admit it openly… that we do lack wisdom, every one of us do. And God, the people of our state have selected and elected these people to represent us and God, it's our duty that we're commanded to pray for them and we do. Lord, we pray that because of the wisdom and the direction, the instruction, the purpose of heart that You give them, God, that we would be able to live peacefully, that we would be able to continue to enjoy those freedoms, those liberties, the liberties to do that which is right, 09500228.doc 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 to pursue that which is good. God, I pray that You direct them and inspire them and instruct them. God, we live in days, it just seem like awful days and Lord, days where as a people we need inspiration. As a people God, we need to hear from You, we need to see You do a great work in our land. And Your scriptures have told us that if we… that if we go to You and we seek Your face and we pray and we humble ourselves that You'll heal our land. And God, we would ask for that here in this place today. And Father, we do, we acknowledge that every good thing that we have comes from You. And God, I ask Your blessing upon this day as these people meet together. God, I pray that You'd make the day profitable, help them to accomplish all that they need to and God, to be mindful of You in all that they do and say. And we'd ask it all for Jesus' sake. Amen."
"Representative Dunkin, will 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, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Speaker Hannig: "Roll Call for Attendance. Representative Currie."
"Thank you, Speaker. Please let the record reflect that both Representatives Bradley, Representatives Golar, Hamos, Jefferies, May, Molaro, Patterson, Scully, and Younge are excused today."
"And Representative Bost." 09500228.doc 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let the record reflect that Representative Dunn and Watson are excused today."
"Mr. Clerk, take the record. There are 103 Members answering the Roll Call. A quorum is present. Mr. Clerk, read the Committee Reports."
Clerk Mahoney: "Committee Reports. Representative Monique Davis, Chairperson from the Committee on Appropriations- General Services, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on February 21, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendations: 'do pass Short Debate' is House Bill 4215. Representative McCarthy, Chairperson from the Committee on Higher Education, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on February 21, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendations: 'do pass as amended Short Debate' House Bill 4641. Representative Washington, Chairperson from the Committee on Appropriations-Public Safety, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on February 21, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendations: 'do pass as amended Short Debate' is House Bill 4664. Representative Franks, Chairperson from the Committee on State Government Administration, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on February 21, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendations: 'do pass Short Debate' is House Bill 4648; 'recommends be adopted' is House Resolution 862, House Resolution 892, and House Joint Resolutions 86; 'recommends be adopted as amended' is House Resolution 669, House Resolution 865 and House Joint 09500228.doc 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 Resolution 84. Representative Saviano, Chairperson from the Committee on Registration & Regulation, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on February 21, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass Short Debate' is House Bill 4249. Representative Chapa LaVia, Chairperson from the Committee on Local Government, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on February 21, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass as amended Standard Debate' is House Bill 4294; 'do pass Short Debate' is House Bill 4378. Representative Feigenholtz, Chairperson from the Committee on Appropriations-Human Services, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on February 22, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass Short Debate' is House Bill 4455. Representative Mautino, Chairperson from the Committee on Revenue, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on February 22, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass Short Debate' is House Bill 4201; and 'do pass as amended Short Debate' is House Bill 4454. Representative Colvin, Chairperson from the Committee on Personnel & Pensions, to which the following measure/s was/were referred, action taken on February 22, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass as amended Short Debate' is House Bill 4603 and House Bill 4627. Representative Joyce, Chairperson from the Committee on Aging, to which the following measure/s was/were 09500228.doc 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 referred, action taken on February 22, 2008, reported the same back with the following recommendation/s: 'do pass as amended Short Debate' is House Bill 4264; 'recommends be adopted' is House Resolution 828. Referred to the House Committee on Rules is House Joint Resolution 106, offered by Representative Golar."
"Representative Ramey, for what reason do you rise?"
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My buttons don't seem to be working. I want to be marked as 'present' for today. None of them seem to be working."
"So, Mr. Clerk. Mr. Clerk, did… Representative Ramey wishes to be recorded as 'present' on the Attendance Roll Call. Can we accommodate him? On page 8 of the Calendar, under the Order of Resolutions, Representative Rose, you have House Resolution 749. The Gentleman from Champaign, Representative Rose."
"Mr. Speaker, there's an Amendment that I believe that needs to be adopted first."
"So, all in favor of the Gentleman's Amendment say 'aye'; oppose 'nay'. The Amendment is adopted. Are there any further Amendment pending, Mr. Clerk?"
"No further Amendments."
"Okay. So, Representative Rose."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a few years ago the General Assembly had asked the …the schools of Illinois to look at emergency response preparedness. They prepared a report and a plan …pursuant to that I might add that there's a similar commission's report that's pending for 09500228.doc 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 higher education. But the point of this is we're now a few years down the road from the K-12 report, and I thought it'd be a good time to ask the State Board of Education to revisit that plan to look at the compliance how that's been complied with at our local K-12 schools and also to issue any further recommendations it might have to enhance school safety. That's what the purpose of the Resolution is, that's what it does, and I would ask for a favorable adoption."
"Is there any discussion? Then all in favor of the Resolution say 'aye'; opposed 'nay'. The 'ayes' have it. And the Resolution is adopted. Representative Pritchard, you're recognized on House Resolution 1019."
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, if we could stand for a moment of comment."
"Would the staff retire to the rear of the chamber. And would the Members please rise as the Representative says a few words about this Resolution."
"Many things have been said about the tragedy that occurred at Northern Illinois University on February 14. This weekend we will gather the campus together for a major memorial service to begin the healing process that needs to occur. I encourage all of you to keep these individuals in your prayers, their families, the students that have been traumatized as well as injured in this situation. But especially the lives of Gayle, Catalina, Julianna, Ryanne, and Daniel. They were budding individuals that had various life experiences, had wonderful dreams and were using their educational opportunities to advance those dreams. When 09500228.doc 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 they left their place of residence that morning they had no idea that they wouldn’t be returning. Friends that saw them just moments before class began share stories of how they were planning to do wonderful things that next day. This points out to all of us that life is very fragile. That we need to savor every moment of the day that we're given. And that we shouldn't put off trying to do good to another day and another opportunity, because that opportunity may never come. The lives of these individuals will be remembered, the tragedy will be remembered and in the coming days we'll need to have a discussion about how we can prevent or minimize and recover from this kind of event. The Resolution outlines a lot of individuals that came together at this time of tragedy, state agencies, county, local, city, university, responders from across the State of Illinois as across the United States that have reached out to share experiences, to share advice, accept people to help counsel. It is the best of this country that we have seen in the aftermath of this tragedy. So as we think of these individuals as we remember this date, I encourage all of you to say a prayer for them and their families, for the university community, and to remember the lessons of this day. Thank you."
Speaker Hannig: "Representative Pritchard. Representative Pritchard moves for the adoption of House Resolution 1019. All in favor say 'aye'; opposed 'nay'. The 'ayes' have it. And the Resolution is adopted. Representative Colvin, are you prepared for your presentation on Black History Month?"
"No." 09500228.doc 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008
"Not yet. Okay. Representative Jefferson, for what reason do you rise?"
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would move to table House Resolution 761."
Speaker Hannig: "So, the Gentleman asks to table House Resolution 761. All in favor say 'aye'; opposed 'nay'. The 'ayes' have it. And the Resolution is tabled. Representative McAuliffe, for what reason do you rise?"
"For an announcement."
"Proceed."
"Next Wednesday… next Wednesday, February 27 at 5:00 in Room 114, our Veterans' Legislative Caucus is going to have its organizational meeting. So along with Representative Chapa LaVia, if anyone… any other Members would like to join the Veterans' Legislative Caucus please just see me. We have many Members already and we'd like to get as many Members in the General Assembly that would like to sign up to please feel welcome to do so. So the meeting will be next Wednesday, February 27 at 5:00 in Room 114. Thank you."
"Thank you. And Representative Pritchard, for what reason do you rise?"
