The regular Session of the 92nd General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be in their desks? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? Our prayer today will be given by Senator Geo-Karis. Senator Geo-Karis.
(Prayer by Senator Geo-Karis)
Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Radogno.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Radogno)
Senator Jones, Wendell Jones, that is.
Mr. President, I just noticed on the Senate Calendar, it says "Semper Fi, Mr. President". I'd be happy to relate that to you this morning. Mr. President, I move that reading and approval of the Journal of Monday, January 6th, in the year 2003, be postponed, pending arrival of the printed Journal.
Senator Wendell Jones moves to postpone the reading and the approval of the Journal, pending the arrival of the printed transcript. There being no objections, so ordered. We have three requests for -- excuse me, four requests for taping the proceedings today: Illinois Information Service; CBS Channel 2 - Chicago; Chicago _______________ Tribune reporter, still photographs; and Channel 20 News from Springfield. Is leave granted? Leave is granted. Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 586, offered by Senator Cullerton and all Members. 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 It's a death resolution, Mr. President.
Consent Calendar.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Messages from the House {sic}.
A Communication from Senator Petka, dated January 7th, 2003. Dear Mr. Secretary - Pursuant to the provisions of Senate Rules 3-1 and 3-2, I hereby resign my position as a member and Vice-Chair of the Senate Executive Committee, effective immediately. Signed by Senator Petka. A Message from the President, dated January 7th, 2003. Dear Mr. Secretary - Pursuant to the provisions of Senate Rules 3-1 and 3-2, I hereby designate Senator Stanley Weaver to serve as Chairperson on the Senate -- Vice-Chairperson on the Senate Executive Committee, effective immediately. Signed by President Philip. Another Message from the President, dated January 7th, 2003. Dear Mr. Secretary - Pursuant to the provisions of Senate Rules 3-1 and 3-2, I hereby appoint Senator Duane Noland to be a member of the Senate Executive Committee effective immediately. Signed by President Philip.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 587, offered by Senator Emil Jones and all Members. And Senate Resolution 588, by Senator O'Malley. They're both death resolutions, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Consent Calendar. Committee Reports. 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003
Senator Weaver, Chair of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Referred to the Committee on Executive - Senate Amendment 3 to House Bill 333; Be Approved for Consideration - Senate Bill 1650, Senate Bill 2424, House Bill 333, House Bill 3439, House Joint Resolution 83, the Motion to Concur with House Amendments 1, 2 and 4 to Senate Bill 1650, the Motion to Concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2424, Senate Amendment 2 to House Bill 3439 and Senate Amendment 2 to House Joint Resolution 83.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Senator Weaver.
Thank you, Madam President. There will be an Executive Committee -- meeting at 11:50. 11:50. 212.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) 11:50? 5-0? Executive Committee will meet at 11:50 a.m. Senator Sullivan, for what purpose do you rise, sir?
Point of personal privilege, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) State your point.
Obviously we have many comings and goings today and tomorrow, but one on our side of the aisle, we have a longtime staffer who is moving on. If everyone could congratulate John VanZwieten on moving on to the next stage of his life.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Congratulate John VanZwieten, and we thank you for your good service. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, we will now proceed to Executive Session for the purpose of advice and consent. Senator DeLeo makes a motion... Senator DeLeo. 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 SENATOR DeLEO: Thank you very much, Madam President. At this time, I move that the Senate resolve itself into Executive Session for the purpose of acting on the Governor's appointments set forth in his Messages of December 5th, 2002, and January 6th of 2003. Madam President, with respect to the Message of December 5th, 2002, I would like to read the non-salaried appointments of which the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate do advise and consent.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Hold on. We have to have the motion decided. You've all heard the motion. All in favor, say Aye. All opposed, say Nay. The motion carries. We are now in Executive Session. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator DeLeo, Co-Chair of the Committee on Executive Appointments, to which was referred the Governor's Message of December 5th, 2002, reported the same back with the recommendation the Senate advise and consent to the following appointments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Senator DeLeo. And may we have the attention of this Assembly, please? Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: Again, thank you very much, Madam President. With respect to that Message of December 5th, 2002, I would like to read the non-salaried appointments of which the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments this morning recommends that the Senate do advise and consent. Madam President, the Advisory Board of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library: To be a member of that Library Board for a term commencing upon confirmation by the Senate and ending December 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 31st, the year 2007 - Charles T. Cullen of Evanston, Garry Wills of Evanston. Also to be members of the Advisory Board of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library for a term commencing upon confirmation by this Senate and ending December 31st, the year 2008 - Lonnie G. Bunch of Oak Park and Richard J. Franke of Chicago. Next board will be the Illinois Community College Board: To be a member of the College Board for a term commencing upon confirmation by the Senate, ending a term of June 30th, the year 2007 - Marjorie P. Cole of Glen Ellyn. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission: To be a member of the Commission for a term commencing upon confirmation by the Senate and ending June 30th, the year 2007 - Mary Ann Louderback of Cary. And finally, State Board of Education: To be a member of the State Board of Education for a term commencing January 8th, 2003, and ending January 14th, the year 2009 - Dean E. Clark of Glen Ellyn. Mr. -- Madam President, having read the non-salaried appointments from the Governor's Message of December 5th, the year 2002, I will now seek leave to consider the appointments of December 5th on a roll call. Madam President, will you put the question as required by our rules?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Any discussion? Senator Ronen.
Thank you, Madam President. First a question. The sheet we have in respect to the appointment of the member to the State Board of Education says the term ends January 14th, '03. You just said January 14th, '09. Is that -- '09 is the correct term to which this person is appointed? 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: Yes, that's correct. It's commencing -- it starts January 8th, 2003, and then ending January 14th, the year 2009.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Senator Cronin {sic} (Ronen).
Thank you, Senator, because our -- our list here says '03 and '09. I'm -- I rise in strong opposition to these last-minute appointments. We did the same thing when we were here in December. You know, it really is quite amazing to me how kind of narrow-minded and blind Members of this Chamber can be to what is happening in the real world. On November 5th, the voters of Illinois clearly said they wanted change. What we are doing today is not only in opposition to that change that people wanted but is the clear indication of why we need change. This is no time to be making an appointment, a seven-year appointment, to the State Board of Education at this point, with a Governor leaving and a new Governor coming in. This is really an outrage and I think Members on both sides of the aisle should be embarrassed to be making these last-minute decisions and trying to slide things in and putting people in positions where they are going to be influencing policy and decisions into the next decade. And I think that's just plain wrong. Four years ago when Jim Ryan {sic} tried to do this, this Body stopped him, stopped George Ryan {sic} from doing it. This is clear partisanship; this is bad government; this is bad public policy. This has nothing to do with the individuals who are being appointed, but it has everything to do with what is sound public policy. I would urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand up for change, to disassociate themselves with the politics of the past, with the 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 corruption of the past. And I would say that continuing to -- voting for these positions is just saying that we agree with what has happened before and we're still a part of that, and I think we don't want to be part of that. So, I would ask my colleagues to vote No or Present on all of these appointments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Any further discussion? Hearing none, the question is, does the Senate advise and consent to the nominations just made. Those in favor, vote Aye. Those opposed, vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wished? Have all voted who wished? Have all voted who wished? Take the record. On that question, there are 41 voting Aye, 5 voting Nay, 6 voting Present. And this -- this question -- the majority of Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to the nominations just made. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator DeLeo, Co-Chair of the Committee on Executive Appointments, to which was referred the Governor's Message of January 6th, 2003, reported the same back with the recommendation the Senate advise and consent to the following appointments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: Thank you once again, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. With respect to the Message of January 6th, 2003, I'd like to read the salaried appointments to which the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments this morning recommends that the Senate do advise and consent. Madam President, the first board would be the Pollution Control Board: For -- to be a member of the Board for a term commencing January 13th, 2003, ending July 1, the year 2004 - Lynn Padovan of 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 Charleston. To be a member of the Pollution Control Board for a term commencing January 10th, the year 2003, and ending July 1, 2005 - Doris Karpiel of Carol Stream. Also, the Property Tax Appeal Board: To be a member of the Appeal Board for a term commencing February 1st, the year 2003, and ending January 17th, the year 2005 - William Darr of Park Ridge. Also, Madam President, there was a Small Business Utility Advocate: To be a member -- to be the Utility Advocate for a term commencing March 1st, 2003, and ending February 6th, 2006 - William Shaw of Dolton. Madam President, having read the salaried appointments from the Governor's Message of January 6, 2003, I will now seek leave to consider the appointments of January 6, 2003, on a roll call. Madam President, will you put the question as required by our rules?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Any discussion? Senator Jefferies. Senator Jefferies.
Yes. For the last bill, I intended to vote Yes, but my button was inoperable.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) That will be so noted, Senator Jefferies.
Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Senator Ronen.
Thank you, Madam President. I -- I also rise in strong opposition to these appointments. I think I made my point on the 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 previous ones that were non-salaried, but I think in the case of these positions that are salaried, the -- the problem is even more severe. As I understand it - maybe people here don't understand that we do have a -- a looming budget deficit and it's getting bigger and bigger all the time. We have a new Governor coming in next week. We have, I think, a population in the State of Illinois who is saying to us, "We're tired with the way State government is operated. We're tired of -- of the corruption not only of -- we're tired of the corruption of our ideals. We're tired of government that operates in this type of fashion and in a way that is not open and honest." Again, nothing in relation to each -- any of the individuals that are herein appointed, but I would just say there is dawning in Illinois a new day. There is a -- a task force that was created by the Governor-elect to look at all of these task forces and commissions, and I would just say to those who are serving, the -- the criteria will be different. These are not jobs that can be taken lightly. When we are providing a service to the public, we need to be cognizant of our duties and responsibilities. And I would say to this Body, approving these positions today is an irresponsible and reckless thing to do, and I would ask that we -- we hold off on these appointments and pull them back and not act on them until we have in place the new government that the people of Illinois said they want and a government that the people of Illinois deserve. So, I would ask all my colleagues to vote No or Present.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Any further discussion? Hearing none, the question is, does the Senate advise and consent to the nominations just made. Those in favor, vote Aye. Those opposed will vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wished? Have all voted who wished? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, the Ayes are 47, the Nays are 2, the Presents are 6. And a majority 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 of Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to the nominations just made. Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: Thank you, Madam President. With respect to the Message of January 6, 2003, I'd like to read the non-salaried appointments of which the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the -- the Senate do advise and consent. Madam President, this morning the following people were recommended: The Advisory Board to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library: This will be members of the Board of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library for a term commencing upon confirmation by the Senate; their term will end December 31st, the year 2006 - Warrick Carter of Chicago, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt of Chicago. To be a member of the Advisory Board of the Presidential Library for a term commencing upon confirmation by the Senate, ending December 31st, the year 2005 - Marilyn Boria of Elmhurst, John P. {sic} (B.) Roe of Bradenton, Florida. And also, to be a member of the Advisory Board of the Presidential Library for a term commencing upon confirmation by this Body and ending December 31st, the year 2004 - Charles Bryan, Jr., of Richmond, Virginia; Bill Kurtis of Chicago. And also, to be a member of the Advisory Board of the Presidential Library, a term commencing upon confirmation, ending December 31st, the year 2003 - Anthony J. Leone, Jr., of Springfield. Next, there will the Public Administrator and Public Guardian: To be a Public Administrator and Public Guardian of McLean County for a term ending December 5th, the year 2005 - Daniel Deneen of Bloomington. Madam President, having read the non-salaried appointments from the Governor's Message of January 6, 2003, I will now seek 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 leave to consider the appointments of that Message, January 6, 2003, on a roll call. Madam President, would you put the question as required by our rules?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Any further discussion? Hearing none, the question is, does the Senate advise and consent to the nominations just made. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wished? Have all voted who wished? Have all voted who wished? Take the record. 45 voting Aye, 2 voting Nay, 6 voting Present. A majority of Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to the nominations just made. Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: Thank you very much, Madam President. At this time, I move that the Senate arise from the -- from Executive Session.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) The motion has been made. All those in favor, say Aye. All opposed, Nay. The motion is passed. Senator Halvorson, what purpose do you rise, ma'am?
Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to announce a Democratic Caucus immediately upon adjournment in Senator Jones' Office.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Senator Halvorson.
Thank you, Madam President. Since I've found out that we could possibly not adjourn till later, much later, I would like to call for a Democratic Caucus now, or sometime during the day.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Would you like...
We have all day. 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Would you like to call your Democrat Caucus? We have -- after we recess this meeting? Okay. Go ahead. Messages from the House.
Message from the House by Mr. Rossi, 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 2023, with House Amendment 2. Passed the House, as amended, January 7th, 2003.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) I would like to notify the Senate that the Executive Committee is going to be meeting at 11:50 a.m., as previously announced. The Senate will stand in recess at the call of the Chair. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Committee Reports.
Senator Weaver, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Executive, reports Senate Amendment 3 to House Bill 333 Be Adopted.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) ...could have the attention of the Body, the Supplemental Calendar has been sent to each of your desks, and we will start at the top of Supplemental Calendar No. 1 with House Bills 3rd Reading. Senator Cronin, do you seek leave of the Body to return House Bill... We're on the Order of House Bills 3rd Reading, and Senator Cronin seeks leave of the Body to return House Bill 333 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purposes of an amendment. 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 Hearing no objection, leave is granted. For those of you that are looking at your Calendar, the sponsorship has been changed from Senator Watson to Senator Cronin. Now, on the Order of 2nd Reading is House Bill 333. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Amendment No. 3, offered by Senator Cronin.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Cronin, on Amendment No. 3.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Floor Amendment 3, which was unanimously adopted in committee, provides for quick-take authority to the Village of Sherman and a -- a local government known as the Grand Avenue Railroad Relocation Authority in Franklin Park. The Village of Sherman seeks this authority for right-of-way road construction. There's no homes or buildings. It's a wooded area, and it has the unanimous support of the local village officials. With respect to the Grand Avenue Railroad Relocation Authority, this was a -- authority that was originally given to this local government back in 1995. The Authority received funding for the project in summer of 2002. They are simply seeking to expand their authority that was given to 'em in '95, for one year. The underlying bill extends SWIDA's quick-take powers through August 30th, 2003. I know of no opposition. Ask for your favorable consideration.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported. 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is House Bill 333. Senator -- or, Senator -- or, Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 333. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Cronin.
Thank you, Madam President. I just explained the sum and substance of the legislation in the amendment explanation. Be happy to answer any questions. Ask for your favorable consideration.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 333 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. And the voting's open. Have all voted who wish? 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, 4 Nays, 1 voting Present. House Bill 333, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Rauschenberger seeks leave of the Body to return House Bill 3439 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purposes of an amendment. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. On the Order of 2nd Reading is House Bill 3439. Mr. Secretary, have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Watson.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Rauschenberger.
14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 With permission of the Body, I'd like to handle this on the 2nd Reading for Senator Watson. This amendment restores to their -- adds to the State Board of Education budget sufficient funds to meet the foundation level required for the General State Aid Formula. The estimates that were made when we worked in May and June on the budget have now been revised to reflect the actual attendance at the schools across the State of Illinois. If we fail to act on this, the State Board has no choice but to prorate the school aid formula and reduce the foundation level that we agreed to last year. So, I'd be happy to debate it on 3rd Reading, but appreciate adoption of the amendment by the Body.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Senator Cronin.
I just rise in strong support for this amendment. Although raising the foundation level doesn't typically benefit the area, the suburban areas that -- that I am fortunate enough to represent, but I think this really demonstrates that education is a priority, has been a priority with the Republicans and will continue to be a priority with all of us, with adoption and the passage of this legislation. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Further discussion? Further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. With leave of the Body, we will return to House Bill 3439. Senator Clayborne, for what purpose do you seek recognition? 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003
Madam President, I rise for a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) State your point.
To my right, I have former Mayor of East St. Louis, Mayor Gordon D. Bush. I would like for him to be welcomed.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Welcome, Mayor Bush. Senator Geo-Karis, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Please state your point.
In the President's Gallery, on my right over here, are two people who are -- have meant an awful lot to me, to my campaigns, dear friends who are here visiting us: Susan Cox from Wadsworth, one of my cochairmen of my late campaign, and Louis Atsaves, another cochairman of my campaign, and he happens to be a resident of Lake Forest, of Senator Link's area. But I'd like us all to welcome them here and I'm delighted that they're here, and I thank them again for being so good to all of us.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Will you please rise and be recognized by the Illinois Senate? Welcome to Springfield. We are now proceeding to Secretary's Desk, Resolution, on House Joint Resolution 83. Senator Molaro, do you seek -- or, Mr. Secretary, would you read the resolution, please?
House Joint Resolution 83, offered by Senator Molaro. There were no committee amendments. There is one Floor amendment, Madam President. Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Philip. 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Philip, on the amendment, please.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. If that isn't a good-looking, gorgeous group up there, I've never seen it before. It is so nice to see some of you back. And you know what? We may have a few orange pops a little later. Welcome to Springfield.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Now to the amendment, Senator, on House Joint Resolution 83. Senator Philip.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This is Senate Amendment No. 1 {sic} to House Joint Resolution 83. It renames the State of Illinois Building after Justice Michael Bilandic, and it names the...
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any discussion? Senator Philip.
Thank you very much. This amendment adds new language to the resolution. It adds renaming the Pyramid State Park in Southwestern Perry County after George H. Ryan State Park. Be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, say Aye. Those opposed, say 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 DONAHUE) Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution. 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003
House Joint Resolution 83, offered by Senator Molaro.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Molaro.
...Madam President and Members of the Senate. This resolution, as just offered by Mr. President, renames Pyramid State Park to the George H. Ryan State Park. And also, this new building that you see across the street, which is the 4th District Appellate Court Building, will be named the Justice Benjamin Miller Building, and the 160 North LaSalle Street building, which is formerly the State of Illinois Building across the street from the Thompson Center, would be renamed the Michael A. Bilandic State Building. And that's what the resolution does, and I ask for its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Molaro moves the adoption of House Joint Resolution 83. Those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. All right. Now we will go to the middle of the Calendar to Secretary's Desk, Concurrence. Senator Jacobs, on Senate Bill 1650. Mr. Secretary, read the motion, please.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1, 2 and 4 to Senate Bill 1650. The motion filed by Senator Jacobs.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Jacobs.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Assembly. Senate Bill 1650, the first amendment merely makes the bill a shell bill. Amendment No. 2 takes care of a problem that 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 exists in Moline, one of my communities, that they -- they passed their TIF ordinances, everything was fine, they did it in -- in closed session. When they come out, they failed to enact two of the ordinances. They've been drawing on this for a number of years. This would rectify that problem and allow them to -- to be in accordance with the law. House Amendment No. 4 is in regards to the Maywood Public Library District where their -- their director passed away and subsequently the district failed to adopt a tax levy. Instead, the Cook County Treasurer only extended the amount required for bond repayments, then when the district received the revenue, it made interest payments in June of 2002 and used most of the remaining funds. The district now does not have sufficient funds for December bond payments and will have to close the stores if it can't issue tax anticipation warrants, and this allows for that to happen. I know of -- known {sic} opposition and ask for your support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? This is final action. Oh! Senator Lightford. Excuse me.
Thank you, Madam President. I rise just to support this legislation and just to let you know that this is a great need for the Village of Maywood. We have an awesome library there that we've just added some additions, and I really will support it -- or, appreciate your support in passing this legislation.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Any further discussion? Seeing none, this is final action, and the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments 1, 2 and 4 to House -- or, Senate Bill 1650. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. And the voting's 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, 4 Nays, 1 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 voting Present. The Senate does concur in House Amendments 1, 2 and 4 to Senate Bill 1650, and it is declared passed. Senator Sullivan, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Please state your point.
We all know we have a lot of visitors -- special visitors with us this week. We have two special visitors in the Democrat Gallery: Mr. Judy Myers and Mr. Kathy Parker. Keith Parker and Mel Myers. If everyone could welcome them.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Will you please rise and be recognized by the Illinois Senate? Welcome to Springfield. Senator Lauzen, on Senate Bill 2424. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill -- motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2424. The motion, by Senator Lauzen.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Lauzen.
Thank you very much, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 2424, as you'll recall, allows the Comptroller to sell debt that has been certified as uncollectible by the Debt Collection Board as last-call effort to receive a portion of the debt owed to the State. The bill would require the first twenty-eight million received through the sale of uncollectible debt to go to a fund for the purposes of opening and operating the Sheridan Correctional Center. What the House amendment does is three things: First of all, it cleaned up some 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 technical language that was a concern of the Attorney General's Office and CMS; number two, it adds language that excludes the sale of certain debt if the debt may not be diverted from its original purpose according to law; and then, number three, it changes the administrative function for the sale of certified uncollectible debt from the Comptroller to the Director of Central Management Services. With that, I'd be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any discussion? Senator Welch.
Thank you, Madam President. I'd just like to rise in support of this legislation. I think this is an attempt that we need to take to reopen several shut facilities in the State, and the Sheridan prison itself, the individuals who work there, some four hundred and fifty people, are going to be off their unemployment benefits as of the 15th of this month, is my understanding. And I think that we need to do something right away. I would urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any discussion? Any further discussion? Seeing none, this is final action, and the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2424. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. And the voting's 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, 1 Nay, none voting Present. The Senate does concur in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2424, and the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Now, with leave of the Body, we're going to return to House Bill 3439, at the top of your Calendar. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 House Bill 3439. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Rauschenberger.
Thank you, Ms. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 3439, with the amendment we just adopted a few minutes ago, makes an appropriation to the State Board of Education of twenty-two million two hundred thousand dollars. When we left last June, I think, finishing our work with the education budget, we thought that we had fully funded the foundation level for the expected average daily attendance of the K through 12 schools in the State of Illinois. As we come back today and now know the first semester attendance of those schools, we need to add twenty million -- twenty-two million two hundred thousand dollars to that appropriation to keep our commitment to maintain the foundation level for those K through 12 schools throughout the State of Illinois. I would appreciate the support of the Body on this bill and would be very happy to answer questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Watson.
