Illinois House Floor Debate — March 10, 2009

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let the record reflect that Representatives Mulligan and Winters are excused on the Republican side of the aisle today."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker, we… you and I had a series of… series of discussions or questions back and forth last week about a Bill dealing with special elections; curious as to the intention of the Chair of releasing that to committee. As of yet, it has not been released to committee. We were told last week, I think on three separate occasions, that the Rules Committee would be meeting. And we have to get an answer on that, I'd at least one way or the other would like to know what the intention is of the Chair."

"I have a question of anybody that wants to give us an answer. Are we going to ever see a Bill assigned to a committee as your rules lay out? This one in particular that has not been assigned to committee, and obviously, we'd like to get an answer as to whether or not the intention of the Chair is to assign it to committee. Or is it going to stay in Rules all Session?" 09600023.doc 6  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 23rd Legislative Day 3/10/2009

"Well, maybe… could I ask how long that it's going to be under review?"

"Well, Mr. Speaker, one of the reasons I'm asking, is we're close to deadline… getting Bills out of committee, getting Bills out of the House, the process is moving along as it should. There are a lot of important issues that need to be addressed, we acknowledge that. This happens to be one of many we think are important, and we're soon to be at a point where it's going to be too late to hear this Bill. And we tried to be reasonable last week and work with you and were assured… or not assured, we're told everyday that Rules would be meeting and just to hold on. So, Rules met and nothing happened. Is Rules going to kick it out this afternoon?"

"Mr. Speaker, I do remember that Rules Committee specifically, where we as House Republicans, the two that were present, made… I personally made a Motion to have that 09600023.doc 7  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 23rd Legislative Day 3/10/2009 Bill discharged to committee so that we could go ahead and move forward with it. It did fail with three Democrats voting against, two Republicans voting for. With the people wanting this special election, I think it would be openly appropriate that we would allow that to at least to have a hearing in committee where other than the Rules Committee, where we can actually discuss it and figure out what the problem might be. It's very clear that our side of the aisle, and I didn't want to interrupt our Leader at all, but he has been forward on this to make sure that we are pushing forward with this process. The people can make their decision through their Representatives if we allow their Representatives to vote, but as of yet the representatives have not had that opportunity. It's very clear that the general public sees… sees and believes that we should have this special election. It should be at least brought to a vote, but obviously, the Democrat side of the aisle doesn't feel that that's important for the people of the State of Illinois."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I filed a Motion to Discharge House Bill 3948 from the House Executive Committee. House Bill 3948 was assigned to committee, but was not posted for a vote. As you know, this is the last week to call Bills. Under House Rule 58(a) any Member may move that a standing committee or a special committee be discharged from consideration of any legislative measure assigned to it and not report it back 09600023.doc 8  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 23rd Legislative Day 3/10/2009 unfavorably. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the Calendar requirements of House Bill 58(b)… I'm sorry House Rule 58(b) and call for a Roll Call vote. And I move to discharge House Bill 3948 from the House Executive Committee and be placed on the appropriate order of business. On February 29, 2008, the Cook County Board made history by giving citizens of our state's largest county the highest sales tax in the country. This sales tax increase continues to be a barrier to economic growth and prosperity, and hits working and middle class families hard at a time that they can least afford it. At a time when we're in the middle of a historic economic recession, the effects of this tax have proven devastating to many families in my district who are struggling to make ends meet. That's the reason I sponsored House Bill 3948 to roll back this harmful tax increase. This legislation would ensure transparency and accountability to all tax increase proposals before the Cook County Board. It would prevent what happened last year when the sales tax was increased to an unbelievable rate, only to allow… County Board President Todd Stroger to hire more of his cronies on the county payroll. It's time to remember that our county government is to serve the people, not the other way around. Let's release this Bill from the House Executive Committee and roll back this ridiculous sales tax increase and give the hardworking citizens of Cook County a break. Recently, during the last election cycle, I knocked on many doors in my district. And I asked them what the effect of this tax has been on them. And they've quite frankly told 09600023.doc 9  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 23rd Legislative Day 3/10/2009 me, well, we're doing our shopping now in Lake County. My district is right on the border of Cook and Lake County. Many of my residents, especially for many of the high- priced items now go just a few blocks or a few miles to another… to Lake County to do their shopping and it's really has a devastating effect on the businesses in Cook County. So, I ask for a Roll Call vote on my Motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker."

"I have filed the Motion. I don't think the Motion is out of order, and if that's the ruling of the Chair, I want to appeal the ruling of the Chair."

"Point of personal privilege."