"Mr. Speaker, on House Resolution 1019, I would ask that all Members of the Body be added as Sponsors."
"Mr. Clerk, the Gentleman had asked that all Members be added as Sponsors for House Resolution 1019. So, the Clerk will… if the Clerk will take care of that paperwork. Thank you, Representative. On page 8 of the 09500228.doc 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 Calendar, Representative Black, you have House Resolution 859. The Gentleman from Vermilion, Representative Black."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. This is a proposal brought to me by the daughter of a veteran of D-Day who lived in a house where this overpass now stands. She wanted this bridge, and there is no exit ramp, named in honor of her father Melvin R. Holden and we very much wanted to get this done before Mr. Holden passed away, but we were not successful. This decorated veteran of World War II, who lived at the site of this bridge and was very helpful and interested in the construction of the overpass and I-74 and is remembered by many of those who worked on that construction as just an all-around nice guy. So, we can't name the… and designate the bridge after him during his lifetime, but I think this would be a suitable memorial to a man who served his country and served his family and served our community. I would ask for your support of this Resolution."
"Is there any discussion? This requires a Roll Call vote, Representative Black. So, if there's no discussion, the question is, 'Shall the Resolution be adopted?' All in favor vote 'aye'; opposed 'nay'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, take the record. On this question, there are 103 voting 'yes' and 0 voting 'no'. And the Resolution is adopted. We're going to resume on the Order of Third Readings, where we left off yesterday. And I'm advised that the first Bill is on page 5 of the Calendar, and it's House Bill 4129 for 09500228.doc 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 Representative Mautino. Do you wish us to call this Bill, Representative Mautino? And just to advise the Members, we'll use the rules of debate and we'll run the clock, the 5 minute clock. So, Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."
"House Bill 4129, a Bill for an Act concerning regulation. Third Reading of this House Bill."
"Representative Mautino."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. House Bill 4129 is very similar to a Bill that we passed through the chamber. Representative Tryon had it. This will allow for the on-site waste water systems to be permitted. His Bill dealt with systems that were fifteen hundred (1,500) gallons and more. This would be for the more rural areas and so those below fifteen hundred (1,500) gallon capacities would be allowed. There's a lot technology that has been out there for thirty (30) years, we haven't been able to utilize within Illinois and this will allow us to do so, get some new systems in. And that's basically what the Bill does. I know of no opposition to it."
"This is on the Order of Short Debate. Does anyone stand in response? Then the question is, 'Shall this Bill pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; opposed 'nay'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Representative Holbrook, do you wish to be recorded? Mr. Clerk, take the record. On this question, there are 104 voting 'yes' and 0 voting 'no'. And this Bill, having received a Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed." 09500228.doc 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008
"Representative Pritchard, you have House Bill 4189. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill.
"House Bill 4189, a Bill for an Act concerning government. Third Reading of this House Bill."
"Representative Pritchard."
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, this Bill deals with the ethics of community colleges. And the Bill that we passed out of this chamber last year and it passed the House… or the Senate unanimously, but was vetoed by the Governor is a good idea that we need to implement. It removes community college districts from the definition of 'state agency', and redefines them as a 'governmental entity'. Community colleges will still be required to follow the provisions of the Ethics Act that deal with prohibited political activities and a ban on gifts from prohibited sources, but it recognizes the fact that community colleges are a unit of local government. They collect property taxes, citizens elect members of the board of trustees, and in all other respects they operate as a unit of local government. So this piece of legislation would clarify that issue and remove some of the unintended consequences of being called a state agency. I would be happy to answer your questions."
"This is on the Order of Short debate. And in response we have two (2) seeking recognition. So, we'll put this on Standard Debate. And Representative Dunkin, you're recognized for 5 minutes.
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"I…" 09500228.doc 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008
"Indicates he'll yield."
"Great. Just curious as of why… why this Bill is being presented at this time. Was there something that prompted this type of legislation, Representative?"
"Excuse me, Representative. The source of this?"
"Yes. The question is, the reason for this legislation, was there something that prompted this legislation?"
"All community colleges have an interest in being classified as a unit of local government. And all of the community colleges in my district and I would have thought maybe in your district would have contacted you to visit about the specific impact that this might have on their local operation. It clearly is an effort to recognize what has been long-standing practice and… and to operate the way they have been operating in terms of local responsibility and accountability for the tax funds that are collected."
"So, but there was no particular incident that occurred, that created a concern enough for this to be a part the Act?"
"Well, I think the overall impetus was an opinion of the Attorney General's Office that reinforced the notion that units of… that the community colleges were units of State Government and therefore needed to comply with a full intent and… and act of the Ethics Act. And community colleges were concerned about some aspects of that, and certainly losing some of the protection that being called a unit of local government gives them." 09500228.doc 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008
"Okay. I'm curious as of why it was vetoed? You said it was vetoed, correct?"
"I can't explain why it was vetoed. There was no explanation that I am aware of."
"So, the Illinois Community College Trust Association… Trustees Association asked you to carry this legislation?"
"Actually, it was some of my community colleges that asked me to bring forth this legislation."
"How will it…"
"The community college of… I think are all in support of this legislation. I've not heard that anyone is in opposition."
"You know anything as it relates to the City Colleges of Chicago? Would they be impacted by this here? Are they in support or do you know?" Pritchard: Well, everyone that's a part of the community college system would be impacted by this, but it would be impacted in a positive way. They would continue to be able to operate as they have been operating while still complying with some of the major components of this Ethics Act."
"Thank you, Representative."
"Thank you."
"The Gentleman from Vermilion, Representative Black. You're recognized for 5 minutes. Representative Black."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of the legislation. I'll attempt to answer the questions of the previous speaker as best I can. I worked 09500228.doc 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 for a community college for ten (10) years and the City Colleges of Chicago, Representative, are in favor of this Bill, by the way and this is not precedent setting. Local units of government and local school districts, K-12, were, in fact, carved out of the State Ethics Act and community colleges, whose day-to-day operations are governed by a locally elected board and levy a property tax for unfortunately a little more than now, a third of their operating cost. It was supposed to be a third, but it… now it's a little more, need this change because what… what transpires if you don't a faculty member of a public school or parochial school in my district can contact me, come into my office, invite me into their classroom and they don't have to worry about filling out D-2's. They don't have to worry about whether or not they are a registered lobbyist if they want to talk me about school funding. Community college presidents and faculty members are concerned that if they are left under the State Ethics Act, to call your local Legislator and invite them to campus and maybe have a box lunch provided at that meeting, perhaps puts them in violation of the State Ethics Act that they aren't registered lobbyist, they would have to report the cost of that lunch. What I've done is just say, look, whatever the value of the lunch is I will just pay you, so that you don't have to go through all the paperwork. I just think it complicates the work of what basically our local institutions in locally organized districts, these aren't statewide districts, just simply treats them as any other local unit of government. You can't expect every 09500228.doc 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 faculty member to register as a lobbyist if they want to contact their Legislator about a proposed legislation, about community college funding, anymore than we would ask all public school teachers to register as lobbyist who come down here on lobby day and talk to us about public school funding or other governance matters. It… it makes common sense. I don't think there was any… any event that precipitated this or any event that would say be cautious, that hasn't happened. What has happened is that it is putting a barrier between those elected board members who run those locally constituted community colleges, faculty members and administrative members who are very confused now. Can they pick up the phone and call their Legislator, can we be invited to campus for a luncheon meeting without all of the resulting paperwork? If we go to the community college and we're giving a folder… we're given a folder full of information, and the folder is printed by the college and has the college name on it, under the Ethics Act that might be prohibited or it might have to be listed. They might have to fill out a sheet at the end of the year that said they gave Representative X or Representative Y a preprinted folder that cost six dollars and thirty-five cents ($6.35). I think this is burdensome. I think it’s a burden on the locally-elected community college trustees certainly a potential burden for community college faculty and staff. The Bill has never had any significant opposition and I think it's time that we carve out the same exemption that exists for local units of governments, towns, municipality, villages and public… K-12 schools. It 09500228.doc 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 only makes good sense to ask that the same exemption apply to community colleges located throughout the state. And I would urge an 'aye' vote."