Yes. Thank you very much, Madam President. Last spring, when we sat here and discussed the budget and the concerns that we had for education, obviously all of us rushed to the table to -- to support the kids of this -- of this State. We didn't have a lot of revenue to do that and we didn't do for education what many of us would have liked; however, we did what we could do. We made a commitment to education for a foundation level of four thousand five hundred and sixty dollars. Now, as the EAV and the average daily attendance has been established, that foundation level has 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 dropped. This fills that hole. And all of us know the school districts in our area - I would assume every -- every district has school districts that -- impacted by this - that are on the Financial Watch List. The funding and the problems of education continue to grow and funding is a big part of that. This is a commitment we made last spring. I think we should fulfill that commitment, and I support Senator Rauschenberger in his effort to restore 22.2 million dollars and ask for everyone's support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Further discussion? Senator Demuzio.
Well, I certainly don't disagree with either one of those great and wonderful speeches. The House is working on resolutions and they're about to adjourn sine die. Have we made any provisions for the House to take up this bill if it goes over there, Senator Rauschenberger?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Rauschenberger.
Senator Demuzio, you probably know me as a somewhat ineffective one-Chamber legislator. I would never presume to tell the Speaker of the House to wait on the actions of the Senate. I hope we can be as brief as we can in the debate and -- and let them know. Surely they must be aware, 'cause I know the -- the school people have tried to share very broadly over the last six weeks their concerns, as they enter their second semester, whether the State's going to be in a position to fund the -- the General State Aid Formula to the foundation level.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Demuzio.
Can -- can you -- can you wait just a minute? Let me -- let 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 me get the Speaker on the line here and see what -- what we're doing here. I mean, I can't imagine. One of the former House Members, who is sitting over here now, as the House is adjourned sine die. This bill, obviously, is something that we should have done. Apparently you had ten years to do it and you didn't do it, so I guess it's a little too late.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Further discussion? Senator Trotter.
Thank you very much, Madam President. As a consequence of our inactions on acting upon the EFAB recommendations last spring, this is a necessary evil that we have to go ahead and vote for today, and I would recommend that individuals on this side of the aisle do vote for the passage of this 3439.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Further discussion? Senator Woolard.
Thank you, Madam President. I, too, stand in support of this what might even be late-founded way to fix a hole that we have established in a -- a very crucial issue for each and every one of us as legislators. I think that we have a responsibility to the kids of this State. If, in fact, all we're doing is making a statement that, in fact, gets the agenda on the front burner with the new Legislature, we should do so. I'm going to be voting Yes, and I certainly wish that it had come forth a little quicker so that we could have got it to the other Chamber and we could have successfully made the real difference for the kids of this State. But if, in fact, it's just a statement, I join with my Republican colleagues and would encourage all of those on the Democratic side to do the same. Let's make the right decision today so that, hopefully, the new Legislature will, in effect, take up this issue and quickly amend the problem. 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Further discussion? Senator Syverson.
Thank you, Madam President. Question for the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Indicates he'll yield, Senator Syverson.
Senator, just a question regarding the financing of this. I -- I didn't hear the -- the cost before. If you can give me what the cost is going to be, and also, in light of where we are today, where the financing is going to come from to -- to cover that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Rauschenberger.
Thank you, Senator Syverson. The cost of this amendment is twenty-two million two hundred thousand dollars. Again, that's a revision of the calculation of the General State Aid necessary to fulfill the foundation level that we've committed in the General Assembly to meet without a continuing appropriation. As to the source of funds, we've been fortunate, in some ways, although it's a difficult year. There has been a ninety-million-dollar release to the General Fund from the Tobacco Settlement Fund lawyers' lien. Remember those lawyers who were fighting the Attorney General. There's been a settlement in their case, and it released ninety million dollars' additional money to the General Revenue Fund, which is one area we could suggest as sourcing this. There's also been a fifty-million-dollar settlement of an accrual account in the Department of Insurance, a settlement regarding proper and appropriate privilege tax. It's a privilege tax settlement. So, there's a hundred and forty million dollars that was not anticipated when we structured the budget. We need to use just twenty-two million two hundred thousand for what everyone here 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 frequently talks about as their number-one priority.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson. Oh. Senator Cronin, for further discussion?
Thank you, Madam President. You know, I -- I spoke with respect to the amendment earlier. I just rise in strong support. And, you know, our -- my colleague from the other side of the aisle talked about ten years and this is maybe too late and so on and so forth. That's -- that's good rhetoric, but let's be fair. For the last ten years, I think we have done an admirable job in carving out education as a priority. Fifty-one percent of all new State revenues have gone into education: charter schools, mandate waivers, Chicago school reform, school construction grant program. Hundreds of millions of dollars have gone into the schools. Is it enough? Has it been enough? Are there more needs? Well, of course there are more needs, of course we need to do more. And we, on the Republican side, stand ready, willing and able to join the Democrats and the new administration following our lead, following the Republicans' lead, carving out education as the number-one priority in government, and we stand ready, willing and able to work with the new administration to make sure that education is properly funded and remains a priority. I stand in strong support of this legislation.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there further discussion? Further discussion? Seeing none, Senator Rauschenberger, to close.
Thank you, Madam President. For those people who are concerned that this might be a symbolic act, let me just point out to you that the Senate, in the -- the eight years that I've been Appropriations Chairman, with the cooperation of Senator Trotter and the fine staff on both sides, have tried to do a very good job 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 with the budget. We've tried to pay attention to our supplemental responsibilities. We've been the leaders in the budget process, in my opinion, nearly for the last eight years. And -- and I think that's a real testament to this Body. If the House is adjourned, it's a terrible mistake, but I know those guys sometimes get confused. The last appropriation bill acted on by the House was to reopen prisons and was to restore union jobs and pay raises. You know, if it has to be their legacy that that was their last bill before sine die, I think it's very appropriate that the last act of this Senate, which has been responsible and bipartisan, I believe, for the last decade, is that we were there to -- to send the message that we support the General State Aid Formula and the foundation level. And perhaps it can be the first order of business as the Senate reconvenes: We can remind our House colleagues, again, of their responsibilities. I'd appreciate a favorable roll call.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) The question is, shall House Bill 3439 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. And the voting's open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 3439, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Committee Reports.
Senator Weaver, Chair of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative Measure assigned: Be Approved for Consideration - the Motion to Concur with House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 2023.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Supplemental Calendar No... Senator Parker, for what purpose do you seek recognition? 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003
For a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) State your point.
Thank you, Madam President. There are some additional visitors up in the Democrat gallery I'd like to introduce. My son, Kyle Parker; my chief of staff, Kelly Folino; and a longtime friend and helper, Karen Jacobson. Please rise...
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Will you please rise and be -- by the Illinois Senate. Welcome to Springfield. Now Supplemental Calendar No. 2 has been distributed and on that order is Secretary's Desk, Concurrence. Senator Roskam, on Senate Bill 2023. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2023. The motion, by Senator Roskam.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Roskam.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This is Senator Petka's bill that I'm handling today because he's under the weather. It's an initiative of the Treasurer. It came out of the House unanimously. I don't know of any opponents. What it's trying to do is give -- or, what it does is gives the Treasurer the flexibility to distribute -- funds in the Capital Litigation Trust Fund. Right now, Cook County and their needs have been completely met. Cook County has returned money to the Treasurer. She now needs the flexibility that this Act would provide in order to pay some of the downstate counties. 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 My -- I have been informed that Cook County is neutral on this, and I'm not aware of any opponents. And I urge your favorable consideration.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? This is final action. And the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2023. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. And the voting's 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. The Senate does concur in House Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2023, and the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Karpiel, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. For a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Please state your point.
In twenty-three years down here, I have -- I don't believe very often at least -- I don't know if I ever have introduced my children. I might have on swearing-in day or something. But I have three of my children here today, and I'm going to embarrass them and -- and introduce them. Up in the Republican side of the aisle, President's Gallery, my son, Barry, and my daughters, Laura and Sharon. I would like for you to welcome 'em to Springfield.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Will you please rise to be welcomed by the Illinois Senate?
And I also -- I also have with me my two district aides, Rose Kane and Sally Jackson.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 Will you rise and be recognized as well?
Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) ...to Springfield. Resolutions. We're going to now proceed to the Order of Resolutions Consent Calendar. And with leave of the Body, all those that have been read in today will be added to the Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, have there been any objections filed to any resolution?
No objections have been filed, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) If not, the question is, shall the resolutions on the Consent Calendar be adopted. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. Motion carries, and the resolutions are adopted. Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 590, offered by Senator Philip, President of the Senate, and all Members. (Secretary reads SR No. 590)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Philip.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Thinking back about the first time that I met Senator Dudycz, he had just run for public office for the first time, running for Democrat ward committeeman. And very honestly, he didn't have a very good taste in his mouth or a very good attitude and wasn't very trusting of politicians and people in the system, to say the least. And maybe rightly so. But we twisted his arm very, very lightly, convinced him that he could win as a Republican, and I want to tell you one thing: It was like a duck 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 to water. He was a great candidate, worked very well, he took advice. A lot of candidates, as you know, do not take very much advice. But Walter was always a good candidate. And I'll tell you one thing: Every time he ran, he had opposition because, you know, the other side of the aisle always thought they were going to knock him off. And so he had some tough races. Very good candidate. Represents his people extremely well. And I'll tell you one thing: He was a -- he was a vital part of the leadership on this side for a good number of years. Sorry that he got redistricted out of his district, but that's life. And Walter and I know one thing for sure: There's life after the Senate. Walter, we're going to miss you. You're a great American and a great Republican.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) If I could have the Body's attention very quickly. For the expediency of -- of this process that we're getting ready to go through, we're going to take leave of the Body to suspend the rules for all the resolutions on -- for immediate consideration and just do that once, so I don't have to do that each time. So, for -- Senator Philip moves to suspend the rules for the purpose of immediate consideration and adoption of this resolution and those following. Those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The rules are suspended. Now Senator Philip moves the adoption of resolution -- Senate Resolution 590. Those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted.
Senate Resolution 591, offered by Senator Philip, President of the Senate, and all Members. (Secretary reads SR No. 591)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Philip. 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I just leaned over to Stanley, and I said, "Are you going to say anything, blizzard mouth?" And he said -- he said, "Are you kidding? There's going to be too much jawing going on anyway." But I'm going to get up and say something about him because, of course, we have been friends for over thirty years. I think I got to the House two years before he did. I served there for eight years. I believe he served there for six. But he came to the Senate before I did, so he has more seniority in the Senate. I have more seniority in -- in the General Assembly. But he -- I can remember a little story, because he's an undertaker. We haven't had -- we've had, I think, in -- that I can remember, two undertakers in the Senate, Bill Harris and Stan Weaver. And I -- Stanley said if -- if I will drive from DuPage County down to Champaign-Urbana to his funeral home and die in the funeral home, he'll give me fifteen dollars off. Well, unfortunately, he's not an undertaker anymore - he sold his business - but I may just do that anyway, Stanley. But I'll tell you one thing: He has -- as you know, has been a -- a good part of the leadership. He has been Chairman of the Rules Committee. He's probably as well-liked as anybody in this Body on either side of the aisle. Never has anything bad to say about anybody. And he has done more for the University of Illinois than anybody I know. They are -- they're going to really miss Stanley Weaver. And he's been kind of a legend around here. And he -- he is Mr. Senator, Mr. Good Guy. My friend, Stanley Weaver. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Demuzio.
