PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) …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 Pastor Doug Lowery, Maranara {sic} (Maranatha) Assembly of God, Decatur, Illinois.
(Prayer by Pastor Doug Lowery)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Please remain standing for the Pledge Allegiance. Senator Cunningham.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Cunningham)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Blueroomstream.com seeks permission to videotape. Seeing no objection, permission is granted. Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of Tuesday, November 27th, 2018.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hunter.
Mr. 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 LINK) Senator Hunter moves to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal, pending the arrival of the printed transcript. There being no objection, so ordered. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions -- or, Mr. Secretary, Approval of the Journal. 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018
Senate Journals of July 1st, 3rd, 4th, 21st, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, and 31st, 2017.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hunter.
Mr. -- Mr. President, I move that the Journals just read by the Secretary be approved, unless some Senators has additions or corrections to offer.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hunter moves to approve the Journals just read by the Secretary. There being no objection, so ordered. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolutions 2214 and 2215, offered by Senator Mulroe and all Members. Senate Resolutions 2218 through 2220, offered by Senator Koehler and all Members. They are all death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Resolution Consent Calendar.
Senate Resolution 2216, offered by Senator Barickman. Senate Resolution 2217, offered by Senator Brady. And Senate Resolution 2221, offered by President Cullerton. They are all substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, Messages from the House.
2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 A Message from the House by Mr. Hollman, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has concurred with the Senate in the passage of a bill of the following title, to wit: Senate Bill 938. Together with the final -- following amendment which is attached, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 938. We have received like Messages on Senate Bill 1415, with House Amendments 2 and 3, and Senate Bill 3247, with House Amendment 2. Passed the House, as amended, November 27th, 2018. John W. Hollman, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, are there any -- Motions in -- in Writing?
I have motions filed with respect to the Governor's total vetoes {sic} on House Bill 4645. I also have a motion filed with respect to the Governor's amendatory veto on House Bill 4514.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Print it on the Calendar, Mr. Secretary. Will the Committee on Assignments please meet in the President's Anteroom immediately? Will the Committee on Assignments please meet in the President's Anteroom immediately? Will all Members at the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Floor immediately? Will all Members at the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Floor immediately? Mr. Secretary, Resolution.
Senate Resolution 2222, offered by Senator Harmon and all 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Members. It is a death resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Resolution Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Be Approved for Consideration - Senate Resolutions 2150, 2216, 2217, 2221; House Bills 1125, 2505, and 4310; Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 278. Signed, Senator James Clayborne, Chairman. Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Be Approved for Consideration - Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 2505. Signed, Senator James Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Murphy in the Chair for an announcement.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, and visitors. I am thrilled today to be able to introduce the Oakton Owls baseball team. This baseball team is a story of success and perseverance. They began the season with high hopes to conquer the competition and -- according to their head coach and American Baseball Coaches' Association and Diamond Sports, JCAA {sic} (NJCAA) Division 3 Coach of the Year, Bill Fratto. Right there, there's Coach. During the regular season, the team posted a record of 14 {sic} (44) and 17. This is the best record in the history of Oakton College. The team was ranked the tenth 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 best National Junior College Athletic Association Division 3 team in the entire country. After winning the NCA -- NCJAA {sic} (NJCAA) Division 3 Region 4 championship, also a first in the school history, and winning the first two rounds of the World Series -- Series tournament, the Owls found themselves facing four- time defending champions, Tyler Junior College, for the championship. That's in Texas. Despite four come-from-behind, game-tying comebacks by Tyler and despite the pressure of facing off against a juggernaut of the Division 3 World Series, the Owls never backed down. They came out on top of a thirteen-inning game and won 14-11, which clinched the title of the NJCAA Division 3 World Series Championship. Please give 'em a big round of applause on that. Coach Fratto had a lot of help, including pitching coaches {sic}, Lars Ligouri; hitting coach, Michael Scala; assistant coaches, John -- Guarnaccia - okay, Max Reisling {sic} (Reising), Ryan Tuntland, and Andrew Korosic. But ultimately, the true success falls on these gentlemen before --- behind me, and what a group of players they are. They're outstanding. Pitching performances this season came from players like Tommy Gertner, who started the final game in the series on his way to be named the series MVP, and whose solid start was the foundation upon which championship was built; Alex Crinigan, who had -- had ice in his veins as he retired the final three batters of the game to earn the title. He also threw a no-hitter in the regional tournament to boot. The offense proved as effective as the pitching did. Timo Schau and Dan Sullivan each got two hits and two RBIs in the championship game. José Vera Sanchez hit a single to give the Owls their fourteenth run. And this proved to be insurmountable for the competition. As a standalone event, this championship 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 would be impressive enough, but it's so much more than that, because the players on the Oakton Owls aren't just great athletes, they're great scholars as well. Sam Kindle, John McHugh, Jeff Mustari, Marco Romero, Jack Splett, Ryne Wiederer, Dan Sullivan, all received the First Year Skyway Academic All-Conference Award. It recognizes student athletes who achieve a 3.0 GPA or better. Christopher Broccolino, Giancarlo Cheesman, Bailey Egan, Kyle MacRae, Sawyer Price, and Nicholas Torres each received the Second Year Skyway Academic All-Conference Award, which recognizes student athletes who achieve a 3.0 GPA or better as well as accumulate forty-eight or more credit hours in a semester. In addition, on top of the Second Year (Award), Chris Broccolino was named -- the NJCAA All-Academic First Team for achieving a perfect 4.0 GPA. So I'm so proud to announce that thirteen Oakton Owls student athletes will continue their academic careers at four-year colleges. It's a shining example of how Illinois is rated number one in our junior colleges in the nation for our students that go on to achieve four-year degrees at universities or colleges. These gentlemen are a true example of what it means to be an Illinoisan, of what it means to be an Oakton Owl, and I congratulate you all on your accomplishments. Thank you for being here in Springfield so that we could all recognize you. Congratulations, gentlemen.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Morrison, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise for the purpose of introductions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your introduction. 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018
This afternoon, I'm delighted to introduce three students from local high schools in my district. They are displaying art exhibits in the Rotunda. I would encourage everyone to take a minute and walk through. They are from all over the State. With me on the Floor are Natalie Wess, from Stevenson High School; Sophie Centazzo and Charles Shu, from Deerfield High School. Please help me in welcoming these high school students to our Capitol.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to Springfield. Associated Press seeks permission to -- for -- taking photos. Seeing no objection, permission granted. We will be going to Supplemental Calendar No. 1, House Bills 2nd Reading. House Bill 4310. Senator Tom Cullerton. We'll -- on Supplemental Calendar No. 1, Senate Resolution 2216. Senator Barickman. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 2216, offered by Senator Barickman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Barickman, on your resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. If I could maybe have everyone's attention. We -- as -- as we all do from time to time, come here on behalf of our constituents who are going through all kinds of challenges sometimes in their lives, and I want to tell you about an experience that is in my district and about something that is going to occur in my district here in just a few days. So this Senate resolution is about Blake James Dale Kinnett and Blake is a seventeen-year-old, again, from my district, from the little -- 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 you know, small town U.S.A., Alvin, Illinois. If Senator Bennett were on the Floor, Senator Bennett would tell you Alvin's about twenty minutes north of Danville. So Blake is a seventeen-year- old from Danville. He's the son of John and -- Becky Kinnett. He has two siblings, a sister and a brother - sister, Kaitlyn, and a brother, Garet. And he attended Bismarck-Henning Rossville-Alvin Cooperative High School, one of these small schools, like many downstate. Blake - and I'm going to see Blake in a few days here, by the way - Blake in his -- in his young life, Blake has had a passion for sports, big time, like many high schoolers have. When he wasn't playing sports, he was playing with his friends, with his family. He likes to ride around on a golf court -- cart. He's a fisherman. He likes to -- you know, he liked to hunt turkey. He's a -- you know, again, like -- like many other young boys and young men, Blake was living a -- a -- a life of activity and outdoors. So in February of last year, February 2017, Blake was diagnosed with - and work with me -- or work -- help work on this - Adrenoleukodystrophy, otherwise known as ALD, which is a genetic disease that destroys the protective myelin sheath that surrounds the brain's neurons. ALD, in fact, affects one out of eighteen thousand -- one in eighteen thousand people. It mostly affects young boys, ages two to ten, although it also, less so, has an impact on younger men. There's no known cure for ALD and here's what's happened to Blake. February 11, 2017, he had a seizure. By April of last year, he lost the use of his left hand. By May, his vision began fading, and by September, you know, just over a year ago, he stopped going to school be -- when he lost the ability to walk. And so -- and -- and you can imagine the impact this has had on Blake and his family and the community, his friends at 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 school. But in the wake of all -- of this diagnosis, his community, his friends, his schoolmates have been incredibly generous, very supportive of him, and through it all, you know, his parents -- I think it was his dad who said this, quote, "Don't come in here and cry, come in here and create memories." Memories with -- with his son. And we're -- and we're going to do that here in just a few days. We're going to have a -- a celebration with Blake and his schoolmates in -- over in Bismarck. And so I wanted to do something special for him and -- and make you aware of his -- of this condition and -- and the way that this young man has approached his life, and so I'd ask you to join me in this resolution; that we commend Blake Kinnett for his courage and his determination in the face of this ALD diagnosis; that we also commend his family, the Kinnett family, and his entire community of Alvin for their unwavering support of this fine, fine young man; and ultimately that we declare this Saturday, December 1st, as "Blake Kinnett Day" in the State of Illinois so that we can all do our part to help raise awareness for ALD. So, with that, I want to thank the President, who afforded me this very special accommodation to move this quickly through the Senate. So thank you, Mr. President, for that. And to all of you, I would ask that you join with your support of this resolution and send a big cheer to this fine young man, Blake James Dale Kinnett, of Alvin, Illinois. I'd ask for the adoption of the resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate Resolution 2216 pass. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Back to House Bill 20 -- 4310. Senator 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Tom Cullerton. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 4310. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Will all Members at the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Floor? We'll be going to Motions to Override. All Senators at the sound of my voice, please come to the Senate Floor. We'll be going to Motions to Override. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 2223, offered by Senator Clayborne and all Members. It is a death resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Resolution Consent Calendar. Illinois Times seeks permission to -- to -- for photographs. Seeing no objection, permission granted. We will go to the printed Calendar, page 8, the top of it, House Bill 5177. Motions to Accept in Writing. Senator Cunningham. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to accept the specific recommendations of the Governor as to House Bill 5177. Signed by Senator Cunningham.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Cunningham, on your motion.
10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Senate accept the Governor's amendatory veto of House Bill 5177. Just a reminder of what the bill does: This is an initiative of the Fraternal Order of Police in Chicago. It involves a very small number of -- of their members who are seeking to go to the Chicago police pension board and have them consider some of their service time while they were Cook County sheriffs and import that into their Chicago police pension. There's no opposition to the bill. The Governor pointed out in his amendatory veto that it would probably be wise if we shrink the -- the time frame that -- of -- of the window that we're opening here. Everyone agrees with that recommendation. His suggestions are in keeping with the Senate rules in that they do not substantially rewrite the bill in any way, shape, or form. So I ask that the Body vote Yes on accepting this amendatory veto.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate accept the specific recommendations of the Governor as to House Bill 5177 in the manner and form set forth in the motion. 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 53 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. There having -- the specific recommendations of the Governor as to House Bill 5177, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared accepted. Please turn to page 7 of the printed Calendar, Motions in Writing to Override the Total Vetoes of House Bill {sic}. House Bill 126. Senator Holmes. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 I move that House Bill 126 do pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. Signed by Senator Holmes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes, on your motion.
Thank you so much, Mr. President. I move that we override the Governor's veto on 126. This is a bill that extends protections and rights currently available to firefighters under the Illinois Public Relations Act to paramedics employed by a unit of local government. This actually impacts less than or about sixty people who are paramedics only. This bill passed overwhelmingly. I would ask that we override the veto.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 126 pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. 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 51 Ayes, 1 Nay, 1 voting Present. House Bill 126, having received the required three-fifths majority, is declared passed, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. House Bill 127. Senator Holmes. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move that House Bill 127 do pass, notwithstanding the -- veto of the Governor. Signed by Senator Holmes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Senator Holmes, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. Now House Bill 127 extends the benefits under the Public Safety Employees Benefit {sic} (Employee Benefits) Act to paramedics and EMTs employed by units of local government. This Act provides health coverage and educational benefits for firefighters and their families if the firefighter suffers a catastrophic injury or is killed in the line of duty. Like the last bill, this impacts about sixty paramedic-only employees. I would ask to override the veto.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 127 pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. All those 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? Take the record. On that question, there are 48 Ayes, 2 Nays, 1 voting Present. House Bill 127, having received the required three-fifths majority, is declared passed, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. Senator Haine, for what purpose do you rise?
A point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I want to call your -- I want to call your attention to the fact that a longtime skilled legislative aide is retiring, Mary Alice Sieracki. She told me yesterday. Mary Alice has worked for me, which earns her combat 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 pay, over the years. She was so pleased I was no longer Chairman of the Insurance Committee, because she had to round up the usual suspects for all the meetings that we had. She has worked in the past for distinguished past Members, such as Jimmy DeLeo. But for her, Jimmy would be in Leavenworth at this time. But I'm serious about this. She is one of the best, a professional, someone who treats all people who call with courtesy and knowledge. She keeps us to the straight and narrow of serving the public, rather than ourselves. She keeps us informed and she allows the contact with the -- the citizens that is essential to the legislative process, which is open and accessible. Without our legislative aides, like Mary Alice, we would have short tenures here, the people would be frustrated, and the government would not run according to what the founding fathers wanted. So I offer my sincere congratulations. And I -- I must say, I'm an historic figure, because I'm the last Senator she's worked for, probably to her relief. But I ask you to rise and give her a bon voyage for the Senate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine, again.
To add -- I wanted to add, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, Mr. President, that her husband, Bernie, is a distinguished historian and well-known about the Capitol too. So this is a power couple and they are going to enjoy their retirement very much. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Rezin, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. For purpose of an introduction, 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your introduction.
Thank you. In the -- the seats above here, we have the dancers from the Springfield Youth Performance Group. They performed in the House Chamber today -- on the first floor. SYPG offers youth in Central Illinois the chance to explore and enhance their own artistic talent. Today, the dancers that we have here - and stand up as I read your name, please - Catherine Gardner, Aislyn Grant, Mia Marcy, Ella Parkinson, Ava Parkinson, and Claire Sagins. They're with their artistic director, Caitlin Helton Sheerer, and the Executive Director of SYPG, Taryn Grant. We'd like a warm Springfield welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to Springfield. Continuing on. House Bill 1262. Senator Bertino-Tarrant. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move that House Bill 1262 do pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. Signed by Senator Bertino-Tarrant.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bertino-Tarrant, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move to override the Governor's veto. House Bill 1262 require -- requires requests filed by school districts to waive requirements of the School Code related to tax levies, fund transfers, allowable expenditures to be submitted by ISBE directly to the General Assembly. 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Will the sponsor yield, please, Mr. President?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Indicates she will.
Thank you. My recollection, Senator, is that the provision that you're seeking to change in law was implemented as part of the more broad-based reform that was passed in the last year or two, and -- is -- is my recollection correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bertino-Tarrant.
It is.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter.
And like myself and many other Members of the Chamber, you supported that, so I'm curious about if you can explain to me and the rest of the Body your -- the change in your thought process. I mean, was this something you never should've thought become pack -- part of the package? Have you changed your mind? It was a good idea and now it's not a good idea? I mean, did someone come to you and say, "Hey, we don't like this"? I mean, walk us through the reasoning here for the change.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bertino-Tarrant. 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018
I -- I -- I did support the bill, because I supported the education funding piece of it. I begrudgingly supported the add- ons in the eleventh hour. Again, this was seen as mandate relief. This is not mandate relief. All this bill is doing is allowing issues in our school district that should go to their State Senator, that should go to their Representatives, now just go to four -- the four Leaders before it possibly gets to the Floor. I think, as a State Senator, I know my school districts best. I know what's going on in my community. And actually I think it -- it is really an injustice for things that happen in our district to be shot to the four Leaders instead of people who represent them.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter.
To the motion, if I might, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the motion.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Chamber. And, Senator, I appreciate the response and the honesty. Ladies and Gentlemen, we are about to embark on a new General Assembly with a new administration, and for those of you who have not been around necessarily that long, when we sit down and negotiate a package of reforms, particularly when we are seeking to make that bipartisan, one of the inevitable results of that is that we compromise and we wind up supporting things that maybe we're not completely comfortable with or we don't fully embrace with a bear 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 hug because we are for the greater good in these things, and this is a perfect example of that and this is the problem with getting to agreements like that. When you hear Members on both sides of the aisle say, "Ah, you know what, we can agree to that, but then they're just going to turn around and walk the pieces they don't like back", this is why you hear that response. This is why you hear that response. We - we - both sides of the aisle, both Chambers, the Governor, we all agreed on this package of reforms. It's not like it's been demonstrated that it doesn't work. Okay? It's just that some people have said, "Okay, now we'd like this piece carved out." This is why we have trouble getting to bipartisan agreements on major issues, right here. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall -- the question is, shall House Bill 1262 pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. 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, there are 35 Ayes, 18 Nays, none voting Present. The motion fails. House Bill 4282. Senator Cunningham. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move that House Bill 4282 do pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. Signed by Senator Cunningham.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Cunningham, on your motion.
18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Senate vote to override the Governor's veto of House Bill 4282. We passed this bill unanimously back in the spring. What it does, it -- it's particular to a community in my district, Chicago Ridge. They have a very large abandoned trucking yard that is a -- a part of a major redevelopment plan in the district and a relatively new owner of the property has sought to disconnect that property from the Village of -- of Chicago Ridge. This would present -- prevent companies from doing that if they're already part of a designated redevelopment zone. I would be happy to answer any questions. I'd appreciate the Chamber's support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 4282 pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. 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 50 Ayes, 1 Nay, none voting Present. House Bill 4282, having received the required three-fifths majority, is declared passed, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. House Bill 4284. Senator Bertino-Tarrant. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move that House Bill 4284 do pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. Signed by Senator Bertino-Tarrant.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bertino-Tarrant, on your motion.
Again, thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 4284 requires 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 that three of the nine board members of the State Board of Education be representative of the education community. I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 4284 pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. 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 44 Ayes, 10 Nays, none voting Present. Senate -- House Bill 4284, having received the required three-fifths majority, is declared passed, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. House Bill 4657. Senator Sims. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move that House Bill 4657 do pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. Signed by Senator Sims.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Sims, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Senate override the Governor on his -- of his veto of House Bill 4657. House Bill 4657 creates the Emotional Intelligence (and Social and Emotional Learning) Task Force, which would be challenged with developing curriculum and assessment guidelines on emotional intelligence. This -- this Chamber passed a bill -- this unanimously. The Governor vetoed this entirely and I ask that the Senate vote to override that action.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 4657 pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. 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 50 Ayes, 1 Nay, none voting Present. House Bill 4657, having received the required three-fifths majority, is declared passed, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. House Bill 5221. Senator Holmes. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move that House Bill 5221 do pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. Signed by Senator Holmes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 5221 extends benefits under the Public Employees {sic} (Employee) Disability Act to full- time paramedics and firefighters who perform paramedic duties. And this Act provides disability pay for covered employees who are injured in the line of duty and cannot perform their job duties. Again, this impacts about sixty-six paramedic-only firefighters. I would appreciate an Aye vote to override the veto.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
To the lady's motion, if I might, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 To the motion.
