Illinois Senate Floor Debate — January 15, 2004

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 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 Brandon Boyd, Loami Christian Church in Loami, Illinois. Pastor Boyd.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Link.

(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Link)

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Be seated. Reading and Approval of the Journal. Senator Haine.

Madam President, I move that the reading and approval of the Journal of Wednesday, January 14, in the year of 2004, be postponed, pending arrival of the printed Journal.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine moves to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal, pending arrival of the printed transcripts. There being no objection, so ordered. Madam Secretary, Messages from the House.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Madam Secretary, Resolutions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 1  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 70th Legislative Day 1/15/2004 Senator Demuzio moves to suspend the rules for the purpose of the immediate consideration and adoption of House Joint Resolution No. 51. All those in favor, say Aye. All those opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The rules are suspended for the immediate consideration and adoption of the resolution. Senator Demuzio to explain the resolution? No. Okay. Senator Demuzio moves to adopt House Joint Resolution No. 51. All those in favor, say Aye. All those opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. At this time I would like to appoint a committee of five Senators to escort the Governor to the House of Representatives. Senators Forby, Hunter, John Sullivan, Risinger and Winkel. Madam Secretary, Message from the Governor.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Madam Secretary, Resolutions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Resolutions Consent Calendar. On the Order of Resolutions, Senator Demuzio, do you wish to proceed on Senate Joint Resolution 45? Senator Demuzio, for what purpose do you rise?

2  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 70th Legislative Day 1/15/2004 Well -- I -- I -- I’d kind of love to, but, you know, I’m getting really cold. My fingers are freezing up. Maybe we ought to adjourn and wait till the heat comes back on. What do you -- what do you think?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) We’ll get back to you. Madam Secretary, read the resolution.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Demuzio moves to suspend the rules for the purpose of the immediate consideration and adoption of Senate -- Joint Resolution 45. Those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the rules are suspended. Senator Demuzio moves for the adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 45. All in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senator Demuzio.

Well, Madam Secretary, this -- Madam President, this was the adjournment resolution. There are a number of perfunctory dates that are included in this resolution and then -- I believe we come back for real on February the 3rd. So I would I ask every Member to be sure that you look at it, because the perfunctory dates, it seems to me, are the 22nd of January, the 28th of January. And there’s some other dates that you ought to look at in there. And, thank you very much, Madam President.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Madam Secretary, Resolutions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Mr. President, for what purpose do you rise? Mr. President, for what purpose do you rise?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) State your point. 3  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 70th Legislative Day 1/15/2004

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) The Chair recognizes Senator Clayborne for comments.

Thank you, Madam President. I, too, want to recognize this great holiday and a great man who has made a lasting impact upon this nation and the world. It is my privilege to stand before this Body and the people of the State to say a few words in remembrance of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on what would be his seventy-fifth birthday, a privilege, surely, because I -- I, along with many in this building and indeed across the State of Illinois, represent the realization of Dr. King’s vision. We stand on his shoulders today as we work for a better life for the people we represent, for ourselves, and the people we love. As we benefit from the groundwork of -- the groundwork Dr. King laid in the 1950s and ‘60s, we have a responsibility to continue to strive to nurture his vision he shared with the world in this new century. We have a responsibility, as representatives of the people of this State, to provide the cement and asphalt, the brick and mortar, needed safe roads and bridges to travel on, safe schools for our children to learn in, hospitals for our sick. But we have a 4  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 70th Legislative Day 1/15/2004 responsibility to provide people the opportunity to make a better life for themselves and their families and to help the people that can’t help themselves. That was Dr. King’s vision, helping people better themselves. We have made great strides towards that goal. We have passed a lot of legislation out of this Chamber for the good of our citizens, but there’s more work that needs to be done. As Dr. King said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort…, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” We’ve come a long way towards the realization of Dr. King’s vision, but we still have a long way to go. We can’t stop. It doesn’t have a beginning and an end. It is an ongoing process. As I look around this Chamber and note the diversity of people in this room, I realize that we represent the diversity of the people of our State. We are a State blessed with diversity of our people. The rich blend of ethnicities, cultures and religion is what makes Illinois so unique. It gives us our character, our color and our flair. I am truly blessed to be able to stand here in the seat of our State government to work with my friends in this room and this building and to represent the people of this great State in our quest to carry on the ideals and dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We have made great strides, but the work is not yet done and we will continue to work to make his dream a reality. Thank you.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator del Valle.

