PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) The regular Session of the 100th General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desk? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Dr. Ritch Boerckel, Bethany Baptist Church, Peoria, Illinois. Dr. Boerckel.
(Prayer by Dr. Ritch Boerckel)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Cunningham.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Cunningham)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of Wednesday, March 1st, 2017.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Hunter.
Madam President, I move to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal just read by the Secretary, pending arrival of the printed transcript.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Thank you, Senator. Senator Hunter moves to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal, pending arrival of the printed transcripts. There being no objection, so ordered. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/2/2017 Senate Resolution 239, offered by Senator McConnaughay and all Members. Senate Resolution 240, offered by Senator Haine and all Members. They are both death resolutions, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Resolution Consent Calendar.
Senate Resolution 241, offered by Senator Bush. It is substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Van Pelt, Chairperson of the Committee on Public Health, reports Senate Bills 626, 1413, and 1478 Do Pass. Senator Harris, Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, reports Senate Bills 1251, 1252, 1325, 1326, 1342, 1364, 1366, and 1368 Do Pass. Senator Holmes, Chairperson of the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, reports Senate Bills 652 and 867 Do Pass. And Senator Koehler, Chairperson of the Committee on Environment and Conservation, reports Senate Bills 190, 611, 1372, 1417, 1456, 1561 Do Pass; Senate Joint Resolution 12 Be Adopted; and Senate Joint Resolution 15 Be Adopted, as Amended.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Mr. Secretary, Introduction of Senate Bills.
Senate Bill 2170, offered by President Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/2/2017 1st Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Lee Milner, Illinois Times, requests permission to photo. Leave is granted. James R. Carder, Blueroomstream.com, requests permission to videotape. Leave is granted. Senator Fowler, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Ms. -- Ms. President. I rise for a moment of personal privilege, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please state your privilege.
Ladies and Gentlemen, today I would like to thank every -- to -- to -- I would like everyone in the Senate to welcome the Southeastern Illinois College Model Illinois Government delegation to the State Capitol. The delegation is led by the Harrisburg legislative aide, Dana Hooven. The Model Illinois Government advisor is Matt Lees. They're actually in the gallery with us as we speak. And they are thirteen members strong this year. This is Matt's sixteenth year as the advisor. The Southeastern Illinois group is the smallest enrollment school in MIG and they are going for their tenth Outstanding Delegation and fourth consecutive award. Will the delegation please rise and will the Senate please join me in welcoming them?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please rise and be welcomed to the Illinois General Assembly. Welcome. We hope you enjoy your stay. Senator Hunter, for what purpose do you rise?
3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/2/2017 I rise for point of personal privilege, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please state your personal privilege point, Senator.
Thank you, Madam President. In the -- in the -- in the President's Gallery, I have some -- some people visiting here from Chicago that I'd like to recognize. They are mostly community activists and they make a lot of noise sometimes, but, anyway, I'd like to recognize them anyway and one of 'em is a -- a retired school teacher, Rikki Jones, Reverend Crysta Austin and her husband, Gregory Austin.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please welcome and be rise {sic} to the Illinois General Assembly. Thank you for coming and we hope you enjoy your visit. Mark Maxwell, WCIA, requests permission to audio/video. Leave is granted. The Senate will stand at ease for a few minutes to allow the Committee on Assignments to meet. The members of the Committee on Assignments, will you please come to the President's Anteroom immediately? The Senate will stand at ease. Senator Hunter in the Chair. (at ease)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HUNTER) Senator Lightford in the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) The Senate will now come to order. Brain Mackey, Illinois Public Radio, requests permission to photograph. Leave is granted. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/2/2017 Refer to Human Services Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 84; refer to Telecommunications and Information Technology Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1564; and Be Approved for Consideration - Senate Resolution 232. Signed, Senator James F. Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, please direct your Calendars to the order of page 9 on Senate Resolutions. Senate Resolution 226. Senator Clayborne, do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 226, offered by Senator Clayborne.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Clayborne.
Thank you, Madam President. Senate Resolution 226 amends the Rules of the 100th General Assembly with various efficiency measures, including renaming the Energy Committee to the Energy and Public Utilities Committee; clarifying that Senate rules {sic} (bills) shall be introduced by (filing) six total copies; lowering the filing threshold for amendments from eight to six; lowering the (filing) threshold to {sic} resolutions from eight to six; lowering the filing threshold to {sic} death resolutions from eight to three; allowing the Secretary to publish Resolutions Consent Calendar electronically; allowing the Secretary to provide committee amendments and other documents electronically; providing the Appointment Messages read into the record will automatically be diverted to the Executive Appointments Committee rather than Assignments; and correcting scrivener errors. Lastly, a change 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/2/2017 that is not in the resolution but is a change that we would like to make the Body aware of. Currently, the Senate makes copies of Committee on Assignments reports to be placed on all Members' desks. To reduce the paper, be more efficient, and increase transparency, the Senate will now post the Committee on Assignments reports online at the ILGA website and they will be maintained there. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Simply to speak to the gentleman's resolution, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please do, Senator.
I rise in favor of the resolution. We have had an opportunity to review all the proposed changes that Senator Clayborne is laying out and we're in full agreement with them. I would urge an Aye vote. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Clayborne, to close? This resolution impacts Rules. It does require a roll call vote. The question is, shall Senate Resolution 226 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 55 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Resolution 226, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared adopted. You're welcome. You're welcome, 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/2/2017 Sunshine. Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you very much, Madam President. Might the record reflect that Senator Schimpf is in his district today and won't be in Session? The tornadoes that we experienced several days ago went through his district and he's there taking care of business.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Thank you, Senator. Record will reflect and we wish him well. Ladies and Gentlemen, please direct your attention to the Senate Calendar. On the Order of Supplemental Calendar 1, Secretary's Desk, Resolution, Senate Resolution 2-3-2. Senator Koehler, do you wish to proceed? He indicates he does. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 232, offered by Senators Koehler, Weaver and all Members.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Koehler.