Stanley Weaver, we're going to -- to miss you a great deal around this place. I have followed you now for -- on several 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 occasions, for every office you've been in, I've got to get to go to. And I want you to know that you've been a fine and wonderful friend, a legislator, a person who's served here with great integrity. And I want you to know, Stanley, in your past capacity as being Chairman of the Rules, as a person who hopes to aspire to be Chairman of the Rules, I want you to know I'm going to try to run it just the way you did. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there further discussion? Senator Philip has moved the adoption of Senate Resolution 591. Those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Resolution.
Senate Resolution 605, offered by Senator Emil Jones and all Members. (Secretary reads SR No. 605)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Jones.
Thank you, Madam President. This is the most difficult time of Session, the time when we have to say so long, good-bye to friends, our family, and the Members are our family. You get to know people in this Chamber. Senator Smith and I served in the House together. I knew her late husband. She was a person who always championed the rights of the underprivileged, health care issues as it relate to women, a Christian woman, very involved in the church, not only in her district but throughout the State of Illinois and around the world. She was a great, great legislator. Due to ill health, she decided that she could not go on any further. But we're going to miss her. I always called her the Lady of the Senate. In our caucus, in our caucus, we have to conduct ourselves in a certain manner. But she is a great, great 33 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 lady. She succeeded her husband in the Senate, which is unusual, for a spouse to succeed their husband. And with declining health -- I recall times -- I recall the recent campaign when her opponent accused her of going to sleep. And I told him after the election, "You should never have done that because you woke her up, and you never wake a sleeping tiger." But she was a great, great legislator and we're going to miss her. We're going to miss her kind, gentle words, and she always greeted you with a very, very kind, sweet word. She was not a vindictive person. But when you lose a member of your family or when it comes time for one to leave, a part of you leave with that person - be it on this side or the other side of the aisle. You establish that bond. And so, we're going to miss her. She's a great, great legislator.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Jones has moved the adoption of Senate Resolution 605. Those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Resolution.
Senate Resolution 592, offered by Senator Philip and all Members of the Senate. (Secretary reads SR No. 592)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Bomke.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I've had the pleasure of serving next to Judy over the last number of years and a lot of good memories. I have one particular vivid memory of a time that I had gone to the bathroom. And as happens a lot around here, when you leave, you often tell your seatmate to vote for you one way or the other. I had gone to the bathroom. I came out. It was a very controversial bill, one that I had fully -- intentions of voting against only to see a 34 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 green light. And I got back to my desk, said, "Judy, I meant to vote No on that." She said, "Larry, I was told you vote Yes on everything." Judy, we're really going to miss you, one of the sweetest, most hardworking Members of the General Assembly, and it's hard to believe such a sweet person would have no problem taking money from some of the men at those late-night committee meetings, and you know what I mean. She was always very successful with those games. But our loss is the University of Illinois' gain. Judy, we're going to really miss you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senate -- Senator Watson.
Yes. Thank you, Madam President. I had the -- I guess the fortunate experience of serving with Babe Woodyard. Most of you probably don't know Babe, but we were very good friends. Well, he passed away. I went over to -- to the district to interview the candidates that were looking to succeed him, and there was five or six people that came in and -- and Judy, obviously, was one of them. And I can remember when we went over there, Carter Hendren and I, and -- sitting there and talking about who should fill Babe's shoes. There wasn't any doubt in our mind, after interviewing everyone, that Judy Myers was the one who should do that. She -- those of us who know her, obviously, a very personable lady, always a smile on her face, never a bad word about anybody. Very difficult, obviously, to tell her good-bye. But I -- I have to tell you a story. My wife and I were on vacation and we were sitting in this restaurant, and here walking on the street is her husband, Mel. We were in Florida at the time. I thought, what is Mel doing down here in Florida? Well, Mel is a motorcycle rider. He rode a motorcycle from Danville to West Palm Beach, Florida. So, I can't imagine, but I'm sure maybe in her retirement, she's going to be on the back of that motorcycle 35 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 headed south. So, we wish you well, Judy, Mel. Great to know both of you and make your acquaintance, and you've been a great Member of this Senate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Philip moves the adoption of Senate Resolution 592. Those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Resolutions.
...Resolution 594, by Senator Philip and all Members. (Secretary reads SR No. 594)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Brady.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Chamber. As a neighbor of Senator Stone's, although having only served with him since May and not the entire eighteen months, I want to tell you that he spent that eighteen months, as he did his entire life, working to the benefit of his community. He spent those eighteen months working throughout the district, in a district that Senator Madigan represented before him. Those were big shoes to fill, but Bud did a great job of it. The people of the district appreciate his eighteen months of service, and I want to thank him. And I look forward to serving the territory that he represented so well for eighteen months. Thank you, and congratulations.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Philip has moved the adoption of Senate Resolution 594. Those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 606, offered by Senator Emil Jones and all Members. 36 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 (Secretary reads SR No. 606)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Jones.
Yeah. Thank you, Madam President. Senator O'Daniel - Bill O'Daniel, as I've always called him - when we served together in the Illinois House and he used to inform me about the issues of the downstate communities, and I learned a lot from Bill about the farming issues. Then he left and -- and got appointed by Jimmy Carter and then I met him again: We had a reunion back in the Illinois Senate. He was a good lawmaker, a good friend. His wife, his grandson, little Bill. He's the type of person who was very warm and friendly, but one who really cared about southern Illinois. We're going to miss him because he was genuine, a strong, strong pro-business advocate. He didn't always vote the way I wanted him to vote. And at times he told me, "Jonesy, I can't be with you on this issue." But he was -- was a very sincere legislator. You always knew where he stood on the issues that were important to the people of this State. This is a very, very difficult time to lose a member of your family, to lose a friend, but I'm quite certain Bill will do great down in southern Illinois now that he's no longer a legislator. But like old soldiers, you know, MacArthur said it best: They don't die; they just simply fade away. And I trust that Bill will have a wonderful, wonderful life with his family and grandchildren and children down in southern Illinois. He made a great contribution to all of us.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Jones has moved the adoption of Senate Resolution 606. Those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Resolutions.
37 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 Senate Resolution 595, offered by Senator Philip and all Members. (Secretary reads SR No. 595)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Dillard.
Thank you, Madam President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. When I heard that my next-door office mate and next-door seatmate, Senator Walter Dudycz, was going to retire early, I thought to myself, who do you ever get to replace such a character as Walter Dudycz? But we were sent a good replacement from Walter's district in Fred Rupley. Somebody sort of like Walter, maybe a little bit older than Walter, but nonetheless, just as vibrant, just as funny if you sit around him, a military person, somebody with a law enforcement background like Senator Dudycz had, and Fred Rupley was an excellent replacement, albeit too short, for Senator Dudycz. And Fred's office was next to mine. He didn't have the big parties for staff and secretaries like Walter did, but Fred was a great addition to our floor, and he is a very, very nice person, like Senator Dudycz is. So that district was continued to be well served after Wally by Fred. I was kidding Fred today. Fred, once a Senator, always a Senator. And please come back and see us. You've adorned us with an excellent presence in your short time. I wish it was longer, but I'm a much better person having known you. And once a Senator, always a Senator.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Philip has moved the adoption of Senate Resolution 595. Those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 596, offered by Senator Philip and all 38 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 Members. (Secretary reads SR No. 596)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Sullivan.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I think there's no question that for the last four years, I have had the best seat on the Senate Floor, sitting between these two beautiful ladies. Today we say good-bye to one of them. It's certainly been a privilege to sit next to Kathy Parker, to have my office across the hall from her for these last four years and to have our districts right next to each other up north. She has been a tireless advocate for her district, always out there running around that district. I'm sure Keith will be thrilled to have her not running around that district so much anymore. But she has been a wonderful Senator back home and down here, fighting for the disabled, fighting transportation issues. I'm not sure if the Senate President has always appreciated her tollway efforts. But she has been an outstanding legislator in so many ways, a terrific friend, a great advisor, and I will certainly miss her. And I know her family is thrilled to have her into retirement, and she will have a wonderful retirement. Kathy, good luck.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Geo-Karis.
Madam President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I've known Kathy Parker for about twenty years, and I can honestly tell you that she has been one of the most dedicated people in the service of the Senate. And all the remarks that Senator Sullivan made about Kathy, I certainly concur with them. I regret that she's leaving, but I can tell you one thing: The work she has 39 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 done is not easily to be -- to be repeated by others, because she worked her head off. On mental health, she was a champion. The toll road, to clean up some of the issues that were not known to all of us and to make it a better toll road, she did a great job. And on transportation issues, she was fantastic. I -- I can honestly tell you, I will miss her because Dave Sullivan, Kathy Parker and I are known as the "freesome threesome" over here because we don't always agree with others, but we do love the people of Illinois. And, Kathy, you're an outstanding person, and your place is irreplaceable, and God bless you and Keith and your family.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Philip has moved the adoption of Senate Resolution 596. Those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 607, offered by Senator Emil Jones and all Members. (Secretary reads SR No. 607)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Jones.
Yeah. Thank you, Madam President. Once again, we're losing a good friend. I'm losing a great personal friend. Senator Shaw and I, long before he came to Springfield, we belonged to one of those same political organizations in Chicago like they had out there in DuPage County. And we took great, great pride at beating those Republicans, Pate. And sometimes Shaw would beat 'em so bad that the Republicans would come in and say, "Didn't I get two votes, or one vote?" But he was a good friend. Had a great knowledge about government, local government, how it meshed with State government and the federal government. I used to see him in the courts a lot 40 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 of time. I thought he was a lawyer when I first met him. I thought he was practicing law. But -- but -- but Senator Shaw was a person who had a keen, keen knowledge about the operation of government and how you get things done. I recall during one Black History Month, and -- and he recognized that within our schools throughout the State of Illinois, there were many youngsters that did not know the -- the contributions that African-Americans made to this great State and great nation. And currently on the books now, that law exists for all schools, that they be taught about the contributions that women and African-Americans made to this great society. We -- we will miss you, Bill, if you're in your office. We're going to miss you. I'm going to miss you as a personal friend here on the Senate Floor. We appreciate all the great contributions that you've made, and we know you'll do quite well in the future.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Jones has moved the adoption of Senate Resolution 607. Those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 597, offered by Senator Philip and all Members. (Secretary reads SR No. 597)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Luechtefeld.
