The regular Session of the 93rd General Assembly will please come to order. Will our Members please be at their desks? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Pastor G. L. {sic} (G.E.) Livingston of the New Dimension Christian Center in Decatur.
(Prayer by Pastor G. E. Livingston)
Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Link.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Link)
Madam Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of March 30, 2004 -- pardon me, Friday, March 26th, 2004.
Senator Maloney.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal just read by the Secretary be approved, unless some Senator has additions or corrections to offer.
Senator Maloney moves to approve the Journal just read by the Secretary. There being no objection, so ordered. Hannah van Zutphen-Kann of the State Journal-Register and Mikaela Hunt of - - WAND-TV seek to record the proceeding. Leave granted? Leave is so ordered. Senator George Shadid in the Chair. Senator Shadid.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. We’re getting organized and all these tall folks are coming here on the Floor. They happen to be basketball players, and also cheerleaders, and they’re from the great City of Peoria. The Peoria Central Lions, I’d like to present to you. They are champions two years in a row. And I hate to say this because of our President, Emil Jones, they beat one of his teams, Farragut. 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 93rd Legislative Day 3/30/2004 And we’re very sorry, Mr. President, that we beat them so bad. But, Mr. President said we have seven players. I said, well, we thought we would do the same as Chicago always does. They always have seven players. We only end up with five on the court. So, anyway. I want to thank you all for -- paying attention, and we want to take a little bit of your time. What I’d like to do is present to you the Coach of the Central Lions, and before I do, he’s been coaching thirty-seven years. And he coached at Bradley, and I was very pleased when he was the baseball coach at Bradley because he coached my two sons there. And he’s a great baseball coach also. And he is a very good coach. He also has been coaching now at Peoria Central for twenty-five years. He’s a great coach. One of the great coaches in the State of Illinois, and also throughout the country, as a high school coach. I want to give you Mr. Chuck Buescher, the Coach of the Central Lions.
(Remarks by Coach Chuck Buescher)
Also, I neglected to introduce my good friend and our -- my co-coach here, Dale Risinger. Senator Risinger, from Peoria.
Yeah. While the Lions don’t happen to be in -- in my particular district, you know, they are my team, and it’s good to have you back, Coach. It’s good to have the winners here. And who knows? Next year?
Thank you very much for your patience. We really appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you.
Senator John Jones, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege.
State your point.
Well, first off, Mr. President, I want to thank you, because the gentlemen I have with me today are from the YMCA Youth and Government that performed here in the Illinois Senate 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 93rd Legislative Day 3/30/2004 and the House just a couple of weeks ago. And -- and that would not be possible without your permission to use the Chamber. So I personally want to thank you for -- for allowing these young people to use the Chambers a couple weeks ago. But with me today, I have their -- their instructor, their advisor, teacher from Mt. Vernon Township High School, Andy Wells. And I also have -- we had a clean sweep from Mt. Vernon Township High School, my -- my alma mater. We won the Lieutenant Governorship, which is -- Brian Raymond. Right here. The Secretary of State, Scott Gibbs. And then the Governor of the State of Illinois, and I -- I referred to him a week ago last Sunday night, when they arrived back to Mt. Vernon Township High School, I told him he had spent more time in the Capitol consecutively than the Governor that -- that we really have. So, with that, I’d like to indulge with you, Mr. President, to - - to let Dustin just say a couple of words.
We don’t -- want to set a precedent. It already been done. It’s a customary policy for our guests, if we give ‘em permission, to speak from the Podium, and even though it was permitted before, we don’t want to change that policy. So you can speak from the Podium. Are you the Governor?
(Remarks by Dustin Herr)
Senator Wendell Jones, for what purpose do you rise?
A point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
State your point.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I have three guests I’d like to introduce. First of all, a Page for a Day who is visiting with Senator Althoff. To my left, Brendon Schugruw, from Crystal Lake, Illinois. Brendon? And secondly, in the gallery sitting behind the Democrats on the other side of the aisle, I’d like to -- introduce Mayor Rita Mullins of Palatine, my hometown.
3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 93rd Legislative Day 3/30/2004 Will our Mayor please rise?
And -- and also a businessman from Palatine, Jim Longfield.
Will our guest in the gallery please rise? Senator Althoff, what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
State your point.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. It is spring -- break back in McHenry County, and I have with me today two fine young gentlemen from Prairie Ridge High School. John and Michael Pizarek. Like the Members of the Senate to welcome them, please.
Will our guests please rise and be welcomed by the Senate? Senator DeLeo, what purpose do you rise? SENATOR DeLEO: Thank you very much, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege, sir.
