PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) The regular Session of the 93rd General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desks? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by the Reverend Monsignor Kenneth {sic} Vann, Church of the Blessed Sacrament, Springfield, Illinois. Monsignor Vann.
(Prayer by Monsignor Kevin Vann)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Link.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Link)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Please be seated. Madam Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journals of Wednesday, November 5; Thursday, November 6; and Friday, November 14, 2003.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Senator Halvorson.
Mr. President, I move that the Journals just read by the Secretary be approved, unless some Senator has additions or corrections to offer.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Senator Halvorson moves to approve the Journals just read by the Secretary. There being no objections, so ordered. Madam Secretary, Introduction of Bills.
Senate Bill 2124, offered by Senator Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2125, offered by Senator DeLeo. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2126, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2127, offered by President Emil Jones. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 11/18/2003 1st Reading of the bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 307, offered by Senator Wendell Jones and all Members. Senate Resolution 308, offered by Senator Shadid and all Members. Senate Resolution 309, offered by Senator Dillard and all Members. Senate Resolution 310, also offered by Senator Dillard and all Members. Senate Resolution 311, offered by Senators Althoff, Burzynski and all Members. Senate Resolution 312, offered by Senator Lightford and all Members. Senate Resolution 313, offered by Senator Jones -- pardon me, President Emil Jones and all Members. And Senate Resolution 314, -- also offered by Senator Emil Jones and all Members. They’re all death resolutions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Consent Calendar. Motions on file.
Yes. I have motions with respect to -- I have five motions with respect to House Bill 2716. All filed by Senator Trotter. And I have a motion with respect to House Bill 2671. Also offered by Senator Trotter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) The motions will be reflected on the Calendar. Senator Lauzen, I’d like to invite you and your guests to come to the Podium.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I -- I’d just like to ask for your attention for a moment. You know, I’ve met a handful of truly inspirational men and women in my lifetime and the interesting thing about these people is that they surround themselves with their success and they believe in their destiny. 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 11/18/2003 Joe Newton and his York High School Cross Country Team won this year’s State Championship. It’s the twenty-third year that Joe Newton and the Long Green Line have won that title. Joe teaches young people to be champions. He makes it personal. Every kid has a nickname, an affectionate identity. They train relentlessly in a small park in Elmhurst, Illinois, where they go fifteen to eighteen miles per day, twenty-five repeat four hundred sprints. And if -- Senator Cronin, come on up. This -- these are your guys. And if any of you have ever done a workout like that, you know that it’s -- typically you just puke afterwards. Every time they come around, Joe feeds ‘em motivation. When they step to the line, they know that they have worked harder and sacrificed more than any other team, and there’s a bunch of good teams in Illinois. When you look in their eyes, you see that they already know that they’ve won. They believe in themselves and they believe in destiny. And I would like to present Coach Joe Newton and his team from Elmhurst, Illinois.
(Remarks by Coach Joe Newton)
(Remarks by Assistant Coach Charlie Kern)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Senator Cronin, for what purpose do you rise?
For purposes of commendation, if I may.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Please proceed.
I just wanted to add my -- my name to the -- the list of folks who are offering congratulations to the Mighty Dukes of York. Coach, Principal Linda Yonke, Athletic Director, you have done more for our community with your successes in cross country. Twenty-three State Championships. Listen to that. Ladies and Gentlemen, please, if I may have your attention. Twenty-three State Championships. It’s unparalleled in the history of the State of Illinois that any one team has that level, that measure of -- of enduring success. And I can’t tell you what a source of pride your program, your leadership is in 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 11/18/2003 our town. Joe Newton, God bless you. You’ve been a friend of our families. You’ve been a wonderful leader in town. I talked to a dear friend of ours the other day, Dominic Belmonte. Joe Newton is York High School. And if I may, without imposing on anyone at this moment. Principal Yonke or any of the school board members, we have a beautiful new school. Ninety million dollars. It’s gorgeous. I think a lot of us would be very, very proud to see a Joe Newton Field prominently displayed at York High School soon so that Joe -- and he’s going to be around forever, but I want you to have a State Championship team there and recognizing what -- the tremendous things that you have done for our town, a great source of pride. Thank you and God bless all of you. The York Dukes. The Mighty Dukes of York. Let’s give ‘em a hand.
(Further remarks by Coach Joe Newton)
Thank you so much, Ladies and Gentlemen, for your attention.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Ladies and Gentlemen, we are going to proceed to the top of page 6. Motions in Writing, Override Total Vetoes. Page 6. Top of the Calendar. Senator Garrett. Top of page 6. House Bill 429. Do you wish to call your motion, Senator? Madam Secretary, please read the motion.