Thank you, Madam President. For some reason, I became a -- a rather good friend of Tom Walsh. I was sitting here trying to think out why. And some things that have come to mind, you know, Tom, being a soft-spoken, quiet individual, needed friends, had very few. A lot of people -- the fact that he is overweight, I think, might have been the big -- the big thing. But we're about 41 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 the same age, and -- and so I've sort of taken him under my arm and -- and tried to teach him some things, and I have to tell you a story. I -- Tom borrowed a lot of money from me just to eat here in the Capitol. And after last Session, he owed me some money from food. Anyway, I did receive a check one day back in my home office. And about three -- three days later I received a letter and it said: Dear Senator Luechtefeld, Tommy -- we -- we -- we have several children and Tommy's been sort of a disappointment to us over the years. We dropped him when he was young, on his head, and he -- he really doesn't have much money and he has children and a family. Could you please send the check back? And I'm not kidding about these letters. The next day I received another letter: Dear Senator Luechtefeld, I'm Tom's wife. I'm Catholic and I married him, and I'm going to stay with him. But we -- we could certainly use the money if you'd please send it back. The third day I received another letter. This was from his son. And it was signed -- and -- and you could tell his son wrote it, because -- anyway, it said: Dear Senator Big, We will not have much Christmas if you don't send the check back. I can tell you right now, I did not send the check back. In all seriousness, there are very few people in this Body, and I've had a chance to be here for awhile and look around and watch people, very few people in this Body who were more university-like than Tom Walsh on both sides of the aisle. Had a great sense of humor, and certainly we will miss him. I -- I will miss him a lot. And you know, because of the map and everything, he will no longer be back here, and again, I -- there are very few people in this Senate liked any better than Tom Walsh, a really good individual and I think someone who we're going to see more of in one fashion or another. I think he likes the action here, and he likes the Body, and I think he'll be back to see us many times. I certainly am going to miss him and I know the rest of you will, too. Tom 42 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 Walsh.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator... Resolutions. Sorry. Need to adopt that one, Tommy. Senator Philip has moved the adoption of Senate Resolution 597. And those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 598, offered by Senator Philip and all Members. (Secretary reads SR No. 598)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Rauschenberger.
Thank you, Madam President. Back in 1992, I had the opportunity to come down to Veto Session a little early because the Senator who I was replacing, John Friedland, had retired. As I came down for that first Veto Session and a six-day baptism of fire down in -- in the Chambers here, I found myself sitting with Laura Kent Donahue and Bill Mahar. And having firmly established a warm relationship with these two, as soon as the seating chart was done, they both moved as far as possible away from the -- the nutty new freshman. But I began a ten-year term of service with Bill Mahar on the Energy and Environment Committee. And Bill, I think, personifies those people who really believe that his role as a committee chairman was not only bipartisan, but bicameral. Hours and hours and hours and days and days and days of meeting were participated in by Senators from this Chamber and -- and Members of the House as we kind of wrestled through the issues of electric deregulation. Bill was proud not only of the final product, but the process that he engaged in as we moved forward on electric deregulation. And despite the fact that about half the nation followed in electric deregulation, Illinois stands alone as 43 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 one of the states that's made it a signal success. Not only has there been lower rates, but there's been a comedy in the process, and a -- and a shared process with the House and with the Republicans and the Democrats and some of the best staff that have ever worked on legislation, I think. And I think that's Bill's finest tribute. You know, he cared a lot about the process. He always had his wag stick there to take care of Bill Peterson's switch or Pat O'Malley's if he wasn't around. He liked the process. Bill wanted to be here today and actually was here earlier this morning, but he was taken ill, we think by the twenty-four-hour stomach flu that's kind of racing around the Capitol. So I know Bill would tell you how much he respects and cares about the process and really valued his time in the Senate and his work in the Energy and Environment Committee. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Philip has moved the adoption of Senate Resolution 598. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 608, offered by Senator Emil Jones and all Members. (Secretary reads SR No. 608)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Jones. Excuse me. Senator Haine.
Madam President, thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I rise in support of this resolution. Evelyn Bowles, the Honorable Evelyn Bowles, began her public service by taking the oath of admission to the United States Army some sixty years ago. She taught public school in Madison County. She became Chief Deputy Clerk. She became County Clerk of Madison County in 1974. The hallmark of her career is public service, being available to 44 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 the citizens, being a public servant of unquestioned honesty. She was the face of county government itself. I personally served with her when I was on the County Board some twenty years ago as State's Attorney of Madison County. It is a great honor to be elected to this Chamber, but it is a unique and special honor to follow and serve in the seat of Senator Evelyn Bowles. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Jones has moved the adoption of Senate Resolution 608. Those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 599, offered by Senator Philip and all Members. (Secretary reads SR No. 599)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Watson.
Absolutely, a job well-done. Is that accurate, where it said seventh generation of your farm? No. You made it up? Well, that's -- I mean, that's Duane. What a sense of humor. That's obviously -- we're going to miss that. We're going to miss that a lot. As all of you know, when the remap took place, why, the lines were changed significantly in our area, and -- and little did I know that I would end up in Decatur, a hundred and sixty-five-mile-long district. But Duane could have gone different directions. Duane could have run against me in the primary, and we had a discussion and he actually said, "You have a future here and possibility of being the Leader." Very short term. But he said, "I want to support you for -- for the Senate." He could -- he didn't have to do that. And I'll have to tell you when -- in all this new area, about sixty-five percent of the district was 45 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 new territory for me, and it was all Duane's former district. And when I first went up there, you meet people and you're -- you know, "I'm Frank Watson." Well, who cares and -- and the attitude was, "Well, Duane Noland's our Senator. I'm for Duane Noland." Well, it didn't take this southern Illinois boy long to figure out that I want Duane Noland on my team, obviously. And we sent out a letter. I didn't send out a letter; Duane sent out a letter. Went to every registered voter in the district of the new area that I represented, in support of me. And I can't tell you the number of times I was in a bowling alley, a restaurant, a bar, wherever it might be, it didn't matter, but somebody would come up and say, "Duane Noland sent me a letter and he said you're okay. I don't know anything about you, but if Duane Noland says you're okay, take it to the bank." That had a big part in the success of my -- my last election. Now, we all -- and Senator Jones has -- has said this: I'm not good about change. I'm not somebody who handles change very well necessarily, and we're going through a great deal of change here. But the respect that people have for us as we -- when we leave office is really what we've got. Obviously, the respect of the people in this Chamber is important, but the people back home are more important and what they think of us. And I want to tell you, Duane Noland is going back home to an area in which there is an unbelievable amount of respect and appreciation for what he did as a Representative and as a Senator, and he's not quitting. He's going right back into the community and doing -- and very active in the community with very worthwhile projects, making sure that Decatur, a -- a city that's having some problems, there's no doubt about it. But there's -- Duane Noland made a difference in Decatur and he's going to make a -- difference in the future. And what a -- what a great guy. And we're just going to miss you, Duane. Thank you for all your help and support. I really appreciate it. And you have a future in 46 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 this business of politics, at -- some day in the future. Don't give up on us.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Philip moves -- has moved the adoption of Senate Resolution 599. Those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 600, offered by Senator Philip and all Members. (Secretary reads SR No. 600)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson.
Thank you, Madam President. Pat and I came into the Senate together after the '92 election, and it was interesting. We were joined by three others who had -- came in with similar backgrounds and not been in elected office before: Senator Rauschenberger and Senator Lauzen and -- and then Peter Fitzgerald. And we came in together and found that we had a lot of like views and kind of quickly formed the "Fab-5" and we had some ideas of really changing this place. And that didn't last long, and I've spent the last ten years apologizing to Pate. But despite that, being held back by that, Pat has accomplished much over these last ten years, and we just read, I think, a few of -- of the so many pieces of legislation that he passed. And when we talk about Pat, I think one of the things that everyone will agree is that he is certainly earnest and hardworking, dedicated, a very proud Irish Catholic, person who even if you didn't agree with him, knew that he was a principled individual who always stood up for what he believed was right and what he thought was right for his district. And under his leadership over the last ten years, as was discussed, our State is certainly better off and significant 47 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 pieces of legislation have been passed that have protected families, that have protected taxpayers and have protected his district. And so, we are going to miss you, Pat. Thank you for all the leadership and all that you've done for the State. We look forward to working with you in the future.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Rauschenberger.
Yeah. I apologize to the Body. I know we're trying to move along, but I -- I just had to take the opportunity. You know, we -- we lose a lot when we lose Pat O'Malley. I don't think anybody comes to the Floor dressed more nattily. And compliments -- compliments to your -- your dear wife, and -- and the work she does. And I just want to renew the request that as Mary Judith hangs those ties away that you don't need anymore, some of us down here could use 'em. Pat, we're going to miss you. We love ya. And like Duane Noland, we look forward to working with you in the future. God bless.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Philip has moved the adoption of Senate Resolution 600. Those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 609, offered by Senator Emil Jones and all Members. (Secretary reads SR No. 609)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: Thank you very much, Madam President. We -- somebody once told me when people leave this Body, as we can see by today, there's three -- three things that are real important about 48 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 leaving this Body, is death, indictments and redistricting. And when we were going through redistricting, which is always a very, very tough, tough situation on both sides of the aisle, when people are paired together, incumbents, same parties put in the same district. So after the map, we all went down to Secretary Jesse White's Office to pull the numbers of your terms. And what group got four years, what got -- what got two years, what got four years. And we looked at the chart and it said Molaro two, two, two, two, two. We knew he wasn't coming back here. We saw five twos for the next decade. Bob Molaro is, as said in the resolution, is quite a unique individual. I sometimes doubt that he was an Italian from Chicago. The way he dressed, I thought Emmett Kelly bought his clothes. He was quite unique in his dress. Senator Philip once said to me, "Are you sure he's from Chicago?" with some of his theories. And he'd get up and speak on a bill and you didn't know where he was going with this, and I -- sometimes he reminded me of Dennis Miller, the comedian. He'd start ranting and you had no idea where he was going with it. But he did bring a lot of great vision to this Body. And he is sorely going to be missed. I'm going to miss him. I -- I've known Bob -- we worked in the City of Chicago together at the Chicago Traffic Court. I knew him when he had black hair, so we go back a long time. And -- and I wish him health and happiness and Godspeed.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Demuzio.
Thank you. I'll be very quick. Bob, I just want to tell you this. Bob was a great ballplayer, you know, for our team, and he made the front page of the Springfield ___________________ Journal paper. And Bob gave me this photo and he -- and he signed it, "To Vince, I shall always be grateful to you for your loyal support and friendship. 49 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 Your friend, Bob Molaro." Well, Bob, I would have -- really have enjoyed having received that from you. Unfortunately, I had to cut the picture out and write the -- the verse. Perhaps when you're over there in the House and -- and you try out for the ball team, let us hope that you're not successful. Thank...
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Hendon.