State your point. SENATOR DeLEO: Thank you, Mr. President. I, too, have two very distinguished young Pages here today. I have Dylan and Nathan. And what makes them so special, their father was a former Member of this Body, Senator Greg Zito. And I’d like to welcome Nathan and Dylan who will be Paging today.
Will Nathan and Dylan please rise? Senator Roskam, what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege.
State your point, sir.
4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 93rd Legislative Day 3/30/2004 Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, you know when we’re growing up, many of us get advice from our parents. We get advice to work hard. We get advice to stay in school. Well, my dad, in particular, had a firm grasp of my liabilities, and every time he would sit down with me, he would look me in the eye and he would say, “Peter, breed up.” Now, I’m happy that I followed my advice -- I followed my father’s advice. And my wife, Elizabeth, is here today. And my four children are Pages today: Gracie, Frankie, Stevie and A.J. And if you have the opportunity, come on by and say hello. Thank you very much.
Will the Members of the Rules Committee please convene in the Antechamber for a Rules Committee meeting? Do so immediately. Senator Lauzen, what purpose you rise, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
State your point.
I’d like to introduce my Page for the Day. His name is Bill Berger. He’s from Naperville, Illinois, and I’d like to also welcome his parents to Springfield, Ron and Janelle Bagole. And they’re in the President’s Gallery, if we could welcome them to Springfield.
Will our guests in the gallery please rise and be recognized by the Senate? Welcome to the Senate. Senator Welch, what purpose do you rise?
A point of information, Mr. President.
State your point.
Senator Silverstein is absent today. He’s in his district on legislative business. And also, Senator Demuzio is home recuperating at his house on the Pedernales in Carlinville, and he will not be here today either. I’d also like to say one other thing, Mr. President. That is that the -- the new Senate 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 93rd Legislative Day 3/30/2004 Calendars that were handed out today are -- if you -- if people would take a look at their Calendar, we now have a hard-covered Calendar with detachable lists of committees meeting on a daily basis. I want to thank the Senate Secretary for coming up with this innovative and forward-looking change in this Calendar.
Yeah. Thank you, Senator. The record shall so reflect Senator Silverstein’s absence, as well our colleague, Senator Vince Demuzio. And thank you for that point of information regarding the great work of our Secretary. Senator Wojcik, what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise for point of personal privilege.
Yeah. State your point.
I have sitting next to me, Ian Sugrue, who is a fourth grader in the Wood Creek Crystal Lake School. And it happens to be the hometown of my son also. So Ian, welcome, we’re glad to have you here. And also, the other point, Mr. President, is Dylan and Nathan are Senator Zito’s children. I happen to be their Senator, so I welcome them to Springfield also.
Thank you. Senator Terry Link, what purpose you rise?
A point of personal privilege.
State your point.
I’d like to welcome a visitor from my district, Tori Moore, a third grader from Woodland School District, and her family, who came down to visit us and is up in the gallery behind you, Mr. President.
Will our guests in the gallery please rise and be recognized by the Senate? Senator Bomke, what purpose you rise, sir?
6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 93rd Legislative Day 3/30/2004 A point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
State your point.
Thank you. With me today job shadowing is Eric Reamer, a junior at Pleasant Plains High School. If you would join me in welcoming him here today, would appreciate it. Thank you.
Will our guest please rise and be recognized by the Senate? Senator Risinger, what purpose you rise, sir?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
State your point.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I have with me my Page of the Day, Joe Eberle, from Dunlap School. His father is also here sitting in the Presidential Gallery, J.R. Please help me welcome them to the Senate.
Will our guests please rise and be welcomed by the Senate? Senator Larry Walsh, what purpose you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. For a point of -- personal privilege.
State your point.
And I’m very glad my light must work up there. It’s only been on for thirty minutes, but thank you very much anyway. Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, in the President’s Gallery to my right, I have a group from my home county, the Will County Career Centers, that are down here today for Career Tech Day. A group of young men and -- along with their Director, Jay Plese, along with Bosa Goodale and Don Smoot. And I would like to welcome them to the Illinois Senate.
7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 93rd Legislative Day 3/30/2004 Will our guests please rise and be welcomed by the Senate? Senator Rauschenberger, what purpose you rise?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
State your point.
Senator Dan Cronin is right now in route to Springfield on Route 55, and he has two young Pages here today and I wanted to introduce them for him. Ben and Robert Jackson are in the back of the Chamber. And their parents, Ruth and Bob, from Glen Ellyn, Illinois are up in galleries. If they’d all rise to be recognized, I’d appreciate it.
Will our guests please rise and be recognized by the Senate? Senator Cullerton, what purpose you rise? Senator Peterson, what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege.
State your point.