I move that House Bill 429 do pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. Motion filed by Senator Garrett.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Senator Garrett.
Thank you, Mr. President. We are looking for an override on House Bill 429. This passed the House and the Senate unanimously in the spring and I think by mistake, was vetoed by the Governor. He felt that there were some provisions in there that would require the State Treasury to put in some funds. That is not the case. I think he has acknowledged that that was an oversight on their staff’s part. And this bill came back to 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 11/18/2003 the House as a total veto override and passed unanimously. And I would ask the same -- that we get the same action from the Senate. I’d be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Is there any discussion? Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) She indicates she’ll yield, Senator.
Senator Garrett, in your opening comments, you made -- I think I heard you make the comment that the Governor’s Office has recognized that their veto was a mistake or that there was an oversight or something like that. Can you clarify for us in this Chamber here a little bit what communication you’ve had with the Governor’s Office about their veto and if, in fact, they’ve reversed their position?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Senator Garrett.
Well, I -- I don’t have anything in writing that they’ve reversed their decision, but I -- they have sat down with…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Excuse me -- excuse me, Senator Garrett. We can’t hear Senator Garrett and barely hear Senator Righter. Could the conferences please occur off the Floor or more quietly? Senator Garrett, please proceed to answer the question.
…staff from the Governor’s Office and United Way, and I think the agency involved with this has sat down and they have made it very clear that there are no State funds that will be used. And as you know, we put an amendment in this bill that clearly states that no State funds will be used. Also, this is a private and local partnership, and legislation has passed at the federal -- well, legislation is being introduced at the federal level that will allow states like Illinois to receive federal funds for this 211 number. Currently, the appropriation that has been proposed at the federal level includes two hundred million dollars that will be used by states like Illinois. 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 11/18/2003 Twenty-two states have already passed this. This would allow for six information referral centers in Illinois to provide health and human service -- or, human service information.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Senator Righter.
So, if I understand it correctly, Senator, you’re telling me that in the bill there is language that is an absolute prohibition against State taxpayer dollars being used to pay for any of this 211 information?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Senator Garrett.
Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Senator Righter. Is there any further discussion? Senator Roskam.
Thank you, Mr. President. Just an inquiry of the -- of the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Please go ahead.
Mr. President, it seems to me like we’re -- we’re discussing a motion that I -- I -- I think is a good idea. I agree with Senator Garrett. But it seems like over the past few weeks we’ve gotten into a new category of issues on the Calendar. We’ve got -- we’ve got vetoes. We’ve got amendatory vetoes. And it seems like this is a new category that maybe we should call the veto “oops,” in other words, where the Governor has vetoed a bill, and then the Governor’s staff communicates to the Senate sponsor, “Oh, we didn’t mean that. We didn’t read the bill. We didn’t understand the bill. We didn’t go through the bill. We didn’t take the time to call the Senate sponsor.” And so it’s a veto oops. So maybe I’d just make the suggestion to the Secretary when we print the Calendar for tomorrow, that we have another category yet again to deal with this unique Governor. But on this motion, Mr. President, to the bill: I urge an Aye vote. 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 11/18/2003
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Is there any further discussion? Senator Garrett, to close.
I -- I really commend Senator Roskam for approving this override on the veto. And once in a while, even Governors make mistakes. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) The question is, shall House Bill 429 pass, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Members voting Aye, no Member voted Nay, no Member voted Present. House Bill 429, having received the required three-fifths majority, is declared passed, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. Senator Haine, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise on a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) State your point.
Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I wish to call your attention to the fact that one of our distinguished former colleagues is here on the Senate Floor, my immediate predecessor, Senator Evelyn Bowles. And I wish the Senate to give her a hand.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Welcome, Senator Bowles. Continuing on page 6 of the Calendar, on the Order of Motions in Writing to Override the Specific Recommendations of the Governor. House Bill 197. Senator Rickey Hendon. Senator Hendon, do you wish to proceed? Madam Secretary, read the motion.
I move that House Bill 197 do pass, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. Motion filed by Senator Hendon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 11/18/2003 Senator Rickey Hendon.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill calls for the screening of lead poisoning on pregnant mothers and the Governor vetoed it. But it is subject to available appropriations, and I’d urge an override.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Is there any discussion? Senator Donne Trotter.