Thank you very much. First of all, I am going to support the motion to override. I think that for us -- again, as we enter the -- we are dawning on a new administration and a new General Assembly, just a -- a cautionary note. In the last ten years, claims under this Act - and we're adding a new group of employees now, who will be able to file claims - in ten years, claims under this Act have grown from four hundred and thirty-six thousand to over 5.8 million. That's an enormous cost borne by the municipalities. At some point, we're going to have to stop this train that is barreling down the tracks. It is going to wreck the municipalities' fiscal houses. With that, I -- I support this, because, I mean, the Senator has worked in good faith on this and I agree with this. We're going to have to stop piling on at some point. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 5221 pass. All those in favor -- notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. 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 45 Ayes, 5 Nays, 1 voting Present. House Bill 5221, having received the required three- fifths majority, is declared passed, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. House Bill -- Senator McConchie, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCONCHIE: Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like the record to reflect 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 that, on House Bill 4284, I'd intended to vote No. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The record will reflect your intention. House Bill 5342. Senator Mulroe. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move that House Bill 5342 do pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. Signed by Senator Mulroe.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Mulroe, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. I move to override the Governor's veto. House Bill 5342 passed the Senate unanimously on May 21, 2018. It amends the Chicago Firefighters' {sic} (Firemen's) Annuity and Benefit Fund, providing that elected aldermen of the City of Chicago City Council may participate in the firefighter fund instead of the Chicago municipal fund, if certain conditions are met. I'd appreciate your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 5342 pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. 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 44 Ayes, 1 Nay, none voting Present. House Bill 5342, having received the required three-fifths majority, is declared passed, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. We will now turn to Supplemental Calendar No. 1, Motions in Writing to Override Total Vetoes. House Bill 4645. Senator Harris. Mr. Secretary, please 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 read the motion.
I move that House Bill 4645 do pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. Signed by Senator Harris.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Harris, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. I move to override the Governor's veto of House Bill 4645. This measure passed out of here with 54 votes in a bipartisan manner and it -- it just extends the -- the Health Facilities Planning Act. I request a favorable override.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 4645 pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. 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 53 Ayes, 1 Nay, none voting Present. House Bill 4645, having received the required three-fifths majority, is declared passed, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. We will now turn back to the printed Calendar, page 8, Motions in Writing to Override Specific Recommendations of House Bills. House Bill 3418. Senator Hunter. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move that House Bill 3418 do pass, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. Signed by Senator Hunter. 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hunter, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move to override the Governor's veto on House Bill 3418. It passed both Chambers unanimously and it allows municipalities to give a tax abatement for properties located within an urban agricultural area. And I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 3418 pass, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. 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 49 Ayes, 1 Nay, none voting Present. House Bill 3418, having received the required three-fifths constitutional majority, is declared passed, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. House Bill 4743. Senator Lightford. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move that House Bill 4743 do pass, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. Signed by Senator Lightford.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Lightford, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, House Bill 4743 amends the Equal Pay Act to prohibit race discrimination against African Americans. It -- currently, the 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Act prohibits only wage discrimination on the basis of sex. It passed out of the committee with all {sic} Ayes. It passed the Floor with all Ayes. The Governor's Message would actually change the intent of the statute and I'm hoping that you guys would see that and vote Aye for an override. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 4743 pass, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. 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 49 Ayes, 1 Nay, none voting Present. House Bill 4743, having received the required three-fifths constitutional majority, is declared passed, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. Mr. Secretary, Motions in Writing. Do you have any Motions in Writing, Mr. Secretary?
Yes, Mr. President. I have motions filed with respect to the Governor's total vetoes {sic} on House Bill 1262.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Print it on the Calendar. House Bill 4771. Senator Mulroe. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move that House Bill 4771 do pass, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. Signed by Senator Mulroe.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Mulroe, on your motion.
26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 4771 was actually the third bill of a trifecta that Senator Syverson and I worked on many, many hours with the long-term care facility associations, the departments, staff. The Governor did veto this one. I'm asking to override that veto. This bill amends the Public Aid Code and provides provisional eligibility and coverage for long-term Medicaid applicants only, whose eligibility is not determined by the State within the federally required time frame. This is in response to a federal court case that hit this issue straight on. Koss versus Norwood (and) Dimas, Case No. 17 C 2762. It's a Northern District Eastern -- of Illinois Eastern Division case. The Governor vetoed it. We passed it in the Senate 56 to 0. It also passed unanimously in the House. I'd ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 4771 pass, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. 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 54 Ayes, no Nay, none voting Present. House Bill 4771, having received the required three-fifths constitutional majority, is declared passed, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. House Bill 5104. Senator Sims. Mr.… Out of the record. House Bill 5195. Senator Clayborne. Senator Clayborne. House Bill 5195. Senator Clayborne. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move that House Bill 5195 do pass, notwithstanding the 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 specific recommendations of the Governor. Signed by Senator Clayborne.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Clayborne, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This bill is basically allowing a -- changing how we allow students who are in unsafe zones to be able to be transported to school for free. Currently, the -- the law requires that you have to live within 1.5 miles or more from the current school unless there's adequate public transportation. We're allowing that to be reduced to a mile, so that these kids, who are afraid to go to school, who are afraid to travel down certain streets and neighborhoods, have the ability to go to school and not stay at home and -- and achieve other -- and incur other problems. Again, basically, the Governor's veto talked about that there was a program in Chicago; however, we're looking at downstate to address these issues. And a course of criminal activity will be determined by the local police department or law enforcement to assure that there's really a safe or dangerous area -- there's a dangerous area that would prevent these kids from going to school. I would ask that we vote to override the Governor's veto.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 5195 pass, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. 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 41 Ayes, 11 Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 5195, 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 having received the required three-fifths constitutional majority, is declared passed, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. Supplemental Calendar No. 1, Motions in Writing to Override Specific Recommendations. House Bill 4514. Senator Curran. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move that House Bill 4514 do pass, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. Signed by Senator Curran.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Curran, on your motion.
Mr. President, I move that House Bill 4514 do pass, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. This bill maintains that only a State Board of Education-licensed school counselor can be titled as a school counselor. This legislation adds no burden to school districts, but assures the students and parents that qualified individuals are providing these services. I would ask for your vote to pass.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 4514 pass. All those in favor -- pass, with -- notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. 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 52 Ayes, no Nays, 1 voting Present. House Bill 4514, having received the required three-fifths constitutional majority, is declared passed, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Will the Committee on Assignments please meet in the President's Anteroom immediately? The Committee on Assignments please meet in the President's Anteroom immediately. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Re-refer to the Committee on Assignments - Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 2505; Be Approved for Consideration - Floor Amendment 2 to House Bill 2505, Motion to Concur with House Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 1415. Signed, Senator James Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) We will now go to Supplemental Calendar No. 2. Motions in Writing, House Bill 1262. Senator Bertino-Tarrant. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move that House Bill 1262 do pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. Signed by Senator Bertino-Tarrant.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bertino-Tarrant, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'm renewing my motion to override the Governor's veto of the House Bill -- 1262. I'm going to do a quick reminder here what -- that what this bill does and -- is taking the power away from the General Assembly and handing it to our four legislative Leaders. With all due respect, we are taking away power from ourselves to review waivers that we can currently 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 -- we currently have. So I -- I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
To the motion, if I might, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. We voted on this just a few minutes ago. It came up -- short of the constitutional requirement. I guess we're going to pretend that didn't happen and take another shot at it and that's fine. Let's be clear what the law is now and what the law would be under this. Okay? I understand the sponsor's argument that, wow, this bill will return power to the General Assembly. Now the law right now says that a school district's waiver can't be denied - so the school districts that you represent, the school board members that you represent - cannot be denied their waiver request unless three out of the four Leaders vote to deny it, which means it requires what all of us say we want in this building, which is bipartisanship. Right? That's what the law is now. That's what the law is now. This bill would return it back to the old system, which says that the General Assembly is in charge of that, which means that the Leaders are in charge of it. Okay? You don't vote on things that the Leaders don't -- say don't come out on the Floor. So the notion that somehow we're going to have power to the Members at a grassroots basis is bunk. If you've been here more than six months, you know better than that. At least under the current process, there is a 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 requirement of bipartisanship. Now, does that matter to you or not? That's the question. If that doesn't matter to you, then you should vote for the override. You absolutely should, and go back to the process of allowing the Speaker to decide what comes over here, 'cause that's what will happen. And, oh, you can -- you can moan all you want, but you know it's true. You know it's true. And I'm looking at Members right now and they're looking - - their head's down or they're looking away, 'cause they know it's true, Mr. President. And I feel for you guys, but this is an opportunity for you to empower yourselves by saying we're not going to give the authority just back to the Speaker. Come on, people, reach for it. Reach for it. You can do it. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1262 pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. 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 37 Ayes, 17 Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1262, having received the required three-fifths majority, is declared passed, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. Senator Righter. Senator Righter, for what purpose -- okay. Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
I seek a verification of the most recent roll call, Mr. President. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter requests a verification of all Members. Will 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 they please be in their seat? The -- the Secretary will read the affirmative votes.
Members voting in the affirmative: Aquino, Bennett, Bertino- Tarrant, Biss, Bush, Castro, Clayborne, Collins, Tom Cullerton, Cunningham, Haine, Harmon, Harris, Hastings, Holmes, Hunter, Koehler, Landek, Lightford, Link, Manar, Martinez, McGuire, Morrison, Mulroe, Muñoz, Murphy, Nathwani, Raoul, Sandoval, Silverstein, Sims, Stadelman, Steans, Syverson, Van Pelt, President Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter, do you question the presence of any Member voting in the affirmative?
Senator Lightford.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Lightford. Senator Lightford. Senator Lightford. There she is, right behind you. Senator Righter, do you question any other Senator?
I'll not call Senator Lightford's name again. She's washing her hands. I think we should all encourage that. Senator Nathwani.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Nathwani. Senator Nathwani. Mr. Secretary, strike his name. Do you question any other Senator in the affirmative?
Senator -- Senator Syverson.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 33 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Senator Syverson. Senator Syverson. Senator Syverson. Strike his name from the record. Senator Righter, do you question any other Senator voting in the affirmative?
I do not. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) On a verified roll call, the vote is 35 Ayes, 17 Nays, none voting Present. Having failed to receive the required constitutional majority, House Bill 1262 is declared failed. We will now turn to the printed Calendar, page 3, Concurrences. Senate Bill 309. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 309. Signed by Senator Haine.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine, on your motion. Can we keep the…
Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) …noise down a little bit, please? Keep the noise down. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This changes the substance of the bill in the House to effect a technical change and clarification of the advanced practice registered nurses Act because of some ill-advised legal opinions by lawyers at the University of Illinois. They have 34 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 misconstrued the advanced practice nursing Act, thus causing the need for this clarification. And I would ask for an Aye vote. I would also, secondly, say that, notwithstanding anything I said in late May and notwithstanding anything I said two weeks ago, this is my last Senate bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) For the fourth time, we're glad that this is the last. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 309. 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 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate concurs with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 309, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 752. Senator Morrison. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 752. Signed by Senator Morrison.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Morrison, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. This is a cleanup and technical bill for the mental health omnibus bill, SB 1707, to the State employees' group health insurance. And I know of no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall 35 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 the Senate concur in House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 752. 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 54 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur with House Amendments {sic} 2 to Senate Bill 752, and the bill is declared passed. Supplemental Calendar No. 1, Resolutions. Senate Resolution 2150. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 2150. (Secretary reads SR No. 2150)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? We will get to discussion in a second. I just want to tell all Members at the sound of my voice, after the three resolutions we have, we will be going back to 3rd Readings on House bills. So we will be doing important business afterwards. Senator Haine, for what purpose do you rise?
To the motion.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the motion…
To the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) …resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I want to congratulate Senator Biss and Karin and the children for 36 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 their presence here today, which I believe is an important statement of Senator Biss' commitment to his family and to passing on a -- the proper culture of that family. This past year, we had a particularly hard-fought election, filled with, I must say, toxic charges, toxic ads, which I think further divided the American people one from another. It tore at the fabric of our great nation and its unified principles. If there's one Senator who exemplified what should be, public service and public debate, it's Daniel Biss. No matter what our disagreement was on any of his measures, he presented them with civility, erudition, and a willingness to listen, whether in committee or on the Floor. He was unflappable in debate and he was immune to histrionic argument, even when that was presented against any one of his measures. And it's -- it's more of what we need in public life. His -- his effort to be Governor of this great State further exemplified those same attributes. The hallmark of Senator Biss was civility, courtesy to all with whom he dealt, even those who strenuously disagreed with one or another of his ideas. He is the essential Senator. The essential -- the essential -- hallmark of every Senator should be the demeanor and the competence of Senator Daniel Biss. Thank you, Senator, for your service and your example. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator McGuire, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McGUIRE: To the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution. SENATOR McGUIRE: 37 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I find it appropriate that I follow one sesquipedalian solon, Senator Haine, in joining the valedictory of another sesquipedalian solon, Senator Biss. And I dare say that everyone with whom we serve -- with whom we are privileged to serve becomes part of our memory, enters our memory, but I believe there are very few Senators who become part of our conscience and continue to nudge us to work harder, work smarter, and care more - and, Senator Biss, you're one of those very few. You're in that latter group. One reason I say that is because this man, who we heard was born in Ohio, raised in Indiana, educated in Massachusetts, came here to the Illinois Legislature and immediately utilized his considerable gifts to try and scrape the biggest, crustiest most intractable barnacle from our ship of State, our pensions, our pension situation. I don't think Daniel sought permission to do that. He wasn't given that task. He took that on immediately upon his arrival in the House and continued that in the Senate, of course, again, to utilize his considerable gifts, all his gifts. He did that with courage, with stamina, with great dedication, risked offending some of our natural allies, and that's just one of Daniel's efforts to, to quote our favorite bard, ensure that the ladder of the law has no top and no bottom. Daniel, may God bless and keep you always, may you always be courageous, may your heart always be joyful, and may you stay forever young.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Koehler, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 38 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 To the resolution.
Well, Daniel, I was very proud to support you last spring in your bid for Governor. It was not only an important statement for the State, because I -- I very much believe in -- in the principles that you have and the -- and the policies that you want to put forth, but also because it gave me a chance to get to know you and I appreciated all those times that you came to Peoria. You stayed with Nora and I. We thoroughly enjoyed that. I -- I look up to you in many ways and that's -- may be kind of interesting, because you're younger than my oldest daughter, but I -- I do consider you a friend and a colleague. And, you know, I -- I -- I'm going to miss you out of this Chamber. I think that in your new role, hopefully we'll have a chance to work together continuously again. And I always tell my grandchildren, too, you know, it's -- it's pretty important to have a friend who is a mathematician, because -- and I did take you a geometry problem that one day and you solved it in a matter of seconds and it was something I had been confounded by, but, you know, I -- I just appreciate your friendship and look forward to that -- that continuing. Every once in a while, I -- I listen to classical music on our local station. I hear your brother. Is it Jonathan? Yeah, and he's - - does everybody know that his brother, Jonathan, is a classic pianist extraordinaire? And when I -- when I hear him, I think of you and -- and I'd like to meet him some day. But, Karin and the family, we're going to miss you from this Chamber, but I'm going to look forward to continuing our friendship. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise? 39 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018
To the resolution, if I might, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Chamber. Senator Biss, I -- you know, earlier today - and I -- this -- this thought just occurred to me - earlier today, I had two constituents in town, this morning, and we -- I was giving them a tour of the Capitol, which I've never given anyone a tour of the Capitol before, so I was saying, like, here's my office and here's the men's room and things like that, because I don't know anything about the history of the building, unfortunately, except, in the Governor's Office, there is a large painting behind the desk and that painting is of the Lincoln-Douglas debate that took place in Charleston, Illinois, in my -- in my district, and as I'm sitting here and I'm thinking about you and I'm thinking about the interactions that I've had with you and you've had with other Members, the thought occurs to me that in some ways politically you were born about a century and a half too late. You think about -- if you read -- if you read the transcripts from those debates, I mean, they weren't, "Okay, you have two minutes to answer the question and you have one minute to respond and you have thirty seconds to respond to the response" - that's not what they did. We all know. They stood and they talked, and they talked for hours, I mean, and the public devoured the thoughtful deliberation and discussion of the public issues. Anytime that I have ever had the opportunity to go back and forth with you on the Senate Floor, although you and I disagreed on the issues, sometimes adamantly 40 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 so, I appreciated the thoughtfulness with which you articulated your position. And even though you will probably move on to, in some part, a career that the positions you support and the positions I support will continue to be way far apart from one another, I will always - sincerely - always be comforted in knowing that the positions at which you have arrived, have done so at -- after a thoughtful consideration and not just some knee-jerk emotional reaction. Thank you for your service here, Senator Biss, and thanks to your family as well.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bush, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
You know, there's some Members that you just have such tremendous respect for, and really, very early on, you earned my respect. You were someone who does what you believe is right. You're obviously brilliant. My husband is still insulted from the day that I told him that you may be smarter than him. It has been an honor to serve with you. Wherever you go, whatever you do, I know that that very core of you is about doing the right thing and is about solving problems for people who need to have those problems solved for them, and it has really truly an -- been an honor to serve with you. I'm sure your family is thinking they might be at your funeral. This is seriously sounding like what people say when you've gone on. But honest to God, I just -- you are an amazing human being. It has been such an honor for me to 41 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 have conversations with you, to see the work that you've done, and today the Treasurer's Office came to me to talk about Secure Choice and I was so struck by the amazing work that you got done on that. It was such a heavy lift and -- and to put something together like that, I can only hope that I will be able to look back on the years that I spent here and have done something with such tremendous value to so many people. I look forward to seeing you again. I look forward to talking to you. I know that our relationship will not stop when you walk out of that door. And honest to God, I'm just so proud to have served with you. Still not happy that they swore you in early, so you could be ahead of me. But truly, truly Senator Bush, Biss. Isn't it Bish, as I recall? And I -- oh, I'm sorry, you know, you got to remember some things too and I remember the day I was photographed on the Floor with you and I was -- it was said that I was with -- a staff member with Senator Biss. It made me feel slightly inconsequential, but knowing who I was standing with, I didn't feel that way at all. Anyway, the best. Thank you. Thanks for sharing your dad with us, your husband with us. Just appreciate you so much. Thanks.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bennett, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
Daniel, I -- I remember, when I first met you, I wasn't even in this Chamber. I was a lawyer and had a case over in -- in court here in Springfield and came to visit my predecessor, Mike 42 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Frerichs, and we went somewhere afterwards and you just kind of joined. I think it was your first spring in the Senate. And you came down and sat at our table, and I think Mike introduced you, said like, "Oh, he was a math professor." And I'm thinking, "Oh, this sounds like fun. We're going to have a -- we're going to have a good time talking here to the math professor." And I was surprised at how much fun you -- you were. I remember we had a really nice conversation. And then a -- couple years later I was lucky enough to join you in this Chamber and I brought with me an LA, named Michelle, from -- in my Champaign office, who was not political, and she - probably is listening right now - she listens to everything that we do here in the Chamber to try to follow in the district office, and one of the first things she said in the first couple weeks of listening, and I was new too, is "It's so loud in there. Like -- it doesn't seem like anyone is listening to what anybody else is saying, at least that's what it seems like on the audio recording," and then she said, "Unless Daniel Biss is talking and then everybody shuts up." And I'll be darned, I mean, it really does seem like that. There -- you had all these major issues and we all just kind of would stop. There's a few Members in this Chamber like that, where people will stop and say, well, if they feel passionate about this, I at least want to hear what they have to say, and this kind of reflects what Senator Righter said. I also think about a time when I -- a year ago, when I had a fifth grader, a precocious fifth grader here, who -- as my Page for the Day, who said his favorite class was math. And I thought, well, I got nothing -- I've got nothing to offer you, but I know somebody who might. And you were kind enough to come over - I think you were probably in the middle of your gubernatorial 43 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 campaign - and you sat here and you made Möbius strips with him, strips of paper that is the -- the -- the continuity -- I still don't really understand what it is, but - I won't try to explain it - but it meant so much to him and his family. And I would point out that in his -- in -- in Daniel's, you know, campaign for Governor, he won Champaign County pretty easily and two of his biggest supporters were Michelle, my Legislative Assistant, and the mother of the student that was here with the Möbius strips. Daniel has a way to make people really like him, if they get a chance to meet him, and it comes often from, one, he's the smartest guy in the room, there's no question - but there's a lot of smart people out there that don't change you and don't -- don't affect you in the way Daniel does - but mostly what you have, I think, is a genuineness, which really comes across, and we're -- that's something we're really going to miss here, Daniel. So I -- you're a young man. You're going to go on to a lot of things. I don't expect any of us won't continue to cross paths with you, but certainly wanted to thank you for serving with you and look forward to what you accomplish in the future.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Rose, for what purpose do you rise?