Thank you, Madam President. You know, when we think about greatness and when we think about individuals throughout the history of the United States that have made a difference - and certainly we can say that about everyone who cares and everyone who works - but there’s making a difference and then there’s making a real, real difference, a difference in terms of -- of changing, changing society. And that’s what Martin Luther King, Jr., did. He changed our society. He opened doors that will never close again. They will never close again. They will always be open. But, of course, what we do, once we walk in those doors, is what we have to think about, as we think about how best to honor the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr., 5  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 70th Legislative Day 1/15/2004 because, certainly, we have a lot of challenges before us. I know that if Martin Luther King, Jr., were here today celebrating his seventy-fifth birthday, he would be expressing many concerns. He would be expressing concerns about the inequality that we have in our school systems. He would be expressing concern about our criminal justice system and how it operates. He would be expressing concerns about unemployment and underemployment and the failure of -- of us being able to provide a living wage for every working man and woman in the State of Illinois. He would be expressing concerns about the war in Iraq and how our nation is handling the terrorist threat, and the impact of the Patriot Act and components of the Patriot Act on our populations. He would be expressing all those concerns, and he would be doing it in a very forceful manner, in a genuine manner, and that’s why it’s important for us to think about those things today, on this holiday. We have lots of holidays, and as the years go by, we tend to forget why we’re -- we’re celebrating. But this is one day when we do have to stop and reflect and look at our accomplishments. And, earlier today, in -- in Senator Jones’ Office, Senator Hendon was talking about how the South -- has changed tremendously and -- and how things are so different from what they were during the years of the civil rights movement, and that’s -- that’s because of not just Martin Luther King, Jr., but because of the people, of all colors, who stood with him against what appeared to be insurmountable odds at the time. And that is the courage that it takes, it took back then, and it’s the kind of courage that we need today to tackle the kinds of issues that are out there. So, again, I also honor Martin Luther King’s memory and challenge all of us to continue to live up to, certainly, the expectations that he had of the people of this great country.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Crotty.

Thank you. I, too, rise with the previous speakers to make comments. It is hard to believe that seventy-five years ago today Martin Luther King was born. He was born into a world that denied human dignity and any hope for a better tomorrow for millions of people based solely on the color of their skin. Dr. 6  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 70th Legislative Day 1/15/2004 King, as a man of God and as a leader of men, knew that this was not right. He saw the injustice of the world and he tried to right it. He took the moral high ground of reason over violence. He took the path of nonviolent resistance. He was said -- he has said, “to be cursed and not reply; to be beaten and not hit back.” His spirit started the civil rights movement of the fifties and the sixties, from the bus boycott in Selma, Alabama, to the Freedom Riders and the voter registration drives in the Deep South, to the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike. Dr. King broke down barriers of the unbelievable, the unthinkable and that system of segregation. Sadly, though, by the time that Dr. King made it to the mountaintop, or to see that promised land, the time was for -- for him here was nearly finished. Today his dream of a better tomorrow for the disenfranchised continues. A new generation, born after he lived, has taken up his message and continues to live Dr. King’s dream of social justice and change and racial equality throughout the world. They know that his work is not done yet. For all the improvements he made, for all the progress he achieved, there’s still work to be done. There is violence in our neighborhoods. There’s drugs on our children’s playgrounds. And there is despair, and that’s the most dangerous part, because to truly despair, is to give up all hope. And that is the sentiment that Dr. King would undoubtedly and without question reject. I’m a great admirer of Dr. King and I hope that we, the Members of the Illinois Senate, and anyone within the range of my voice, I hope that we share his dream. I hope that we share the dream of equal opportunity in education and economics. I hope that we share the dream of children not haunted by poverty, not hunted by guns and not hounded by the monsters that would take their future from them. His dream is the dream that we must remain dedicated to, because without hope, there can be no future, and it’s up to us to work together to see that -- the injustice in our world, to see all of those injustices, and try to right them. That’s the legacy to us, and if we really think about it, it’s our promise for the future. Thank you.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Harmon. 7  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 70th Legislative Day 1/15/2004

Thank you, Madam President. I am honored to join in commemorating the life and dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King was one of our nation’s greatest leaders and most memorable orators. We set aside this one day a year to remember his accomplishments, which are too numerous to summarize adequately in a few short minutes. Dr. King made our country a better place by securing civil rights for all people, regardless of color, through nonviolent protests. He brought the disenfranchised into the political process by registering them to vote and inspiring them to vote. Dr. King was instrumental in beginning the end of segregation across our country and he brought basic human rights and dignity to millions of our brothers and sisters. His effect here in Illinois has been profound. In -- in 1963, at the time of Dr. King’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech, Senator Fred Smith was the only African- American serving in the Illinois Senate, and only seven African- Americans served in the Illinois House. Today the Illinois General Assembly includes nine African-American Senators, including our Senate President, Emil Jones, Jr., and nineteen African-American Representatives in the House. His dream is still very much alive today. While Dr. King left this world much too soon, he left it in much better shape than when he arrived. I hope that we all will remember Dr. King’s dream, not just today, but every day - a dream of equal opportunity for all, as he said, based on the content of our character, not the color of our skin. It is a -- a dream of justice, of fairness, and of opportunity. I believe that as Dr. King looks down upon us today, he must be proud to know that his work has lived on; yet, he must be troubled to know that so much of his dream is still unrealized. On this important day, we must remember how much is left for us to do to make Dr. King’s dream come true. Thank you.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Geo-Karis.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Hendon.