Thank you very much, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Everyone on this Floor and -- and everyone back in Chicago knows how much I respect the good Senator, Rickey Hendon; however, I rise to ask that we sustain the veto of House Bill 197. And I do so for -- for all the right reasons, I believe, and they’re medical reasons. No one here can ever say that I do not fight for the health and well-being of our children and the health and well-being of pregnant women; however, this bill will jeopardize the fetus if, in fact, they do have lead based -- lead screen -- lead poisoning. According to the experts, in consensus, that a routine blood level screening for pregnant or lactating women is -- women is unnecessary. It’s counterproductive and is a waste of scarce health resources. Based on a study done by Northwestern University Medical School, it was discovered that the number of adults with elevated blood levels is actually very low. There is no medically effective treatment that can be used on pregnant women with elevated blood levels. Any approved treatment would pose a serious danger to the fetus. This screening, again, is counterproductive. Research has also indicated that unless there is further exposure, children born with elevated blood lead levels acquire much more treatment and will see those levels increase or normal -- or decrease to normal in the first six months of life. We have already passed legislation in this Chamber in which we’ve mandated that children must be screened for lead poisoning. That is the effective treatment being recommended by the -- the doctors or the -- from the people who -- who do these kinds of jobs or who does this work. And then there’s the cost factor, as well. We’re talking about spending five million dollars for something that would have very minimal impact on the -- the well-being of 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 11/18/2003 our children. And based on those recommendations from the Illinois Department of Public Health, Division of Children and Health Safety, I ask all of us that we sustain the Governor’s veto.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Is there any further discussion? If not, Senator Hendon, to close.
Well, thank you, Mr. President. I appreciate the Senator’s kind words about his -- his admiration for me and being a skilled legislator and all that, and I -- I also have admiration for him. I’m glad he didn’t accuse me of spending money like a drunken sailor. I do want to point out that the Department of Public Health had the opportunity to oppose this bill in committee. They didn’t. They were neutral and they didn’t bring up any of these arguments. It’s the first that I’ve heard of these arguments. So I -- I’d ask for the override.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) The question is, shall House Bill 197 pass, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 25 Ayes, 26 Nays, 4 Members voting Present. House Bill 197, not having received the required three-fifths majority, the motion fails. House Bill 1480. Senator Trotter. Senator Trotter? House Bill 2425. Senator John Cullerton. Read the motion, Madam Secretary.
I move that House Bill 2425 do pass, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. Motion filed by Senator Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Senator John Cullerton.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This bill, when we passed it, was not controversial. It was at the - - introduced at the request of the Currency Exchange Association. It basically would allow for currency exchanges to 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 11/18/2003 meet their bonding requirement under the Act, to change it from a practice where they each had to have ten-thousand-dollar bond to allowing the members of the statewide association - that is, the Community Currency Exchange Association of Illinois - to purchase a blanket bond in the amount of two million dollars. The -- the -- the reason why they wanted this was because it would be less expensive to buy a blanket bond and it would provide, actually, more individual protection for individuals. The Governor’s amendatory veto attempted to add a -- a -- a lot of language, but there was no rationale given. The House overrode it 112 to 1, and I know of no opposition, quite frankly, to this override, even from the Department. So I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Is there any discussion? Senator Roskam.
Thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) He indicates he’ll yield, Senator.
Senator, what was the rationale that the Governor gave for making this change? Did he -- ‘cause apparently it’s not in the veto message. Did he talk to you? Did his staff talk to you? Did they come down from the mountaintop?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Senator Cullerton.
Senator, this might be a -- a different category. I don’t even know if -- if there is such a category that -- you listed at a number of categories before. This one is -- I don’t think it’s an “oops.” I don’t think it’s a -- it just -- there’s no rationale given. So, in reading the bill, it doesn’t really -- the amendatory veto couldn’t be accepted ‘cause it’s a rewrite of the bill. It -- it doesn’t appear to be a strong opposition to the original bill. It’s kind of like a little modification to the original bill. So I think it’s just sort of like, okay. Okay. It’s okay.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 11/18/2003 There any further discussion? Seeing none, Senator Cullerton, to close.
I would simply ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) The question is, shall House Bill 2425 pass, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Members voting Yes, no Member voted No, no Member voted Present. House Bill 2425, having received the required three-fifths majority, is declared passed, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. Senator Wojcik, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I have next to me Gayle Gerson from my district. She’s a teacher in School District 54 and she’s working with the IEA grassroots political activist groups. I wish you can all welcome her and…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Gayle, please stand up. Welcome to Springfield. On page 6 of the Calendar, Senator Garrett. House Bill 3556. Senator Collins? Madam Secretary, read the motion.
I move that House Bill 3556 do pass, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. Motion filed by Senator Collins.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Senator Collins.
