Illinois House Floor Debate — April 21, 2009

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

"Yes, Mr. Speaker. A point of personal privilege."

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, I'm joined by Senator Bill Brady in a special recognition today of two outstanding teams… or outstanding individuals on a team. First off, I'd like to introduce from our legislative district, the 2008 Class A state champion female cross country runner, Miss Kelly Curran. And Kelly placed first in the 2008 Regional Champions, first in the 2008 Sectional Championship, and is the fastest Class A female in the high school category, with a 17.27 state title first place finish. Please welcome Kelly Curran, up in the right. Congratulations Kelly, thank you very much for being the fastest girl in state cross country in the State of Illinois in Class A. Also, Senator Brady and I have the distinct honor to introduce the 2008 Class 4-A, State Champion, Bloomington Central Catholic Saints to my right, 09600042.doc 2  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 42nd Legislative Day 4/21/2009 Ladies and Gentlemen. The Saints finished 14-0 on the season, were Cornbelt Champions, and are the Class 4-A State Champions. And Ladies and Gentlemen, they're the first school in IHSA history to win state titles in four classes; 1-A, 2-A, 3-A, and now 4-A. They are joined by their head coach, Bobby Moews, assistant coach Doug Moews, assistant coach Jimmy Malinowski, and some other members and coaches of the team as well. And I also, Ladies and Gentlemen, have the pleasure for the last 20 years or more, being the voice on the PA of the Central Catholic Saints. And as we like to say at Saints Field, the Bill Hundman Memorial Field, 'Ladies and Gentlemen, your Central Catholic Saints'."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, please welcome coach Paula Stewart, and the Turner Titans 7th grade champions in volleyball for the State of Illinois. Thank you, girls." 09600042.doc 3  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 42nd Legislative Day 4/21/2009

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, I draw your attention to the Speaker's Gallery, while they're not officially state champion debaters; we have a group of 7th and 8th graders who did a wonderful job of debating one of the Bills that we had here on the House Floor dealing with transfats. This group comes to us through the courtesy of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau, who brings a group of 7th and 8th graders. This group happens to be from Somonauk Christian, Somonauk Middle School, Sycamore Middle Schools, Sandwich Middle School, and St. Mary's School in Sycamore. They're here to see the Legislature in action, and to share their voices on critical issues for Illinois. Welcome to Springfield."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Inquiry of the Chair."

"I'm reviewing our House Calendar today, and there seems to be four to six Bills that were extended. Is this a misprint, because you had advised us that no Bills would 09600042.doc 4  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 42nd Legislative Day 4/21/2009 be extended after the two weeks before. Is this a misprint?"

"How would you go about extending a Bill? What is the process that we need to do?"

"Thank you."

"Did I personally, no, but other Members on my side of the aisle did. And they were told there was no extensions going to be allowed."

"So, your suggestion is that we contact the chairman of the Rules Committee?"

"Thank you."

"Inquiry of the Chair."

"Mr. Speaker, who are we… who are we supposed to believe? We were told from your Chair, by the Speaker of the House, and the Majority Leader, who I believe is on the floor now, the chairman of the Rules Committee, that there were going to be no extensions of deadlines of Bills. You know, and we… every time we ask these sort of questions, we're told, well, Representative, the plan changed. The plan changed. You know, down in my part of the state, we 09600042.doc 5  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 42nd Legislative Day 4/21/2009 just call it what it is. We were lied to. We were lied to. Now, Speaker, we know it's not you. We're directing our remarks to the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader. Why do you not tell us the truth? If you're going to roll over us, you've got all the votes you need. Go ahead and roll over us, but why do you have to misspeak? Just tell us if you're going to abuse us. That's all we ask."

"Inquiry of the Chair, Mr. Speaker."