Speaker Hannig: "The Gentleman from Will, Representative McGuire."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Representative Pritchard, my only question is, I represent Joliet Junior College, the oldest junior college in the nation, and I have not heard from my junior college and I understand that this Bill is an initiative of the Community College Trustees Association. But my question is, have you heard anything… Joliet Junior College administration. The trustees are the elected board, correct?
"Correct."
"But I… I have not heard either from the trustees or from the college administration. Have you any idea of Joliet Junior College's position on this?"
"I have not had any contact with Joliet Junior College in particular."
"I'm sor…"
"I have had contact with the administrations when this issue arose last year, with all of my community colleges and they were all… the administrations were all in support of this idea, and reinforced the argument that they act more like units of local government than they do State Government."
"Well, no disrespect to you, but I may vote 'present' only because I have not heard from my community junior college. So, I will vote 'present' on that. Thank you." 09500228.doc 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008
"Representative Pritchard to close."
"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a initiative, as your analysis says, of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association, but the genesis came from individual community colleges. They see benefit and they want to act like units of local government as they always have. I urge an 'aye' vote."
"The question is, 'Shall this Bill pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; opposed 'nay'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Representative Schmitz, Feigenholtz, do you wish to be recorded? Mr. Clerk, take the record. On this question, there are 91 voting 'yes' and 11 voting 'no'. And this Bill, having received a Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. Representative Pritchard, you have House Bill 4199. We're going to take that out of the record. Representative Black, you have House Bill 4209, an Appropriation Bill. Do you wish us to read that at this time? Out of the record. Representative Fortner, you have House Bill 4216. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."
"House Bill 4216, a Bill for an Act concerning State Government. Third Reading of this House Bill."
"Representative Fortner."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members of the House. House Bill 4216 would create the Illinois Science and Technology Commission. And that would be within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. We've certainly seen over the last few months the importance of 09500228.doc 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 having a centralized point that can help aid the State of Illinois when we're trying to work with the Federal Government on big science projects, things like FuturGen, things like the international linear collider, things that, if we don't have the resources available, certainly have the danger of getting lost in the shuffle. This Bill would create a commission with expertise to keep a focus for the state on those important projects, as well as providing coordination between local units of government, the populations that might be impacted, business and the entire communities that would affected, as well as the State and Federal Government. The department had some concerns that they have expressed both to me and in committee related to the potential fiscal impact of staffing at this, which was at the suggestion of the Speaker's Office that we add that explicitly. And… I think that's an important priority for them, but I'm not sure that it can be corrected through language alone. I think this really has to done as part of setting the priorities within the budget and it certainly is something I'm going to be interested in following up on continually at how to make sure that this gets funded, so that this commission can satisfactorily do its work. I'm open for any questions."
"This in on the Order of Short Debate. Does anyone stand in response? The Gentleman from Vermilion, Representative Black."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"He indicates he'll yield." 09500228.doc 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008
"Representative, the sound kinds of goes in and out. I know that DCEO had expressed some concerns about staffing. Were you able to work that out? I heard you talk about it, but I didn't hear the spec… specificity"
"We haven't come to agreement. There's two (2) different avenues, I think. Originally, thought about language. I don't personally think language is the solution. I think the commission stands in this Bill with what it would do. There are two (2) things. One, there is a group that existed in the late 1990s into the early part of this decade. DCEO is trying to resurrect them, I've asked to get them in contact with me. Maybe there's some overlap and we can use that to make it more efficient for how that would be staffed. That's something I'm going to continue pursuing. Also, as I say, maybe through the appropriations and the budget process, we can also get that addressed. I'm pursuing that as well."
"All right. Thank you very much for your answer. Mr. Speaker, to the Bill. I have some serious concerns about the financial capabilities of DCEO. And I hope to be able to work with them. And let me tell you why. Evidently, there was some reappropriation language that did not survive the process last year. I have a manufacturing facility that may very well move into my district, retaining and/or creating five hundred (500) jobs. Unfortunately, that decision was predicated on some incentive money promised by DCEO. Because of the failure to reapprop, that incentive money may not be available, if and when this company makes that decision and it's my 09500228.doc 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 concern that that incentive money may convince that company not to come to Illinois, in which case not only the state would lose, but certainly my district would lose because we certainly cannot afford to turn our back on a few hundred jobs. So, I'm going to try to work with DCEO as best I can in helping them find reapprop. If we can find the right shell Bill, Mr. Speaker, I'll certainly ask you as the best of my ability to expedite that. But since DCEO has expressed some concerns about costs and I know there are a number of projects that have been impacted by this failure to reappropriate certain dollars to that agency, I will be voting 'no'. Not because I don't favor the legislation, I do, and I'm convinced it will pass, but I have a situation where I'm under a tight timeline and hopefully, we can work, all of us work with the agency to find some incentive money that was… promised may be too strong a word… but certainly was a letter of committal. And now if we can't meet that letter of committal we may lose some very, very important jobs in my area of the state, and we certainly need those jobs. So, I think it’s a good Bill. I will vote 'no' as DCEO indicates they don't have the funds and I'm very worried that we find the funds to maintain some commitments that we made a year-and-a-half ago."
Speaker Hannig: "Is there any further discussion? Representative Fortner, you're recognized to close."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I… I appreciate the comments of the previous speaker and understand the importance of getting the priorities through our appropriation process so that we recognize the important 09500228.doc 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 functions that will continue to encourage business development and job growth here in Illinois. I think this will be an important commission to help do that, to help focus resources on the kind of projects that can have great impact to improve our economic climate here in Illinois. And I would urge an 'aye' vote."
"The question is, 'Shall this Bill pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; opposed 'nay'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Representative Meyer, do you wish to be recorded? Mr. Clerk, take the record. On this question, there are 103 voting 'yes' and 1 voting 'no'. And this Bill, having received a Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. Representative Gordon is recognized on House Bill 4228. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."
"House Bill 4228, a Bill for an Act concerning appropriations. Third reading of this House Bill."
"Representative Gordon."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ladies and Gentlemen, House Bill 4228 is an appropriations Bill that would appropriate one million seven hundred and nineteen thousand four hundred dollars ($1,719,400) to the Department of Agriculture and deposit… from the General Revenue Fund and for deposit to the State Cooperative Extension Service Fund for 4-H youth development educators. We saw last year the Governor cut the youth development coordinators in several counties in several of our areas all around the state, in my area as well as many of yours, and we know the good that these youth educators do. It's not just a downstate 09500228.doc 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 problem, it's not only about ed… it's not only about agriculture issues. What I found out when I presented this to the General Services Committee, the chairman, who I don't see here today, but Representative Davis, Monique Davis, used to actually be a 4-H leader, and she was the head of the group call the Green Buccaneers. And so it's about Cook County, as well as, the collar counties, and central Illinois, and downstate and the Metro-East and out west. These education programs through 4-H do youth nutrition programs, they do food drives, they talk about drug prevention. And when we can take these kids and give them the education they need that supplements what they learn in the classroom, then we prevent them from getting into trouble that we know that they will get into if they're not given someway to expend their energy. I've received letters from my local kids who are involved in 4-H and specifically because I have such a wonderful youth educator in Grundy County by the name of John Davis. And I know that I've stood on this floor and talked about him before, and read you letters that he has written in the 4-H news that even under question of him losing his job, he stays optimistic, goes to work every day, and teaches those kids all the time. So I have two (2) letters here: one of them says, 'Dear State Representative Gordon, my name is Gabby Born. I'm twelve (12) years old and I live in Morris. I would like to thank you for your support on helping to reinstate the funds for the youth educator position. Thank you so much for the support. Sincerely, Gabby Born'. I also have another letter that says, 'Dear 09500228.doc 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 State Representative Gordon. I want to thank you for do… for you doing everything in your power to help reinstate the funds for our state youth educators. I'm especially glad because I personally know Grundy County's youth educator, Mr. Davis. Sincerely, Sam Born'. Now granted Sam and Gabby have wonderful parents who have taught them manners and they will send these letters to their local State Representative, but I also know that they've learned these things from Mr. John Davis, who has done such a wonderful job with the children in Grundy County. I ask that this money be appropriated because it’s a wonderful way to …to spend our funds in the State of Illinois. On the very first day I got this job… and many of you have heard me say this before, but I'm going to say it again because it's wonderful advice… on the very first day I got this job, my father said to me, 'Young lady, you are spending other peoples' money'. So my colleagues in the House of Representatives, I can't tell you how much one million seven hundred and nineteen thousand four hundred dollars ($1,719,400) would be a wonderful investment for spending other peoples' money on the children in the State of Illinois. And I ask for your support. Thank you."
