Regular Session of the 93rd General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desk? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation -- today will be given by Pastor John Price, Springfield Church of Christ, Springfield, Illinois. Pastor Price.
(Prayer by Pastor John Price)
Please remain standing for the Pledge of -- of Alliance. Senator Link.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Link)
Be seated. I'd like to recognize Senator Lauzen in the -- in the gallery. Welcome to Illinois, Senator. Reading and Approval of the Journal. Senator Woolard.
Mr. President, I move that the reading and approval of the Journals of Wednesday, April 16th, and Tuesday, April 29th, in the year 2003, be postponed, pending arrival of the printed Journal.
Senator Woolard moves to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal, pending arrival of the printed transcripts. There being no objection, so ordered. Senator Hendon, what purpose do you rise?
Thank you -- thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
State your point.
I just wanted to acknowledge the presence of former Senator and Leader, Earlean Collins, who is now Cook County Commissioner. Welcome back to the Senate.
Welcome to the Senate, Eleanor -- or, Senator Collins.
1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/30/2003 I know President Stroger misses her.
Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Shadid, Chairperson of the Committee on Transportation, reports House Bills 136, 298, 499, 1186, 1189, 1273, 1389, 1491, 1574, 2273, 2492, 2840, 3063, 3106, 3540, 3543 and 3692 Do Pass; and House Bills 44, 463 and 3061 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Trotter, Chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations I, reports House Bills 2663, 2664, 2669, 2672, 2673, 2678, 2680, 2681, 2686, 2696, 2698, 2700, 2705, 2708, 2716, 2718, 2719, 2721, 2726, 2730, 2739, 2743, 2747, 2751, 2756, 2761 and 2762 Do Pass. Senator Haine, Chairperson of the Committee on Local Government, reports House Bills 30, 116, 120, 138, 263, 273, 300, 462, 528, 1246, 1267, 1385, 1434, 1447, 1751, 2299, 2499 {sic}(2477), 2549, 2618, 2634, 3079, 3231, 3402, 3411, 3530 and 3679 Do Pass; and House Bills 1195, 1251, 1514, 2307 {sic}(2301) and 2317 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Clayborne, Chairperson of the Committee on Environment and Energy, reports House Bills 548, 1165, 1279, 2200, 2265, 2489, 2839 and 3553 Do Pass; and House Bills 176, 3321, 3407 and 3507 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Walsh, Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Conservation, reports House Bills -- 231, 264, 1121, 1458, 2889, 2890, 2918, 2949 and 2950 Do Pass; and House Bill 1096 Do Pass, as Amended.
Senator Shadid, what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
State your point.
Thank you, sir. I want to remind the Senate Members of tonight’s dinner meeting that will establish a Legislative Fire Caucus, which would provide support for the State’s fire 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/30/2003 service. The dinner will be held at the Chesapeake House at 7 p.m. Thank you.
Senator Lauzen, welcome to the Senate Floor. What purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege.
State your point.
Thank you. I would like to introduce some ladies who are in the gallery today from the Illinois Federation of Republican Women. First of all, from Kendall County, Peg De Vol and Connie Peshia, then Gwen Emmen and Mary Bricker from Iroquois County, Bill and Beverly Bodine from Jefferson County, Donna Fike from Kane County and then Marsha Liebers and Beverly Taylor from Peoria County. So…
Will our guests in the gallery please rise and be recognized by the Senate? Senator Burzynski, what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, please.
State your point.
I'd like -- excuse me, Senator O’Shea. Senator O’Shea. We have one of our most distinguished former colleagues that has joined us on the Floor. Probably had the best legislative record of -- of any of us here, and I'd like for the Senate to welcome Senator O’Shea back.
Welcome back to the Senate. Senator Geo-Karis, what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, sir.
State your point.
3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/30/2003 Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I -- I don’t know which gallery they’re in but the Spaulding School from Gurnee is here with Eric Sator, S-A-T-O-R, Tom Whitford, W- H-I-T-F-O-R-D, and Joanna Blockinger, B-L-O-C-K-I-N-G-E-R. They’re instructors. I'd like you all to welcome them.
Will our guests in the gallery please recognize and be welcomed by the Senate? Senator Radogno, what purpose do you rise? Senator Luechtefeld, what purpose do you rise?
A point of personal privilege.
State your point.