"I'd like some attention in the chamber. I'm not going to try and compete with all of the sidebar conversations going on on your side of the aisle. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. My inquiry of the Chair is on the same order of business that we've been on. And for my good friends on the other side of the aisle, perhaps you can answer the question. We were told by your Leadership, and I believe you were told, prior to Third-Reading deadline, there would be no extensions. No Bills would be extended. That is on the transcript, I'll get it if you want to hear it. At least one of our Members sent a letter to the Speaker asking him for an extension of a Bill. To this day he does not have a response. My highest priority Bill was not extended. I didn't write a letter; I've been here long enough. I assumed, and shame on me for assuming, that what you said was the truth. That no Bills would have a deadline extended. I come back yesterday, and there are 09600042.doc 6  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 42nd Legislative Day 4/21/2009 six Bills whose deadline had been extended and they're all Democrat Bills. Not one Republican Bill, even though I'm aware of one of our Members who put forth that request in writing and he doesn't even have the courtesy of a reply. And all we get, and it's not directed at you Representative Miller, but to the Chair. We never get an answer. What the hell kind of an answer is it when you say talk, talk, talk, talk, to the chair of the Rules Committee? What's she going to tell me? What is she going to tell me? The deadline's past. Six of your Bills are extended, none of ours. Particularly, to the person in the Chair, what's fair about that? What's right about that? What's honest about that? Don't any of us have any shame in this chamber? Are those of us on the Republican side relegated to be second-class citizens? You can't car… you can't carry the banner of the Party of change, the Party of equality, the Party of baloney, when you turn around and relegate half of the Members of this chamber to a second- class status. I want to know what you're going to do about it. What are you going to do about it? Where's the fairness? Where is your ability to do what's right. Six of your Bills get extended and none of ours? What do you want me to tell the people who sent me down here? That I can't represent them because I'm a Republican. I'd think some of you people would be ashamed to go home and look at your constituents in the eye, when you know you are treated differently than any of us."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, I have a very short letter that I wrote to Speaker Madigan on April 6. 'Dear Speaker Madigan. On Wednesday, April 1, I presented House Bill 583, commonly known as the horse slaughter Bill to the House of Representatives. Though it did not pass, it did obtain the number of votes to be placed on Postponed Consideration. On April 2, Tim Mapes advised that it would not be addressed that day, but perhaps on the third. Needless to say, with the large number of Third Reading Bills, it did not get called. Speaker, this Bill is very important to me and my district, and safe to say for agriculture throughout the State of Illinois. Is there any possible way it could be recalled after we return on April 21? Thank you for any consideration you can give this matter.' I read the letter because I believe it's the one that Representative Black was referring to. I assume the Speaker received it, as it did not come back to me as undeliverable, and it was delivered to his address at 6500 South Polaski in Chicago. I truly, again, on behalf of agriculture in Illinois, would love an opportunity to present this Bill on Postponed Consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And to the same subject, again. I had written a letter requesting an extension of a Bill that I considered critical to the financial health of the RTA, asked for an extension, specifically talked to Representative Currie, as the President (sic-chair) of the 09600042.doc 8  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 42nd Legislative Day 4/21/2009 Rules Committee, and she told me no Bills were to be extended in any way, shape, or form. My understanding is that this is the way that things were conducted in the Senate under Senator Emil Jones. I'm extremely disappointed to see that that's what's happening in the House. And I would request that the Speaker reconsider his position. Thank you."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know the Minority… or the Majority's Leader's answer fine, just go ahead and find an Amendment. So… so in other words, it's okay for the Democrats to have their… their Bills extended, but now we need to go out and search. So maybe it is like Bill Black said, we are second-class citizens. In this bipartisan efforts that we talk about all over the state, about how we the Democrats are going to be bipartisan. Bipartisan bunk. You know what? She said 40 days and 40 nights. Is that what we're supposed to do? Why don't we just wander the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights, trying to be delivered from your hard, strong-handed control? How long will this go on? And why is it that we, the people of the State of Illinois, are not rising up and sending a clear message about how it is you have ran this state into the ground? You have broke the state, you have broke the pension systems. Now you're going raise a huge tax, and you're all going to say, well, you just sit over there and don't worry about it. I wasn't even going to get involved in this debate, I know that surprises you. But to stand up and say, oh, well, you've got 40 days and 40 nights. Just go ahead, your Bills aren't really that important anyway, but hey, I'll tell you what, we'll… we'll work through the process, and maybe if you come over and just suck up to us, 09600042.doc 10  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 42nd Legislative Day 4/21/2009 just right. Then that's all right, we may let something pass. What is this? What is this? And then you all sit there and you just talk and carry on your conversations like nothing's going on. When we, our people, every person we represent on this side of the aisle, is being ripped off, ripped off by Democrat control. Not only ripped off in the fact that they're not allowing our Bills to pass, but ripped off with the fact that you just continue to shove uncontrolled spending down the State of Illinois's throat, and now you're proposing a large tax increase. Go ahead, you're in charge, do it, but then reap what you sow. Take your 40 days and your 40 nights, and keep that control and be real clear about what you're doing to the citizens of the State of Illinois. Because I tell you what, I'm telling my constituents, and I'm telling those… I'm telling those constituents that are in your district as well, that they better pay attention, pay attention to all of a sudden how the Democrats are all for change and they're willing to help, and oh, my goodness. But yeah, you know, we've got 40 days and 40 nights. What the heck?"

"Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. Have… have you no shame on your side of the aisle. To sit here and tell us find a Senate Bill to amend on the Bills that we couldn't get extended, or weren't heard, is the most ridiculous thing I've heard in 23 years. Generally, the Bills weren't heard, or couldn't be extended, because you refused to allow… you, 09600042.doc 11  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 42nd Legislative Day 4/21/2009 the Majority Leader, said no, that Bill will not be heard. That Bill will not be called. So, now we're supposed to find a Senate Bill, to put the Bill on. What, do we have some assurance now that the Bill will be called? You know, there's a simple matter of fairness that is absent from this process that no one should be happy with. Let me give you just one story about a Bill that I had. I have an 86- year-old, retired firefighter in my district. Retired prior to 19… January of 1976. I worked with Representative Moffitt on a Bill that would allow that 86-year-old firefighter to take advantage of a 3 percent cost of living adjustment that firefighters who retired after a certain date receive. There are fewer than 100 firefighters in the entire State of Illinois who would have been covered by this cost of living arrangement. The youngest one is 81. The youngest of them is 81 years old. Representative Moffitt was told by the Majority Leader, when he did an Amendment that I had asked to take care of these old… or excuse me, that's a bad choice of words, these elderly firefighters, so they could get that 3 percent COLA. Most of them in the last, certainly the last years of their lives, that if he adopted that Amendment, the Bill would not be called. You know, I grew up under a system where I thought you presented an idea, and it passed or it failed. We're not even given the common courtesy on our side of the aisle to present ideas. Some of them are very good. Some of them are stolen for use by Democrats later on. But we're not even given the courtesy to present some of our ideas, 'yea' or 'nay'. So, now we're supposed to find a 09600042.doc 12  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 42nd Legislative Day 4/21/2009 Senate Bill, and I'll try to do that as the Majority Leader just asked me, to take care of… of retired firefighter Hank Shouse who's 86, who'll be 87 in another month. Eighty- seven, to try and see if he can get covered under the 3 percent cost of living. What, do you think Mr. Shouse is going to live another 20 years? So, I'll try to find a Senate Bill, and I know Representative Moffitt, good man that he is, will try to help me, but why do we go through this? When we did it on a House Bill, and had the Amendment that would have taken care of the oldest living retired firefighers, fewer than 100, here's what we were told by the Majority Leader. You put that Amendment on the Bill, and the Bill will not be called. I don't know where that appears in House Rules, I don't know where it appears in Robert's Rules of Order. But now I have something to tell Hank Shouse, an 86-year-old retire firefighter. Mr. Shouse , I couldn't help you because the Majority Leader of the House said, if Mr. Moffitt, Representative Moffitt had put the Amendment on the Bill that would've helped you and fewer than 100 firefighters, all of them in their 80s, if he had put that on the Bill, the Bill would not be called. So indirectly, you all have turned your back on about 88 retired firefighters, all in their 80s. If there's any justice, the 40 days and 40 nights that were just alluded to, a rain will come down on your side of the aisle and flood it to the ceiling, and hopefully, you won't have time to build an ark. And when you're all gone, maybe we'll get some Majority Democrats who will understand the word fairness and equality, and rights for all. Let it rain for 09600042.doc 13  STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 42nd Legislative Day 4/21/2009 40 days and 40 nights. Moses, just make sure it falls on that side of the room."