Resolution, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
For those of you in the Chamber that don't know what Reed Richards from the Fantastic Four looks like, I would urge all of you to look up the Avengers right now and I'll be darned if it's 44 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 not Senator Dan Biss sitting over there. Dan, I -- I -- my kids will envy your kids, because they're going to have more time with their dad, and I'm still smarting, frankly, from my wife seeing your TV commercial and looking at me and saying, "How come you don't make the kids' breakfast in the morning as much as he does?" So… Dan, we've been friends for a long time and -- and, like Senator Righter, we don't always agree, but it is kind of funny what I'm going to miss about you is I'm so far right, you're so far left, and then come back around on 4th, 5th, and 1st Amendment issues, and so, for Christmas, I'm going to send you a drone that you can use at your discretion. Just make sure you don't violate any of the laws that we passed related to the 4th and 5th. So, Dan, we've been friends for a long time. You're clearly one of the most -- one of the smartest folks I've ever met and I -- I cherish that relationship and things you've taught me over the years, but -- but on your way out, I -- I thought that, as former House Members, perhaps you could regale, as Senator Link is in the Chair, finally settle this once and for all, is the House or the Senate more fun? Good luck, Dan.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hastings, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
Daniel, I want to say thank you. Our relationship started with your babysitter, Kaitlyn, I'm sure you guys remember that, and I had asked {sic}, "I'm going to the Senate" and she goes, 45 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 "Well, the guy I babysit for, he's in the Senate and he's pretty smart, and he can juggle fire." And I was like, "Well, he's got to be a decent guy." But when I really got to know Daniel was when I was about to propose to my wife and I was going to go -- I was at the -- right outside Jewelers Row on the corner, and if anyone has ever seen the movie, Airplane, I was sweating like Ted Striker - I'm not kidding, pouring sweat. There was a considerable sum of money that I was about to pay for a ring and -- I -- I didn't know, I was sweating it out, and all of a sudden I just see Daniel Biss, the aura of Daniel Biss. He's like, "Don't worry, it'll be a good return on investment." It all worked out, I guess. And so… But I just want to say thank you for not only the way you handle yourself professionally, but the way you get others to think about other points of view. I know that sometimes legislators here in Springfield can be myopic in terms of the way they view issues. I know I've been that way on certain -- certain issues. You've changed my mind and given me a way to look at things totally different - and, for that, I thank you. Karin and the kids, you guys are awesome and I'm so happy you guys have your dad back. Congratulations.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Van Pelt, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
Well, I didn't want to let this day go by without saying something about you, Senator Biss. You know, so often people want 46 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 to talk about you when you're gone, you know, long gone, but you're here and I wanted to say that it's been an honor to serve with you. And I found you to be a man that can look beyond the clouds and the smoke to try to see what the real issue is. A lot of times when you're working with people in -- in -- in government, if there's clouds and smoke, they say, "Well, we can't go any further than this." It's clouds and smoke. "We don't know what this means. We don't…" They're not willing to go beyond, but you've always shown that you've been willing to go beyond that to see what the real issue is and how to --- how to try to shape a response to it. And I really, really, really, appreciate that, because the issues I come here with come directly from my community and a lot of times people don't understand 'em. But one thing I found about -- about you, even the things you don't understand, you're willing to look at and try to help me figure out how to address them, and for that, I appreciate you. And we're -- we're going to be less better off with you gone, because you bring something to this Chamber that only a few people have brought, and I thank you so much for your service.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Harmon, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
Daniel, as many have said, I think a lot of us weren't sure what to make of you when you arrived. Professor of mathematics is not the -- the traditional launching pad for a political career. 47 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 But from -- from the onset, you proved yourself to be a very able legislator, one of the smartest people to serve in the General Assembly, and wickedly funny - that's something I have come to appreciate over the years. It was also a rare privilege to watch you present your passion and your personality on the campaign trail in a different way than I had seen you here in Springfield. It was just such a joy to see you share your thoughts with a room full of strangers and convince them that you were the right person for the job, and it was an honor to support you in that endeavor. This is -- this is far from a wake; this is a celebration. You are far too young to retire. Your public service is just changing shape and color for a little while and I hope we see you back in elective office in one capacity or other, because you are unlimitedly gifted and I will miss you on behalf of the People's Republic of Oak Park, my -- my -- my friend and brother from the People's Republic of Evanston. That's what I'll miss most of all is that friendship and having you here in the Chamber. So Godspeed to you and your beautiful family. We look forward to seeing you in the next chapter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Rezin, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. To the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
Thank you. Senator Biss, again, always -- so many kind things have been said today and we mean everything that's been said today. I think we came in together many, many years ago, about eight years 48 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 ago, and from day one, you have been that person that wants to take the hardest issue that's out there, the issue that the State needs to solve, and take it head on. We started with pensions. We sat on Pension Reform and the working group for hours and hours and hours. And I don't know if most people or maybe people in this room do know, that the pension bill that you advocated, along with -- Representative Nekritz, was yours. I mean, it wasn't given to you. I mean, it was by sitting on the working group for hours and figuring out what's the best pathway to move the State forward, and because of that, you may have taken a little bit of a pushback. But in my book, that's a sign of a true leader, taking on topics that are very difficult in the State and pulling people along. It may not have been the perfect answer, but it let -- but at least it was a discussion we needed to have. And after that, every topic that we deal with in Springfield, which is kind of the new policy of the year, you're always the forefront of how to handle that - what should the legislation look like in order to deal with these issues? And like many of my colleagues that said, on this side, we're -- we don't always agree on things. We're probably polar opposite on many, many issues, but you have a knack, though, for bringing up a topic that, you know, maybe our State has not talked about yet and you put that conversation out there. Even though we may not agree with you, you're starting to make everyone think about it and think in a way that, you know, helps us to figure out what the pathway forward is in order to achieve that topic. So, we -- we appreciate everything that you've done. Good luck to your family. I know that there's great things that await you out there. I know that we will see you somewhere and that this is not the last. But, again, to your family, we appreciate you sharing 49 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Senator Biss with us, and I know he was gone a lot during the campaign cycle as well, but certainly somebody you should be very proud of. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Cunningham, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. I've shared a lot of experiences with Daniel. We came to the General Assembly together, both started in the House together, and then came over here to the Senate. And I have to tell you, I was prepared not to like Daniel. He's from the other side of town, an Ivy Leaguer, a math professor. You know, sort of the exact - a great head of hair - sort of the exact opposite of me was the way I looked at it. But I got to know him right away and got to really become good friends with him, maybe the -- the best friend I've made here in the General Assembly. And I think the thing that -- that brought us together as much as anything else is Daniel's sense of humor and his self- deprecating sense of humor. I don't know that that comes across to the people who, you know, who -- who really see him as sort of a serious policy wonk, but he's really one of the funniest guys I've ever met and I'm really going to miss sitting next to him on the Floor. It's been -- being friends with Daniel and being next to him here on the Floor has been huge -- hugely beneficial to me. Number one, I feel like I -- I don't need this laptop and the staff analysis, 'cause every bill that comes up, I can just ask Daniel 50 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 about. He knows everything about it. So I -- I'm going -- I'm going to miss that. The other thing that was great is, I represent a lot of City of Chicago workers, municipal employees, who during the pension debate were very concerned about the pension reform ideas that were being bounced around, and I told -- some of 'em are pretty good friends of mine that -- like, "Who's this Bliss {sic} guy?" And so I told 'em I was friends with him. He really, he -- you know, give him a chance. He's working through these things. He has a lot of good ideas. So they started actually giving ideas, pension reform ideas, to me that I would then bounce off of Daniel. And they were mostly, I found out, harebrained ideas and -- and got to share that with him. So that -- that's another resource that I -- I'm -- I'm going to miss. I, too, like everyone else here, want to thank -- Daniel, thank your family for sharing you with us these last several years. I know it's been really tough on 'em, particularly the -- during the campaign. And you owe them, because they were -- if nothing else - there's a lot things you owe 'em for - but they were part of what I thought was the -- the best political campaign during the Governor's race. Senator Rose referenced it earlier and -- and the reason it was such a good commercial is because it was so true. I think it, in a short period of time, thirty seconds, really told a lot about Daniel and a lot of truth about Daniel, about what a good person he is and about how his family comes first, and that's something certainly I've been able to see, sitting here next to him on the Floor. So good luck, Daniel. I -- I -- I know your next venture, you're going to be very successful in and I have the feeling we'll still get a chance to see you in politics -- in government. Good luck to you. 51 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Steans, for what purpose do you rise?
To the motion -- or resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
So this is hard to be having to engage in a conversation along this line, because it's going to be a real loss to the Chamber to not have Senator Biss here any longer. First started hearing about him well before I ever met him; that there was this guy, he was a professor, a math guy, who is willing to actually try to run for office - which right then and there is, I think, a -- a real statement, 'cause it's a hard line to cross to decide you want to go into public service and with all the baggage that can come with that. And I think the first time I met him might even have been at a fundraiser where his brother is playing the piano. He comes from a world that -- of these professional musicians and mathematicians that just don't have to get down and dirty in the political arena and here is a guy who was willing to cross over and really get down and dirty in the political arena, and I think there might have been skepticism about what kind of candidate is he really going to be. And this sort of eggheaded professor is a really good politician and able to really translate that -- personal stories that people can actually relate to in a way I don't think many of us really expected or believed would really happen in the way you were able to translate that, and really remarkable how you're able to do that. And your ability then to tackle big thorny issues. Retirement's a problem and getting 52 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Secure Choice passed, and I know it's now up and running. It's moving from pilot to now implementation as we speak. It's a remarkable legacy. Not many people have something like that they can point to that's going to be so long lasting. And what you had to do to actually work that and make that come to fruition was just amazing to watch. The -- I don't think many people could have pulled something like that off. I -- I'm just sure of that. And then, personally, you really added to my personal experience in Springfield, just the -- the thinking that you bring to it, the -- the sense of humor that Senator Cunningham's referring to really made this place a very different experience for me. I'm going to miss you terribly, but know I'm going to see you again in your next phase, which I look forward to whatever that is, Daniel. Good luck.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Raoul, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
Daniel, I -- you know, I once thought that I had a strong mathematical mind. I was told when I was coming out of high school, I'm -- I'm a very strong math student. In fact, in law school, I -- I think I relied heavily on mathematical analysis and so I started believing that for years and -- and I'm -- I'm upset with you because I believed that up until five years ago, when we had to spend a -- a summer and a fall together several times a -- a week with actuaries from the different pension systems and I had 53 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 to watch you cross-examine these individuals and make those brilliant minds seem so small. The asset that you brought to that process and that you brought to the Senate at -- at large and to the State at large will be sorely missed, but I -- but I kind of think that it won't be. You know, I -- I -- I kind of know that it -- it won't be. I -- I know that you're going to be engaged and I know that we will hear from you in the future. We need to hear from you in the future. I remember it was five years ago that I thought I was going to finish up the Session killing your pension reform bill and I -- I had -- I had no idea that months later I'd be sponsoring pretty much the same -- the same bill after the Senate President asked me to chair the conference committee. I wouldn't have been -- been able to do that without you sitting right there, telling me what was actually going on in all these meetings. I -- I -- I -- I'd -- I'd love to say that was a pleasant experience, but it's -- it's -- it's an experience at least that improved me I believe. The other thing I want to say I'm really upset about is, you know, you took my line, my tagline. I remember either texting you or calling you when I first saw your commercial. "I'm Daniel Biss and, for me, it's personal." That was supposed to be, "I'm Kwame Raoul and, for me, it's personal." And I take that personally. I would say that I'm going to miss you, but I'm going to be in touch with you and I know that I'm going to be in touch with you and I'm going to continue relying on you. And I - - and I thank you for your service to the State.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Muñoz, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR MUÑOZ: To the resolution, Mr. President. 54 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Senator Biss, just wanted to echo the comments from my colleagues here. You really worked hard on your bills. We've had a lot of debates. I'd be wanting to walk off the Chamber to go back to my office and staff would say, "They're going to probably do a verification", and sure enough, a lot of your bills did have verification, but you have a lot of heart. You really believed in what you were doing, so, to me, you've done a great job for your constituents. You've done a good job as a Senator, good colleague. I'm sure we'll be seeing you in another capacity. I wish you all the best, to you and your family, my friend. God bless.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) President Cullerton.
Yes, thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. I've been trying to think about the things that Senator Biss and I have in common and the things that are different. One of the things we have in common is that we both served in the House. And I must say how pleased I was when you and Senator Cunningham came over, 'cause I love to see the reaction of the House Members when they come over to the Senate. You know, the differences, like actually having caucuses, for example; being able to vote yourself every - - any way you want without anybody suggesting to you how you might want to vote. So that was refreshing when you came over, so we did have that -- that same experience. On the other hand, people have noted the fact that you're - it's nice when you think about it - people are saying you're very smart, as -- as you leave. 55 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 They're talking about how smart you are, specifically in mathematics - not something that I excelled at. In spite of the fact that I think I really know a lot about our State budget, I have difficulty counting. I use my fingers sometimes if -- if I have to do that, so I would take it that you're not -- you're not in that same category. I'll give you an example. I -- I once was talking to Senator Biss about the fact that my wife had a baby on her birthday. I said, "What are the odds of that?" I thought it was a hundred and thirty thousand to one. Turns out it's three hundred and sixty-five and a quarter to one. That's what Daniel told me. He had to explain that to me. Another thing we have in common, though, is that - and this is really true - everybody thinks -- everybody likes our wives better than ourselves. So -- and my wife actually is here today and I -- to reaffirm that -- for that to be the case. There was a mention of your - I like to pass bills, you like to pass bills. I know that the Secure Choice bill was of particular interest. As Heather said, it was a great bill to pass. It was a bill I think that at first maybe was in the Insurance Committee. You know, Senator Haine, the dreaded Insurance Committee for some of the -- some of the Members in your caucus. But actually after -- after conferring with some of the lobbyists interested in that bill, they even challenged you to let it out of the Insurance Committee and he would just defeat that bill on the Floor of the Senate, but, of course, you prevailed. So that was also fun. But, of course, I think that the most interesting thing that I was involved in with Senator Biss was a conversation about his decision to run for Governor. And at first, I -- I didn't know for sure, but I assumed that he was in the middle of a four-year term. I myself had run for Congress in the 56 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 middle of a four-year term, as -- not successful, but I didn't jeopardize my Senate seat. So we started the discussion, then I realized, now, wait a minute, he's giving up his Senate seat in an effort to run for -- for Governor, and in a way, it was really very gratifying, in a way. It was that he -- he felt so strongly about his desire to run for the highest office in our State. We talked about the -- the chances of success and was very realistic. And I -- I just have to tell you that I thought, personally, he did a phenomenal job. Certainly, we're disappointed when we run for office and don't win, but we learn, as I have, a lot from the times that you lose. And I thought -- obviously, he did much better than people thought, and it was perhaps a very gratifying and liberating opportunity for you. So, as all of our colleagues would say, we look forward to seeing you in the future. Do anything we can to help you in whatever endeavors you're going to. And we're going to miss you and I hope you stay close.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall Senate Resolution 2150 pass. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. Senator Biss, for rebuttal.