"The Lady has moved for the passage of House Bill 4228. And on that question, the Gentleman from Vermilion, Representative Black."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"She indicates she'll yield."
"Representative, you and I come from very similar areas of the state. I, too, am a very strong supporter of 4-H. 09500228.doc 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 But let me… let me ask you just a question or two (2). Did we attempt to override the Governor's Veto last year?"
"Yes, we did. But not… not all of the positions were restored, and specifically the position from my home county which I fought for, for three (3) years was able to get passed to get back for two (2), but not last year, it was never reinstated. So we got some of them back, but not all of them."
"All right. So, as I recall this particular Veto passed the House but was not acted on by the Senate?"
"The Senate eventually did put it back in."
"They did? All right. Do you have any assurance from the Governor's Office that he won't veto this again?"
"No, I don't. But it's something that has become a labor of love for me as many of things through your years, Representative Black, have become a labor of love for you. And I'm willing to work on it every day I'm down here and I know I have the support of many of my colleagues to work on it with me, because it is such an important issue. I'll say please and thank you, and all the things that I've learned from Mr. Davis, as well, if I need to."
"All right. I thank you very much for the very honest and forthright answer. Mr. Speaker, I… I'm really conflicted on this Bill. It appears that we're going to call and probably pass a number of individual appropriation Bills. As I go through the Governor's budget book, I don't know where we're going to get the money. We're in debt up to our eyeballs, there will be serious revenue shortfalls in this coming year and this is an excellent program and no 09500228.doc 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 one has worked harder than Representative Gordon to keep these important programs alive and functioning in the… most of the counties of the State of Illinois. I hope we can get additional debate on this. A million seven(1,700,000) doesn't sound like very much money when you're talking about a budget of fifty-five billion (55,000,000,000), but I just don't know how many appropriation Bills we're going to see, how much money we're going to appropriate and how… my concern and my fear is that we sometimes, by taking this action, we send false hope to people who have worked their entire life in 4-H, and would like to get back to delivering the services that they deliver so well, and then people look forward to it, and then the Governor vetoes it. And lately, we haven't been able to override some of those Vetoes and restore the funding. And even when we do, as the Representative in their very honest remarks said, even when we restore the funding sometimes the money is never released and the positions are never reconstituted. So, I am conflicted, I hope to listen to her close and listen to other comments, because I think we're about to head down a road that is an easy road for us to go down, but at some point three (3), four (4), five (5), six (6) weeks from now we're going to have to bring out the calculator and discover how much money we have asked for in a budget that seems to me to be precariously …in a precarious situation and condition right now. I don't think… I think the Treasurer of the State of Illinois, the Comptroller of the State of Illinois, and COGFA has all given us fair warning that this is going to be a very, very difficult budget 09500228.doc 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 year. And I think we all need to keep that in… in our… in our mind, even though I have great respect for the Sponsor, and appreciate how hard she works on this and other issues… perhaps her close will determine how I vote on the… on the Bill."
"The Gentleman from Winnebago, Representative Winters."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"She indicates she'll yield."
"Representative, I, too, am alum. I assume you are an alumnus of the 4-H…"
"I'm actually…"
"…clubs?"
"…not an alumnus. I could choose between that and Girls Scouts and I went to Girls Scouts."
"Well…"
"But I've worked very closely with both groups since I've got this job. And actually, before even I got this job, because I was a tutor and everything through college and law school."
"Well, one of the things I… I did manage in my youth to attend both the weekly meetings of Boys Scouts and the biweekly meetings of 4-H for seven (7) years apiece."
"I'm in awe, Representative…"
"Well…"
"…you're much better than me then."
"…the point… the point of it is that I'm going to make is that both Boys Scouts, Girls Scouts, and 4-H are volunteer associations. Most of the their fund raising is 09500228.doc 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 done by the parents and it's supported by local groups that choose to donate their money. What you're doing with this is putting dollars back out of the state budget that everybody has paid their taxes in and I would raise the issue to this General Assembly and to this House of whether we have the money. It sounds good, it sound wonderful to hire twenty-nine (29) youth educators to help our 4-H clubs around the state. But these are voluntary associations, they're voluntary clubs and when we are in an extremely tight budget situation, our revenues are falling month by month, we know we're imbalanced in the current fiscal year and the next fiscal year looks even worse, that we should not simply cherry pick, look for a favorite cause that we may have, read a couple of letters from young constituents that ask us to help them."
"He's…"
"But instead, we have to make the tough decisions, and say, you know, we don't have the money in the checking account. We haven't had the votes to increase revenue in this state, and if you don't have the revenue you can't spend it. We've got to stop going back to the credit card year after year after year and burdening… the children of these 4-H kids are still going to be paying the debt that we've incurred the last five (5) years. We've got to draw a line in the sand and say enough is enough. If we don't have the money, we shouldn't appropriate it no matter how good the cause is we should turn to the community, say to the community, if you like 4-H, you're going to have to support it yourself because the state is out of money. 09500228.doc 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 Each one of these votes goes over to the Senate, we think that they're… they're going to be responsible over in the Senate and maybe cut out some of this. I don't trust the Senate. We need to be responsible in our own chamber for every vote we take, for every Bill that appropriates additional money over last year. So I would urge the Members of this Body to look very carefully on this vote and on every other appropriations vote that we will have this spring. We cannot spend money that the state does not have. It's unconscionable to do that. And we should start with this Bill. I urge a 'no' vote. Thank you."
Speaker Hannig: "The Gentleman from Jasper, Representative Reis."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"She indicates she'll yield."
"Representative, just to clarify a couple of things about this to the Members of the Body. This 1.7 million (1,700,000) was for downstate 4-H programs, right, extensions programs?"
"Yes, but the… with this… this will put it back at the standard funding that's been in every year since the beginning of time and there are some that will be in northern Illinois, as well. So, it's for all over; it's for the entire state."
"But there was also a five million dollar ($5,000,000) line appropriation for Cook County 4-H extension that was not vetoed by the Governor. Is that not correct?"
"Yep. That's correct." 09500228.doc 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008
"Okay. So, they kept the five million (5,000,0000) in which was a new program about two (2) or three (3) years ago and we were all told about how important it was. It was going to help our children stay off the streets, teach them leadership, teach them responsibility and all those things, but that five million (5,000,000) was not cut out. The 1.7 million (1,700,000) for basically, another hundred (100) counties was cut out, right?"
"Exactly."
"I rise in support, obviously, of the… the Representative's appropriation request. These programs are so, so important for our rural youth. And we come in and hear after program, after program, after program for the City of Chicago to help keep kids off drugs. Do all the things that these same programs do. And the payoff is tremendous. It keeps the kids out of our prison systems, out of our court systems, they do better in grades. I was at a scouting event a couple of weekends ago and the re… the percent of Eagle Scouts and Boys Scouts that are ever convicted of a crime is .01 percent it's astounding and I'm sure those same things carry through to program like this. So I rise in support of this. And if they're really looking for the money, maybe they can pull out 1.7 million (1,700,000) out of the five (5,000,000) that stayed in the City of Chicago. That would be a good suggestion. Thank you."