Good afternoon. Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, House Bill 3556 is an initiative of the Attorney General’s Office which requires the evaluation and treatment of all sex offenders in Illinois and was unanimously passed in both this Chamber and in the House of Representatives. The Governor in his amendatory veto of HB 3556, made the treatment for sex offenders optional and dependent on funds being available and being specifically allocated for this purpose. The cost of 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 11/18/2003 evaluation and treatment is not an issue since under this legislation, sex offenders are required to pay for their evaluation and treatment. Additionally, the legislation has a provision that allows for the increase in the monthly probation fee charge to all probationers and an increase in the annual sex offender registration fee. This legislation is critical and a major step forward in protecting all of our citizens, especially our women and children, from the sexual assault. I ask for your support in overriding this veto to ensure the needed evaluation and treatment of all sex offenders.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Is there any discussion? Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield, please?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) She indicates she’ll yield, Senator.
Senator Collins, I don’t -- I can’t imagine that there’s anyone in this Chamber who disagrees with the notion that we should do all we can to properly evaluate and treat or otherwise effectively deal with people who’ve been -- convicted sex offenders. The issue here is fiscal and I think that the Governor made that clear in his amendatory veto, and I will tell you that I have had contact with some of my local court services people concerned about this as well. I need you to lay out for me and other people in the Chamber why the Governor’s veto message with regards to the fiscal concerns shouldn’t really be a concern.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Senator Collins.
Well, thank you, Senator. When the Governor…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Senator, please, hold on one second. Ladies and Gentlemen, we can’t hear a thing up here. Please, take the conferences back into the telephone booth area or to the back of the Chambers or outside the Chambers. We just -- we really cannot hear. Please proceed, Senator Collins.
12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 11/18/2003 When the Governor presented his amendatory veto, he indicated that the cost would be about twelve million dollars to the State; however, he did not validate that with any data or documentation. But I have documentation from the State that we spend over fifteen million dollars now for victims of sexual assault. So if we’re spending fifteen million already, and that can be documented, I feel this is a worthwhile endeavor, as well as Dr. Howard Levine from your county, Coles County, testified during the hearing when he indicated that the guidelines and the evaluation and treatment of offenders is very insufficient in this State. He offered, as an example, the program that you have in your county, Coles County, as being a very aggressive and progressive in the treatment and the monitoring of sexual offenders. So based on his expert witness, someone who is a provider or a therapist and an expert in your county, he testified that he felt that this legislation was long overdue.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Senator Righter.
Senator Collins, I also want to talk about the potential cost to the counties. There was some concern -- and like I said, I received -- I didn’t get calls from the Department of Corrections or State entities. I received calls from my local court services people who said, “We’re going to have to wind up shouldering the burden for this cost and we’re not going to have it.” What’s in the bill that helps the locals deal with it, Senator?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Senator Collins.
Thank you. Well, first of all, the funding mechanisms are in the bill from the increased rates for the probation fee, as well as the sex registration fee. That will provide the funding for the program, and it has been also presented in testimony that in all cases, the -- the rapists or the criminals themselves have been able to pay for their own treatment. This does not take away from the jurisdiction of the counties. All we’re saying is that the money will be there based on the 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 11/18/2003 funding mechanisms that are already in the -- of the legislation.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President. Briefly, to the bill. I appreciate very much Senator Collins’ work in this issue. This issue is a simple one and that is whether or not we are going to require evaluations and treatment of sex offenders or not. The twelve-million-dollar figure that’s been put out by the administration, as Senator Collins said, has not been substantiated by the administration. There is a funding mechanism to help the locals deal with it, a fund -- a probation fee increase from twenty-five to fifty dollars, ten dollars of which that increase has to be reserved to the Sex Offender Management Board. That money will help the locals deal with this. This is a good piece of legislation. It’s a good motion. Senator Collins, thank you. And I would urge a Yes vote on the motion.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Senator Hendon.
Thank you, Mr. President. I just would like to echo Senator Righter’s comments and suggestion that we vote with Senator Collins. This is very important and I know none of you would want a vote on your record that you were against solving this terrible situation with sex offenders. So I support -- support Senator Collins and ask you do the same.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, Senator Collins, to close.
Thank you. I thank all my colleagues for the support on the Floor. As a public servant, it is an honor to advocate on behalf of our children, the voteless and, thus, the voiceless of our society. As a legislator, it is a privilege to be in a position to challenge our State’s priorities -- as it relates to protecting our women and children and all victims that fall prey to sexual predators. Whether it is your son or daughter or your 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 11/18/2003 neighbor’s son or daughter, I think it’s important to us that we take the position that their innocence and the integrity of their physical and psychological well-being is protected. So I ask you to stand with me to send a strong message to our families and communities that say we do care and we do value their safety and quality of life. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) The question is, shall House Bill 3556 pass, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, no Member voting Present. House Bill 3556, having received the required three-fifths majority, is declared passed, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. Madam Secretary, are there any motions in writing?