Thank you, Mr. President. There was -- so much to rebut, I don't know that you're going to want to allow me enough time. But I just want to say a few really heartfelt thank yous. First and foremost, to my family, for more things than I have time to talk about today, but for your support and participation in this journey that's been really difficult. It's been challenging. Every single Member who's got small children knows that you're taken away from your family in difficult ways. But, in a way, our children were 57 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 raised here in the Illinois General Assembly. We were talking last night. Arya was two and a half when I was sworn in. Theodore was ten months old. And this is true, when we were sitting at our kitchen table at home trying to figure out should we do this bold, some would say crazy thing, and run for Governor or not, one thing that both of my children said was, "Daddy, why would you want a job where you don't have a desk with a green and a red button on it?" And that's a question I'm still grappling with on a daily basis. But as challenging as it was, the -- the privilege of -- of raising a family in this place and allowing our family life to be a part of the life of democracy, it was just an incredible joy, and I cannot thank you guys enough for being the foremost part of that journey. Thank you. I want to say a giant thank you to our staff. I don't -- I wish the people back home understood how unbelievably phenomenal our staff is and I -- I've no doubt that it's the same on that side of the aisle, though I would get a chance to work with Republican staff less frequently, but over here, the -- the staff who I've had a chance to work with, led by Kristin, who's just extraordinary, but all the way up and down the org chart, the -- those who have worked directly with me, whether it's Matt or Judy or Audrey, those who've worked on committees with me, the issues and policy staff, they've just been incredible public servants, an actual literal model of what public servants should be. And I don't know that I thank them often enough, I don't know that any of us thank them often enough, and I don't know that our constituents understand the dignity of that work and the public service value of that work and the quality with which they conduct that extraordinary work. And finally, I just want to say thanks to all of you. It's -- it's an amazing place and it's 58 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 an amazing education. It's an amazing place to make friends, but it's an amazing place to learn about people and to learn about places. To get a chance during the course of the last couple years to travel the State and to spend so many nights in a basement in Peoria and to visit people across here and learn about different communities and learn about different -- different people has been a joy and an honor. It's made me a better legislator and I think it's made me a better person. If there's one thing I've tried to do here, one through line of my work, it's been to try to do things that others wouldn't, to try to take on challenges that others might see as hopeless, and to try to figure out how to push these giant boulders just an inch higher up really, really, steep mountains, and I've had some successes and some failures, but it's been an unbelievable privilege and honor to do it on behalf of two hundred and seventy thousand people back north and an extraordinary, extraordinary, fun education to get a chance to do that work with all of you. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senate Resolution 2217. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 2217, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads SR No. 2217)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Curran, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution. 59 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018
Tom, I want to, first and foremost, thank you. As a -- someone that arrived in this Chamber less than fifteen -- about fifteen months ago, you got the assignment of -- the dreaded assignment of getting the new guy next to you with a -- with a bunch of questions, but I -- I could not have been more fortunate to get seated next to you and have you guide me in this process. You know, on day one, I knew Bill -- Leader Brady got it right when he put me here, because you immediately embraced getting a six-foot-seven guy next to you. Jumped up on a -- on a chair and we took a photo together, and I knew right then I had someone that didn't take himself too seriously, which is a great trait, great quality. But I've always been so impressed with -- you're so diligent. You always have your homework done. Any time, any question, any subject, I -- I never have any doubt you have done the background, reading, research. You know the issues so well. You -- you've just been a -- a great partner in this, as we worked through my first Session and -- and the -- the variety of issues that have come up, and you've always done it with great friendship and humor. I know you're not going to go far, but, you know, friendship will remain and I just want to thank you and thank you for all your help and support in guiding the new guy on this side of the aisle through this process. So wish you the best, Tom. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Muñoz, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR MUÑOZ: To the resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 60 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 To the resolution. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Senator Rooney, I just want to get up and wish you well. You were here a short time. We didn't always agree on certain bills, but you were always a gentleman to me and I want to thank you for that. I wish you and your family very well and thank you for your service as a United States Marine. Again, thank you for being in this Chamber and it was a pleasure to meet you. Take care. God bless.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Schimpf, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
Well, Tom, it's -- it's kind of tough to -- to face you talking into the mike, but I'll -- I'll manage. I do want to -- I do want to just say that, as I think the only other -- other Marine Member of the Body here, I -- I somehow feel like you were the only person that could truly understand me and where I was coming from sometimes. But what I want to -- you know, I'm -- I'm going to be very brief. What I think about, you know, when I think about you is, I think about Steve Prefontaine. And you're like, how the heck do we get -- does he get there? But they describe Steve Prefontaine - and for those of you that don't know who "Pre" was, he was a -- he was a famous distance runner in the -- in the '70s. He was taken way too early from us, but he's still beloved today, and the reason that people loved him and still love him is 61 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 because they said he ran every race as if it were his last. And, my friend, to me, you have acted as a Senator every day as if it was going to be your last day in the Illinois Senate, whether it was being up here on time, whether it was doing your homework, like Senator Curran talked about, whether it was just understanding that it's more than just pressing the button, it's about setting an example. And, you know, you are somebody that even though we've been here a short time together, you've set an example for me. So, Marine, I just want to say, you have stood the watch. You have -- uphold the trust, the trust that we all were given as Marines, and you've also really demonstrated that when you took off your uniform for the last time, it didn't change who you were. So God bless you. Fair winds and following seas.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Muñoz in the Chair. Senator McGuire, for what purpose do you seek recognition? SENATOR McGUIRE: …Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the resolution, Senator McGuire. SENATOR McGUIRE: Senator Rooney, I very much appreciated working with you and soon after you arrived here, we bonded, two high school teachers, one who didn't stick with it, one who has. And of course, we have a mutual friend who still toils in the halls of high schools, Paul Houston, and you've been a wonderful colleague, serving as Minority Spokesperson on the Higher Education Committee, also a stalwart Member along with Senator Schimpf and Senator Rose from your side of the aisle on the Higher Education Working Group. And as has 62 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 been noted, you brought a -- rare quality to the Higher Education Committee. You were always on time, which the Chair appreciates. And we hear a lot of talk in here about we're here for the kids; you know, that education is paramount. You do that, and I've noticed that in your -- in your service here as State Senator, you did not subsume, you did not discard, you did not leave in -- your past, you did not leave at home the fact that you are an excellent and dedicated high school teacher, and I know that that informed your work here. I will never forget that in committee one day, when we were hearing Senate Bill 888, a bill to allow community colleges to allow baccalaureate nursing degrees. Before you cast a No vote, you said, "My students need community colleges to be community colleges." That's wise, that's succinct, and I'm grateful to you for that. Also, of course, we were train-riding companions. While we were on the same train, but we didn't visit much, because -- I don't know how many of you know this, but Tom began taking the train so he could grade papers. So I'm looking out the window and, you know, you would be in the café car grading papers. I could have clashed together a pair of cymbals and you would not look up. You were so dedicated to getting those papers graded. So, Senator, I honor you as a legislator, I honor you as a teacher, and I'm honored to have served with you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Rezin, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President. To the resolution, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the resolution, Senator.
63 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Well, Senator Rooney, I want to thank your school district for sharing you with us. I don't know if many people know that Senator Rooney is a co-teacher. So when he's down in Springfield, he's a Senator, but, like Senator McGuire said, the minute he gets on that five o'clock train, he pulls out all of his students' reports and his five colored pens and he sits - and each pen has a meaning - and sits and marks up papers the entire way home. Gets home at around ten o'clock and then he works the next day as a teacher. Now that's dedication. I can say that for a fact that his students are very, very lucky to have Senator Rooney, not only down here, but as a teacher. And I can also say that -- many of us down here on this side, we have student advisory councils every year, where we have the best and brightest of these high school students come and experience Springfield and we ask people to come - lobbyists - we ask, you know, mentors to come and speak to our students and I've had the pleasure of having Senator Rooney speak to my student advisory council, and he comes in the room and he plops himself and sits on a table and all of the students wonder, who is this guy? And from that minute on, every student in that room is mesmerized, but what -- by what Senator Rooney has to say. So we -- were very lucky to have you. I wish that you could be here longer, but I know that when you go back, your school is very, very lucky to have you. I don't know if you've gotten to speak to Senator Rooney too much too. He's -- has an incredible family he loves to talk about and he's very proud of as well. So we wish you good luck and, please, where -- we have an open invitation for you to be our speakers at all of our student advisory councils from now until whenever you decide not to. So best of luck.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 64 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Senator Barickman, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
To the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the resolution, Senator.
Thanks, Mr. President. Tom, I won't attempt to -- to -- I'll just put my eyes back here, like I tell my kids where they exist, those eyes in the back of our heads. Tom, you are a -- you -- you have been a great addition to the caucus and a good friend to me and certainly will be missed. I -- I want to share a personal story with all of you in a -- in a second about Tom, but I'll -- I'll tell you, Tom, what -- what you have impressed upon me is your commitment to two groups of people. One is your -- your students, your kids, your class, how you talk about them and how you share - I know you share with them your experiences that you've had in this Chamber and in this role in public service - is an incredible opportunity for them to hear that perspective and even setting that aside, just to have you as a -- as their teacher, because I think we can all see the type of teacher that you are. And a lot of times, we have all taken up issues, educational issues, and we talk about teachers and the impact that they have on kids, and what's -- what's clear to me is that we've got one of those exceptional teachers with us here in our -- in our Chamber and -- and I -- I think it's awesome that you do what you do, Tom. The other thing is your family, who you've -- since the first day I met you, you're a cheerleader of your family. Rightfully so. We all should be like that and I love that part about you. The - - the other component and the -- kind of the story is, if you don't 65 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 -- if you've not realized it yet, Tom has got to be on the short list of the most optimistic people in the world. He just is! And you see that in his personality. But -- you know, we just came through a campaign cycle, right? And here we are, we're Republicans. I -- I joke, we're on this side of the aisle and the aisle reaches way over here, because there are so many of you and so few of us. So in this job on this side of the aisle, it can be one where negativity just envelops you. Never will happen to Tom. Never happen to Tom. I'd -- and as we go through the campaign this year, you know, I'd talk to Tom on the phone. He's the type of guy who would -- he picks up the phone, he -- "Jason, how are you? Hey!" You'd think the guy was at Disney World. I said, "What are you doing?" "I'm knocking on doors." "All right." I talked to Tom after the election, right? And like we all do, we come through this election cycle and, you know, sometimes things don't go the way that you hope. And I talked to Tom and I -- you know, I -- I pressed send, Tom's on the other end and I hear him pick up, and you don't always know what that phone call is going to be like, but I can tell you exactly what it was like. "Jason, how are you? Hey, how's it going?" I said, "Hey man, how you doing?" "I'm doing great." That attitude is an attitude that is healthy. It's one that is infectious and it is one that is awesome, and nothing ever should take that away from you, Tom. Thank you for being the great Senator that you are and the great person that you will always be. You're a great friend and appreciate your service.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Fowler, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
66 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Thank you, Mr. President. To the resolution, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the resolution, Senator.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senator Rooney, aka northern mayor, aka Senator, I just want to say thank you for recruiting me to be a member of the "On-time Caucus". I appreciate that and I learned that -- I always knew that, but I was -- I learned that -- also that probably one of the most important things we can do in this Chamber is to be here for the opening prayer and the Pledge -- Pledge of Allegiance, and I know you were always here and if -- if I wasn't able to make it, you let me know that and vice versa, but I think you were always here, so I appreciate that. And I just - - I just want to say thank you for your personality, your passion. Senator Barickman said it right. You know, you always -- you always came in with a glow on your face, no matter what. I've only been here two years, but you and I, I think, you know, we hit it off right from the very get-go. We've had a lot of fun talking with each other and collaborating with each other, and I just want to say that it's been an honor to be here with you for these two years and you're going to be sorely missed. So, Godspeed to you and I know that the students are going to be very fortunate to have you back in class full time, I assume. So, congratulations to them. Congratulations to your family and congratulations for the career that you had here in the Illinois State Senate. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Anderson, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
67 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 To the resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the resolution, Senator.
Well, I can't -- actually Senator Barickman kind of took exactly what I was going to say and that's a good thing, because it's -- it's something we -- we all appreciate about you and that's -- that's your personality. During this campaign cycle, your personality really shined through. You know, both of us were in tough races and, as Senator Barickman said, I could -- I could call you and no matter how things were going that day for you, when I needed a pick-me-up, I knew I could call you and you would -- you -- you would lift my spirits. And that was something I could count on not only during the election cycle, but when we were in the -- in the dog days of Session. So keep up that -- that -- that positive outlook and it's something that has impacted me very, very deeply and look forward to -- to seeing you in -- in the next chapter of whatever you decide to do. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Leader Brady, for what purpose you seek recognition?
To the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the resolution, Leader.
Thank you, Mr. President. Tom, you -- as many have said, you've been an inspiration to us and, you know, I -- when I think of Tom Rooney, I think of someone who has outlined his life in -- in various ways, faith, family, your professional responsibilities 68 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 as a teacher, your personal responsibilities yourself, and your civic responsibilities, whether it be in the Armed Services or as mayor or here as Senator. And I think there's a lot we can learn by the balance of life and what you've put into this. You will be missed here in the Senate. You'll be missed by me, personally, and I think by each and every one of us. You've made a contribution here. But, as was said earlier, what -- our loss will be your students' gain. I know you'll make the most of that as well. So I wish you Godspeed. God bless you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) President Cullerton, for what purpose you seek recognition?
Yes, to the motion. Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the resolution.
Senator Rooney, I think you would agree that the beauty of serving in the General Assembly is the chance to meet people from all walks of life, people from all over the State, people of different genders, different races, and different occupations. And actually, I'm not going to compare the Army National Guard to the Marines, but at least it's the same theory that we were -- both served our -- our -- our government and our people. But another thing that I did in my life was to work -- while I was going to law school, worked as a substitute teacher in the Chicago Public Schools, and later on became a lawyer and ended up trying, maybe a dozen jury trials. And I thought often about the involvement in a jury and the intensity and the -- the seriousness 69 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 of what you were doing with having thirty-two kids for fifty minutes five times a day, not a lot of time for daydreaming. And yet what you do and what I did on a real small scale is -- is probably one of the most important things that you can do in terms of public service and it's so -- it's by far the most difficult job I ever had. So I have so much respect for you, for what you were able to do as -- and have done as a teacher, even while you're here. And now on a political note, I'm vaguely familiar with the details of your last election. And I would say that the outcome didn't -- was more of a broader political movement than a reflection on your political abilities or certainly your service in -- in the Senate. And as I mentioned earlier, I was a -- unfortunately I -- I ran for office and -- and -- and lost myself and life goes on and I did learn from that experience. So I wish you well and -- and -- and once a Senator, always a Senator. Look forward to looking to you in the future. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) The question is, shall Senate Resolution 2217 pass. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Congratulations. Senator Rooney.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'd be lying if I didn't tell you that it felt uncomfortably presumptuous to say, yeah, let's go ahead and do a resolution. I haven't been here very long and I know I don't share the stature of either of the other gentlemen who have resolutions today, either literally or figuratively, in this statue -- stature category. So I thought, if you don't mind, I want to explain to you why I told 'em, yeah, let's go ahead and do this. As I bore you all with all the time, I teach economics 70 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 to high school kids, but nobody has enough economics classes to fill a full schedule. It's five different classes, like President Cullerton just alluded to, and I'll get two or three that are economic. And so I have to balance the others out with history. And over the course of the last fifteen years, the teaching of high school kids has become document-focused, that everything is about historical documents now and analyzing documents and you have to put documents together, and it's really kind of taken over the teaching of history. As people in this Chamber, including one taking pictures right now, can tell you, it was really hard to get me to say yes to this idea of a resolution. But what I wanted for my classroom was a unique document that I can put up that I don't think other teachers that they have can put up. And we even talked for a second about, well, you know, they could make one that looks like it, but then it's a fake document. Now that's only half the story. The other half of the story, which you can verify if you want to come down to Room 105a, if you haven't already, I do have another resolution from when I was a House Page in 1985. I went to a national debate tournament that year and they chose to do a resolution to kind of honor that. So my plan is to take this resolution from the Illinois House that was for a high school kid, who clearly kind of set his mind on, he wanted to go from that hard wooden bench in front of the Illinois House to one of the big, comfy chairs somewhere, someday, and then have a resolution right next to it that shows that later on, making the choice to raise my kids first, did not eventually cost me the opportunity to come on back. I think that's a message that I hope will serve the students that I have, and the students that I will have, very well. And so your patience in sitting here for a few more minutes today 71 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 and your indulgence in letting the resolution be read - they said if the resolution's not read out loud, you don't get the document - so since the -- the idea is to set up these couple documents for my students to show them that if you get a dream in high school, the possibility of achieving it is out there, even if you take time to do other things in the meantime, I think that's an important lesson. So for what I do every day at my school and in my classroom, the chance for two years to be able to do what you do every day in this Chamber and in your districts, the ability to have lived in this world for two years and be able to take that back to all the students I'll have from here on out, has been the experience of a lifetime. To have been supported by a fabulous staff and to have gained so many friends on both sides of the aisle, it is an opportunity that I will be grateful for, for the rest of my life.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senate will stand at ease for a couple minutes. (at ease) Senate Resolution 2221. Senator, do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 2221. (Secretary reads SR No. 2221)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Harmon, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
To the resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the resolution, Senator.
72 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I first met Kwame Raoul - I think it was twenty-seven years ago - we were young law students, both working for the summer at a large law firm, where neither of us chose to go to work after graduation. But it was a memorable summer nonetheless. And even then, it was obvious that Kwame was bound for bigger things. And on reflection now, I -- I -- I -- I see that path inevitably leading to the Attorney General's Office. It reflects your personal commitment to justice. It reflects your legislative priorities for your entire time here. And on the -- on the Cullerton matrix of ways to leave the Senate, this -- this probably deserves a -- a category of its own: to -- to move on from this to the job that fits you as well as I could possibly imagine. But I will miss you here in this Chamber. You have been a great friend, a -- a cofounder of the Pizza Caucus, and I'm looking forward to working with you in your -- your new capacity as Attorney General. I'm sure there are many speakers. I won't go on, because I have heard you're just getting started.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Rezin, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President. To the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the resolution, Senator.
Thank you. Senator Raoul, it's -- boy, that -- you know, we were just talking about, with my colleague here, what a magical seat that is. So, going from Senate to AG and with all of the history of that seat, well deserved. When we first came into office, you were one that always reached out and, you know, reached 73 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 across the aisle and see if that -- there was something that we could do to come to an agreement. We appreciate that. I don't know if many of your colleagues on the other side know this, but every time you're over here talking to us, you were always trying to recruit Republicans for Raoul, and I'm not sure if that went well, but I, you know, I appreciate your tenacity. So, you know, they -- they read through all of your lists of accomplishments and, boy, is it a long list. And, again, you're another leader that takes a very difficult topic, and we may not agree with you on this side on many of them - the view that you see is different than ours sometimes on topics - but how -- you can come over and say what can we do to negotiate and come to the middle, or at least try to explain to us where you're coming from, and we do appreciate that. Your journey is not done and that's why I'm excited for you. It's just beginning. I mean, they read a whole list of accomplishments for you, but you're not finished. I look forward to following you and helping, if we can, in -- in what you do do, and I know that you'll keep an open door for all of us as well. And we just say the best of luck to you in your next step in your life. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Haine, for what purpose you seek recognition?
To the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the resolution, Senator.
