The regular Session of the 93rd General Assembly will please come to order. Will our Members please be in their desks? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Pastor Ed Ingram of the Western Oaks Baptist Church here in Springfield. Reverend Ingram.
(Prayer by Pastor Ed Ingram)
Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Link.
(Pledge of Allegiance, by Senator Link)
Madam Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal, Thursday, April 22nd, 2004.
Senator Haine.
Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, I move that the Journal just read by the Secretary be approved, unless a Member of the Senate has additions or corrections to offer.
Senator Haine moves to approve the Journal just read by the Secretary. There being no objections, so ordered. Columbia College of -- of Chicago, WSIU-TV and WLS-TV, WICS-TV and the State Journal-Register seek leave to record the proceedings. Being no objection, leave is granted. Madam Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 509, offered by Senator Geo-Karis and all Members. It is a death resolution.
Resolutions Consent Calendar. Messages from the House.
A Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day 4/27/2004 Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has concurred with the Senate in the passage of a bill of the following title, to wit: Senate Bill 1271, together with House Amendment No. 2. Passed the House, as amended, April 22nd, 2004.
Senator Roskam, what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege.
State your point.
Mr. President and Members of the Senate, I’m pleased to welcome six students who are exchange students from the -- and they’re living in the western suburbs. They’re behind me in the gallery. And at the risk of prompting an international incident, I'd like to do my best to introduce them and pronounce their names correctly. Christoph Witte from Germany, Corinne Odermatt from Switzerland, Chatta Sukkasem from Thailand, Mayu Yunoki from Japan, Stephan Ovecka from the Czech Republic, and Carlo Cancelliera from Italy. Please join me in welcoming them to the Senate.
Will our guests in the gallery please rise to be recognized by the Senate? Senator Schoenberg, what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I rise on a point of personal privilege.
State your point.
Thank you, Mr. President. As many of you may be aware, Governor Blagojevich has declared today “Autism Awareness Day” in Illinois. Hardly a day goes by without any print medium announcing more alarming statistics about the prevalence of autism in Illinois and throughout the country. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that children with autism or a related disorder now numbers one in every hundred and 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day 4/27/2004 sixty-six, which is an exponential increase over this past ten years for this mystifying brain disorder for which there still, unfortunately, is no known cure. Today is a day where we acknowledge the dedicated efforts of those, such as parents and teachers, therapists and researchers, throughout Illinois, who work to make a difference for people with autism and related disorders. And I’m pleased today to introduce one of those very special people. J.J. Hanley is here. She’s a constituent of mine from Wilmette. She’s in the gallery behind me. She conceptualized, developed and produced a documentary film entitled “Refrigerator Mothers” which was broadcast nationally on public television and which has won many awards at film festivals, including the Grand Jury Prize at the Indiana Film Festival and the Florida Film Festival. The film has also garnered top recognition from national organizations, among them the Autism Society of America and the National Council on Family Relations. It was her own intensely personal experience, having a child with autism and raising that child, which inspired her to make that film. And I'd like to ask you all welcome her to the Senate today.
Will our guest in the gallery please rise and be welcomed by the Senate? Senator Wojcik, what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise for point of personal privilege.
State your point.
I have next to me some of my former constituents who are now represented by Senator Soden. They’re members of the 4-H and they come down every year to visit. And we have Sharen Jauch, the mother. We have Charlette and Jonathen. Welcome to Springfield.
Will our guests please rise and be welcomed by the Senate? Senator Radogno, what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege. 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day 4/27/2004
State your point.
Yes, I have with me today Charlotte Todd, a constituent from Willowbrook, who is here visiting with the 4-H group. And I’m happy to have her here today and hope we could welcome her.
Will our guest please rise and be welcomed by the Senate? Senator Haine, what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. For purposes of an announcement.
Proceed.
Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, the Local Government Committee will meet in -- in A-1 in the Stratton Building at 1 p.m. today. Thank you, sir.
Senator Clayborne, what purpose do you rise?
For point of announcement, Mr. President.
Proceed.
The Environment and Energy Committee will tomorrow at 9 a.m. in Room 212. Again, the Environment and Energy Committee will meet tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. in Room 212. Thank you.
Senator Hunter, what purpose do you rise?
For purposes of announcement, Mr. President.
Proceed.
The Health and Human Services Committee will be meeting tomorrow at 9 o’clock in Room 400. Thank you.
4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day 4/27/2004 Will the Members of the Rules Committee kindly convene in the Antechamber so that Rules Committee can commence? Senator Trotter, what purpose do you rise?
Thank you very much, Mr. President. For purposes of announcement.
Proceed.
I would like to announce that this afternoon at 3:30, Appropriations I will be -- meeting in Room 212. And that’s 3:30 this afternoon in Room 212.
Senator Halvorson -- oh, Senator del Valle, what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. For -- the Senate Education Committee will meet at 1 o’clock in Room 212. Thank you.
Senator Jacobs, what purpose do you rise?
For purpose of an announcement, Mr. President.
Proceed.
The Insurance and Pensions Committee will meet in Room 400 at 1 o’clock today.
Senator Garrett, what purpose do you rise?
For a purpose of announcement. The Transportation Committee will meet today at 3:30 in A-1 in the Stratton Building.
Senator Watson, what purpose do you rise?
Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege.
5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day 4/27/2004 State your point.
Yes. Thank you. First of all, I'd just like to say that I thought the -- the minister that gave the opening prayer had a great message for all of us, and…
Pardon me a minute, sir. Can you hold it down please? Proceed.
I just thought that the opening prayer by the minister from the Baptist church here had a great message for all of us. And -- and if we can all emulate, obviously, the -- the -- the concerns that Vince Demuzio had for the people he represented and the people of this State and this institution that we call the Illinois Senate, I think we would all be better off and better people for it. And I really appreciate his comments and his prayer. But I did want to take this opportunity to introduce three young people who are with me today for Altamont, Illinois, in Effingham County, from the grade school there. I have Krista {sic}(Kristina) Roepke. Won’t you stand up here and wave? Yeah, stand right up here. Come on right on over here. Krista {sic} Roepke, Kelly Waters and Aaron Boothby.
Will our guests please rise and be welcomed by the Illinois Senate?
Also, in the gallery we have Mrs. McGinnis who is their teacher and their sponsor here with them here today. So, Ms. McGinnis, please rise also. Thank you.
Madam Secretary, Introduction of Bills.
Senate Bill 3376, offered by Senator Dave Sullivan. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bill.
Madam Secretary, Resolutions.
6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day 4/27/2004 Senate Joint Resolution 72, offered by Senator Dave Sullivan. It is substantive. Senator Viverito, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Be Approved for Consideration - House Bill 649; refer to Appropriations I Committee - Motion to Concur with House Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 1271; refer to Education Committee - Committee Amendments 2 and 3 to House Bill 4444, Committee Amendments 1 and 2 to House Bill 4522 and Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 6906; refer to Environment and Energy Committee - Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 1731, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 4099 and Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 5094; refer to Executive Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 6654; refer to Health and Human Services Committee - Committee Amendments 1 and 2 to House Bill 486, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1659, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 4197, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 4232, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 4475, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 4612, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 4837, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 5057 and Committee Amendments 1 and 2 to House Bill 5058; refer to Judiciary Committee - Floor Amendment No. 4 to Senate Bill 2800, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 4135, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 4403 and Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 5415; refer to Labor and Commerce Committee - Committee Amendment No. 2 to House Bill 4241; refer to Licensed Activities Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 2028, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 4200, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 4283 and Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 4960; refer to Local Government Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 4280 and Committee Amendments 2 and 3 to House Bill 5017; refers to State Government Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 3918. Senator Viverito, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, -- reports the following Legislation Measures have been assigned: Refer to Executive Committee - Floor Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 649. 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day 4/27/2004 That was Rules Report No. 2.
Senator Cullerton, what purpose you rise?
The purposes of an announcement. Mr. President, the Senate Judiciary Committee will meet at 3:30 this afternoon in Room 400.
Senator Larry Walsh, what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. For the purpose of an announcement. The Senate Ag and Conservation Committee will meet tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. in Room A-1.
Senator Hendon, what purpose do you rise?
Point of an announcement, Mr. President.
Proceed.
A week from tomorrow -- a week from tomorrow is the annual House/Senate softball game and we’re going to dedicate this season to Vince Demuzio. So let’s make sure that we practice tomorrow night at 5:30 in Lincoln Park. Same diamond. 5:30 tomorrow night. 6 o’clock if you’re a little late getting out of committee. But we need to get one good practice in before the game next week so we will win the game and return the trophy over to the Senate. So, 5:30 tomorrow. Bring your gear.
Senate -- Senator Obama, what purpose you rise?
Point of personal privilege.
Yeah. State your point.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I just want to acknowledge an important guest that we have here today. We have Ms. Kiera Johnson {sic}(Jackson) who’s 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day 4/27/2004 in fifth grade. She is from Roger’s Park. And she is my Page for the Day. I'd like her to receive a warm Senate welcome.
Will our guest please rise and be welcomed by the Senate? Senator Halvorson, what purpose you rise?
Point of personal privilege.
State your point.
Thank you, Mr. President. Up in our gallery today we have some -- wonderful students from the University of Illinois, our student government. Our future senators are up here in the gallery. I think we should all welcome them.
Will our future senators in the gallery please rise and be welcomed by the Senate? Senator Lauzen, what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege.
State your point.
I'd like to introduce two groups from back home. First of all, the Northwest Bible Baptist Church. There are some fellows here taken care of by Vicki Spencer. And I would like them to rise and be acknowledged and welcomed.
Will our guests in the gallery please rise and be welcomed by the Senate? WAND has -- seek leave of -- of the Body to take photographs. Is leave granted? Seeing no objection, so -- so ordered. Senator Lauzen.
Okay. The -- the second group that I'd like to introduce is from the Kane County Illinois 4-H Ambassadors. From Maple Park we have Dan Hartmann, Nathan Fabrizius and Daniel McCullough. They’re in the gallery right behind. I'd like them to rise and be welcomed to Springfield.
9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day 4/27/2004 Will our guests please rise and be welcomed by the Illinois Senate? Today is a very, very difficult day. We all know about the passing of our Majority Leader, Vince Demuzio. And out of due respect to him and his family, and with there being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate will stand adjourned till the hour of 12 noon on Wednesday. The Senate stands adjourned. 10