Yes. I have six motions in writing with respect to the Governor’s item reductions on House Bill 2700. I have a further motion with respect to the Governor’s item veto of House Bill 2700. And I have a motion with respect to the Governor’s amendatory veto of House Bill 3080.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Resolutions. Please reflect the motions on the Calendar. Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 315, offered by Senator Demuzio, President Jones and all Members. Senate Resolution 316, offered by Senator Demuzio, President Jones and all Members. They are both death resolutions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Consent Calendar. Ladies and Gentlemen, we’re going to stand at ease for a few moments while the Rules Committee meets, and we’re waiting for their Report. Senator John Sullivan, for what purpose do you rise?
15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 11/18/2003 Point of personal -- point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) State your point.
I’d like to introduce some folks up in the gallery, up behind the President there. It’s members of my local Schuyler County Farm Bureau. Outstanding group of young farmers and individuals. Tim Kettering, Jim Corrie, Kent Prather, Mike Haywood and Alan Acheson. I’d like you to welcome them to Springfield.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Will the guests in our gallery please rise? Welcome to Springfield. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have concluded voting for today. The Rules Committee is going to meet and report back. We are going to stand at ease and leave the Chair open so that the Rules Committee Report can be read in. There will not be announcements. Could I have everybody’s attention because you’re going to ask me a second time? Please pay attention. There are not going to be announcement of committees. However, the motions that are going to be filed from the Rules Committee -- the report of the Rules Committee will require some committee action. So you’ll be notified by your chairmen. So you should be in contact with them. We are going to -- the committees will begin at 10 o’clock tomorrow morning. We are going to be in Session starting at noon tomorrow. So if you want to stay on the Floor and wait for the Report of the Rules Committee, you can. We’re not going to have any voting on the Floor today. We will adjourn after the Report comes in and is read in for the Session. So, you can decide for yourselves whether to stay or go. The Senate stands in recess to the call of the Chair. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) The Senate will come to order. Madam Secretary, Messages from the House.
A Message from the House by Mr. Bolin, Assistant Clerk. 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 11/18/2003 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: House {sic} Bill 1935, together with House Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 1935.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Committee Reports.
Senator Demuzio, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned - this is a Corrected Report: Be Approved for Consideration - Motion to Accept Specific Recommendations for Change to House Bills 88, 313, 684, 816, 1516, 2545, 3048 and 3080, and as well as House Bills 623, 648, 697, 701, 716, 763, 810, 811, 852, 863, 906, 953, 1029 and House Bill 1078. Also -- pardon me, if I might. House Bill 422 was referred to Environment and Energy Committee.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 317, offered by Senator Silverstein. It is a death resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Consent Calendar. Introduction of Bills.
House {sic} Bill 2128, offered by Senator DeLeo. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Messages from the House.
A Message from the House by Mr. Bolin, Assistant Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed bill of the following title, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 3835. Passed the House, November 18, 2003.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 11/18/2003 Madam Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 318, offered by President Jones and all Members. It’s a death resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Consent Calendar. Committee Reports.
Senator Demuzio, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Education Committee - Motion to Concur with House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1014 and Motion to Concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1957; refer to Executive Committee - Motion to Concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 794, Motion to Concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 963, Motion to Concur with House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 1668, Motion to Concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1937, Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 852 and Floor Amendments 1 and 2 to House Bill 1029; refer to Financial Institutions Committee - Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 1078; refer to Insurance and Pensions Committee - Motion to Concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 783; refer to Licensed Activities Committee - Motion to Concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 713 and Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 648; refer to Revenue Committee - Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 623, Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 863, Motion to Concur with House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1935; and refer to Transportation Committee - Floor Amendment 2 to House Bill 697, Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 716, Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 763; and Be Approved for Consideration - House Bill 960.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR WELCH) Ladies and Gentlemen, the following committees will meet at the following times on Wednesday, November 19th, tomorrow: At 10 o’clock a.m. in Room 212, Education Committee; in Room A-1 in the Stratton Building, the Insurance and Pension Committee at 10 a.m.; at 10:30 in Room A-1 in the Stratton, Transportation Committee; at 11 o’clock a.m., Executive will meet in 212; Revenue will meet in A-1; 11:30, Licensed Activities will meet in A-1; at 12 o’clock noon, Financial Institutions will meet at 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 11/18/2003 212. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 19th, 2003. The Senate stands adjourned. 19