Today we have Emily Roe as my Page. She’s an eighth grader at Prairie Grove School. And her parents are here, Bill and Diane, and her grandparents, Shirley and Herb. And I have one more announcement, Mr. President. There’s a young lady who is sitting in the front here who had a birthday yesterday. I think she was thirty-nine. And her name is Senator Adeline Geo-Karis. We’d like to wish her a happy birthday. And there’s cake up in front. Help join Senator Geo-Karis and have cake.
Come on, Adeline. Please rise Senator Geo-Karis.
Thank you, Senator Peterson and Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate and guests and friends. When you reach eighty-six years of age and you’re admitting it, I don’t mind a bit. I feel very young and I want to thank everyone for being so nice, and there’s cake here, so please help yourself. 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 93rd Legislative Day 3/30/2004 And God bless all of you with good health, happiness and success.
Senator Lightford, what purpose you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. On a point of personal privilege.
State your point.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Body. I have a young man, Mr. Erik Beckwith. He’s from the Acacia Academy School in LaGrange. He’s a resident of River Forest. And he has his mother, Caroline Beckwith, in the gallery and -- a friend, Claire LaPlante. And he is a special friend of our Senate Parliamentarian, Joe Clary. Can you please welcome them to the Senate?
Will our guests please rise and be recognized by the Senate? Madam Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 477, offered by Senator Martinez and all Members. Senate Resolution 478 and 479, both offered by Senator Lauzen and all Members. They’re all death resolutions.
Resolution Consent Calendar. Madam Secretary, Messages from the House.
A Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed bills of the following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bills 4351, 4476, 4894, 4944, 5014, 5057, 5067 and 5129. Passed the House, March 26, 2004. Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 93rd Legislative Day 3/30/2004 Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed bills of the following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill -- House Bills 3890, 3954, 3980, 4180, 4505, 4575, 4735, 4840, 4851, 4962, 5215 and 5732. Passed the House, March 29th, 2004. I have like Messages on House Bills 4567, 5095, 5891 and 6706. All passed the House, March 29, 2004.
Committee Reports.
Senator Viverito, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Agriculture and Conservation Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Resolution 164; refer to Executive Committee - Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2147, Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 2349, and Floor Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 2409; refer to Judiciary Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Joint Resolution 53, Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 948, Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 2287, Floor Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 2791, Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 2800, Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2907 and Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 7057; refer to Transportation Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Resolution 441; and Be Approved for Consideration - House Bills 742, 958 and 999.
House Bills 1st Reading.
House Bill 3980, offered by Senator Walsh. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4132, offered by Senator Risinger. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4180, offered by Senator Righter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4218, offered by Senator Radogno. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4263, offered by Senator Shadid. 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 93rd Legislative Day 3/30/2004 (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4318, offered by Senator Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4351, offered by Senator Peterson. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4400, offered by Senator Bomke. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4410, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4502. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4660, offered by Senator Shadid. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4720, offered by Senator Risinger. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4739, offered by Senator Radogno. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4840, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4914, offered by Senator Clayborne. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5057, offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5067, offered by Senator Risinger. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5095, offered by Senator Ronen. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5129, offered by Senator Sieben. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5732, offered by Senator John Jones. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 6706, offered by Senator Hunter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 6753, offered by Senator Munoz. (Secretary reads title of bill) And House Bill 4567, offered by Senator Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4962, offered by Senator Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 93rd Legislative Day 3/30/2004 House Bill 4575, offered by Senator Jacobs. (Secretary reads title of bill) And House Bill 4847, offered by Senator Jacobs. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
Committee announcements. Senator Trotter.
Thank you very much, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. I want to announce that at 1:30 today, in Room 212, Appropriations I will be meeting. That’s at 1:30, Room 212, Appropriations I.
Senator Garrett, what purpose you rise?
To announce a committee meeting today. Transportation will be meeting at 3:30 p.m., A-1 in the Stratton Building.
Senator Larry Walsh, your light is on.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. Purpose of announcing a -- an announcement. From -- from my very new card. The Senate Ag and Conservation Committee will meet tomorrow morning, Wednesday the 31st, at 9 a.m. in Room A-1. Thank you, Mr. President.
Senator Cullerton.
Yes. Mr. President, I rise for the purposes of an announcement. The Judiciary Committee, which normally meets today, is not going to meet today. It’s going to meet tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. in Room 400. Judiciary Committee, tomorrow morning, 9 a.m.
Senator Hunter.
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of announcement. The Local Government Committee will meet today at 1 o’clock in the Stratton Building in Room A-1. Thank you. 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 93rd Legislative Day 3/30/2004
Senator Trotter. Senator Martinez. There being no further business coming before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned till the hour of 12 noon on Wednesday, March 31st. The Senate stands adjourned. 13