Well, Godspeed, Attorney General-elect. I -- I enjoyed very much being on the Criminal Law Committee with you and the Judiciary 74 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Committee. We did not agree on a number of items. You were several clicks to the left of me on them; however, we did agree on enhancements, on reasonable enhancements, and we used to refer 'em to subcommittee and kill 'em, because they put State's Attorneys on the spot and you -- with a marginal case, you couldn't work it out, and there's nothing worse than having a marginal case in which the criminal would leave the courtroom acquitted. That was the most searing thing for a victim. So you had to give the State's Attorneys some leeway and these enhancements looked good politically, but they were very bad. I disagreed with you on the -- on capital punishment, I must say, and I still do. I think it's an option for the most heinous and brutal murderers, as it has been throughout history, if properly and fairly applied. I strongly agreed with you on the second chance in expungement issues and we had a great time with that ill-advised proposal by the former U.S. Attorney to give RICO power to State's Attorneys, which I thought would be a monumental mistake since State's Attorneys are political animals. I use the word "animal" in the broad sense, not -- they're my -- former colleagues, but they are products of the political environment of their county and to -- to clothe them with the RICO power was a great mistake, and it was referred to a subcommittee, once again, and we killed that, even though the U.S. Attorney had a scathing -- couple of scathing comments for us, which didn't bother me. I do want to add two things and then I'll close, because it's getting late. Number one, I want to remind you, Attorney General-elect, that the Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State. Sometimes newspapers, reporters, and TV commentators refer to the Attorney General as the chief law enforcement officer. That is not correct, as you know. The 75 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Governor is the chief law enforcement officer. A State's Attorney in his or her county is the chief law enforcement officer and his or her immediate superior is the Governor, because they both have the same essential duty under the law and that is to faithfully execute the law that we pass here. And you advise the Governor and the General Assembly on what that law is. That's an admonishment to the news media. The -- the -- the -- the -- the second point I want to make is, you're the only one, I think, in the Senate Chamber that one-upped me on an historical anecdote. In a Judiciary Committee, we were hearing a bill and I believe the title was Senate Bill 1804, so my arcane mind was -- it came to me and I reminded the committee of the irony of that bill - it involved real estate, the law of real estate closures - and I reminded the committee that ironically that's the same date as the Louisiana Purchase, which is the largest real estate transaction in the history of the world, and you reminded the committee, and me, that without the Haitian Revolution, which destroyed the French Army in the New World, Napoleon wouldn't have sold Louisiana to the United States. So I thank you for that and I do wish you the best. You'll be an excellent Attorney General. You will give honest advice, free from bias. You will -- you will enhance the law enforcement apparatus with the State's Attorney's cooperation and I will be very proud to have supported you. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Lightford, for what purpose you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President. To the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) …resolution, Senator. 76 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Kwame, I think you are a perfect example of "what God has for you is for you". I know that you arrived here against all odds and did exceedingly well. So I just want to thank you for all of the support that you've given to the Black Caucus on Criminal Justice reform issues and any other issue that we needed legal expertise in. I want to personally acknowledge how I love your passion; I love your compassion. You know, a lot of men are afraid to express themselves and I appreciate that you're willing to show how passionate you feel for your family, your community, and people all around you. Now what I will miss is having to keep you calm. I'm going to have to miss coming by and tapping you on your shoulder and, you know, wiping the sweat off your forehead, things of that nature. I watched you struggle in your illness. We sat right across from each other every single week and we talked the whole ride, coming and going. We've talked through marriages, we've talked through sickness, we've talked through family loss, and I just want to thank you for your friendship and thank you for allowing us to develop a relationship, considering you came in thinking your head was bigger than mine. So I owe you and Donne Trotter for giving me an -- my first aha political moment, that no matter how hard you work, it doesn't matter, somebody could still take you out your spot. But I wanted to wish you well. I know that you're going to do exceedingly well in the AG's Office and make us all proud. I'm hoping that you send us a wonderful replacement. I'll sit in that chair if it's so magical. I think I need to slide on down there. But God bless you and I'll continue to be in your corner and be your friend, so I'll see you around. 77 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Link in the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Muñoz, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR MUÑOZ: To the resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Senator "Cool" Raoul, my good friend. We worked on some good legislation over the years. You should be proud, my friend, you worked very hard. You did an outstanding job, great pieces of legislation, a lot of long hours, did a great job for the City of Chicago. Most of you know I handle a lot of those bills, but over the years Senator Raoul and I worked together on so many of 'em. So thank you for that, Senator. You did a great job for your district. You're a good man. We've traveled together and went to China. Had some good times I'll never forget. But the good thing is, you know, I'm going to be seeing you. You're going to be a - - a great Attorney General, as you have been a great Senator. I wish you well. You've worked very hard and you truly deserve it. So God bless you, my friend, and look forward to seeing you as the new Attorney General.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Barickman, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) …the resolution. 78 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018
Thanks, Mr. President. Senator Raoul, you know, I -- I think when I -- when I came -- when I was elected to the Senate, I -- I knew immediately that I wanted to serve on the Judiciary Committee, and when Senator Dillard retired, I knew that I wanted to become the Minority Spokesman on that committee, and you have -- you have spoken a lot about your experiences on that committee. It seems that, in this Chamber, many of the attorneys in the room want to be on that committee and the non-attorneys think we're all nuts for our desire there. But my experience with you has primarily been through that committee, and -- and to your credit, we have tackled both difficult issues there and not. And I remember someone commenting to me at one point in this last cycle and they said -- they said, "It's" -- "It's nice to see the way the two of you work together." And -- and I -- I think that -- you know, I -- I don't know that I stepped back objectively and thought about that until after the comment, but I think we worked together well. On areas where we had agreement, we looked for those and we identified those and we moved things forward. That's the way things are supposed to work around here and it's not always the way that it does work. On areas where we didn't have agreements, we disagreed, and sometimes passionately so, as everyone would expect us to do. Through all of that, I believe that the manner in which you conducted yourself and the way in which you handled that committee, didn't always result in the outcomes that I wanted, but impressed upon me the commitment that you clearly had to providing a fair process. We could be heard, there was nothing personal about the disputes, and we move on. And for that, I -- I appreciate it and I know that in your new role - congratulations, 79 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 by the way - in your new role, I expect nothing less than that from you and I'm certain that that's what you'll do. So I look forward to continuing to work with you. I appreciate our time together in this role, in these capacities. And I look forward to a continued positive relationship with you as you move on to your -- to your new role. Thanks for all you do. It's been a pleasure.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Collins, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution, Mr. President. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
Kwame, first of all, I want to congratulate my distinguished colleague and express my gratitude to the people of Illinois for putting a committed advocate for justice into the Office of the Attorney General. I know my colleagues here who practice law will agree that, in Senator Raoul, we've had someone who fights to make sure the hallowed protections of law extends to all. I'm sorry to see our so patient caucus member depart from this august Assembly, but I am so glad that the Attorney General's Office is gaining an experienced lawyer, an accomplished legislator and a committed advocate for the people. And most of all, Kwame, I think you are a witness, a walking witness to the power of prayer and I hope you continue to be that witness as you go forward. And, of course, I'm going to be asking you to pray for me when I have to take the bar and I'll be looking for any secret advice enabling me to pass the bar on my first test. So thank you. God bless you. I love you. I'll see you soon. 80 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator McGuire, for what purpose do you rise? To the resolution. SENATOR McGUIRE: Thank you. Obviously, my friend, Kwame Raoul, is older than me, but, Kwame, you fulfill the role of big brother for me. I'm the oldest of six kids; I never had a big brother. And you have shared so many lessons with me, so much encouragement, so much warmth, and a good number of lunches. I -- I'll forever be indebted, what you've -- what you've taught me, what you've shared with me, your generosity. And our friend, Senator Mulroe, has called us the "back row guys" - best club I've ever belonged to. So while you are a charter member of the "back row guys", Kwame, you are first rank - first rank as a friend, first rank as a public servant, and foremost, first rank as a father. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
I just want to say, when I came in twelve years ago, and met Senator Raoul - I have to say he behaved like a mentor. There was a group and it was the first group that's formed what we called the "pizza caucus". There were five of us Members at that point that were new, and what the pizza caucus did was it was a casual place for us new legislators to sit down, talk, ask questions, ask those questions that you didn't want to ask on the Floor. You 81 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 didn't want to be embarrassed to ask. So this group of legislators - Kwame, Senator Harmon, Senator Sullivan - formed what they called the pizza caucus. We would go out and have these wonderful dinners and get to ask all those stupid questions that new legislators need the answers to. Kwame was always there to help with those answers. Then in later years, especially when he went through some of those difficult periods in his life with the health concerns, he would come sit in my office and we would talk, so my mentor at that point also became my friend. And I think that's one thing I love about this Body is that the relationships we form here are relationships that will last a lifetime with people who understand what we're going through, like no one else outside of this Chamber can. And for that, I want to say one of the dearest and one of my dear friends that I've made in this has been Senator Raoul. I'm so glad to see you moving to a statewide office. It will be an exciting new adventure in your life and I look forward to continuing to work with you and I wish you the best of success. Thank you so much, my friend.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Rooney, for what purpose do you rise?
I rise to speak to the resolution, please, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
Senator Raoul, my dad is not the first person, nor the only person, who always said, you can tell a lot about somebody by how they treat people that they don't need to treat well. But my dad used to say that all the time, and so down here on the Floor in a 82 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 debate when you extended to me, during that debate, a courtesy that you didn't need to, I noticed and took note. And then a little while later we spared a little bit over that McPier bill and again you extended to me a different courtesy that you didn't need to, and I noticed and I took note. So then a little while later when there was a bill that came out here that was a real gut-wrencher for me - Which way do I go? Which way do I go? - I listened to the debate in which you took part, we all voted, and later that day, I wrestled with myself a lot. Did I make the right decision? And the opinion that I wanted the most was yours, which says something already, I think. But you and I didn't really know each other well yet. I had no real expectation of being able to bend your ear and -- and -- and -- and get your opinion. You might remember, I -- I -- I kind of stalked you a little bit that day after committee. It was -- it was very late in the day and when I finally got you, I thought, "Eh, it's late. He doesn't know me. He -- he might say, 'Well, I don't really have time'", but you stopped and you really listened and you took the time to have a real discussion and I feel like that was the moment where I actually started to get to know who you are. And so I want to say maybe in October when there was a teacher discussion going on at my school and they were talking about races and they started talking about your race. Somebody says, "Hey, Kwame Raoul is a Senator. Ask Rooney." "Rooney, is he a good Senator?" And -- and people kind of laughed and I -- I swear to you, I said, "Yeah, he is a good Senator, but you want to know what's even cooler, I think he's genuinely a good man." Now I don't pretend to know you super well, but how do I say that with confidence? My dad taught me, you can tell a lot about a person by how they treat people 83 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 they don't need to treat well. And as a freshman on the whole other side of the aisle, you showed me who you were through those little courtesies and I'm thrilled to say that I've been able to build a small friendship with you while you've been here.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Sims, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
Tenacious, empathetic, skilled - those are a few of the words I think about when I think about you. I have worked with Senator Raoul on a number of occasions. Watched him debate and work complex pieces of legislation through this Chamber and through -- through the other Chamber and onto passage into law. I thought it was pretty appropriate that there will be a report -- report that came out showing that the reforms that came about from the 2011 Workers' Compensation reforms were showing that costs were starting to decrease and that -- that goes -- that speaks to the policy dedication that Senator Raoul has. I have -- I had the great pleasure of sitting, working with him through many pieces of criminal justice reform legislation and we would tackle some very, very difficult issues and very, very difficult circumstances and did not always agree, but we were always agreeable to what our goal was, which was improving the quality of life for the people that we serve. Kwame, I was particularly moved when you would have life's challenges and you and I would sit and talk about, you know, life and experiences of our children and that's when I really 84 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 got to see past what others got to see, which was the presence that you -- that you exhibit as a legislator, and to get -- and get the opportunity to see you as the man and the father that -- that -- that you are, and the unyielding dedication that you have to your children is an inspiration. And when you got diagnosed with prostate cancer, the fact that you never, ever missed a beat. You continued to stay dedicated to the people of Illinois, continued to stay dedicated to the people of the 13th District, and you still made sure that you continued to move the policies forward and that's -- that was inspiring. Now, you don't always have all endearing qualities, you know, by -- in fact you are a man of Kappa Alpha Psi, so I -- you know, I've always got to mark you down for that. But you are -- you are an amazing friend. You are going to be a -- an amazing Attorney General. And I want you to know that you have been someone that I have admired, I've always enjoyed working with, but more importantly, I consider a friend. So Godspeed, our Attorney General-elect. I know you're not going to be that far and I know you are still going to be available to work on these issues with us. I'm so looking forward to it. I am so proud. I said to you election night, I'm so proud of you and so proud for all that you have accomplished, but I know you're -- just getting started. So Godspeed, Attorney General-elect.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bennett, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
85 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Thank you. I'll be brief on this. I -- I think one of the best parts about this job is you come in with kind of preconceived notions of what, I think, other people think about things and then you get friends from all over the State with all kinds of experiences and you realize you don't know very much or, you know, there's a lot of the world you don't fully understand, and I think about this with committee work that I had with Senator Raoul. I -- we've shared a lot of committees together and I thought, "Well, I'm a former prosecutor. He's a former prosecutor. We're going to agree on a lot of these issues." And I'll tell you, we didn't. And I don't -- it's not enough just to say, well, I'm more conservative on Criminal Law issues than him. I don't think that was the case. But often I would hear about a bill and I'd start to think, oh, this is a -- a terrible idea or this is a really good idea. And before I could even ask a question, as one of the ranking Members, Senator Raoul would start asking questions and start working his way through the process and I'd find that what I thought I -- about a bill when it first came in was not how I left with it. So one of the things that I -- I'm so impressed by, Senator, is your ability to think through issues in ways that I had not gotten to yet, in a different perspective, and it always taught me something. And I don't know if you realize how many votes of mine you changed just through your questions and kind of how you were working your way through an issue, but I couldn't help but be impressed by it and be changed by the experience. I was very happy to support your Attorney General campaign. I can't imagine a person more experienced and more prepared to -- to take this incredible role and as the Chair of the Criminal Law Committee, I look forward to you changing my mind about a lot of 86 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 things in the years to come and look forward to working with you. Good luck.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hastings, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. To the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
I, too, will keep my remarks brief, but I first want to say thanks to my brother, Kwame. Seven years ago this year, you and I met and had lunch. You're the first Senator that I met that was currently in the Chamber. It was -- you gave me some great words of wisdom, and when I first arrived, you and Natalia, both, were so hospitable to my family and I. And -- and for opening your arms and being so grateful and so gracious, I -- I just want to say thank you. Moreover, I represent the -- the greater southwest suburbs of Chicago and your Attorney General's race invited many, many candidates to the Southland for various forums. The fact that all of the people that I represent, the one thing that they told me about you, whether it was Arab American, African American, you know, you're Caucasian, they said, "That guy relates to me. He's -- he knows my struggle. He knows what I've been through." And -- and to me, it made me proud to support you. And I know you as a man. I know you as a father. I know you as a colleague. And it just made me so proud that you are in the role where you're going to be. I also noticed a lot of attorneys wanting to stand up and speak today as well. But… You've been through colon cancer. You -- you tackled workmen's comp. You tackled conceal 87 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 and carry. You tackled countless -- countless pieces of legislation. You faced unsurmountable adversity and you were able to -- to overcome that and that makes me proud to be your friend. I'm also proud to be your friend because I'm not part of the "back row guys", but I am part of the "Woodford Reserve Caucus" and -- so I expect for you to transfer your glasses, your round ice cube ball holders to my office immediately. So… And if you wouldn't mind returning the bottle I lent you a couple weeks ago, that'd be wonderful. So I wish you well. I -- I only expect great things and I'm just proud to be your friend. Thanks.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Van Pelt, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
Well, I want to just say to my colleague Kwame Raoul that it's been a great honor serving with you and you have taught me so much. Having gotten here about six years ago, I came and I was full of fire and I just -- you know, I wanted change now, power to the people. And you really worked with me; you know, you helped me understand that, hey, that passion can be there, that passion is real, but you got to work with the entire State. And you -- you showed me that over and over again. I was -- I would wonder why you would, you know, speak the way you -- you do about certain bills and -- but I understood later that it -- it was just a part of -- being a part of the whole, helping the whole move forward, that sometimes it takes all of us to move forward for one to get 88 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 a chance to move a little further forward. So I appreciate your leadership and I know you're going to do an excellent job as Attorney General. I -- I believe this room was probably too small for you anyway, because you have big ideas, and now you'll be able to exercise some of those ideas in that new place. And I'm really happy and proud to have served with you. Thank you for your service.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bivins, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senator, congratulations. Looks like we go out the door together. Soon you're going to be in charge of -- instead of a couple square miles, your district will be a hundred and two counties, the State of Illinois. You're going to have offices in Chicago, in Springfield. You're going to have three hundred -- three hundred and eighty employees and a lot of responsibility. I, on the other hand, will be retired and, see, you thought Senator Biss was the smartest guy in the room. Seriously, we -- we've -- in my ten and a half years here, we've spent a lot of time together and -- playing basketball early in the morning, defending the Senate's honor against the House. We've played softball together. We've had dinner together. We've served on the Racial Profiling Task Force together. We worked together on the conceal and carry and there was never a -- a cross word exchanged between us over that, and neither one of us got what we 89 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 wanted, but we got through it and -- and worked together on that, and I appreciate that. We've shared about our families. We've talked about a lot of personal things and you've had a lot of hardships in -- in your life, and so in the days ahead, what I want to say to you is, as the hills seem insurmountable, if the mountain was smooth, you couldn't climb it. So you keep that in mind going forward in the days ahead. Go with God and you can't go with wrong -- you won't go wrong. God bless you. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Biss, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
Well, I don't totally know where to start, except to say that it's a little late to realize that if only we had traded slogans in the campaign, I'd be the Governor-elect right now. You -- you made reference, Kwame, to the -- the time we spent together in 2013, a really extraordinarily lengthy summer and fall that we spent together on the Pension Conference Committee, and I know a lot of people have -- in this Chamber have worked closely with Kwame on a lot of different foreign issues. That's the kind of legislator and thinker that he's been here. But I just want to reflect for a second on my experience doing that. The first thing I learned is that when you're working closely with Kwame on a tough issue, you have a lot of extremely lengthy late-night phone conversations. They start extremely late and they go on for -- extremely long and they proceed relatively slowly with a lot of 90 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 long pauses in them. It's -- it's like working with a really slowed-down version of Dan Kotowski, actually. And during the course of those discussions, I know this is going to sound a little weird, but we were able to transform a conversation about actuarial tables and numbers and assumptions and spreadsheets into a real tapestry. And into that conversation was worked discussion about fatherhood, discussion about marriage, discussion about health, discussion about aging parents, discussion about neighborhoods, the discussion about the diversity of our State, discussion about very, very personal, difficult, intimate issues. And in the course of those conversations, Kwame became a very real friend, became someone who I really looked up to, someone who I really admired and continue to admire, and someone who I felt really close to. But more than just our personal relationship, what I learned most from those conversations, Kwame, was that those personal discussions about the real struggles of real people in the real world were woven into the policy discussion on purpose, 'cause that's where your policy judgment is rooted. It's rooted in understanding what real people need, it's rooted in understanding what real struggle is about, and it's rooted most of all in understanding who we're really fighting for here. Man, that was an important lesson for me to learn from you and I want to thank you for that. And, obviously, I'm excited to congratulate you on becoming our State's Attorney General, but I'm excited for our State to have you as our Attorney General, managing that large office with fierily awesome powers always on, confident, based on what I've seen working with you, based upon that fundamental question of, what do ordinary people struggling in ordinary neighborhoods across this big, complicated, diverse State of ours 91 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 really need? We're going to be really lucky to have you in that office. Congratulations. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your friendship.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hunter, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
Kwame, I remember when you first came to the Senate and after talking to you and you telling me -- I think you had been here about four, five months and you said, "Mattie, I think I'm going to run for Congress." I said, "Kwame, you just got here." You know, but I knew then that you were not going to -- to stay here long, because you had higher political aspirations, but you surprised me. You decided to stay longer. You learned the system. You learned the ropes. You met friends. You maintained relationships and you took on the tough bills, those tough issues that none of us were hiding -- we were really hiding from them when we said, "Kwame, why don't you do 'em? You're the lawyer. You're the former prosecutor". You know, "Why don't you take those issues?" And you did. And as far as I know, you were very successful in the vast majority, if not all of them, which is quite impressive, because all of us are not very successful in some of the measures that we try to promote out here, but -- but you did a great job with it and that also displays your level of -- of leadership and your -- your knowledge and -- and your -- your -- your integrity and all. And I -- every once in a while, I had 92 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 bills coming before your committee down in -- in the -- on the Judiciary side. I hate coming to that committee, all the time, because you have all of those lawyers sitting up there and -- and they have to debate everything amongst themselves. I said, "We're going to be here for two and three hours", you know, and sometimes I did not have all of the answers that members asked. But Kwame would slide in and he would answer some of the questions for me and - most of the questions, actually, he would answer them for me - and so he was able to get me in and out and I appreciate that. I also was quite impressed with you - the way you raise your children. You know, so many people will say, "Well, you know, Black men don't do too much with their children", you know, and you proved a lot of people wrong, not me, but you proved many people wrong. You brought your children down here and I actually saw them grow up, because when you first came down, they were -- they were small kids, you know, and every time I turned around, they kept getting taller and taller and bigger and bigger, and so I hadn't seen your kids probably for about two years and they had shot up and I kept looking and said, "Are those those kids?" And they were, you know, and they had turned out to be fine young adults, which was such an admiration on -- on your part, because you'd done such a great job in raising those kids, you know. And I've seen them a couple times out in the community and just watching them interact and they weren't the wild, out-of-control kids that you sometimes see out in the community. They were very respectable and so I walked up to 'em and said, "Hey, you all remember who I am?" Your daughter didn't, but your son always knew who I was, which is a -- a great compliment on your end. So, Kwame, you have been a great friend and a great colleague. I have 93 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 learned so much from you and I really, truly wish you well in your -- your new endeavor, and I don't know what I can teach you in your new office, but if there's anything that I can do -- I'm sure you'll have all kind of legislation coming through here and so just let me know what I can do and I -- because I want you to be successful in anything that you do. Thank you and God bless you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Martinez, for what purpose do you rise?