"We've now had two (2) in support and two (2) in opposition or in response. Representative Rose, you're recognized as the last speaker in favor." 09500228.doc 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the Motion. You know, these programs instill values in our youth, they instill integrity in our youth and one of the ethics that they instill is keeping your word. This Bill is about keeping our word to those youth. It is about restoring the balance in this state. It is odd, I have my own theories on why, but it's odd that the Governor chooses to cut the 4-H youth educators for downstate but leaves the Cook County line item in place. And this Bill simply restores that balance. But the most important thing it does is it tells our youth that our word is good and if we make a promise, we have to keep it. And for that reason, I salute the Lady and her Bill."
"Representative Gordon to close."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ladies and Gentlemen, I appreciate all of the comments today and what we've learned is that one dollar ($1) invested in youth programs saves seven ($7). So, one dollar ($1) invested in substance abuse programs, in prevention of juvenile crimes, and… and in for after school and in school time and also for programs teaching about unwanted pregnancies. If we invest one dollar ($1) in out of school time programs we save seven ($7). So, we can talk about how to invest our money and we can talk about how much it costs and we can talk about the money that we have here in the State of Illinois, but it's about paying today or paying a whole lot more in the future. And there was also a comment made by one of my very favorite colleagues and someone who I look to lead about false hope. And I hate to be cliché these days, but 09500228.doc 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 to paraphrase my friend and my U.S. Senator Barack Obama, I think there's a saying that says, 'In the amazing story that is America, hope can never be false'. I urge an 'aye' vote, Ladies and Gentlemen."
"The question is, 'Shall this Bill pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; opposed 'no'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Representative Bost, do you wish to be recorded? Mr. Clerk, take the record. On this question, there are 103 voting 'yes' and 1 voting 'no'. And this Bill, having received a Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. Representative Pritchard, you have House Bill 4255. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."
"House Bill 4255, a Bill for an Act concerning regulation. Third reading of this House Bill."
Speaker Hannig: "The Gentleman from DeKalb, Representative Pritchard."
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, a few years ago we passed a Bill very similar to this that dealt with Multiple Sclerosis and the requirement or the mandate of private insurance companies providing physical therapy for individuals suffering from this illness. This Bill would extend that to state and local government agencies. We find that Medicaid, usually the standard for insurance company coverage, provides coverage for maintenance physical therapy for people with Multiple Sclerosis. Yet, the State of Illinois, and units of local government, do not provide that kind of coverage. We know from experience 09500228.doc 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 that physical therapy helps maintain the status of functioning for these individuals. And if any of you have met any of the twenty thousand (20,000) families in the State of Illinois that have a member with this ailment know that recovery is never going to be possible, but we can maintain the status of functioning, allowing these individuals to carry out normal work and… and private lives and be able to function independently. This would require units of government to provide that kind of life-giving, helpful physical therapy so that they may continue to function. And I would be happy to answer your questions."
"This is on the Order of Short debate. Does anyone stand in response? Then the question is, 'Shall this Bill pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; opposed 'nay'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Representative Mitchell, do you wish to be recorded? Mr. Clerk, take the record. On this question, there are 104 voting 'yes' and 0 voting 'no'. And this Bill, having received a Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. Representative Holbrook, you have House Bill 4283. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."
"House Bill 4283, a Bill for an Act concerning local government. Third Reading of this House Bill."
"Representative Holbrook."
"Thank you, Speaker. House Bill 4283 allows the flexibility for township highway commissioners and trustees on expenditure of bonds. It's an issue that came up in one of my townships concerning some park district bonds. The 09500228.doc 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 township association, the highway commissioners, trustees are all in favor of the Bill. I heard… know of no opposition. Be glad to take any questions."
"This is on the Order of Short Debate. Does anyone stand in response? Then the question is, 'Shall this Bill pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; opposed 'no'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Representative… Okay. Mr. Clerk, take the record. On this question, there are 104 voting 'yes' and 0 voting 'no'. And this Bill, having received a Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. Representative Lindner, you have House Bill 4288. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."
"House Bill 4288, a Bill for an Act concerning legislative Member initiatives. Third Reading of this House Bill "
"Representative Lindner."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When we speak about good government one of the things we talk about is transparency. And this Bill is transparency in government that if there are legislative Member initiatives in the budget that they should we should know who they're going to, who requested it, and what the project is. And it should be a line item in the budget. I know of no opposition to this Bill."
"This is on the Order of Short Debate. Does anyone stand in response? The Gentleman from Cook, Representative Fritchey."
"Thank you, Repre… Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"She indicates she'll yield." 09500228.doc 33 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008
"Representative, I… I think I get what you're trying to do, I'm just trying to understand how you're trying to do it. Oftentimes, things wind up in the budget not just through a Member initiative program but a Member may have something added in through the appropriations process. I would venture to say that there are probably a far greater sum of dollars that are put in by Members during the appropriations process, and the Appropriation Committees other than Member initiatives. So, how do you differentiate between the two (2)?"
"Well, I think it differentiates in the legislation. If you look, it says that if it's part of the operating expenses in appropriations and part of a statewide program that that is not a Member initiative. These would be specific items in each Member's district for which they want money."
"But… but again, and you know, there's going to be areas where Members would put something into… through the appropriations process. They may have a grant put in through the appropriations process for a social service program. That's not going to show up as a Member initiative, is it?"
"Well, if it is part, you know, we have things that go through appropriations and then we have our own list of Member initiatives and in previous years, way back when, these initiatives were listed as line items in the budget."
"I remember."
"And you would… you would be able to look in the budget and see that Representative Fritchey wanted 09500228.doc 34 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 something for a building in his district, for a construction for a new township building or something and who that would go to. And I think in years since then, there have been just general huge appropriations and… and people are looking just a lump sum and no one knows who they're going to. So, this is a good government transparency Bill and I think it's something that should be passed."
"All right. I… I fully support what you're trying to do. I just don't think it works… it's going to work this way in practice. You know, you've… you've been here longer than I have, but I've been here long enough to know that a lot of things get tucked into the budget and you know, you would need Sherlock Holmes to figure out where they came from."
"That's what we're trying to do. We don't need Sherlock Holmes anymore. We just should put it out there and put it in writing in the budget."
"I… I agree and that's… and that is how it's happened in the past and I think that the most recent budget did this same thing, too, where the items were line itemed into there. But it was actually the fact that they were lined itemed in that made it relatively easy for the Governor to line item them backout again. I get what you're doing, I'm not trying to be contentious. I just I… I think that what you may wind up doing is shining sunlight into the corners, but not into the center of the room. Thank you though, for your responses."
"Representative Will Davis." 09500228.doc 35 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"She indicates she'll yield."
"Representative, just a couple of questions in reference to this. Let's say for instance I share a community with a neighboring Representative and the mayor of that town asks me for resources for a salt dome, which physically sits in the district of the other person. So, how does… how is that… how is that put into… how does your legislation identify projects such as that?"
"They would identify it as you would be the Member requesting it and then it would say to whom it's going and where it's going and whose legislative District it's in."
"So it puts both names…"
"Correct."
"…in …in the budget?"
"Yes. If you read the criteria, it would be a separate line item fully described the legislative Member initiative, the entity that will receive the benefit of the expenditure, the purpose of the expenditure, the specific location and the legislative and representative district where the project is located."
"So it… so it speaks to… so it speaks to that in terms of putting both names on there?"
"Correct."
"I see. Thank you."
"Representative Leitch."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. I completely agree with what the Lady's attempting to do as it relates to transparency and to 09500228.doc 36 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 disclosure that should happen. My con… great, great, concern is by doing it in the way that is being proposed. And the reason is because of errors, typographical and other ways that get listed in actual line items, which become the appropriation Bill and that then interferes or even prevents the awarding of that grant if that language is incorrect. I've just recently come across this with an attempt to release some money for a cancer center in our community and because of the wording in that line item appropriation it's been all messed up and has to be re- explained. In other words, by doing this in the way you are suggesting is a very… it is inviting all kinds of trouble with respect to actually implementing the appropriation. I would urge and ask that you pull this Bill and return with a different mechanism that would require transparency, but not attempted through the line item process. Would the Lady answer that, please?"