Mr. President, right behind you in the President’s gallery are a group of students from SIU, who are mainly from the Chicago area and the East St. Louis area, here today with Linda Baker, to try to at least follow the process of how government works here in Springfield. I would like you to welcome them, if you would, please.
Will our students in the gallery please rise and be recognized by the Senate? Madam Secretary, Introduction of Bills.
Senate Bill 2086, offered by Senator Burzynski. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bill.
On -- on page 24 of the Calendar, on the Order of 2nd Reading, House Bills 2nd Reading. House Bill 43. Senator Crotty. House Bill 51. Senator Silverstein. Senator Wojcik, what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise for point of personal privilege.
State your point.
4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/30/2003 In the gallery above me, we have some guests here from School District 54 in Schaumberg. We have the school superintendent and some other members.
Will our guests in the gallery please rise and be recognized by the Senate? Senate {sic} Bill 56. Senator Silverstein. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 56. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
3rd Reading. Senator -- Senator Roskam, what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege.
State your point.
Mr. President, behind the Democratic side, opposite you, is a group from Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville. They’ve been awarded the prestigious Blue Ribbon Award for their outstanding physical education program. This award is presented by the Illinois Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, and the school that wins the blue ribbon has one the most outstanding P.E. programs in the State. Would you please welcome them and all those folks that are in such great shape to the Senate?
Will our guests in the gallery please rise and be recognized by the Senate? Senate Bill 59. Senator Maloney. I mean, House Bill. I’m sorry. House Bill 60. Senator Munoz. House Bill 79. Senator Clayborne. House Bill 81. Senator 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/30/2003 Trotter. House Bill 123. Senator Shadid. House Bill 184. Senator Harmon. House Bill 194. Senator Righter. Senator Halvorson, what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
State your point.
In the gallery today -- I have two points I'd like to make. First, I'd like to welcome the Mayor of Sun River Valley -- Terrace, Shirley Byrd. And second of all, I'd like to make sure everybody knows that we have some great senior citizens here on Lobby Day that I'd like to introduce, who come here diligently every year to push their causes, and maybe this year we’ll finally get something accomplished for them. So I'd like for the Senate to welcome.
Will our guests in the gallery please rise and be welcomed by the Senate? Madam Secretary, please read House Bill 194.
House Bill 194. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 199. Senator Obama. House Bill 200. Senator Obama. House Bill 205. Senator Trotter. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 205. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 211. Senator Martinez. House Bill 236. Senator Link. Senator Cronin, what purpose do you rise?
6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/30/2003 If I may, just a -- a point of order. I did see my friend and colleague, Senator Trotter, seeking attention and I believe what he was going to point out to our esteemed President is that at least with respect to Senate Bill -- or, House Bill 205, that there was an agreement that that bill would not be moved to 3rd until we had worked out some language. And I’m sure that that’s what he’s going to tell you and I look forward to working with Senator Trotter. Thank you.
Senator Trotter.
Thank you very much, Mr. President, and thank you very much, Senator -- Cronin. When the bill was called, I -- I thought it was another bill. He’s absolutely correct. I'd made an agreement I was going to hold that bill on 2nd. However, it will not go any further than this point until we get that agreement, if I have to take it back for an amendment.
House Bill 249. Senator Haine. House Bill 269. Senator Walsh. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill -- 269. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd -- 3rd Reading. House Bill 275. Senator Martinez. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 275. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 293. Senator Martinez. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 293. (Secretary reads title of bill) 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/30/2003 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 312. Senator Harmon. House Bill 313. Senator Halvorson. House Bill 313. Senator Shadid. House Bill 338. Senator Radogno. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 338. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 385. Senator Halvorson. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 385. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 407. Senator Haine. House Bill 430. Senator Welch. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 430. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Education adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
Are there any amendments, Madam…
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/30/2003 3rd Reading. House Bill 495. Senator Garrett. House Bill 526. Senator Walsh. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 526. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 527. Senator Walsh. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 527. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Local Government adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
Have there been any amendments approved for consideration filed on the Floor?
No further amendments -- no further amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 531. Senator Clayborne. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 531. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 544. Senator Demuzio. House Bill -- let me see. 943. Senator Sullivan. 943. Senator Sullivan. House Bill 1118. Senator Maloney. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1118. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/30/2003 3rd Reading. House Bill 1119. Senator Garrett. House Bill 1157. Senator Silverstein. …1157. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1157. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 1180. Senator -- Woolard. House Bill 1192. Senator Clayborne. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1192. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 1205. Senator DeLeo. House Bill 1235. Senator DeLeo. House Bill 1274. Senator Halvorson. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1274. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 1280. Senator Maloney. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1280. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 1285. Senator Garrett. House Bill 1387. Senator Collins. House Bill 1412. Madam Secretary, read -- read the bill on House Bill 1387.