Yes, thank you -- thank you, Madam President. This is a -- a death resolution for Bob Michel, who was a Congressman from the 18th District in Peoria for thirty-eight years. And I just want to highlight some of the parts of Bob -- Bob's life that really are pretty important for us to remember. There was a memorial service for him last Saturday at Bradley University. But Bob was born in Peoria…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Excuse me, Senator Koehler. Ladies and Gentlemen. Ladies and Gentlemen. Thank you so much. Senator Koehler. 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/2/2017
Bob Michel was born in Peoria in 1923. He graduated from Peoria High School and attended one semester at Bradley University before joining the Army in World War II. He participated in the D-Day invasion liberating France, as well as the famous Battle of the Bulge. He received two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart and four Battle Stars. After finishing -- after the war, he finished his degree at Bradley University and began his career in politics, working as an aide to Congressman Harold Velde. He served as House Minority Leader for fourteen years, during the transformative era in American history. Bob led Republicans through the administrations of President Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush -- H.W. Bush. Michel had a reputation as being a skilled legislative craftsman who knew his members and who could achieve consensus amongst his colleagues. He was a straight shooter. His word was as good as gold. His firm handshake and -- was a guarantee of his good faith. He had a deep respect for both Congress as an institution and his respect for fellow members of Congress, which led to his reputation for civility and deliberation of public policy and that…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Excuse me, Senator Clayborne {sic}. I'm -- I'm not sure if the Members realize that we are memorializing someone. And I would ask that you please stop talking and give Senator Koehler the Floor. Thank you so very much. Senator Koehler.
Thank you. Bob Michel was really known for his civility. He was a friend of everybody. As someone who came to Peoria in 1978, I remember meeting him and being so impressed just with his -- his 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/2/2017 friendliness and his grace -- gracefulness, but -- but that was his -- his real claim to -- and -- and part of his legacy is that he worked cooperatively. I remember at a -- at a Washington Day banquet, when Tom Foley came to help honor him, and they talked about the relationship they had. Yes, they could be different on policy issues, but they were friends and they really respected how the institution of the Congress worked and they made it work well. He was awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton in 1994. President Reagan conferred upon him the President -- the Presidential Citizens Medal in 1989. He received his first Congressional Distinguished Service Award in 2000 and was named a Knight of the Legion (of) Honor by the French President during the 60th anniversary of the Normandy invasion. Michel received many honors and recognitions, most notably a bridge spanning the river -- Illinois River. We called it the "Bob Michel Bridge". Let me tell you the story on that, that -- I think it was when Ray LaHood was our Congressman and they were going to name the bridge after him, and the first sign that IDOT put up said Robert H. Michel Bridge and Ray threw a fit and he said, "That is not what the bridge's name is. It's the Bob Michel Bridge." And so they changed the sign and that's how we know it today. It's the Bob Michel Bridge, because that's how he was known to all his friends in the Peoria area. They also named the veterans' clinic in Peoria after him, the new Bob Michel Veterans Clinic. The student center at Bradley University was named after him, as well as the cloakroom at the Capitol Hill Club. He was also a Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. It was quite an honor to be with all the people last Saturday. I sat with Congresswoman Cheri Bustos; with John Shimkus; Darin LaHood, who used to be in the Senate here; 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/2/2017 with others from Congress. He was somebody that really crossed the lines of partisanship. He -- he made friends wherever he went. And it's -- it's important that we remember really giants of -- of public service who -- who now are laid in rest. So, I know that my colleague, Senator Weaver, wants to say some words as well. Madam President…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Thank you, Senator Koehler. Is there any discussion? Senator Weaver, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. You know, Senator Koehler, you really talked about who he was as a man and there's not much to add there other than I'd just like to talk about kind of a personal impact he had on me. I think the thing everyone knew about him was his willingness to reach across the aisle, but there was a couple things I think that played into that and why he was so successful at it. I think he was known that he would negotiate on matters of preference, but he'd always stand firm on matters of principle. But the thing that I saw about him that meant so much: Forty-one years ago, I remember walking down Main Street in Peoria, in front of the First National Bank at that time, and he was walking the other direction and he smiled at me and said "Hi, how are you doing?" And I thought he knew me. And the reality is, he didn't know me, but I knew him, and everyone in town knew him, and he treated everyone in town as though he knew them. But the point I want to make is he had this infectious smile and it made an impact on me about the importance on how we have to treat people every day, but he did it with two things - he didn't just do it with a smile that can be phony, but he did it with a smile and you 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/2/2017 knew behind that was his approachability and his honesty. And this man was so real and I think an example of what we can all learn from each other and I think it's probably what we're all trying to accomplish here and it was just an example of a life that we want to try to emulate. But thanks again, Senator Koehler, for all your comments and I just want to challenge all of us to try to live up to those kind of standards, the example he set. And I'd ask that you could just join us for a moment of silence, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Considering no further discussion, all those in favor please rise. The resolution is adopted. (moment of silence observed) Mr. Secretary, Resolution Consent Calendar. We will now proceed to the Order of Resolution Consent Calendar. With leave of the Body, all those resolutions read today will be added to the Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, have there been any objections filed to any resolutions on the Consent Calendar?
No objections filed, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall the resolutions on the Consent Calendar be adopted. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The motion carries, and the resolutions are adopted. There being no further business to come before the Senate, pursuant to the House Joint Resolution 29, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 12 noon on the 7th day of March 2017, (or) until the call of the Senate President. The Senate stands adjourned. 11