"Well, thank you for your input, but certainly this worked previously. I don't think there's been that much trouble."
"No, it doesn't work. That is not true, Pat."
"That when we used to… when we used to put these in the budget, they were in the budget, you could look, that was when we didn't have computers and you could look in the book and see in the budget and it is a good transparent Ethics Bill. I'd be happy to entertain some kind of a recommendation of an Amendment to have it amended in the Senate. But I would like to run the Bill now." 09500228.doc 37 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008
"Well, I got… I have to tell you this is a real bag of worms. And what happens when you attempt to do it this way, if you'd talk to any of the approp people who are trying to help Members on both sides of the aisle to get a project that has been incorrectly or a word out of place in the appropriation line, it creates all kinds of trouble. Now, you're absolutely correct, we should provide a description, we should provide transparency. I'm all for that, I'd do it anyway, but the point is this would be a very impractical way to accomplish your worthwhile goal. And for that reason, I will vote against this measure. Thank you."
Speaker Hannig: "So, we've had one speak in favor, Representative Lindner and three (3) in response: Representative Fritchey, Will Davis, and Representative Leitch. So, the rule would provide that two (2) additional speakers could speak in favor of the Bill. So does anyone wish to speak in favor of the Bill? Representative Bost, would you like to rise in support? We've run out of slots in response."
"Mr. Speaker, it would not be in favor. It'd… just some questions that I might have."
"Okay. We'll give you an opportunity to ask one question then, Representative."
"All right. If the… if the Sponsor would?"
"Indicates she'll yield."
"I'm going to give you an example and then I want you to tell me how this works out, and how this is, you know, I… I want… I believe what you're wanting to do, but I have to 09500228.doc 38 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 with the… with my seatmate and what he said. I have a particular situation from a recent budget, where now we can not receive for Jo… for instance John A. Logan Museum, because it didn't include the world… word General John A. Logan Museum. Now the whole process has been held up mainly because of a word that… it's very clear who it was supposed to go to. And the process… is there something that we can do or some kind of Amendment or something that we could be put on that we can keep away from this? I mean, it seems like common sense, but as those people who are distributing these… these projects and the money for these projects, they've got to have every T-crossed and I- dotted. I understand that, but common sense would tell me that if we go to General John A. Logan's grave you'll find John A. Logan laying there. But unfortunately, they can't figure out that General John A. Logan and John A. Logan are the same. Now…"
"I understand what you're saying. And I think that the problem is not with my legislation, the problem is with this administration."
"Ahh…"
"And how they are interpreting things and that they seem to be holding money back."
"But… but the thing is think I you'll also find that… and… and believe me, I'm not one to defend this administration, but I think we found these problems before in the budget, too. And that's the only concern I have. I want to be very open. I want people to know, you know, which Members are receiving what and… and what districts 09500228.doc 39 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 are… and, you know, be open. I want to do that, but I… I just want to make sure that we aren't being forced into a situation that we are just having one problem after another like this."
"Okay."
"And I don't think we will in the future. And I note that at the end of the legislation it says that this Section shall be liberally construed. So I think if this Bill were law now, that you would certainly get your project."
"We've been trying to be fair to all Members, but we've already had three (3) in response. And the rules would only provide that people in support could now speak. So, Representative Osterman, do you wish to rise in support?"
"I do."
"Proceed."
"I think that all of us should support transparency and, Representative, I think that all of the colleagues that you've heard from today most of them want to try to get at what you're trying to get at, I am one those people at well. As the Bill moves on to the Senate, where they're less inclined to have transparency and prefer to lump things together, I think, if you have a Senate Sponsor you should take into consideration the thoughts of what was expressed today. And I want to add an additional scenario, and that is at oftentimes in the budget there are what would be deemed Membership initiatives that are put in that affect the greater good. So, there are projects, ovarian 09500228.doc 40 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 cancer is one of them. We put money into the budget for research that was deemed a Membership initiative, but it deals with grants that go out around the State of Illinois. There are situations like that and I think as you move the Bill to the Senate you should consider how those are affected by this, it's not just the meat and potato, the schools, are kind of the small projects but there are other projects and should that be incorporated into this or not? But otherwise, I'm in support of your Bill and look to work with you on it."
Speaker Hannig: "So we would have room for one additional speaker in favor. So, Representative Black, would you like to speak in favor?"
"I don't know, Mr. Speaker. I'm conflicted. But I think I will rise in support of the Bill, with your permission. Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, nothing we do here is ever perfectly drawn or perfectly drafted. Very little we do here cannot be changed, altered, and have to come back for Amendments. I would simply point out to you that when we have done lump sum appropriations in the past, late in the Session, and we'd be driving home, there would be radio reports, the press would get into those lump sums and find out one way or the other that there was five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to establish the women's shoe museum, in Shoeville or there'd been seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($750,000) appropriated to establish the seven-foot-tall people museum in Tallville and all of the Legislators when contacted by their local press, well, I didn't vote for that. Well, yes you did. 09500228.doc 41 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 It was a lump sum. Well, I wouldn't have voted for that, I didn't know that was in there. I didn't see that. I had no idea that we had appropriated a million dollars ($1,000,000) to enlarge the postal stamp museum that had been housed in somebody's garage in somebody's district. It… I remember dealing with these issues on more than one occasion, and they'd say, well, how could you vote for this, if that was in it and you said you didn't support that? And that's the… that's the trouble that you can get into with lump sum appropriations. And I… I believe, Representative Leitch, is… is accurate. What Representative Bost said has certainly come to pass. And I don't know whether this law will help or hinder. I do know it will probably be changed somewhat in the Senate. There's still a lot of work to be done. But the old way of lump sum appropriations created just as much embarrassment as this would probably ever do, and confusion, and quite frankly, we all know if we want something to work here we can get it worked out. It may take awhile. But I've been through too many of those Sessions in the past where you vote on something and you say, well, I didn't know that was in there. I wouldn't have voted for that if I'd known that was in there. So, I… I have never sponsored a Member initiative that I'm not willing to defend back home, defend on this floor, and defend to fellow Legislators. I think that's the way the process should be. We should each be held accountable for things we are asking for in the budget. This may not be soup yet, but at least I think 09500228.doc 42 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 it's a start in the right direction and I intend to vote 'yes'."
"We've had three (3) speak on each side. And now, Representative Lindner, you're recognized to close."
"I would just ask for a favorable vote. Thank you."
"The question is, 'Shall this Bill pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; opposed 'nay'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, take the record. On this question, there are 99 voting 'yes', and 1 voting 'no'. And this Bill, having received a Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. Representative Jakobsson, you have Bill 4350. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."
"House Bill 4350, a Bill for an Act concerning local government. Third Reading of this House Bill."
"Representative Jakobsson."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. House Bill 4350 makes a change for the supervisor of assessments and the county boards. Right now, the way the statutes are written the county board has one way to deal with supervisor assessments if there are problems in that office and that is dismissal. And this Bill that I've introduced adds discipline, so that the county boards have the opportunity for some kind of discipline for the supervisor of assessments, rather than only dismissal. This was brought to me by my county board, but I think it would be good for all us throughout the state. I urge an 'aye' vote." 09500228.doc 43 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008
"This is on the Order of Short Debate. Does anyone stand in response? Then the question is, 'Shall this Bill pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; opposed 'nay'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all… have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Representative Mitchell, do you wish to be recorded? Mr. Clerk, take the record. On this question, there are 101 voting 'yes' and 3 voting 'no'. And this Bill, having received a Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. Representative Ryg, you're recognized on House Bill 4353. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."
"House Bill 4353, a Bill for an Act concerning local government. Third Reading of this House Bill."