…President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
I -- I'm feeling really lonely and neglected because the two gentlemen that ran the Pensions and Investments are both leaving me, both Kwame Raoul and Senator Clayborne, so I feel so alone and I feel like I'm just being abandoned and I don't know what to do anymore now that I'm the Chairman, so I'm going to have to be calling you and getting some more tips. But thank you. Thank you for teaching me so much about the Pensions and Investment. Thank you for letting me -- play bad cop every so often, 'cause you were the good cop. But I'm going to really miss you. But I -- I really feel that -- that the -- the -- the city -- I mean, the -- the State of Illinois couldn't have a better choice than the people who is going to be -- the person who's going to be their defender, that is you. I -- the Attorney General's Office is, I think, one of the most prestigious office. You are the lawyer of the people and I know, Kwame, that you are going to do a great job. You've -- you've done this here in the State Senate. I want to thank 94 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 you, because I know you were instrumental in working the -- the abolishment of the -- of the penalty -- to get -- to do away with the death penalty. That to me was so important. That's where I really gained so much -- so much admiration for you, because you really worked hard on that and that was very close to my heart too and you did a great job with that. Your -- your bills on restorative justice has just been amazing and I know because of that hard work and that experience and that attitude, you're going to take -- you're going to make sure that in the Attorney General's Office that all is applied. So I really want to say thank you very much. We're going to miss you tremendously here, but we know we're going to see you around. We hope never to be investigated by you in the future, never ever, but -- and if you do, be easy with us. But thank you very much. God bless you and I wish you all the best. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator McCann, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCANN: To the resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution. SENATOR McCANN: Well, Senator, congratulations, once again, and here we are four years almost to the day - well, four years, nearly - since you made the most tremendous impression upon me. It was at the end of the 98th General Assembly. If I'm not mistaken, it was on the last day of lame duck, before the new administration came in, and I had a very contentious bill that I was presenting and thanks to the graciousness of Senator Sullivan, who went to the Senate 95 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 President and got me a dispensation of grace from the Senate President to bypass a -- a lot of the obstacles that that bill would have normally faced and bring it to the Floor. It was a contentious bill. It was contentious more in a geographic way than in a partisan way, the classic Chicago/downstate contentiousness, and I was getting beat up pretty good, and -- and more people were hitting me because it was the last day of the General Assembly than on the substance of the bill. And I remember you stood up about halfway through that debate and you -- you were so animated. I really thought you were going to jump over your desk, because you said, and you said it in the most powerful way, you said, "This man has the right and the responsibility to work on behalf of his people, who elected him, until the last minute. So if we're here until midnight debating this bill, even though I'm not going to vote for it," you said, "he has the right and the responsibility to do it and we all should take it that seriously." And, boy, did that change the room. It changed me. And interestingly enough, you ended up voting for the bill and I think it changed quite a few votes here in the Chamber, and that bill probably wouldn't have passed if it hadn't been for that. And what I'm most thankful for is that every time I speak to a group of people, especially a group of young people -- you know, I get a lot of here -- representing the Capital City, I get a lot of school groups through here. I know we all do, but I get a lot, even when we're not in Session. A lot of folks call me up and say, "Hey, can we bring our class there?" And we -- and thanks to the graciousness of our Sergeants-at-Arms back here, I get to do that. You have provided me an opportunity to tell a generation - think about this - many of these young people who I talk to or we 96 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 talk to, they've never known anything other than this partisan divide. Their entire life that's all they've known. That's all they've seen on the news or heard on the news or read about. And when I tell them that story, when I recount to them and many times their parents that story, I literally have had people break down in tears. It brings tears to their eyes to think that this downstate Republican and a Chicago Democrat could have that much respect for one another and for the process, and it restores their faith in the concept of statesmanship. And that's what I think of when I think of you. And I thank you for your service. I congratulate you on a tremendous victory and I wish you all God's blessings.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Koehler, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) …resolution.
Well, it's hard to be one of the last speakers because there have been so many good and true things said about you, but I wanted to say thank you for all the times you came to Peoria during the campaign, because I -- I really enjoyed being able to share you with my constituents. I wanted them to see your knowledge, your intellect, but more than that, I wanted them to see and feel your passion for what you do. I would often introduce you as -- as being the go-to guy in the Senate. When the issues were tough, when they were complex, you know, we could depend on you to have some kind of participation in that and I -- I'm just proud to -- 97 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 of you, of -- of what you represent, and proud to be your friend, your colleague. And you're not going to be just a good Attorney General, you're going to be a great Attorney General. Best of luck.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Sandoval, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
Senator Raoul, listen, I'm not going to miss you. I'm not lonely. You weren't -- you weren't -- I never -- you never meant to me anything and I'm -- none of that, you know, because I'm going to still see you, 'cause you're my friend. There's a quote by Eric Hoffer that says, "America is still the best country for the common man - white or black… if you {sic} (he) can't make it here you {sic} (he) won't make it anywhere else." And the hallmark of Kwame Raoul is that whether -- whether prosecutor, attorney, Senator, doctor's son, Hyde Park, Barack Obama country, all that stuff -- you know, Kwame, we've known each other for years and I've generally -- and you know this from the bottom of my heart that what I most appreciate about Kwame Raoul, and I'm going to tell you today, is that you're just a common man, and it's great to see common people, you know, make it in life. And you're -- you're going to go on to the big leagues, to be the Attorney General of -- of -- of the great State of Illinois, and I know - and not much could be said of other folks who have moved on to higher office - you're going to still remain Kwame Raoul, Kwame. 98 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 And I know that because over the years you've always remained Kwame. Whether it's on our way home, driving together late at night, or whether it's grabbing a, you know, a -- a taco meal on the Southwest Side of Chicago in my neighborhood, hanging out in -- in one of the neighborhood joints, or grabbing a beer at a bar in your neighborhood, you just have always remained Kwame. And you know what, that's what's great about the next Attorney General, is that you're just a common man, and we are so blessed that a commoner, a commoner of the State of Illinois, will be the next Attorney General that is sensitive to the common man and woman of our State, because so many of us move on to higher office, like even being State Senators, and forget where we come from. I know that you will never forget where you come -- where you came from and you'll never forget your friends and you'll never forget those who helped you along the way. (Remarks in Spanish) We love you, Kwame. Hope to see you real soon. God bless you and your family.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Mulroe, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
I don't know what to say, buddy, I mean, that hasn't already been said. You know, I -- it's been an emotional day for all of us, I think. A lot people are -- you know, the resolutions and there's going to be a lot of new faces around here, but -- so I - - I rise with mixed emotions. I am so happy for you and you're going to be the Attorney General of our State. It's awesome, but 99 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 I -- also, it's sad for me and -- and McGuire. We're going to -- there's going to be a big hole left in the back row to -- to fill and -- and I can just tell you, I'm going to really miss you, man. I -- I've known you for over twenty-five years or -- you know, we date back to the juvenile court bar attorney days. You're a friend and I feel that you -- I -- you've taught me and I've learned so much from you in the legislative process being my seatmate, sitting on the numerous committees that we -- we sit on together, but more important than all of that, it's what we've -- you've taught me about life and what we've talked about personally, about family and other -- other issues. I just really consider you a -- a trusted friend and I'm -- I'm really going to miss you. I've always felt that you had my back. I hope you felt that I've had your back. In fact, I think you do, because you ran out of gas that day and I went and got gas for you. So - on I-55 - so don't do that again. I -- you know, you will probably have a driver, though, so I -- who knows? But I just -- I -- I really miss -- going to miss you, buddy, and I -- I wish you the best. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Harris, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
Well, all has been said about our colleague and friend, Senator Raoul. I just wanted to let you know I'm extremely proud of your accomplishments. You being elected as Attorney General is 100 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 a huge honor, to serve this great State. But I'm going to miss you as a athlete, playing in the basketball games and the softball games. So we got to recruit you to come back and help the Senate out and win some of those games. You've been an effective legislator. You've been a good man. And like I've said before, the titles don't move me; the actions of men and women, that's what moves me. And to see how he -- how he conducted himself along the campaign trail and just in this Body as a whole and brought civility back to this institution is something that I hold true and dear to my heart and respect you as a man. And I think it's something that we all can learn from Senator Raoul, is that he -- I saw him -- on numerous of occasions reach across the aisle to debate contentious bills, whether it was the pension reform or any type of things with recidivism and -- and law that he's done on numerous occasions well. My head -- I tip my cap to you, Senator. I know you're going to do well in your next endeavor, and like Senator Sandoval said, I'm not going to say -- wish you farewell or goodbye, because we're friends and I'm going to see you again and we're going to talk and converse. And wish you nothing but success with your family and your next endeavor in life. Thank you for your service to the great State of Illinois and looking forward to your next chapter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Clayborne, for what purpose do you rise?
To the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
101 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 So, Kwame, just similar to other comments that have been made, you're not leaving, you're just moving on to a higher place to continue to serve the public and do the best that you can. You know, Kwame, and -- and we've never had this particular discussion, but, you know, I've always been very impressed and -- I guess by your passion. You know, when you get up and debate a bill or in committee, you get this look. You get -- you get stiff, because you really believe in what you're advocating and you know that it's the right thing to do. I believe and -- and we talked about this a little while ago. I had a hospice bill and I was moving the bill forward and Kwame found out about it and he came to see me. We sat down, because it was a -- a bill that -- it was a situation that affected his life and affected how his father was treated during his last days on this earth, and Kwame got into the bill and, again, he had that look, he had that passion, and he moved it forward. When things happened -- when they had the hurricane in Haiti, again Kwame became serious about what was going on, again he showed his passion, he showed his commitment to that task and those issues. We've had discussions about our health and we've interacted during that period of time and, again, Kwame showed his compassion to be successful and do what he needed to do to move forward in life and -- and, again, overcome that obstacle. Even with his kids and -- and, you know, we all know that our kids -- we have challenges at times, things come up, but, again -- again, Kwame showed his compassion, his commitment to resolving those issues, making sure his kids were in a stable environment and -- and an environment that was conducive to them being successful in their personal lives. So having said that, Kwame, I -- I'm very sure that that same passion and that same commitment 102 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 will translate to what you'll do as the new Attorney General for the State of Illinois. I am proud to be your friend and I'm proud to be a member of the greatest fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, and Kwame's my brother. I am proud, Kwame, that, you know, and -- and I know everybody knows this saying that when you look at a person's life, unfortunately it's -- it's reflective of the beginning date and the ending date, but most people don't understand that life is lived through the dash. And, Kwame, I am very honored to -- the fact that I've been allowed to share my dash and you've been allowed to share your dash with me. God bless you and you'll be very successful. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Before we get to the final two speakers, Leader Brady and President Cullerton, I hope all the lawyers got their voices in. Leader Brady, for what purpose do you rise?
To -- to the resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the resolution.
Senator, you must be moving on to a very powerful job, because I don't think I've heard so many Senators comment on someone leaving this Chamber, so a -- a lot of buttering up going on here, as alluded to. But congratulations to you and I know you'll do well. I've had the privilege of working with you on several issues and I know you'll take those same strengths to the Attorney General's Office. I just ask that you retain or hire as competent of a staff as Lisa Madigan did most recently in the defense of me in a lawsuit. So, thank you. 103 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) President Cullerton, for…
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. In December of 2003 at a Christmas party of the 44th Ward, a friend of mine came up to me and said - that's my ward organization I'm affiliated with - came up to me and said, "Hey, a friend of mine's going to be a State Senator. Wish you'd say hello to him for me." I said, "Really, what's his name?" Said, "Kwame Raoul." I said, "Well, what district is he from?" He said, "Oh, he's taking Barack Obama's place." I said, "That's not what I heard. I think you're mistaken." He said, "No, no, no. He's -- he's -- Kwame Raoul, he's going to be the State Senator after Barack Obama." I said, "Well, do you -- do you think that he's going to get it, 'cause you have to have a funny name to take over Barack Obama's seat or what -- why do you think he's going to be the…" "No, he's got the votes." I said, "Well, the votes -- the way it works is the committeemen vote to replace." He said, "Yeah, he's -- he's going to be the next State Senator." I said, "Well, that's not what I heard." So I did a little research and what I discovered was this: Kwame Raoul knows how to count. Now, Senator Rooney, I referred to you earlier that I'm not good at arithmetic. I sometimes count with my fingers, but I know how to count too. And it's -- as you know down here, it's very important. It's very important to know how to count to thirty or, in Kwame's case, a majority of the committeemen in the district that -- that elected him. When -- when I supported Kwame -- when many of us, if not all of us, supported Kwame for Attorney General, it was -- we were proud to do it. It's -- it's really amazing to kind of listen to all the 104 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 speeches and to think about, collectively, all the major, major accomplishes -- accomplishments that he's had in the years that he's been here. I would say, and in -- in his resolution, to start off with the fact that he has been able to work with Republicans and to -- to walk across the aisle. The work that he did for us when we were negotiating with the Governor on budgets and workers' comp was extraordinary. I didn't have background in workers' comp; Kwame did. The work that he did on redistricting, the meetings that he had throughout the State and the sponsorship of the Illinois Voting Rights Act, which is a very significant piece of legislation that probably people don't realize how -- how important it is, was extraordinary. The work on pension reform, the work on gun control, the -- the work he did for sexual assault and domestic violence victims. And the extraordinary work that he did and the difficult politics that were involved in the conceal and carry bill, both negotiating with the House and, again, the other side of the -- the aisle and, of course, to be the guy that sponsored the bill to -- to eliminate the death penalty, which was decided in a bipartisan fashion on this Floor and nobody here did any lobbying of any other Senators on that bill. That was a personal bill, but Kwame did a phenomenal job in explaining that. You take all of those together, you add the fact that he's been an extraordinary parent, it's just really remarkable - remarkable career in this Chamber. Now we talk about this -- at this time of year, there's different ways to leave this place. The worst way is probably a death resolution, instead of a congratulatory resolution. Another, of course, is -- we talked about earlier about you learn a lot from losing, but that's another way of leaving here. Many people retire, and people are doing that as 105 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 well. But retiring by being elevated to a higher office is extraordinary, and I'm so proud of Kwame and I know that we will be spending a lot of time in the future. You should be very proud of your service here and we know you'll do a great job as our Attorney General. Congratulations.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall the Senate Resolution 2-2-2-1 pass. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senator Raoul.
Wow! Senator Rooney, unlike you, I -- I did want one of these, 'cause I wanted to hear everything -- every great thing there was. I actually traveled back from South Carolina for this. You know, this has been a heck of a experience. You think about different things you want to do in your life - this has been a dream job, really. I've been blessed to serve with you. I almost wanted to lose - almost - until Lisa Madigan told me that she's passed more legislation as Attorney General than she ever did as State Senator. So I figured I'd -- I'd be back here. And notwithstanding the fact that the Attorney General is the only constitutional officer that doesn't have an office in this building, you know, because I love this place so much, I know I'll be back here. I had an opportunity several years ago to take a job that would have compensated me well. A lot of people thought I was crazy for turning it down. But my passion for what we do here made me make the decision. Notwithstanding the objection of my then wife, I decided I wanted to -- I had a lot more to give to this place and I really enjoyed it, even to the tune of missing that opportunity to make a lot of money. I remember speaking to 106 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 my son about it and I said, "Son, you know, I'm -- I think -- I'm thinking about leaving the Legislature and I'm going to take this job. It's going to pay me well. We're going to -- you'll be able to go to whatever college you want. We'll -- we'll be able to provide for your future really well." And he said, "Dad, when you first took the job, I was six years old and you were gone so much. You had the overtimes and I really didn't -- I really wanted you to lose your -- your next election, but through the years, I've really gotten a kick out of when people come up to you on the street and thank you for something that you've done", and he started crying and it was at that moment, I said, "I'm staying, 'cause there's more work to do." Barack told me on my very first day here -- I asked him for some advice and, you know, he said, "Come down to my -- my office. I'll talk to you as I'm eating lunch before I head off to the airplane." And I said, "Isn't that my office now?" He laughed, but he -- he said, "You know, the number one piece of advice I could give you is to make sure you spend time with people from other parts of the State and people on the other side of the aisle. Get to know one another as friends." And I've at least tried to dedicate myself to that, to getting -- getting to know each and every one of you all, not as fellow legislators, but just as people, as friends. And -- and the moment probably that touched me the most, Tim, is when you asked me to stop by your office before we left the Capitol that week, and I had revealed to some of you all that I'd been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and I thought Tim wanted to talk to me about a bill and so I went over to his office and he told his LAs to not allow anybody to disturb us and -- and I walked in his office, he said, "If you allow me to, I just want to pray with you." That 107 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 moved me so much. That -- that is something that you won't read in a -- a newspaper. You -- you -- you hear about partisan divide, and, Mattie, you talked about the notion of me running for Congress. There's no way I would have ended up going to Congress once I knew what this place was. You know, the things that they don't do in Congress, we do here. You're actually able to champion things, substantive policy, from beginning to end. Running for higher office or what -- perceived higher office, sometimes is driven by the -- the -- the perceived rank of -- of the title, but oftentimes that higher office doesn't allow for you to do the things that each and every one of you all have been able to do here. And for those of you all who are incoming, you're incoming to the job of your -- your life. And -- and for those of you all on the other side of the aisle who are new, notwithstanding the - - the daunting numbers of the next General Assembly, you'll still be able to champion things from beginning to end and work in a bipartisan way to -- to -- to -- to change policy. And we have to overcome how we're characterized by the media. We've proven what we can -- we can do and I really thank you. I thank you, Mr. President, for leading this Chamber the way you do, having the open-door policy that you do, allowing each and every individual legislator to be just that, an individual legislator, that drives their own decision-making. That -- I think that's so critically important to -- to the quality of the Chamber that we have. And, you know, I will -- I'm going to miss being a State Senator, but, you know, I'm not going to -- as Sandoval said, I'm not going to miss you because I'm going to be in touch with you. I'm going to try to be in district with you, and -- and when I say that, I mean all of you all, because I think it -- it -- it matters. I just 108 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 want to thank you all so much for this opportunity and I love it. I love -- love you all. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, Messages from the House.