Thank you, Madam President. I rise to join President Jones and all of the Senators who have spoken and all of the Members here, I’m certain, as well. Senator del Valle mentioned what I 9  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 70th Legislative Day 1/15/2004 said in leadership earlier about how the South has changed since Dr. King and the old days, and Senator DeLeo and I were talking about it. South has changed a great deal, as far as race is concerned. There’s not any police killings of blacks down South anymore. Everyone gets along. The white establishments treats the black community with respect. Many capitols are -- such as Atlanta, and in Georgia, there’s harmony between the races. They -- they made progress. They realized part of the dream in the South. But when you think about it, you have to be honest. Seems like in the North, the dreams have not been realized, and I think in order to honor Dr. King today, I’ll take the opportunity to point a few of them out. And perhaps we can put something on your mind for February and this Session as we move forward with the President’s agenda and some of the things that we would like to see, some of those who Dr. King was speaking about when he said one day we would get to the promised land; he might not be there with us. I remember when Dr. King was killed. That day my brother and I ran out the backdoor and down the steps, and we ran up on Pulaski, were the buildings were on fire. My teacher from my school, who I loved - he was white; he was great; he loved me too; he taught me well - his store was on fire and I tried to run in there. My big brother, Jimmy, who’s gone to God now, pulled me to safety as the looters and the National Guard come flying through the store in their Jeep. And I was like, “Don’t burn down Mr. Richie’s store.” They burnt it down anyway. By the time me and my brother got home, we had some of the stolen stuff that we got for our house, ‘cause we didn’t have no food and daddy was dead and mama was struggling. We thought we were a little better than the rest of ‘em ‘cause we weren’t stealing ourselves, but we had some of the stuff upstairs. Oh yeah, and we ate it. And I remember the promise when Mayor Daley stopped the shooting and the National Guard went home, that they’d rebuild it. I represent that district now, that area. It’s the ghetto then; it’s the ghetto now. Did Dr. King’s dream be realized over there? No, it hasn’t. Still a slum. I represent it. I hate the fact that it still looks like it does when Dr. King had his dream. Then I thought about that neighborhood. I was like, you know, the boys were standing out there unemployed when Dr. King was killed. 10  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 70th Legislative Day 1/15/2004 That’s why they started stealing and rioting, trying to get free stuff. Nobody was working. And I thought about it, and I said, you know what? They’re still standing around there today. Ain’t none of ‘em working. Thought about that neighborhood, how there used to -- there was gangs out there and they were selling drugs. And we said -- everybody said, the President of the United States, after Dr. King died, “We’re going to fix it and change it.” And guess what, you-all? It’s still the same. Still the same. And still, until recently, we had the fight on another one of Dr. King’s dream about racial profiling and all that. In 2003 we finally get that done. Dr. King’s been gone a long time. In Illinois, not in the South or somewhere where you think, “Well, maybe they’re like that,” but here. I hope we do better this year and people’s hearts are really open and think about some of these things. On civil liberties, and I’ll be finished. In my neighborhood right now we have cameras. Cameras to stop crime. Violation of my civil liberties. I ain’t doing nothing. I -- I go to get my hair cut. I got to be on camera. I can live with cameras to prevent crime if they’re in your neighborhoods too and all throughout Illinois. But why in the little black neighborhood and the west side? Why do we have to give up so much for police protection? Why can’t they just protect us like they protect everybody else in here? If Dr. King’s dream had been realized, we wouldn’t have those cameras. I’m going to have legislation to get rid of cameras, ‘cause it’s a violation of your civil rights and your civil liberties, the things King fought for. Supreme Court just said the other day, roadblocks are justified. I live in a neighborhood where they put roadblocks up right now, from -- and -- and anybody, anybody, people who are doing absolutely nothing, subject to stop, search. I will have something to -- as part of Dr. King’s dream to get rid of that kind of thing also this year. And I hope and I pray in my heart that you will listen as we move forward with that legislation that’s been on my mind for some time in the same spirit that we listen to these speeches of Dr. King’s memory today. And I thank you.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) President Jones, to conclude.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Thank you. The Chicago Tribune seeks leave to take photographs. Is there leave? All in favor, Aye. The Ayes -- fine. Madam Secretary, Introduction of Bills.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Madam Secretary, Resolutions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) We will now proceed to the Order of Resolutions Consent Calendar. With leave of the Body, all those resolutions read in today will be added to the Consent Calendar. Madam Secretary, 16  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 70th Legislative Day 1/15/2004 have there been any objections filed to any resolution on the Consent Calendar?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall the resolutions on the Consent Calendar be adopted. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The motion carries, and the resolutions are adopted. The Senate will stand in recess till the Call of the Chair. Before noon, the Senate will assemble in the House Chamber for the State of the State Address. We would ask that all Members remain in the Capitol, though it’s not our intent to reconvene for Floor action. However, we must be prepared should Floor action become necessary. Senate stands in recess. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) The Senate will come to order. Madam Secretary, Resolutions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Resolutions Consent Calendar. Messages from the House.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Introduction of Bills.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) There being no further business to come before the Senate, pursuant to the adjournment resolution, the Senate stands adjourned until January 22nd, 2004, when the Senate will convene in perfunctory Session, and then again until January 28th, 2004, when the Senate will convene in perfunctory Session, and then until the hour of noon on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2003. The Senate stands adjourned. 18