"Representative Ryg."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. Current law provides that county boards may remove a county treasurer from office if the treasurer refuses to answer any questions presented to him by the county board. This legislation tightens that statute and states that the county board can only remove the treasurer if he or she refuses to provide the county board with any information that the treasurer's office would normally have on hand and is required by law to maintain. It still… still provides that the county treasurer is the only elected county official who can be removed by the county board and that power is not changed by this Bill. I am not aware of any opposition." 09500228.doc 44 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008
"This is on the Order of Short Debate. And in response, the Gentleman from Vermilion, Representative Black."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Will Representative Nekritz yield? Oh, I'm sorry, it's Representative Ryg."
"So."
"I get… I always get confused on that. Representative, I'm not sure I understand what this is doing. What… what's the due process? I mean, if you want to remove a county treasurer what would a county board do now? I'm sure they would have to give due process. And make the necessary charges, and those charges may very well have to be held up by a court of law. But it seems to me you're tilting the justice system to say you can't fire the treasurer except for what, for refusal to give you information?"
"There's no change in the due process requirement, it would be the same. All it changes is that the current wording allows for a county board to ask for information that a treasurer would not be required by law to maintain. So the county treasurers are just asking for the protection of the existing law and not be subject to the whim of a county board."
"I served on a county board for about ten (10) years. I'm trying to think what… what… has this happened? I mean, is there a case that precipitated this legislation?"
"Yes. My understanding is that there have been issues where the county treasures have asked for information that they weren't required to… to keep by law, and then the 09500228.doc 45 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 county board was going to hold them accountable for the fact that they did not."
"So, in talking with our staff person, if the county board makes an unreasonable request of the treasurer, such as, how many people did you register in the last primary election? The treasurer has nothing to do with voter registration. So if the treasurer would say, I don't have any idea. That's not in my office. Are you telling me that some county board would then try to fire the county treasurer for the inability to answer a question because they have nothing to do with that issue?"
"That was the concern of the county treasurers, why they're asking for the legislation to just delete the words that say, 'or by the county board'."
"Okay. All right."
"That… that they… they're going to be held to standards that are required by law."
"Okay. Did you receive any indication from the State Bar Association or the State's Attorney Association that they have problem with the language at all?"
"There's no opposition…"
"Okay, fine.
"…that I'm aware of.
"Now, I understand what you're getting at. Maybe we should fire the county board, if some are acting in such an egregious fashion. But I see what you're after now. Thank you very much." Ryg: Thank you." 09500228.doc 46 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008
"We may accommodate a couple additional Members who wish to speak by moving this to Standard Debate. And Representative Bost, you're now recognized for 5 minutes."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"She indicates she'll yield."
"What's the genesis of the Bill? What… what… who… which particular treasurer ticked off the county board where for this piece of language? Not… nothing in particular? This is not a… not a case where we've seen a problem come up?"
"You know what, I'm sorry. I don’t remember the name of county."
"You don't… you don't know. So, we're carrying a Bill, we don't know that we've had a problem in this area, but… but we're carrying a Bill… I'm having trouble understanding…"
"No, I spoke with my county treasurer…"
"Okay."
"…about how this might impact that of… his office and he feels that this is reasonable and I believe that the County Treasurers' Association…"
"Okay."
"...supports this."
"And I understand that. What I'm asking is we don't just all of a sudden for… well, sometimes we do, just throws for no apparent reason, legislation out here. But apparently, something has happened and that's why we feel that this is necessary and the… that… And obviously, at sometime the county board was not feeling they were getting the proper 09500228.doc 47 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 information from their treasurer, so we have to put this in law? Is that correct?"
"Yes."
"Okay. Do you know… it is my understanding that the county treasurers have asked for this? Is that what… is that true?"
"Yes."
"Okay. I was a city treasurer, I wasn't a county treasurer. But I don't understand why, this… why this… why they wouldn't do this already and why it is we have to codify it by law? What…"
"Because the previous language stated, 'if any county treasurer shall neglect or refuse to render an account or make settlement at any time when required by law or by the county board or refuse to any ques… refused to answer any questions regarding the operation of the county treasure's office, propounded to him by the county board or refused to provide the county board with any requested information concerning the accounts maintained by the county treasurer's office, provided the requests are for information that the county treasurer is required by law to maintain and in a format, already… already maintained by the county treasurer'. So we're just suggesting the county treasurers have to maintain records currently required by law and that those… that's the extent of the requirement."
"Okay. I want you…"
"County boards cannot supersede that law."
"That the county board cannot require more information be kept than what we do by the…" 09500228.doc 48 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008
"I'm sorry. They can…"
"That's not what the language says."
"They can require it by ordinance, by their own law. We're saying that the treasurer is not subject to a requirement of a county board without it having the backing of a county or State Law."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker."
"Representative Fortner." Fortner: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Bill. I think it's important to remind the Members of this Body that we had some similar debates with a Bill on this very same Section of law last year. One of the things that come out is that a county treasurer has a fairly unique position in that, they alone among the elected county officials have this provision whereby they can be summarily removed by the county board. And when one looks at the law… that the statute really and I think, unfortunately, provides the county board with more latitude than they really should have. This law is very well intended and what it will do is it will really confine the county board to exercising their statutory authority for those matters which would really be appropriate solely to the office of the county treasurer and not to other things that for whatever other dispute, personal or political, that one or more board members might have with the treasurer. Which I think is out of bounds and should not be permitted as a cause for dis… treasurer. There may well be cases where they really have failed to perform their duty and in those cases the county board should be able to exercise their authority, 09500228.doc 49 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 but not for any other sort of petty offense or as to say personal dispute between them, because with this language as it is, it could easily be the case that a board member who has an issue with the treasurer might be prone to threaten them, say, 'hey, I could get some votes, we can just have you removed.' That is certainly not what we should intend the statute to provide for the county board in their action with the treasurer. I think this is a good law. It clarifies exactly those items that would be applicable in terms of what information a county treasurer should be providing the county board, specifically related to the office for which they are elected, and the county board has a right to know what that information is. For that reason, I urge an 'aye' vote."
"Had two (2) in favor and two (2) in response. And Representative Washington, you're recognized. And do you know which side you'd like to speak on?"
"Mr. Speaker, I really don't know. I really want to follow up with a question."
"So, you'll be on response."
"And try to formulate an opinion."
"So, proceed."
"Thank you. Representative Fortner, I don't understand and… and maybe I missed it from taking care some other matters over here. What is the genesis of this and what is apparent to strip off an entire county board of its statute or authority to discipline one of its own within the confine of what it sees necessary. Why… why the change?" 09500228.doc 50 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008
"It doesn't change the process by which a county board can request removal of a treasurer, but it does require that a treasurer is accountable by… for standards that are set in law, either the county law or State Law."
"So, you're saying this does… this isn't… this Bill does not strip existing authority that county government has given itself to discipline one of its own within its ranks. You're saying that this… this is not what this does?"
"No. The county board is the Legislative Body of a county and the county treasurer is an administrative position."
"Well, how do you explain…?"
"The county board maintains its authority to remove a treasurer from office for noncompliance. We're just suggesting that noncompliance has to be based on law."
"Well, how would you explain where it says this Bill does away with a county board's removal power?"
"It…"
"And then it preconditions it, if the treasurer so forcibly… if willingly the treasurer does not render an account demanded by the county board or make a settlement that the county board demand as long as the treasurer is required to do so by law. Then it seems that in this Bill you go on to say you want to weaken it by saying that only if the treasurer does not answer a question. An answer of a question could be answered, but is it a suitable and appropriate answer, is very vague to me."
"This… this Bill does not change the county board's authority to remove the county treasurer. The power is not 09500228.doc 51 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 changed. All it says is that the county board cannot require the county treasurer to keep… I'm sorry… the county board cannot remove the treasurer for purposes other than the treasurer's meeting the standards set forth by law, either county law or State Law."