Thank you very much. Well, I just hope Bobby plays as bad as he did the last two years for us. We would have won a couple of those games, wasn't for all those errors. But Jimmy D think it's a big deal that he knew Bobby Molaro when his hair was black. I knew Bobby when he was black. Actually, Bobby and I, we were elected ward committeemen at the same time, way back in the day. I remember when Bobby was chosen by the Democratic Central Committee to run for sheriff. And -- Bobby was all excited and everything, and he forgot that he was passing, right? And he got up and he said, "I look forward to working with the blacks and the Hispanics, and have a unified Democratic Party." Well, they called a meeting the next day and kicked him out and made Sheahan the candidate for sheriff because Bobby said he wanted to be fair with everybody. But we knew then that he had a bright future and he could always come to the west side and we'd take him in. I salute you, my friend.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Jones has moved the adoption of Senate Resolution 609. Those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 601, offered by Senator Philip and all Members. (Secretary reads SR No. 601) 50 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Roskam.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. From -- from this perspective right here, I've had a good view of maybe the -- the inner workings of Carl Hawkinson, and you can look over his shoulder. And you know the habits that we all have on the Senate Floor tell us a lot about people. But what I've observed is that Carl Hawkinson is one of those people that takes meticulous notes and little detail and the ability to recall minutia about bills that have far gone out of my memory bank, but he is aware of because he takes these notes. And he wants to know, "What was the roll call on that particular vote?" Well, Senator, I don't know, it passed and I haven't thought about it at all. But he's the type of person that would come back and get the detail down. He was that same way as the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. And I've never seen, in my time in the Illinois House or my time in the Illinois Senate, a chairman who has had such influence over a committee as had Carl Hawkinson. You know that feeling when you're up in front of a committee chairman and you're not quite sure where the body language is going and if we're afoot, or we're a horseback, and you're kind of looking into his eyes looking for a little bit of feedback and you know, "How are we doing on this, Senator?" And he'd say, "Well, Senator, you may want to consider -- consider this amendment, or consider that amendment." And the wise Senators who were in front of that committee would understand what Senator Hawkinson was saying and they would accommodate him and their bills would get passed, and lo and behold, it would become the law of the land. The foolish Senators would be the ones that say, "Well, you know, I don't think so. I don't think that's a really good idea." And he'd be very gracious, very kind and bipartisan in jamming 51 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 anybody's bills that didn't match the standard that he thought should be matched. And lo and behold, those bills would die in committee. Then the wise Senator would go back and talk to the chairman and make the changes, and the bills would come out and we would act on them. Did you notice how many times on the Senate Floor during debate there would be different members of the Judiciary Committee that just in the course of conversation, just in the course of describing a bill, would say, "Well, Senator Hawkinson said this", or, "The Chairman said that." That is how much of an influence this man has had. Very quiet influence. He's not a showboater, he's not somebody that tries to tell everybody how bright he is. He is just an effective, quiet, quality legislator. What I've appreciated most about Senator Hawkinson is the bipartisan way which he ran the Senate Judiciary Committee. And those of you who know, know that that was a committee under his leadership that when push came to shove, when it really came down to it, could transcend donkeys and elephants, could get over the partisanship to set down and come reason together. And that is a committee that time and time and time again, over the past ten years, has produced great results. I'm going to miss him. I'm going to miss his wisdom. I'm going to miss his leadership. How many people have been involved in a statewide election before where his opponents thought he was so wise and such a talented person that they say, "You know what, we won the election, but we want you, Carl Hawkinson, on our team." And I think that shows some wisdom of the Governor-elect. And I know he's uniquely positioned, and he's going to be a voice for the people of Illinois. And he's going to be our friend. And he's made a huge impact here in the State of Illinois. And I know that I, as one of the members of the Judiciary Committee, am going to miss him greatly.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 52 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 Senator Shadid.
Thank you, Madam President. Senator Roskam, it's going to be hard to -- I was -- you took away my speech, basically. But I've known Carl Hawkinson for many, many years. We go back when he was the State's Attorney in Knox County and I was the Sheriff in Peoria County, and we had many occasions to meet, discuss a lot of issues. And you know, Carl, there are three things that really stand out with you: You're very honest, you're fair, and you have integrity. And you're the "go-to" guy, as you know and everybody else knows, in the Senate when it comes to judicial matters. I got the -- had the privilege of serving on the Judiciary Committee while you were the Chairman for the last six, seven years, and I just have to repeat and second what Senator Roskam said. But, you know, I'm going to end by not trying to -- bust your bubble, but, you know, a lot of people think that because I used to -- I walk over there all the time and every once in a while you come over here, that I'm asking for advice, but it's really the other way around. He's the guy that's been asking me for all the advice. I'm the guy in the background. So, Carl, I want to wish you the best of luck. And if you need me for any help or assistance, you know how to find me. But Governor Blagojevich has made the right choice, I can tell you that, when he picked you out of everybody in this Legislature to do the job that he needs to have done. So thank you for being a friend of mine, and I really appreciate it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Geo-Karis.
Madam President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I think I probably have known Carl longer than anyone here, about thirty-one, thirty-two years. Carl was the best friend of my godson, Leon Louis Kokoris, who lost his life in the Vietnam 53 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 Conflict. Carl was at Harvard and he hitchhiked, believe it or not, to come to the funeral. And the family of Leon never forgot it, neither did I. He was a great boy. He's a bright child. And he does his homework and he'll be a great credit to the administration of the incoming Governor 'cause he certainly was a great credit to us, and I wish him well in his new endeavors. He deserves...
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Philip has moved the adoption of Senate Resolution 601. Those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senator Philip, the Chair would note that during the debate honoring Senator Molaro you were seeking recognition to speak. And the Chair was recently informed that you withdrew your request to speak because you were receiving a personal phone call from the President of the United States, George W. Bush. Senator Philip.
Thank you, Madam President. And point of personal privilege. I wanted to say something nice about Senator Molaro. Now, as you're probably aware, I only serve on one committee, Executive Committee. And of course you're aware that Senator Molaro is the Minority Spokesman. So I've enjoyed his humor, his attitude. And, you know, he's a pretty bright guy. He's to the left of me by far, but I'll tell you, I've always enjoyed him. He's always been a fair guy and he's represented your side of the aisle well. And, Bobby, we're going to miss you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 602, offered by Senator Philip and all Members. (Secretary reads SR No. 602) 54 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Radogno.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I'm pleased to be able to say a couple of words about both my seatmate and a gentleman who represents a district that's immediately adjacent to mine, as well. We were actually very fortunate to get Matt O'Shea to come into the Senate. As you know, it's difficult for people to interrupt their lives, particularly on a short-term position like this, especially someone who's younger who's employed. So we were fortunate he was able to -- to be with us. He was also very uniquely qualified for this job in that he had legislative experience, as was enumerated during the resolution. He also has municipal experience, is an attorney as well. So he was uniquely well suited to this position. He's been a very quick study. He's done his homework, and he's made a lot of good and thoughtful decisions. As you know from the comments that were made previously, his predecessor is a very difficult act to follow. But I think Matt has done an outstanding job, and we wish him well in whatever he -- wherever the future takes him.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Philip has moved the adoption of Senate Resolution 602. And those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 610, offered by Senator Emil Jones and all Members. (Secretary reads SR No. 610)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR NOLAND) Senator Link.
55 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 Thank you, Mr. President. First of all, I want to make one thing very clear: I am not a lawyer, I'm not looking for anything. I've had the opportunity of being Lisa Madigan's seatmate for her entire legislative career. And I've got to tell you, I've learned a lot about Lisa. I've learned her diligence of work. I've learned her long hours in learning the subject matters to a tee. But I also learned one thing about her that probably I'm the only Member in this General Assembly that knows this: her unusual eating habits and that there's a -- there's a drawer in between Lisa and I that is filled with many things that keeps Lisa going and gives her the energy in which she has. But I got to say something on a very serious note. When I sat next to Lisa four years ago, I knew she was the Speaker's daughter, but one thing I don't think people realize is the independence of Lisa Madigan. Matter of fact, there were times that Lisa and I disagreed with our Leader. Unfortunately, I was the only one that got hollered at. And I used to ask Lisa about that. She said, "It's that double-edged sword, and you got the wrong side." But I have to say one thing though, that whatever Lisa does in the future, Attorney General or whatever she aspires to after that, she will be one of the most outstanding individuals in the State of Illinois to do whatever office she does, and I say that from someone who has became very close to her in the last four years. And I truly can say I will miss her dearly as a State Senator and I always will look at her as a friend. Thank you, Lisa.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR NOLAND) Senator Cullerton.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senator DeLeo got me thinking about the different categories of -- of people here who -- or, different ways in which you leave this Body. Think he mentioned you can die, that would be one way of 56 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 leaving. You could be indicted, that you would have to leave then. You could lose your election, in which case you have to leave. You could get redistricted out of your district and not run, or you can choose not to run and run for statewide office and be successful. That's probably the best way to leave this General Assembly, and that's what Lisa's doing. I have known Lisa since she was a very young girl who came down here when I was in the House serving for the Speaker, and I've gotten to know her family over the years. And I can tell you that she is a person of great character, and that, I believe, comes from the way in which she was brought up by her mother and father. She has great brothers and sisters, who I know, as well. And she has been a friend of mine and my -- my family for -- for all those years. She did an excellent job when she first ran for State Senator. In fact, I was very glad that she chose to run for Attorney General. I was especially happy because she and I were put in the same Senate district, and I was very happy that she chose not to run for Senator again and choose instead to run for -- for Attorney General. I know that she's going to do a great job as Attorney General, as Senator Link said. And if she chooses to run for anything after that, even at a national level, I think we will be very happy for her success. And she's done an excellent job as our -- as our colleague, and I wish her the best of luck and good fortune. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR NOLAND) Senator Jones has moved the adoption of Senate Resolution 610. Those in -- oop. I'm sorry. Senator Jones.
Thank you, Madam President -- Mr. President. I -- I didn't say you-all looked alike. I mean, you know. We all wish Lisa Madigan well. I've known her since she was a teenager. I got to know her better when she became an Illinois Senator. And I sat 57 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 down with her and I told her, I said, "You'll do well over here, providing you don't receive a call from the other Chamber, and you won't listen to the other -- other side of the General Assembly." And she said, "I've got an independent mind. I'll do what I think is best." And I think many of you on this Floor watched how she'd vote on very critical issues and issues sometime the -- the people on the other side of the Chamber maybe pushed one way, and -- but she voted her mind, her conscience, of what she felt was best. And when Senator Link said I jumped all over him, his instructions were to tell her to vote the way the Leader voted. That's why I jumped on him. But I heard many talk about redistricting and -- on the other side of the aisle. But even with all of the influence someone else may have, they couldn't save her district. She got collapsed into another district with someone else. She did the wisest thing. She said, "I'll run for another office." Even the Speaker couldn't save that district. So, all the clout -- so I mean, it wasn't just persons on your side of the aisle that got thrown that way, Senator Watson, Senator Noland. It happened to a lot of people. But she's a very, very dedicated, hardworking, committed individual. And sometime we would be flying back to Chicago on the plane and some of the Members -- DeLeo would be reading Capital Fax; she would be reading the School Code, understanding the complexities of education and that Code, wanting to do the very best job that she could possibly do as the Democratic Spokesperson on the Education Committee. So, she made a wise decision, rather than beat John Cullerton, and run for Attorney General. And the people across the State of Illinois recognize her talent, her independence and her ability, especially on issues as -- as it relate to spousal abuse, which she championed in this particular Chamber. She's going to be a great, great Attorney General. And we're going to miss you, Lisa. We're going to miss you. I'm going to miss your hard, dedicated work. 58 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 I'm -- I will miss your independence, because I do appreciate your not taking the call from the other side of the Chamber, and you would listen to me, rather than listen to the Speaker, and you kept your word. Congratulations. Keep up the good work.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR NOLAND) Senator Jones has moved the adoption of Senate Resolution 610. Those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The resolution's adopted. Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 603, offered by Senator Philip and all Members. (Secretary reads SR No. 603)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR NOLAND) Senator Burzynski.