House Bill 1387. 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/30/2003 (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 1412. Senator Crotty. House Bill 1425. Senator Garrett. House Bill 1448. Madam Secretary, on House Bill 1425, read the bill.
House Bill 1425. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 1448. Senator Righter. House Bill 1455. Senator Shadid. House Bill 1486. Senator Welch. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1486. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 1490. Senator Jacobs. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1490. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 1530. Senator Hunter. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1530. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Health and Human Services adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/30/2003 Have there been any amendments filed on the Floor that have been approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
3rd Reading. House Bill 1536. Senator Clayborne. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1536. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 1630. Senator Martinez. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1630. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 1640. Senator Jacobs. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1640. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 2105. Senator Sullivan. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 2105. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill -- 2136. Senator Cullerton. House Bill 2146. Senator Cullerton. House Bill 2235. Senator 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/30/2003 del Valle. House Bill 2268. Senator Obama. House Bill 2350. Senator Meeks. House Bill 2354. Senator Schoenberg. House Bill 2434. Senator Sandoval. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 2434. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 2441. Senator Sandoval. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 2441. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 2478. Senator Hendon. House Bill 2543. Senator Lightford. House Bill 2805. Senator Demuzio. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 2805. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 2855. Senator Garrett. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 2855. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 2887. Senator Woolard. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 2887. (Secretary reads title of bill) 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/30/2003 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 2910. Senator Petka. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 2910. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 3036. Senator Walsh. Read the bill, Madam Secretary.
House Bill 3036. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 3053. Senator Welch. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 3053. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 3183. Senator Clayborne. Madam - - no, no. House Bill 3298. House Bill 3506. Senator Jacobs. Madam Secretary, read the bill. House Bill 3506, Madam Secretary. Read the bill.
House Bill 3506. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 3508. Senator Clayborne. Madam Secretary, read the bill. 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/30/2003
House Bill 3508. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 3522. Senator Sandoval. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 3522. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 3547. Senator Hunter. House Bill 3661. Senator Jacobs. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 3661. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Insurance and Pensions adopted Committee Amendments 1, 2 and 3.
Have there -- any amendments been filed for -- or, adopted by the -- on the Floor? I mean, any Floor amendments been filed and approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
3rd Reading. Senator Dillard, what purpose do you rise?
On a -- on a point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
State your point.
If I could, up in the balcony behind me is the Lakeview Jr. High School from Downers Grove, and like Senator Roskam’s group, they performed at Shape Up Illinois today. They are one of three winners statewide of the Blue Ribbon Award for the 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/30/2003 Illinois Association of Health and Physical Education, and I'd like them to be recognized by the State Senate, sir.
Will our guests in the gallery please rise and be recognized by the Illinois Senate? Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Demuzio, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Executive Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 318, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 560, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 685, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 714, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 741, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 914, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 954, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1044 and Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1459; refer to Licensed Activities Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 and Committee Amendment No. 2 to House Bill 2370, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 2553, Committee Amendment No. 3 to House Bill 2809 and Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 3047.
Senator Halvorson.
I'd like to announce a Democrat Caucus immediately upon adjournment, and our intention is to be done so that committees can meet on time, but -- or, shortly after 1.
I understand you want a forty-five-minute caucus.
Okay.
Which mean the committees will meet -- the 1 o’clock committees will begin around 1:15. Senator Burzynski.
Thank you, Mr. President. Purposes of announcement or request. Since you all are -- are choosing to meet, we’d love to have a caucus ourselves in Senator Watson’s Office.
16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/30/2003 Could you tell us approximately what time you will be through?
I think we should be able to meet your time frame.
By 1:15?
I think so, sir.
Thank you. There being no further business -- Senator Ronen.
For purposes of an announcement. The Labor and Commerce…
Proceed.
The Labor and Commerce Committee will meet today at 3:30.
Senator Watson.
Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to make a quick comment and let the Membership know that this is going to be Senator Pate Philip’s last day on the Floor and we just want to, obviously, wish him well. Been a great Member of this -- this Body for a long period of time. He was a great President of the Senate. We certainly want to wish you well, Pate. Thank you.