"A point of personal privilege. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, the Gentleman from Cook asked to overrule the Chair. Because this is a anniversary, in a manner of speaking, it was about a year ago this month that the Cook County Board President Todd Stroger and his Democrat 09600023.doc 10  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 23rd Legislative Day 3/10/2009 cronies on the Cook County Board nearly doubled the sales tax in Cook County. And you might think, well, from Bond County, what do I care? Well, you know, it's coming that season when my Cardinals will be traveling to Chicago to beat up on your Cubbies, and you know what, we like the city. My wife and I, and our children like to stay at the downtown hotels. We like to… we spend a little money there, but we don't want to spend all of our money there. And all we want to do is have Representative's… the Representative's Bill heard, Representative Mathias. We want the gentleman from Cook's legislation heard in the Executive Committee; we want it heard today. Why would you be opposed… you know, I've been going to all these meetings. You talk about we're going to shed light on this, and we're going to have transparency on this deal and that deal. But when it comes down to the real issues, when you control every major office in the State of Illinois, including in the City of Chicago, you don't want to really shine any light. You don't want to really give the people a voice. As I understand it, Chicago Board President Stroger and his cronies on that board rammed this tax increase on the people of Cook County through at the very last minute with very little input. The Representative's Bill would allow a vote by the people, allow the people to be heard in committee, and… and before a vote's taken by the Cook County Board. Returning decision-making to the people of Illinois, and particularly the people of Cook, when we're talking about tax increases, where they have the highest sales tax in the nation, the highest gas tax in the 09600023.doc 11  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 23rd Legislative Day 3/10/2009 nation, would be only appropriate… more appropriate this year in the wake of the Democrat scandals that have embarrassed our state for again… once again. We've had our fair share of Republican scandals, but overwhelmingly, it's the Democrats, who every time we want to clean up the system, you like to say the right things, but in this case you've got a chance to do the right thing. But no, we can't listen to a responsible Legislator from the very county that's affected. We can't even hear his Bill. Vote it down if you will. Vote against it if you want to and then put out your press release by the way. We talked last week about the special elections. When you block our move to get that Bill out of Rules Committee, and then we… we rat on you back in your districts. Then you write letters to the editor saying, 'oh, no, that wasn't me. I'm for special elections.' When Representative from Macon, we've got you on two votes stopping us from getting that Bill out to the House Floor. Once again, you're blocking our efforts. It's wrong, Mr. Speaker. You know it's wrong, the real Speaker knows it's wrong, the Majority Leader knows it's wrong. I… I ask you once again to reconsider House Bill 3849 and let it be heard in Executive Committee this week."

"Point of personal privilege."

"I am disheartened that when my colleague, a Representative of Cook County, asks for release of a Bill 09600023.doc 12  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 23rd Legislative Day 3/10/2009 that would help his residents, because I, too, represent a portion of Cook County. And the residents here continue to suffer at every store and business that they go to because they are forced to pay the highest sales tax in the region. Every time the Cook County Board officials get into a jam, their first instinct is to raise some sort of tax on the hard-working people of this area. There never is a discussion about cutting their budget, reducing the budget, cutting wasteful spending. Instead the easy decision for them has always been to raise taxes on the hard-working people of my district, Sid's district, all these Representatives of Cook County's districts. Cook County is in need of fiscal reform in the worst way. We have several pieces of legislations that promote good policy. I ask that they are allowed to be heard. I ask that, in particular, House Bill 3948 be released so that we may discuss this in committee and get it out to the House Floor for a proper debate. Speaker, I ask for this… in the cause of red jacket. Thank you very much."

"Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yeah, I'd like to add my voice to the chorus that is urging us to get House Bill 3948 and to get it to the floor for a hearing and so we can debate this issue and make Cook County fiscally healthy again. The institution of this new tax… increased tax, making it the highest in the nation, has severely impacted negatively… negatively on the citizens of our state, my district. I grew up in the Cook County part of my district 09600023.doc 13  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 23rd Legislative Day 3/10/2009 and 40 percent of that district is in Cook County. But the population of the Cook County part has decreased in the 6 years of this decade and the DuPage County part has increased population, despite the fact that construction has been neutral the last couple years. So, this policy has been very harmful and will continue to be harmful for the citizens who shop in Cook County and I urge that we get this Bill heard to the floor, House Bill 3948. Thank you."

"Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have an inquiry of the Chair."

"It was about two months ago on this very floor… I can wait… I don't have any place to go."

"Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, very kind of you, very kind of the Members. It was about two months ago that 09600023.doc 14  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 23rd Legislative Day 3/10/2009 we had a debate on the House Rules on this floor and I've asked to get a copy of the transcript, but I can remember very clearly what was said. It was said that… our Motion to Amend the House Rules so that we didn't have unanimous consent to discharge a Bill from the House Rules Committee, really wasn't necessary, because in the odd-numbered years, all Bills would be reported from the Rules Committee and assigned a substantive committee. Somebody didn't tell us the truth. I'll let it go at that, there are more inflammatory words I could use, but somebody didn't tell the truth. There are still Bills that have not been reported out of the Rules Committee, in violation of the House Rules. And then, the games that we play… some Bills are assigned, and no matter how often we ask or have our staff ask, or how often we go to the Democrat staff, the Bills are not posted for committee. We're not given any reason for that, we're just told no, they will not be posted… the Bill will no be posted. If it isn't posted, Representative, you can't call it, we will not call it. That is an abject violation of my rights as a Member… of every Member's rights. So, my inquiry of the Chair, Mr. Speaker, is really simple. You chose not to give an answer to the House Republican Leader. You chose really not to give an answer to Representative Mathias. My question is just very simple. Are we going to abide… and you have Mr. Ellis there, a learned individual, very familiar with the House Rules. Is it the intent of the Chair, and of the Democrat Party of Illinois who run this chamber, is it your intent to follow the House Rules, or to ignore the House 09600023.doc 15  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 23rd Legislative Day 3/10/2009 Rules? I take no personal pleasure in questioning the Chair or asking for a Motion to… Discharge the Rules Committee. I'm just… Since you didn't have the common courtesy to answer the House Republican Leader, which I thought was a little odd, will you at least give some clarification to the Members? Is it your intent to follow the rules of the House, or have you decided that the rules will not be followed in some cases? And I know that in most of those cases the rules are not followed by Bills that are sponsored… or for Bills that are sponsored by Republicans. I think it's a fair question. I think it's a question that determine what the Minority Party's role will be in this last week."

"Mr. Speaker, I'm at an age where I don't have the time, nor the patience anymore to be treated like a recalcitrant first-grader. I have great confidence in your ability as a fair man, but that wasn't an answer, we haven't had an answer, we evidently are not going to get an answer. I don't expect to win every Bill that I file on behalf of constituents, that's the process. The process weeds out Bills. But when you don't let the process work, in violation of your own rules, then I think it's time… you give the House Republicans no choice. Mr. Speaker, I would ask for an immediate Republican Caucus. I see no reason 09600023.doc 16  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 23rd Legislative Day 3/10/2009 for us to stand up here and be a part or a partner or anything to do with the games that you're going to play. If we have no rule here… if we have no role, if we can't call Bills, if our Bills won't be released from Rules, if they won't be posted in committee, you are denying not only our rights, but the rights of the people who we represent. Shame on you. I ask for an immediate Republican Caucus. I'm not going to sit up here and put up with this."

"Mr. Speaker, what difference does it make? You're going to run this chamber without us, that's obvious. You don't need us here. Welcome to the era of reform, Ladies and Gentlemen. This reminds me of 1991-92. And when you got this heavy-handed, it cost you your majority. And you may be on your way to losing that again. There is no reason for you to act this way, none whatsoever. We have expressed time and time again that we're willing to work with you, we would like to work with you, and all you do is stick it in our ear. This is… there's no reason for this, other than to show that you have to the power of 60 votes- plus. And you will do what you want to do, and the House Rules can be damned, and the Minority Party can be damned, and you will run it however you want. Well, you can run it without us for as long as you want. I'm not going to participate in this absolute charade. I was a member of the eighth grade student council and they didn't run things in this fashion, why do you? There's no reason for this. 09600023.doc 18  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 23rd Legislative Day 3/10/2009 I don't know how some of you can sleep soundly at night when you simply ignore. You're the party of minority rights, what a joke. You don't even know what minority rights are about. As you shaft us, you shaft hundreds of thousands of people. Get on your own side of the aisle, Majority Leader Currie, I didn't ask you to come over here and give me the devil. Stay on your own side of the aisle. I don't need to be chastised by the Majority Leader or anybody else. She's not my mother. And you, Sir, are not my father. And I can tell you, as much respect as I have for you, you will never, ever be the man my father was. And shame on you for what you've done today. This is one of the most heavy-handed, ridiculous, asinine displays of raw, naked political power I've seen in a long, long time. Shame on you and shame on you over there for allowing this to happen. The worm will turn someday and then you'll wonder why."