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to address this particular resolution, and certainly, indeed, looking at Bob's legislative background and history and the work that he's done in Pensions, we all owe him a debt of gratitude for the work that he did. I had the opportunity to serve with Bob on the Insurance and the Agriculture Committees, the Licensed Activities Committee over the last few years, and I really grew to appreciate his style and his expertise in those issues. You know, I never heard Bob utter a cross word to any of us either serving on the committee or that was presenting testimony or -- or anyone else. He used his dry sense of humor to really kind of liven things up a little bit and put everything in perspective. You know, in the heat of the battle, Bob always had a way of coming up with a calming word, or -- or a calming influence, and I certainly did appreciate that. He always had control of his committee, and he certainly had control of himself and his emotions, and I appreciated that. And you know, many of you don't realize this, but I patterned myself 59 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 after Bob. Needless to say, it didn't take, and as Bob would say, "That dog don't hunt." But we certainly have missed that. But more importantly, Bob took great pride in representing his district and the people of central Illinois. He genuinely cared for his district, the central Illinois area, his people, and he worked very hard to ensure its representation. He considered it an honor and a privilege to serve in that capacity, and I certainly considered it an honor and a privilege to serve with him. Thank you, Bob.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR NOLAND) Senator Philip has moved the adoption of Senate Resolution 603. Those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The resolution's adopted. Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 604, offered by Senator Philip and all Members. (Secretary reads SR No. 604)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR NOLAND) Senator Philip.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I've known Senator Karpiel for over forty years, at least. And I can remember the first time I met her was at a Young Republican meeting when we were organizing a club in Bloomingdale Township. That was about a hundred years ago. And we have been friends ever since. She was very, very active in township government. She was the Supervisor in a large township, did an excellent job. Served in the House for I'm not sure how long, four or five years anyway, and then came to the Senate. She's bright, articulate. Give her the facts, she'll come to the right conclusion. And she's been a friend of mine for a long, long time. She's a team player. She's loved and respected in her district, as well as anybody. And, 60 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 Doris, I'll tell you one thing: We're going to miss your common sense and judgment. Good luck to you on the Pollution Board. You're going to do some damage, I'm sure of that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR NOLAND) Senator Philip has moved the adoption of Senate Resolution 604. Those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution's adopted. Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 611, offered by Senator Emil Jones and all Members. (Secretary reads SR No. 611)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR NOLAND) Senator Jones. I'm sorry. It's Wendell Jones. No, go ahead.
Wendell, are you going to be here? Very good. I rise to speak, say a few good words about a long-valued friend whom I've known for a number of years. And she had an outstanding career here for a couple of days. And all the great ideas that she had and legislation she wanted to pursue, I promise you, Elga, that we will deal with that in the next Session of the General Assembly. So I'm glad to have you here on the Senate Floor. And those ideas and goals and your dedication, we'll take care of that during the next Session of the General Assembly. Good luck. Godspeed.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR NOLAND) Senator Jones has moved the adoption of Senate Resolution 611. Those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution's adopted. Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 593, offered by Senator Philip and all Members. (Secretary reads SR No. 593)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR NOLAND) 61 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 Senator Molaro.
Mr. President. And, Senator Weaver, if you thought you were going to get out of here without hearing me one more time, you're sadly mistaken. One of the things I'm moved by is that, you know, Laura's been -- I've been here ten years, you've been here a little longer - I don't even believe I'm going to be saying this - it actually was a blink of an eye. I mean, I remember sitting here as a freshman. I -- you know, I know as you're younger you think, you know, three months is an eternity and now to look back ten years, it -- it -- it seems like almost yesterday, and I just can't believe it. You know, I just want to say, as -- as you being in Leadership all these times, as far as what I'm going to miss, and go on -- you know, as myself and Lisa move onto bigger things, one of the things I'm going to miss, and I -- and I just want to point this out, and I'll get to you in a second, Laura: It was a tough fight these ten years. I cannot believe how hard Republicans fought and Pate Philip fought, and I can't believe how hard Emil and his leadership team fought and we did. It was a good, hard, above-the-belt fight. And it was -- I'm just so proud to be part of it, and so proud of the way you two Leaders fought each other. I thought it was terrific. You -- you -- you cut out your agenda, you stood up for your constituency, and you did it straightforward, and you did it respectfully and honestly. And I'm going to miss the two Leaders here. I mean, you guys were just terrific. But getting back to Laura, there was -- there was a story, Laura, and I -- I think you might hear this, and you know we had a conversation about the week before your election, and that's what I was going to bring up. When I was first running - Rickey talked about committeeman, when I was black, at that time, in my Hispanic years - when I was running for committeeman, for those of you who remember, do you remember when there was -- when 62 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 Harold Washington first won, there was this Vrydolyak twenty-nine. You remember that? The twenty-nine, twenty-one. They didn't want to give up power and all that other craziness. Well, a lot of committeemen were going to run against aldermen and a lot of aldermen were going to run against committeemen, 'cause everybody was in the middle of this stuff. So the alderman in my ward was a guy that we didn't care for, so he was going to run against me for committeeman. And I was real close friends with Ed Burke and a few of the aldermen, and we were very tight. So I said, okay, one thing I know for certain, I'm going to have Eddie Burke and a few of these Chicago aldermen be with me. Well, they made an agreement, the sitting aldermen, that they would stay out of all these political races. So, I was a young committeeman; I'm all pumped up. So I said -- call up Ed Burke, call up this other alderman and I say, "Well, you're going to come to my fund-raiser, you're going to give this speech." And he goes, "Well, I'm not going to be there." I go, "What do you mean, you're not going to be there?" Said, "You sponsored my daughter for confirmation. We're real close. We did a million things together. We're close. What do you mean, you're not going to be there?" And he said, "Well, Bob, you're asking for a political favor, not a personal favor." I was mad and it took me about two years to get over it, but I finally understood what he meant. So let me tell you what happened with Laura in that vein. About a week before the election I called her. One of my relatives from Chicago was having a problem down in western Illinois. I got all these relatives from Chicago who get in trouble throughout the State. And I call Laura, and it was one of the mornings where Laura just got one of the negative pieces put out by her opponent. And unfortunately, as we all know serving in this Body, and -- and any -- negative pieces are a way of life. As much as we hate 'em, apparently they're here to stay. And it was horrible. So it was 63 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 bad -- it was -- it was a negative piece. Laura was in a bad mood, almost crying, saying, "You think after all these years I wouldn't have to go through a negative piece." So she was down, she was depressed. She was in the middle of an election, and I said, "Well, Laura, I hate to tell you this, but I need a favor. It's for a relative of mine." She said, "Hold all the calls." I told her what it was. She stayed on it. She followed it through and did it for me because it was a relative of mine. It was a friend of mine. And I just thought it showed a lot of grace and class. As I look around the room here, and I see Bob Madigan, Walter Dudycz and Stan Weaver, when I called and -- and -- and everybody else, when I finally understood what Burke said all those years. There's no way you're going to take a call if I'm going to ask for a political favor. You can't do it. You have your agenda. You have your constituencies. You have to do what you have to do, what we're -- come here and voted for, that voted to -- to get here. But whenever anybody called, and I can name more names where I went and asked for favors, when it was personal for friends or family, everybody on that side of the aisle that I asked jumped to it and was there for me. Now, of course this side of the aisle did it. And they did it maybe -- I hope, for the same reason. Kirk Dillard mentioned it earlier: Once a Senator, always a Senator. And, Laura, you know, once a Senator, always a Senator. You made many, many friends in this room. So did a lot of people retiring here and there. And I just hope -- and just as -- we were just as proud of Lisa being a former Member, or Judy, or anybody else that was promoted in their jobs. Carl. I mean, we can go on and on talking about, you know, what -- what we accomplished here. But I think what we accomplished came from our two Leaders. Fight hard, yes. But help each other on a personal level, always and every time. And, Laura, you embodied that spirit, and thank you very much. 64 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR NOLAND) Senator Geo-Karis.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I had the pleasure of serving with Laura's mother. We both came in the Illinois House thirty years ago. And Mary Lou Kent was a very dedicated person, who really did her best for her district. Then she moved into the Senate, like I did, too, and she continued her dedication and hard work for her constituents. Did an outstanding job. And Laura, her daughter, when she took her seat, has done the same thing. She has been dedicated and worked very, very hard for the constituents of her district. And really she deserved to have been reelected, but sometimes we can't control the votes. But she did a great job. I'm sorry to see her go, and I wish her the best.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR NOLAND) Senator Philip.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senator Molaro, you're always entertaining. You know, you're probably going to end up in the right Chamber. I'm going to miss you, but you're going to end up in the right Chamber. You will fit in. Now -- now, Laura Kent Donahue is one of the nicest ladies we ever had in this Chamber. I served with her mother, Mary Lou, in the House over twenty years ago. If I remember correctly, she was the Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce for Quincy. Very, very pro-business, and one of the nicest, brightest ladies. Unfortunately, if I remember correctly, she died after the primary. So we had to have a search for a candidate. There were a lot of candidates and I will tell you one thing, we got lucky and we got Laura. And to say the least, her mother had trained her well. And she worked very, very hard, and 65 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 she's been here for a long, long time and has a great, great record. We're certainly going to miss you, and it was a shock to all of us, I will tell you that. Because, you know, you've always had the reputation, nobody will every beat Laura Kent Donahue. I was -- I was shocked that night when I found out, and extremely disappointed. But you know what? There's life after the Senate. And you will do extremely well. Good luck to you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR NOLAND) Senator Philip has moved the adoption of Senate Resolution 593. Those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution's adopted. Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 589, offered by Senator Weaver and all Members of the Senate. (Secretary reads SR No. 589)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Watson.