Will our -- will our colleague be recognized by all the Members as he completes his last day in the Illinois Senate. Senator Philip.
Point of personal privilege.
State your point.
And I’ll keep it short, Mr. President. And I can remember the first time I came to the General Assembly about thirty-five years ago, in the Illinois House for eight years, and believe it 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/30/2003 or not, the Senate was still taking a roll verbally and we were -- had one Session every two years. And I remember in the House, we had one secretary for three House Members and we didn’t have our own office. We had -- above the -- the House, there was an open room with partitions in it, so you would have to call your secretary before the other two guys would call -- or ladies would call, and -- and get an appointment to go up and meet her. And I had a secretary that drank at lunch. And so if I didn’t get her before noon, I was in deep trouble. But I tell you, it was a great, great experience. It’s one of those funny things you remember, you know, after thirty-five years. But I’ll tell you one thing, I’ve met a lot of great, great people, a lot of wonderful people here. I enjoyed your company, your camaraderie. We may not have always agreed, but we tried to be reasonable and work out a compromise and -- and very proud of being a Senator and a House Member and the President of the Senate. I’ve enjoyed it, and I -- I'd like to think that I used to try to do what was right. I know nobody ever believes that, but the bottom line was, stand up to the plate and try to do what’s right. And I have great, great memories, and I’m going to come back and haunt you. I’m not going to lobby, but I’m going to come back here every once in a while and see if you’re doing the right thing. So, thank you very, very much. Semper Fi.
We wish you well, Senator Philip. Senator, during those days in the House, and I recall, I was there, and I want to thank you again for helping me pass my very first piece of legislation. It wasn’t your intent, but you helped me. Senator Wojcik, what purpose do you rise?
Mr. President, I feel compelled to say something in honor of the former President, Pate Philip.
Proceed.
Having been his running mate for twenty years, I can only tell you it’s been an absolute joy. We’ve worked together as -- well as a team and I know that he’s going to welcome his 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/30/2003 retirement now. But I also want to thank him for the opportunity to put me where I am today, here in the Senate. It’s indeed a pleasure. And, Pate, I wish you lots of luck and happiness.
Senator Geo-Karis, what purpose you rise?
Personal privilege.
State your point.
Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I just want to say that I’ve known Pate for about thirty-five years and Pate earned the distinction of having been the first President of the Senate to appoint a woman in Leadership in the history of the Illinois Senate, and that was I, and I thank you very much. And, Pate, I wish you well and I know you’ll always keep yours -- keep us in mind. God bless.
Senator Jacobs, what purpose you rise?
Point of personal privilege.
State your point.
I think I'd be remiss if I didn’t say something about Pate Philip’s leaving. Pate, you know, leadership is leadership and you have exemplified leadership. We’ve not always agreed with you and you have not always agreed with us, but you’ve always showed great leadership. And I just want to leave you with one thing that I’ve already told the press, so you won’t have to read it in the paper. You always come across as this big, tough, ex-Marine, but really deep down in, you’re a softy and we’re going to miss you.
Senator Demuzio, what purpose you rise?
Point of personal privilege.
19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/30/2003 State your point.
I -- I -- I -- I just loved to listen to the former Senate President. He complained of three secretaries for one Member of the House. That was the same way it was in the Senate when he got here. No office. I think three Members of the Senate shared the same office. Six thousand dollars a year was the salary, as I recall correctly. And fifty dollars a year was the total expenses that you got to run your district office. I know -- I know you hate changes but I had no idea that all these things that have occurred now over the last, I don’t know, years of period of time that you have been in the Senate, but we no longer have any of this and I -- and I know you would like to have it that way. But there is one thing that I know that you regret more than anything else, and that was that biennium legislature, when we came back every -- every -- every -- every two years. Pate, we are certainly going to miss you, without any question, and the fact is, is that we’ve had a lot of -- I have a lot of great stories to tell about you in private. They’re all very good, but we’re going to miss your -- your -- your color around here and we’re going to miss your -- your leadership. And we -- we know, that this is not the end of your political career, without any question. So, Godspeed and God bless you and I hope you get all your turkeys and deers and whatever the hell else you’re out after. Thank you very much.
There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate will stand adjourned until the hour of 12:30 p.m., on Thursday, May 1st. The Senate stands adjourned and to remind you, the committees will begin meeting at 1:30. 1:30 the committees will begin meeting. So the -- the Senate stands adjourned. 20