A Message from the House by Mr. Hollman, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has concurred with the Senate in the passage of a bill of the following title, to wit: Senate Bill 849. Together with the following amendments which are attached, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 849. We have received like Messages on Senate Bill 1469, with House Amendment 1. Passed the House, as amendment -- amended, November 28th, 2018. John W. Hollman, Clerk of the House. Message from the House by Mr. Hollman, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has concurred with the Senate in the passage of a bill of the following title, to wit: Senate Bill 1328. Together with the following amendment which is attached, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Amendment 5 to Senate Bill 1328. We have received like Messages on Senate Bill 1987, with House Amendment 1; Senate Bill 2342, with House Amendment 1; Senate Bill 3051, with House Amendments 2 and 3; Senate Bill 3127, with House 109 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Amendments 1 and 2. Passed the House, as amended, November 28th, 2018. John W. Hollman, Clerk of the House. Message by the House by -- Message from the House by Mr. Hollman, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed a bill of the following title, the veto of the Governor notwithstanding, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 5175. I am further instructed to deliver to you the objections of the Governor, which are contained in the attached copy of his letter to the House of Representatives. Passed the House, November 14th, 2018, by a three-fifths vote. John W. Hollman, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will the Committee on Assignments please meet in the President's Anteroom immediately? The Committee on Assignments, please meet in the President's Anteroom immediately. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Be Approved for Consideration - Motion to Concur with House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 849, Motion to Concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 938, Motion to Concur with House Amendment 5 to Senate Bill 1328, Motion to Concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1469, Motion to Concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2342, Motion to Concur with House Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 3051, Motion to Concur with House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 110 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 3247. Signed, Senator James Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Muñoz, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR MUÑOZ: Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, today we wished a number of our colleagues well as they're leaving the Senate. There is a Senator here, though, who did not request a resolution. He's a very quiet man, but he's a good man. I didn't want to let him walk off into the sunset without saying a couple things about him. Senator Bivins, we have a few things in common. We were both in law enforcement, although he had a lot more years than I and he was a boss. I was just an officer. And he became sheriff, and then he came here to the Senate approximately ten years ago. It's been an honor and a pleasure to work with you, Senator. You were always a man of your word even if you couldn't be there with me and I respect that so much. Both of our sons volunteered and requested to go to combat to serve their countries. And thank God both of 'em -- both made it home. Decided he wants to retire. Again, he's a man of few words, but when he get up and spoke, everybody listened. Ladies and Gentlemen, before he leaves this Chamber, if we can say thank you to him and give him an applause, because he truly is a good man. I will miss him. I don't know if he's going to come back here, but I'll tell you what, I'm definitely going to have to go to his neck of the woods to visit him. My friend, take care. God 111 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 bless you and your family. I wish you all the best, partner.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Rezin, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you. I'm not quite -- a point of personal privilege, I guess, since there's no resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
Thank you. I'm glad that my colleague stood up and did what I was thinking of as well to honor the gentleman I've gotten to know to my left and have enjoyed every minute of it. He is a smart man. He is our go-to person when it comes to law enforcement. He is probably the most fair and honest person I have ever known. It is an honor to sit next to him. As you know, he is very quiet and did not want a resolution, but I think it's only fitting to at least stand up and thank him for his service to the Senate, to our caucus. Thank you for your wisdom. And one fun fact you may not know about him - it's a habit he got me started on - he's a big fan of diet root beer. So we always sit over here and commiserate over diet root beer every day. But, again, he's a family man. He will be missed and probably the -- the most honest person that I've met and sets the standard for -- of, you know, Senators down in the Senate. So we wish, you know, many good things for you and your family, Senator Bivins.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) We will turn to Supplemental Calendar No. 3, Concurrences. Senate Bill 849. Senator McGuire. Senator McGuire. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion. 112 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 849. Signed by Senator McGuire.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator McGuire, on your motion. SENATOR McGUIRE: Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This bill, as amended, extends the -- sunset date to January 1st, 2021, of the Illinois Power Agency Act, which provides that home rule units of government shall not be allowed to tax or impose fees on the generation of electricity or the emissions from electric generation. That would constitute double taxation. The current language is set to sunset on the forthcoming January 1st, 2019, if further action is not taken. So, again, this is a two-year extension of the sunset prohibiting home rule units from taxing sources of electric generation and I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur with House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 849. 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 52 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur with House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 849, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 938. Senator Steans. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
113 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 938. Signed by Senator Steans.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Steans, on your motion.
Thank you. Yes, I move to concur. I -- this does two things: It prohibits an institute of {sic} (for) mental disease facility from obtaining a specialized mental health rehab facility, or SMHRF, license if the facility does not have a provisional SMHRF license as of November 30th, 2018, and it also clarifies that administrative rules requiring that ten percent of the SMHRF rooms must be single occupancy in the first three years of licensing apply to the aggregate number of SMHRF beds, not facility specific. I don't know of any opposition. This has been an agreed bill. Thanks.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 938. 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 52 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 938, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 1328. Senator Mulroe. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their 114 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Amendment No. 5 to Senate Bill 1328. Signed by Senator Mulroe.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Mulroe, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. I move to concur on House Amendment No. 5 to Senate Bill 1328. This is a trailer bill to House Bill 4594 that we just passed in May, which was a comprehensive rewrite of the Illinois statute establishing court fees and fines. It actually corrects a drafting error with respect to a sunset date with the -- with respect to the civil assessments. It also reduces the eligibility for civil assessment waivers to two hundred percent of the federal poverty level, instead of four hundred percent, and it also requires the court clerks to collect and report data on the new assessment schedules so that we can analyze to make sure our predictions with respect to the underlying bill were correct or not, and if necessary, we'll have to modify them in the future. I'd ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur with House Amendment 5 to Senate Bill 1328. 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 51 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur with House Amendment 5 to Senate Bill 1328, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 1415. Senator Cunningham. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion. 115 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 1415. Signed by Senator Cunningham.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Cunningham, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Senate concur with the House amendment to Senate Bill 14 -- 1415. This has become an omnibus TIF extension bill. It includes TIFs in Chicago, Country Club Hills, Hartford, Hoopeston, LaSalle, Manlius, and North Utica. Be happy to answer any quesitons. I'd ask for the Chamber's support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Senator Barickman, for what purpose do you rise?
To the motion -- concurrence.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the motion.
Just, I think, for the sake of the Body and particularly for some of the Members on our side of the aisle who may look at this through various lenses, this legislation includes a TIF extension for a municipality in my district. I appreciate the work of the sponsor on this, and for those who are able on this side of the aisle -- aisle, I would ask for your support on this resolution. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 116 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Is there any further discussion? Senator Oberweis, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the motion.
I'm sorry, motion. Twenty years is enough for TIFs, guys and girls. This is crazy to keep on extending these and extending these and extending these. I strongly encourage a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur with House Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 1415. 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 43 Ayes, 4 Nays, none voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur with House Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 1415, and it -- the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 1469. Senator Steans. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1469. Signed by Senator Steans.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Steans, on your motion.
Yes, this is a trailer bill to the hospital assessment bill 117 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 we passed last Session, and I want to thank Senator Syverson as well as folks over in the House. This has been a negotiated trailer bill between the four caucuses and working with the Governor's Office. It does a couple of things. It extends the date for the administrative rules from the Hospital Transformation Committee for Phase 2 of the assessment program from September 12th of 2018 to April 1st of 2019 and dissolves the Transformation Committee after that. It also changes the due date for the assessment tax from hospitals from the 14th to 17th. And there was a -- sort of a problem with paying critical access hospitals that this trailer bill is fixing. It was hurting the critcal access, so this will fix that, both retroactively for those critical access and moving forward. And last, it extends the tax exemption status for non-profit hospitals to July 1st of 2022. I urge your Yes vote on it. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1469. 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 53 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1469, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 2342. Senator Harmon. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2342. 118 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Signed by Senator Harmon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Harmon, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. The bill, as amended by the House, is a technical trailer bill to the civil asset forfeiture reform bill that we passed here in the -- early in this General Assembly. All of the stakeholders have agreement. I'm not aware of any concerns about the bill and I ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur with the House on House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2342. 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 51 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2342, and the bill is declared passed. Senator Raoul, for what purpose do you rise? Senate Bill 3051. Senator Clayborne. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 3051. Signed by Senator Clayborne.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Clayborne, on your motion.
Thank you. I would ask that we override the Governor's vote 119 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 -- veto… I'm sorry. I -- I would ask that we -- we accept House Floor Amendments No. 1 and -- and 2 -- 3 and 2, I'm sorry, 3 and 2. I'm -- yeah, 3 and 2. Basically, they're -- between the time this bill passed and was signed by the Governor, it expired. It wasn't intended to expire and we change the effective date. I would ask for your favorable support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur with… Senator Rezin, …purpose do you rise?
Go ahead and -- I -- I'd like to speak, but go ahead and adopt it. I'm sorry.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Okay, we'll go back to this. Senator Rezin, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank -- thank you. To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the motion.
Thank you. Yes, we have seen this bill before. It did pass by the Senate and went to the House and passed initially the first time. Because of the missed deadline, it came back to the House. And I think the first time when this bill went through, there were many challenges with it that just kind of weren't vetted the first time the bill went through. And something that I have said from the beginning, that, you know, when we pass large pieces of legislation to help utilities build out or improve their infrastructure or, in this case, allow private companies to 120 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 purchase government infrastructure, I think that there needs to be safeguards in place that protect the ratepayer. So, again, I made several suggestions to make the bill better, none that were picked up, but one would be, in this bill, we are allowing the companies, two companies, to come into municipalities and purchase the water system at fair market value - fair market value, as opposed to depreciated value. Fair market value is the value of a -- a new car or a new house when you would buy it. Depreciated value would be the cost of that asset depreciated over years, wear and tear on the car, on the house. And as a result, we're allowing the -- the company to come in and pay fair market value for infrastructure that really has not been updated in thirty years and to simply pass that cost on to ratepayers. It also then allows the company to come in and update the infrastructure and pass that cost on, again, to the ratepayers. Also, this bill really takes away the power from the ICC to decide what's fair and reasonable for costs. It says essentially the ICC has to pass through that fair market value and pass through the cost of updating the infrastructure to the customers. We've also asked for and did not receive a cap, a hard cap, in this bill. Now, if you've been lobbied on this bill, they will tell you that there's a cap in the bill, two and a half or five percent, depending if the company buys one or more municipalities -- or water systems. But that cap, every time the company goes back to the ICC and asks for an increase every several years, goes back to zero, so then they can ask for another cap -- or another increase, up to five percent, for existing customers. If you're a new customer in the region, there is no cap for this bill - at all. You, the new customer, will have to pay the cost of updating this infrastructure, whatever the cost. And as a 121 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 result, the people that have experienced a -- a private company coming in and buy their water systems, Bolingbrook and the surrounding suburbs, has -- have had double-digit increases in their water bills, and the customers are not protected. Lastly I would say, we asked for in this -- in this bill, and it is not included, a referendum, a referendum to allow the -- the ratepayer to decide if you're going to allow the city to sell your water system. They should have a say in this. We all talk about and we hear in the newspaper about the parking meter issue in Chicago, where that infrastructure was sold to a private company and now people are challenged and they're upset because they no longer own it and are experiencing increases in parking. Again, as the Minority Spokesman, sitting on Energy for eight years, we deal with energy bill and utility infrastructure update bills all of the time. We've seen it with the gas bill, the gas infrastructure bill that we passed several years ago, and there are caps in place to protect your ratepayer, that person that receives the bill and says, "Wait a minute, why did my bill just increase by twenty percent? What's going on?" We passed a ComEd bill, the smart grid bill, ComEd and Ameren. They agreed to a two and a half percent annual cap regarding their bill. And then most recently, we just passed the FEJA bill, the nuclear bill that we all talked about, and when we had that discussion and talked about that bill, everyone talked about what's the impact on the ratepayers. What's the impact on that person who receives that electric bill? How much increase will they see? So I know it's important to everyone in this room to have hard caps in place to protect your ratepayers. I can tell you, Ladies and Gentlemen, this is not the bill. This bill does not protect your ratepayers and that's why. When 122 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 everyone says that lobbied this bill, "Oh, Rezin has a problem with this bill. Rezin has a local issue with this bill", well, she does, because I have constituents and I have areas that I represent that had these private water companies come in and have seen their bills increase in double digits, and when they go to ask the company, "Why are our bills increasing? What can we do about it?", they do not receive any reply from the company. They just blame it on the ICC. Ladies and Gentlemen, the ICC does not protect your ratepayers in this bill. This bill is written to give a blank check to two private water companies. I guarantee you, if they come in and buy a municipality in your district, you will be hearing from your ratepayers. I ask for a No vote. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Anderson, for what purpose do you rise?
To the motion, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the motion.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I -- I -- I rise in support of this bill. I think this bill is -- is, obviously, not perfect, but there's been a lot of work that's gone into this, and I think this is the -- this is the takeaway from this bill, is that this provides local control and it's -- this is a bill that -- that has garnered support from both the business community and from labor, which is very, very rare. So I think -- at the end of the day, again, although not perfect, I think this gives tools back to the local communities and I think this is a good starting point going 123 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 forward, and I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine, for what purpose do you rise?
…Mr. -- Mr. President, real…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the motion.
I'm sorry, to the motion. Two communities in my Senate district have sold their systems to Illinois American Water. They're diverse communities. My hometown of Alton sold after extensive debate and analysis by experts, which they brought in, and the board of aldermen approved it by an overwhelming vote. They got a hundred million dollars - fifty million in cash, which pays down their extensive firefighter and police pensions, and fifty million in capital improvements, which they would have had to make because of EPA, federal EPA, regulations. These are old water systems and they're -- the communities are not financially able to put in the improvements to save our environment because of the EPA rules. These are environmental issues and -- clean water issues. The second community is the Village of Godfrey, a very conservative Republican village, dominated by business people on the board of trustees. After extensive analysis and extensive debate, they overwhelmingly sold their system too. I don't have the price tag, but they thought it was the best thing for the Village, considering millions of dollars to repair an aging water system. So, these are two communities and they made their decisions by an arm's-length transaction -- an arm's-length analysis of all the issues raised by the -- the speaker, who -- 124 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 who -- who spoke before the last speaker. So she obviously wasn't able to make the Alton City Council and the Godfrey City Council, so they voted overwhelmingly to do it. It's a free enterprise system. Governor Rauner, "Mr. Free Enterprise", signed this into law. Thank you. Vote Aye.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur with House Amendments 2 and 3… Senator Clayborne, to close.
Thank -- thank you. You know, I -- I -- I heard my colleague on the other side and heard her compassion, and -- and since this is my last bill, I'm going to miss the debate moving back and forth, but I -- I think this is a very good bill and I think there's some issues that have been addressed. First of all, this is an asset that's owned by the citizens, or the ratepayers. How many of them do you believe would argue that they should not get fair market value for their public asset? First of all, most of us - I assume all of us - would want fair market value for our assets. Two is -- the other issue is that the rates will finally be determined or approved by the ICC. So there are controls in place that give us some assurance on that there will be fair rates. But most importantly, for my colleagues, and -- and -- I love ending my tenure here by raising the issue that the Illinois Chamber of Commerce supports this bill. Organized labor supports this bill. So I -- I -- I assume my colleagues on the other side can have a great appreciation that this is a bill that's supported by two advocates that don't always agree. So I would -- I make the assumption that the fact that the Illinois Chamber supports 125 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 this, they believe it's an increase in jobs, increases the base, and supports Illinois and Illinois business. Obviously, labor supports it for the same reason. It creates jobs and it creates economic opportunities. I would ask for your favorable vote. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall the Senate concur with House Amendment 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 3051. 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 40 Ayes, 5 Nays, 1 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur with House Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 3051, and the bill is declared passed. House -- or Senate Bill 3247. Senator Sandoval. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 3247. Signed by Senator Sandoval.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Sandoval, on your motion.
Thank you -- thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. I motion to concur to House Amendment No. 2. House Amendment No. 2 is a technical amendment to correct a -- the definition of a legal description in a -- the annual property transfer IDOT does to a number of downstate and suburban municipalities. And I ask a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 126 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur with House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 3247. 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 51 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur with House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 3247, and the bill is declared passed. Mr. Secretary… Mr. Secretary, Messages from the House.
A Message from the House by Mr. Hollman, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has concurred with the Senate in the passage of a bill of the following title, to wit: Senate Bill 203. Together with the following amendments which are attached, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 203. We have received like Messages on Senate Bill 1993, with House Amendment 2; Senate Bill 3102, with House Amendment 1; and Senate Bill 3549, with House Amendment 1. Passed the House, as amended, November 28th, 2018. John W. Hollman, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will the Committee on Assignments -- please meet in the President's Anteroom immediately? The Committee on Assignments, please meet in the President's Anteroom immediately. Mr. Secretary, are there any Motions in Writing?