A call from the President, huh? It was for Nancy. He did tell him though, "I want you to stay DuPage County Chairman. I need Illinois." And you know what? I'm sure that's what he'll do, 'cause he's a good soldier and DuPage County -- his beloved DuPage County delivers like no other in Illinois, and a lot of that is because of Pate Philip. The Senate would like to formally welcome, and I'd like to introduce, former Senators who have served with Pate over the years and have made this trip to the Capitol today to recognize his years of service to this State. I'd like to read their names, if you'd just acknowledge: Max Coffey, Dr. John Davidson, Walter Dudycz, Ralph Dunn, Karen Hasara, former Lieutenant Governor Bob Kustra, Bob Madigan, Bob Mitchler, Judy Myers, Bob Raica, Jack Schaffer, Don Totten and Tom Walsh. Welcome. We're glad to have you here with us today. 66 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Welcome.
There were many, many others who sent words of congratulations and letters, and they're just too -- too numerous to mention. But the fact that thirteen people made this trip here, former Members, and all of the accolades that he receives that -- people that aren't here just says volumes about his leadership. And you talk about change. We were discussing this this morning in leadership. And when we took control of the Senate after the 1992 election, there's only three of us on this side of the aisle who actually served in the Minority. So we are seeing a significant change. And Dave and I were just talking about all the numbers of resolutions and the number of people leaving. Adeline Geo-Karis now becomes Dean of the Senate on our side. I'm number two in seniority. And of all things, Steve Rauschenberger is number three. And -- that's in years in service here in the Senate. But Pate leaving is real change. Real change. Significant change. It's a post-Pate era. And a lot of us have been talking about the post-Pate era for -- for several years. We thought he was going to leave before now. And some of us were preparing for that post-Pate era. I thought, well, heck, you know, I'm probably going to be gone and he's still going to be here. But he's made up his mind to leave. And you talk about leadership and you talk about our caucus, and I think that I'm not saying anything that most people don't believe, but the Republican Caucus in the Senate is probably the strongest of the four caucuses. And I know we're all -- each of us -- each caucus is unique in its own abilities, but this caucus - and I've been in it since 1982, in the Minority and then in the Majority - this gentleman, this man, was able to keep us all together. And I asked him, I said, "Pate, how do you do this? How is it done?" You know? And he obviously doesn't 67 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 have a great deal -- he doesn't say a lot about himself. He never pats himself on the back. He's always talking about somebody else and their accomplishments. He very seldom ever acknowledges what he's done. But he's -- his candor, sure, you guys are going to -- press is going to miss Pate Philip, but that's -- was a refreshing part of this -- this man, our President of the Senate, because a lot of us in this business of politics, you know, we don't have the ability to say what we really think. We'd never want to say -- and upset somebody about a particular belief that we may have. That's never been -- never been the quality of this Leader, and that is leadership. That is leadership: People who stand for something, who have some beliefs and principles by which drives them here in Springfield. And that's what this Caucus Leader and this President of the Senate is about this last ten years and all the time he's been Leader of this -- of this side of the aisle. And that is leadership. He never asked one of us, never asked one of us on this side of the aisle, to do anything that would harm ourself or our district. He never was heavy-handed. He would always talk about beating up somebody. He'd never beat up anybody. He'd ask for your help. If you could do it and you could be there, great. If you couldn't, he'd understand why. What -- if you -- if you listened to the resolution - I hope you did - to talk about the wonderful accomplishments that we have had in the last ten years under -- under Pate's leadership. It's an incredible legacy of accomplishment when you talk about the property tax caps. And they do work, Pate, and you made that possible. That was your issue. That was something you pushed for. Talk about welfare reform. We get national accolades here in Illinois about our -- the success of our welfare reform and putting people back into the workforce. Schools. He's oftentimes criticized for not having a sensitivity about the children of this State. And that was unfair, unfair criticism of this man, because 68 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 we have put hundreds of millions of dollars into education under his leadership. And he understood those others who didn't live in the metropolitan area of Chicago or didn't live in the suburbs or the collar counties. He understood that we had needs in our districts and he'd listen to us, and he would respond. He held the line on taxes. For -- what a -- what a legacy to walk out of here. Illinois, of all states who have taxes, has the lowest tax rate of any state in this country. That wouldn't have happened had Pate Philip decided not to enter politics in Illinois. Pate always says, "Do the right thing." Well, Pate, go fishing, go hunting, go to Michigan, go travel, spend time with your family, enjoy your grandchildren. Do the right thing. And we are going to miss you, greatly. It's been a pleasure to serve with you in Leadership and to have you as our Leader of the Republican Senate. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Geo-Karis.
Madam President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I've known Pate Philip for over forty years. He made an impression on me when he made a speech in my county about a candidate who was running for State office and did such a great job with an off the -- off-the-cuff speech, that I -- he impressed me so much. But, you know, I've known him, and you know, Pate's called chauvinistic, but I have to tell my colleagues on the other side, it was a Republican President of the Senate, Pate Philip, who put a woman in Leadership for the first time in the history of the Senate. So, at least you know where he stands and he's honest about it. He tells you what he thinks. And one thing that some of you may not realize, he does not carry a grudge. I ought to know, 'cause we didn't always agree on many things, but in the final analysis, he was a gentleman. He's a caring person. He 69 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 loves children and he's done whatever he could possibly do to help children. So I just want everyone to know that in spite of the fact that some people think he's not caring, he is a very caring gentleman and he's really very softhearted. I can remember the time that he went to the -- that he had Beverly Fawell sworn in in the hospital when she won her Senate seat and she was stricken and was in the hospital, and he took a judge over to get her sworn in for her Senate seat so she would not lose her rights and emoluments. So, you see, that's the kind of a person Pate Philip is. I'm going to miss him, and I'm sorry he didn't stay. I really am sorry. Sorry Doris didn't stay. I'm sorry Mary Lou -- I mean, Laura didn't stay, and I'm sorry Kathy Parker didn't stay, and Judy Myers, and Doris Karpiel. But I want to tell you, he has done the most magnificent job of keeping this caucus together. I ought to know. I was in it. And he -- he's -- he's a hard act to follow, and I'm sure that Senator Watson is going to do his best to emulate it. And Pate, Nancy, I wish you the very best, because you're entitled to it. Go and enjoy your life, but don't forget us, and come back.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Emil Jones.
Thank you, Madam President. Listening to all the remarks made about my colleague, President Philip, how he's helped people. We served in the Illinois House, Geo, together, and he even helped me. He didn't realize he was helping me though. I recall one of the first bills I had in the House and I came to the House Floor and there was a memo from Representative Pate Philip showing opposition to this bill backing this particular industry. So I went downstairs to the Rathskeller to get some breakfast, and I heard over the PA system that any Member who wanted their bill called, come to the House Floor. And I looked over, there was 70 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 Pate having breakfast, too. I -- I -- I didn't realize he was hard of hearing. He evidently didn't hear it. So I left my breakfast, went up there on the Floor, called my bill and I passed it. So I want to thank you, Pate, for helping me pass one of my first bills in the Illinois House. But when I got word that he was no longer going to be the Republican Leader, and I said to him, "Pate, why you leaving?" You know, why -- I said, "Stick around, you know. You've been a very, very worthy adversary. We've battled over issues that weren't personal, but it was political, and I want you to stay around." But I -- I recall those early days in the Illinois House, and -- my Mediterranean cousin, Adeline Geo-Karis, and I, and you. And you left and came over to the Senate. And then along came Geo, and I followed Geo. But we wish you well. There's life after the Illinois Senate. And the words of your new Leader, Frank Watson, those words will ring true in the next Session of the Illinois General Assembly. And we will remind you of that: fairness, opening the process, and things that we will do. But it's been great working with you, Pate. Go fishing and enjoy yourself. There's life after the Illinois Senate. There's life after being President of the Illinois Senate. But I want to thank you publicly for helping me pass my first bill. That's the only one I got. The only one I got. I didn't get many in this Chamber. Not too many. But you did help me that time. So I do appreciate it. Good luck. Godspeed.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Weaver.
Thank you, Madam President. We've heard so many nice things said about our Leader, that I've been bumming around with him for so many years that maybe I ought to -- well, maybe I shouldn't. I look around. I see your delightful family here, and they -- they 71 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 probably don't know all that I know about you. One thing, we were at a social event a few years ago. It was a big event and Pate and I were ready to leave, and the room was full and so we ducked out the back door. And it was dark. We missed a step. We both went down. I cracked two ribs. And what does he say? "It felt like I lit on a two-by-four." That was how sympathetic he was. I could hardly breathe. I don't want to take a lot of your time and I don't need to tell Pate how much I think of him and what a great joy it's been to me to work with him, and to work with all of you. This Senate has been a great part of my life. And I respect all of you. And I want to thank all of you for all the kindness you've shown toward me. But if I had to kind of sum up Pate's attitude, how he really thinks - when we had differences, we fought 'em out and once in a while I'd change his mind, not very often - but the one thing that stands in my mind is, do the right thing. That's Pate Philip. Do the right thing. I'll miss you old buddy. Thanks for everything.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Weaver moves the adoption of Senate Resolution 589. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senator Philip.
Madam President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I'm certainly flattered with all those kind, generous words, and very -- very honestly, I never thought I was that good. But I'll tell you one thing, it was one of the more difficult decisions that I've ever made. You know, your family should come first. I've been here almost thirty-six years. You know, it's time. And I'll tell you one thing, I've enjoyed the process and the people, and I mean on both sides of the aisles. The Members, bright, articulate. Given the information, generally speaking, we do the right thing. And I consider you all my friends. If I can ever help, I will 72 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 guarantee I'm only a telephone call away. And I return telephone calls, you all know that. But I also wanted to thank the Leadership. I have certainly been blessed with great Assistant Leaders. They have done a great job. They've been loyal. And I'll tell you one thing: They have input in the decisions and our Senators have input in the decisions. And a lot of times the Senators, the staff have better ideas than the Governor. Many times. And so we always - I shouldn't say always - most of the time, come to the right conclusion. Let me talk just a little bit about staff. Carter Hendren is as good as they come, let me tell you that. He runs this place right. Leave him alone, he will do the right thing. And -- and we're going to miss him. I'm going to miss him. Hopefully he'll stick around a little bit longer. And -- and, Emil, all the best of luck to you. You've got a real challenge with the budget and some of the problems the State is facing. And of course, Frank. I've trained Frank well. He will do well. Our side of the aisle will be together. You know what? We're not going to be too quiet on this side of the aisle. You -- you will find that out sooner or later. But I wish you all the best in the world. Carter, thank you for your help and support in keeping this place running. And I've enjoyed it. I'll have a lot of great memories. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senate will be at ease momentarily. So, just sit. (SENATE STANDS AT EASE/SENATE RECONVENES)
There's always something about Marines. You know, they say old Marines never die, they just fade away. But, Sergeant, extremely well done. You notice I didn't salute him. Marines 73 STATE OF ILLINOIS 92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 118th Legislative Day January 7, 2003 don't salute unless they have a hat on, or a cover we call it in the Marine Corps. So I did not return the salute. And most people don't understand that. Very, very proud of being a Marine. My brother was a Marine. And you got a great unit here. All right. Senator Weaver moves the Senate shall stand adjourned sine die. Senator Weaver.
Mr. President, I move that we adjourn sine die.
The Senate stands adjourned sine die. 74