"Okay. But I go back to one of two points and I'm going to formulate my opinion. It said this Bill does away with a county board's removal power if the treasurer, preconditioned, if the treasurer does not render an account or make a settlement that the county board demand. And as long as the treasurer is not required to do so by law…"
"Yes."
"On one end you're saying it doesn't, the Bill clearly says that it does. Then if I'm following this Bill correctly or the intent of the Sponsor, it goes on to say that this Bill is the response from several instances across the state. I think that where we go to State Representatives begin to oversight county government's removal power, I think we're treading on some thin line, the same as we talked about in this Body about municipal powers for those cities who have the right to do certain things. I think… To the Bill. Mr. Speaker, I think this Bill needs more work on it. I think it's not clear. On one end it says it removes the county board's power and if you know a county board is quite powerful, represented by many people and I don't think anything should be tampered with. Is not… it's not supported by the county board treasurer and I think that we should be very cautious as we try to aid in stripping and replacing a precondition saying 09500228.doc 52 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 that a treasurer can only be removed only if he or she does not answer questions. That is much too vague, and it takes away the power of the county board. So, I'll be voting 'no' on this Bill. Thank you."
"Representative Ryg to close."
"Thank you. Again, this does not change a county board's authority to remove the county treasurer from office, it just says that that standard is… that it has to be required of the treasurer by law. Thank you. I ask for your support."
"The question is, 'Shall this Bill pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; opposed 'nay'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Representative Beaubien, do you wish to be recorded? Mr. Clerk, take the record. On this question, there are 101 voting 'yes' and 3 voting 'no'. And this Bill, having received a Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. Representative Coulson, you have House Bill 4407. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill. Excuse me. Representative Black, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"I don't want to waste your time, Mr. Speaker, just a personal plea to the Chair. And Representative Coulson's Bill needs to pass. I just got a highway update, Springfield to Decatur on I-72, reported 100 percent snow or iced covered. Travel for Legislators is not advised. I tried to tell you yesterday. We could have had a snow day. So, I'll tell you what, Mr. Speaker, you wait for me, I'm going home with you." 09500228.doc 53 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008
"Okay. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."
"House Bill 4407, a Bill for an Act concerning regulation. Third Reading of this House Bill."
"Representative Coulson."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I will make this very quick. House Bill 4407 provides for the reenactment of the Structural Pest Control Act. Currently, the Bill was repealed on January 1, 2008. We really need, for the public safety of the state and our citizens, to reenact this licensure Bill. And I would appreciate an 'aye' vote."
"This is on the Order of Short Debate. Does anyone stand in response? Then the question is, 'Shall this pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; opposed 'nay'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, take the record. On this question, there are 104 voting 'yes' and 0 voting 'no'. And this Bill, having received a Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. I would advise the Members that there's a report from the State Police for all parts of the state on the weather conditions and road conditions right here in the Clerk's well. So, if you are interested in checking… Okay. Representative Black has one, too. And so Representative Coulson, would you like to share some thoughts with us today? Coleman, Representative…"
"No, not Coulson, not Coleman. Colvin."
"Colvin. Thank you, Representative." 09500228.doc 54 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen… Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. An African-American proverb stated, 'I am because we are and because we are, therefore I am.' Silas Purnell didn’t believe that he was a important person. He believed, like the African proverb, that he was only important because of the work he was doing for his community and the people he loved. Silas Purnell, nationally renowned crusader in advancing the education of inner-city children. Mr. Purnell believed that inner-city children deserved the chance to go to college and should not be inhibited by the lack of money. It was this conviction that led him to quit his job in the 1960s as marketing manager for the Coca-Cola Company and start a nationally acclaimed college preparation and placement program at Ada S. McKinley Community Services which Mr. Purnell ran from 1961 to the year 2000, when he retired. Mr. Silas (sic-Purnell) was known throughout the United States for the tremendous work he has done in helping disadvantaged inner-city children attain higher education. More than fifty thousand (50,000) inner-city youth were placed through the program in over two hundred (200) colleges and universities throughout the United States of America. The program originally operated out of the Dearborn Public Housing Complex on the south side of Chicago for thirty-four (34) years and was financed by the U.S. Department of Education's Talent Search Program. In 1967 Mr. Purnell was approached by Mr. Ralph Burlingham, the former executive director of Ada S. McKinley Community 09500228.doc 55 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 Services, to start the program. At the time, the agency had limited funds, a total budget of forty-seven thousand dollars ($47,000). So, he actually worked the first year there without taking any pay for himself. It was his tenacious spirit and drive that led him to criss-cross the state cultivating university contacts and attracting colleges that offered financial aid for minority students. Scholarships and grants were secured for students with low grade-point averages and who were willing to take remedial summer classes or be tutored in order to prepare for the rigorous demands of college. The assistance didn't stop there, if a student didn't have a way to get to school, Mr. Purnell made sure that they got there even if it meant driving them himself. Known for his straightforwardness, Mr. Purnell would approach youth on the street, in a store stocking or bagging groceries, or working behind counters at fast food restaurants and ask what they planned to do with the rest of life. After chastising them with his booming voice, he would tell them to come to his office and he would get them in school. Many did… many today have completed their undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate, medical degrees and law degrees across the nation. Those who give him absolute credit for this, just to name a few, are Sun Times reporter Laura Washington, Channel 7 anchor Cheryl Burton, well-known and noted attorney, André Grant and thousands of others across the City of Chicago and Cook County who stood outside of Mr. Purnell's office at the Dearborn Homes with the opportunity, hoping to go to college, which he fulfilled. Among the many awards 09500228.doc 56 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 bestowed on Mr. Purnell during his lifetime included honorary degrees from: Illinois Wesleyan, Chicago State University, and the University of Illinois. He was a mentor, a colleague, and a friend to many who came through his doors. He made educational dreams become a reality for thousands of Chicago youth. Purnell's legacy will live on in the lives of thousands of individual men and women he touched who went to high school, who went to college and went on to contribute to the fabric that makes America strong. It is said that Silas Purnell often told people that no one should be eulogized more in death than they are in life. His commitment to educational access and excellence speaks… during his life speaks for itself. Silas Purnell's life was not lived in vain and we're all better for it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And as closing note, I would again just like to thank all of my colleagues and those individuals who came over to the IDOT headquarters and celebrated Black History Month with us. We had a tremendous dinner and a tremendous turnout, and I simply want to thank everybody. We look forward to doing it again next year. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker."
"Mr. Clerk, read the Adjournment Resolution.
"Senate Joint Resolution 85. RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that when the two Houses adjourn on Thursday, February 21, 2008, the Senate stands adjourned until Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 12:00 noon; and the House of Representatives stands adjourned until Friday, 09500228.doc 57 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 228th Legislative Day 2/22/2008 February 22, 2008, at 11:00 a.m., and when it adjourns on that day, it stands adjourned until Monday, February 25, 2008, in Perfunctory Session; and when it adjourns on that day, it stands adjourned until Tuesday, February 26, 2008."
"Representative Currie moves for the adoption of the agreed… or the Adjournment Resolution. All in favor say 'aye'; opposed 'nay'. The 'ayes' have it. And the Adjournment Resolution is adopted. Mr. Clerk, read the Agreed Resolutions."
"On the Order of Agreed Resolutions is House Resolution 1013, offered by Representative Ryg. House Resolution 1015, offered by Representative Myers. House Resolution 1016, offered by Representative Jakobsson. House Resolution 1017, offered by Representative Jakobsson. House Resolution 1018, offered by Representative Crespo."
"Representative Currie moves for the adoption of the Agreed Resolutions. All in favor say 'aye'; opposed 'nay'. The 'ayes' have it. The Agreed Resolutions are adopted. Now allowing perfunctory time for the Clerk, Representative Currie moves that the House adjourn until Tuesday, February 26, at the hour of 1:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday. All in favor say 'aye'; opposed 'nay'. The 'ayes' have it. The Motion is adopted. And the House stands adjourned." 09500228.doc 58