127 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Yes, Mr. President. I have a Motion in Writing to Override Amendatory Veto on House Bill 5175.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Please put it on the Calendar, Mr. Secretary. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Be Approved for Consideration - Motion to Concur with House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 203, Motion to Concur with House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1993, Motion -- Motion to Concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3549, Motion to Concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Joint Resolution 54. Signed, Senator James Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) With leave of the Body, we'll go to Supplemental Calendar No. 1, House Bill 2505. Senator McGuire. Senator McGuire seeks leave of the Body to return House Bill 2505 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is House Bill 2505. Mr. Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator McGuire.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator McGuire, on your amendment. SENATOR McGUIRE: Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I move adoption of the amendment, which -- which I will explain on 3rd. 128 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor will vote -- say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is House Bill 2505. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 2505. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator McGuire, on your bill. SENATOR McGUIRE: Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This bill, as amended, improves the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program by enabling our public universities to carry over funds from one year to the other to provide financial aid to incoming classes. I know of no opposition and ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Senator Rose, for what purpose do you rise?
For purposes of legislative intent, I'd like to ask my colleague a question, please, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 129 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 State your intent.
Thank you. Good Senator McGuire, for purposes of legislative intent, is the idea behind this bill, and specifically page 7, lines 12 to 14, to constrain the universities and essentially have -- make it so that they're holding these funds on behalf of the students who have become eligible for this new AIM HIGH program? Is that correct, sir?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator McGuire. SENATOR McGUIRE: Senator Rose, yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Rose.
Senator McGuire, as we continue this colloquy on -- for legislative intent, they would have to hold these funds on behalf of those students for only for the use of those students as they matriculate on from, say, freshman to sophomore, sophomore to junior, and so forth and so on. The universities would not be able to use that -- those funds on any other purpose. Is that correct, sir?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator McGuire. SENATOR McGUIRE: Senator Rose, you are one hundred percent correct.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Rose.
130 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Thank you, Mr. President and Members, for the indulgence.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 2505 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 48 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. With leave of the Body, we'll turn to page 2 of the printed Calendar, House Bills 1 -- House Bill 166. Senator Mulroe. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 166. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Mulroe, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 166 amends the Chicago Municipal Employees' Annuity and Benefit Fund and the Chicago Laborers' and Retirement Board Employees' Annuity and Benefit Fund of the Pension Code to correct two potential benefit diminishments. It also addresses technical discrepancies relating to the changes in employee contributions under the Municipal Fund and the Labor Fund as a result of the 2017 BIMP. I know of no opposition. I'd ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 166 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, 131 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 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 49 Ayes, 1 Nay, none voting Present. House Bill 166, having -- receiving the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 278. Senator Tom Cullerton. House Bill 982. President Cullerton. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 982. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Can we keep the noise down on the Floor a little bit? President Cullerton, on your bill.
Yes, thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This bill deals with the situation where there's a vacancy in the Office of the Cook County Board President. Currently, if there's a vacancy, the members -- the -- the replacement comes from within the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Even if there's more than twenty-eight months on an unexpired term, there's an election, but it has to be one of the commissioners who's elected. So this bill would change this procedure to require the commissioners to appoint one of their members to serve as president within thirty days of a vacancy, and if there's more than the -- twenty-eight months remaining on the unexpired term, a special election shall be held at the next general election to elect a person, not limited to the commissioners, to serve the unexpired term. If there's less than twenty-eight months remaining on the term, the officer appointed 132 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 within the thirty-day window will serve the remainder of the term. So it's a aberration in the law. It was a -- probably a mistake going back to 1947 and this corrects it. Passed unanimously in the House and I'd ask for an Aye vote. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 982 pass. All those 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? Take the record. On that question, there are 50 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 982, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 1167. Senator Aquino. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 1167. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Aquino, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, House Bill 1167 extends the Language Access to Government Services Task Force Act from December 31st, 2018 to July 1, 2020. The bill requires that the Task Force submit its final report with findings and -- and recommendations to the General Assembly, the Governor, and the Attorney General on or before December 31st, 2019. The report filed with the General Assembly must be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate only in electronic form and in the manner that the Clerk and 133 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Secretary direct. I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1167 pass. All those 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? Take the record. On that question, there are 47 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1167, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 1168. Senator Cunningham. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 1168. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Cunningham, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 1168 merely moves a -- a sunset date from 2019 to 2021, related to the law regarding having a single portal on the Internet for Illinois State government. I know of no opposition. Would appreciate your support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1168 pass. All those 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? Take the record. On that question, there are 50 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1168, having received the required constitutional majority, 134 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 is declared passed. House Bill 1193. Senator Cunningham. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 1193. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Out of the record. House Bill 1594. Senator Hunter. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 1594. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hunter, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 1594 with House Amendment 1, it basically extends the sunset on the Commission on Young Adult Employment Act to January 1st, 2022 from January 1 of 2019. And I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1594 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 this question, there are 50 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1594, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Clayborne in the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) 135 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 We're on page 2 of the Calendar. House Bill 4685. Senator Tom Cullerton. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 4685. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Senator Cullerton, to explain.
I don't know. It looked like it was unopposed in the beginning, Senator. I kind of looked at -- Mr. President. House Bill 4685 creates the - stop - creates a -- the reduction of - trying to reduce the risk of skin cancer - Excessive UV Exposure in Children {sic} (Reducing the Risk of Skin Cancer and Excessive UV Exposure in Children) Act. This passed a hundred percent in the -- in the House. I apologize for not bringing it on the last day of Session, as I left for my son's graduation. And I would appreciate an Aye vote and I will take any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House -- House Bill 4685 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. There are 48 voting Yea, none voting Nay, none voting Present. House Bill 4685, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Link. House Bill 4873. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 4873. 136 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Senator Link, to explain.
Thank you, Mr. President. This maintains verification fee cap at a dollar for a payday loan, but authorizes the fee to go up to three dollars for an installment payday loan on or after July 1st of 2020. I know of no opposition to the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 4873 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. There are 45 voting Yea, 3 voting Nay, none voting Present. House Bill 4873, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Link back in the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) House Bill 5093. Senator Martinez. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 5093. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Martinez, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 5093 is a trailer bill. It create -- which was House Bill 5611, which created the 137 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 Department of Innovations {sic} (Innovation) and Technology as administrative agency under the Office of the Governor. All this bill does is just -- the language clarifies the existing practice. And I'll be happy to answer any questions or I will ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 5093 pass. All those 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? Take the record. On that question, 51 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 5093, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 5698. Senator Harris. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 5698. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Harris, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. House Bill 5698 provides the imposition of term limits by referendum, ordinance, or otherwise must be prospective only and not retroactive. This passed the House 99 to 7. And this is my good friend Mike Connelly's last bill cosponsoring, so I would appreciate a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Senator Righter, for what purpose 138 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 do you rise?
To the bill, if I might, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the bill.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is -- this is one of those bills where, at some point, if you vote for this, when you go home, your constituents will look at you and say, "Wow, did you guys really do that?" This is the situation: There is a person who wants to seek more time in a municipal office in a community that has adopted term limits. He is term-limited out. He happens also to be a Member of the House of Representatives and he is cosponsoring legislation that would vitiate the decisions that voters in these communities have made that they want term limits on their local officials. It is a very insider baseball thing to say the least. I understand what Senator Harris is doing here, and the decision on whether or not we should have term limits in municipalities or not isn't up to us. It's up to the voters in those districts. The courts, including the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, has spoken specifically on this issue and said that what the municipalities have done is constitutional, including retroactive term limits, which is what they've enacted. This bill, the way it's written, would not only turn them into just prospective, it would completely vitiate those term limits in communities. It's not just this one district. We're not talking about just one district; it is several communities throughout the State of Illinois. This would be Springfield moving in, not just in one district or one community, but several communities, and saying, "We appreciate you speaking 139 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 out that you wanted term limits, but here in Springfield we are going to make a different decision to allow one person to seek municipal office again." That's the wrong thing to do. That's the wrong thing to do for the citizens in these other municipalities. For those reasons, Mr. President, I would urge a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, Senator Harris, to close.
Thank you, Mr. President. I appreciate the comments by the previous speaker, but this is no different than many other constitutional amendments that was filed in the General Assembly dealing with term limits. Contrary to what you said, though, the difference in this bill is that this bill -- the -- the guy that's running for office or the -- or the person that's running for office is not being term-limited out of the office if they've never run before. This is to bring equality to term limits, to make sure that you cannot target individuals because of any political reason. It's to make sure that -- if term limit -- if a -- if a municipality decides to have term limits, they're allowed to have 'em; it's just going to be fair, where this can't be retroactive in moving forward, much like we did here in the Senate. When we enacted term limits, we didn't say from your previous experiences. If that was the case, we all would be gone. This is an opportunity for citizens to still have a voice and to move it forward proactively. I request a favorable vote. Do it for Connelly.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 5698 pass. All those in 140 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 favor, 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. There are 28 Ayes, 17 Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 5698 fails to receive the required constitutional majority and is declared failed. House Bill 5769. Senator Morrison. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 5769. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Morrison, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill requires health care providers, insurance companies, and Medicaid managed care companies to use a uniform electronic prior authorization form for prescriptions beginning July 1, 2020. This is a bill that's been negotiated and there are no opponents that I am aware of.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 5769 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 50 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 5769, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 5971. Senator -- President Cullerton. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 5971. 141 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) President Cullerton, on your bill.
Yes, thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. If you read this bill, it looks to be a pretty straightforward bill and not controversial, because it designates the month of April as Arab American Heritage Month to be observed throughout the State. But one thing you may not know, that up until this morning, I wasn't the sponsor of this bill. The chief sponsor of this bill this morning was Senator Landek. But Senator Landek, who has a number of Arab Americans in his district and he's a strong supporter of them, when he realized that Speaker Madigan had been the sponsor of this bill in the House, he wanted to have, as a tribute to the Arab Americans, the Leader of the Senate be the sponsor. And so we are missing an historic opportunity on this last day of the year for a first bill of Senator Landek, but I bill-jacked him -- I bill-jacked him and I am now the sponsor. I'm going to add to my record number of pieces of legislation in the history of the State of Illinois by asking you to please vote Aye.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 5971 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 46 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 5971, having received the required constitutional majority, 142 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 is declared passed. We will… House Bill 130. Senator Fowler. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 130. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Fowler, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President. This is the same language that we passed here in the Senate on November the 17th that transfers the Hardin County Work Camp from the Illinois Department of Corrections to the County of Hardin. It passed here. This came over from the -- from the House, House Bill 130, and I ask for a favorable vote, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 130 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 51 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 130, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. We will now turn to Supplemental 4, Concurrences. Senate Bill 203. Senator Lightford. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 203. Signed by Senator Lightford. 143 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Lightford, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This amendment changes the effective date to make it immediate and it also addresses the prevailing wage so that it shall not be less than the rate for similar work performed in the locality under a collective bargain agreement. I'd be happy to answer questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? The question is, shall the Senate concur with House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 203. 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 44 Ayes, 6 Nays, none voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur with House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 203, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 1993. Senator Mulroe. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 1993. Signed by Senator Mulroe.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Mulroe, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This is a gut-and-replace amendment and it serves as a trailer bill to House Bill 3817 regarding juvenile expungement. It makes various 144 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 technical and verbiage changes regarding expungement of juvenile record -- records. Defines various important terms. Establishes time frames for retroactive expungement and clarifies retention periods of records containing information related to ongoing felony investigations, civil lawsuits, and internal investigations. I know of no opponents. I'd ask for your support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur with House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1993. 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 44 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. The Senate -- having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur with House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1993, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 3549. Senator Rose. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3549. Signed by Senator Rose.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Rose, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. This is an extremely important bill. The federal government is requiring us to come up with the rules for how we govern underground natural gas storage pipelines. The Illinois Environmental Council and the Department of Natural Resources and the industry have worked all summer on this. It's 145 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 now an agreed bill. It's important that people should know that if we don't do this, we are potentially going to lose federal grants because of the non-enforcement that's being required by the federal government. It's also the right thing to do, because it gives the Department of Natural Resources, for the first time ever, the ability to actually enforce and regulate our pipelines to prevent disasters from occurring. So it's an agreed bill. I would hope everybody could support it. I think it was unanimous out of the House. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3549. 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 49 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3549, and the bill is declared passed. Senator Fowler, for what purpose do you rise?
Yes, thank you, Mr. President. I'd like for the record to reflect that I intended to vote No on House Bill 5698, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The record shall reflect your intention. Senator McConchie, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCONCHIE: Thank you, Mr. President. I also intended to vote No on House Bill 5698.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 146 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 The record will reflect your intention. Senate Joint Resolution 54. Senator Schimpf. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate -- Senate Joint Resolution 54. Signed by Senator Schimpf.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Schimpf, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. The House -- the House amendment was just stylistic changes to a task force -- highway task force resolution that passed out of here on a voice vote in the spring. There was no -- no expenditure of State funds. The -- the House amendment just made stylistic changes. It replaced "Illinois Farm Bureau" with "an organization representing the Illinois agricultural industry" and -- and such. Know of -- know of no opposition. I'm happy to answer questions and I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur with House Amendment 1 to -- Senate Joint Resolution 54. 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 49 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Joint Resolution 54, and the resolution is declared passed. Senator Harris, for what purpose do you rise? 147 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018
Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to move for Postponed Consideration for House Bill 5698.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) It -- it will be put on Postponed Consideration. Senator Tom Cullerton, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to be recorded as a Yes vote on HB 5971, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The record will reflect your intention. House Bill -- bottom of Supplemental Calendar 4, Motions in Writing to Override a Total Veto -- vehicle -- Total Vote {sic} of a House Bill. House Bill 5175. Senator Cunningham. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move that House Bill 5175 do pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. Signed by Senator Cunningham.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Cunningham, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Senate vote to override the Governor's veto of House Bill 5175. What this bill does is it removes a provision of the existing State law that allows the Illinois Charter School Commission to undo a vote by a local school board not to open a charter school in their district. Think it's very important that we honor the wishes of local school districts when they make a decision about whether or not to open a charter. The current law does not allow that to happen. It 148 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 allows the Charter School Commission to undo a decision by a local school board. Be happy to answer any questions. I'd appreciate your support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Weaver, for what purpose do you rise?
…motion, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the motion.
Appreciate the person bringing this forward, their comments. I think it's very important we take a serious look at this. It's really important to underserved districts; that while there are - - we all support local control, there are times when the local school board acts in error. And I want you to understand what happens with this. The Commission's been in place. We've heard very few complaints with the Commission. And, first, if the local school district does something, then there's appeal. It goes to the Commission, and what happens, the Commission has very specific guidelines they got to stay within. But the thing I want you to really look at is, there's been forty-eight times there's been appeals, only six times has the school district been overruled, and each time it's been because the school district should have been overruled. This is so important, what charter schools do for children and allows parents to have a choice to have those charter schools. And I think, while we support local school districts, I think it's more important that we're also supporting parents and their opportunity to have that choice. So I'd request a No vote on this. Thank you. 149 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bush, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill, Mr. President. Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the motion.
Thank you. To the motion. Senator, could you clarify for me, does this bill apply to existing charter schools?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) He indicates he will yield. Senator Cunningham.
Thank you for that question. It's a good one. I think it's important to stress that this bill will have no effect on any existing charter school, will have no effect on them whatsoever. It is also important to note that this bill in no way impedes any local school board from voting to open a charter in their district. They are free to do this. All this bill does is stop an agency appointed by the Governor from undoing the wishes of a locally elected school board. So the answer to your question is, no, it does not affect any existing charter school.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bush.
Thank you very much, Senator. Can you also just -- I realize it's very difficult to see into the future, but it's my understanding then -- in speaking with the IEA, that they are not intending to move any legislation forward that would deal with existing charter schools. Is that your understanding? 150 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Cunningham.
Yes, that is my understanding, as far as the proponents of the bill are concerned, and it is my belief that we should not do that. As I said, this would only affect the -- the way the Charter School Commission can overrule the decision of local school boards.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bush.
Thanks very much for those answers. I appreciate it. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator McCarter, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCARTER: To the motion.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the motion. SENATOR McCARTER: I -- I heard the word "local control" in a whole new setting now. Two, maybe three, bills just passed to take away mandate relief, taking away local control, but now, you -- you want to push this bill because of local control. Did -- did -- did you forget what you just voted on? And there needs to be an appeal process, 'cause you think schools that are -- are approached with competition don't need an appeal process? Yes, they do. This is -- this is not the right thing to do and -- and nor is it being honest when say -- when you say you want local control, because previously today, you just took away local control with mandate 151 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 relief, but now you want to use that catchphrase to pass this bill. I think that's wrong. If you really want to give charter schools the right to fight to be in that community, to -- to be available for -- for children at risk and children that really need this help, you shouldn't vote for this bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) There any further discussion? Senator Cunningham, to close.
Thank you, Mr. President. I appreciate the debate. I -- I just want to illustrate one point, that the way the existing law affects us, I think it -- it's important that we repeat that. Right now, if a school district in any of our districts, any of our Senate districts, considers whether or not to open a charter school, the elected members of that board, and they -- you know, it's -- it's a big decision. Are they going to divert a big part of their revenue to the establishment of a new school? That's something they have to debate, something -- their parents can come forward, talk to the board about, something -- they can elect board members, an issue they can elect them on, whether they're for or against it. That school board should get together, discuss these things, make a decision on them. I think we should want the decisions of our local school boards to be final. I don't think a bureaucracy in Springfield should be able to step in after the school boards have taken those action -- those actions and overrule the action. That's really all this bill does. I think it's -- it's an important bill for our school districts and I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall… The question is, shall House Bill 152 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 5175 pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. 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 31 Ayes, 14 Nays, none voting Present. The motion fails. Correction of the record that House Bill 5698 will not be put on Postponed Consideration. President Cullerton, for what purpose do you rise?
Purpose of an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
I wanted to inform the Senators that we're going to be distributing the Calendar for the -- the next General Assembly as well as the remaining days of this General Assembly. So we are going to be in Session on January 8th, which is a Tuesday. January 9th is our inauguration. So those will be distributed. We'll let you know the times of the Sessions in the future. And hope everybody has a great Christmas. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Joint Resolution 83, offered by Senator Clayborne. (Secretary reads SJR No. 83)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Clayborne moves to suspend the rules for the purposes of immediate consideration and adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 83. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the rules are suspended. Senator Clayborne moves for 153 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 145th Legislative Day 11/28/2018 the adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 83. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. We will now proceed to the Order of Resolution Consent Calendar. With leave of the Body, all those resolutions read in today will be added to the Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, have there been any objections filed by {sic} any resolution on the Consent Calendar?
No objections filed, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall the resolutions on the Consent Calendar be adopted. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the motion carries, and the resolutions are adopted. Mr. Secretary, Messages from the President.
Letter dated November 28th, 2018. Dear Mr. Secretary - Enclosed please find the Senate Session Calendar for the 101st General Assembly. If you have any questions, please contact my Chief of Staff, Kristin Richards. Sincerely, John J. Cullerton, Senate President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate -- Senate -- pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 83, and -- the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 12 noon on the 7th day of January 2019, or until the call of the Senate President. The Senate stands adjourned. 154