Illinois Senate Floor Debate — November 8, 2004

The regular Session of the 93rd General Assembly will please come to order. Would our -- will the Members please be at their desks? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Bishop James Austin of St. Luke Church of God, Chicago. Bishop.

Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Link.

Madam Secretary, Reading and Approval of the -- of the Journal.

Senator Maloney.

Senator Maloney moves to approve the Journals just read by the Secretary. There being no objection, so ordered. Channel 7 -- 7 seeks leave for permission to videotape the proceedings. Is leave granted? Chicago Tribune seeks leave to videotape and photograph the proceedings. Journal-Register seeks leave to photograph and -- and video the proceedings. WYCS {sic} (WICS) Channel 20 requests permission to videotape the proceedings. And WSIU Public Broadcasting seek leave. Illinois Channel also seeks leave. And the Associated Press also -- seek leave to record the proceedings. There being no objection, so ordered. Madam Secretary, Communications.

Pardon me, Madam Secretary. Could we hold it down a little bit, please? Proceed. Proceed, Madam Secretary.

Senator Hendon.

2  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 154th Legislative Day 11/8/2004 Senator Raoul, this’ll be your first speak on the bill -- first time to speak on the Senate Floor, so I know you’ll be very brief.

Yeah. Welcome, Senator. You pass more bills when you’re brief. Senator Halvorson, what purpose do you rise?

State your point.

Will our guests in the galleries -- rise and please -- and be welcomed by the Senate? Madam Secretary, Messages.

Madam Secretary, Resolutions.

Resolutions Consent Calendar.

Motion… Resolutions.

Senator Link, what purpose do you rise?

State your point.

Senator Burzynski, what purpose do you rise?

Thank you, Mr. President. Just a point of personal privilege.

State -- state your point.

Evidently this is a great day for at least two families in the State of Illinois, because Senator Luechtefeld is also celebrating his birthday today. But, Denny -- and he’s not quite sixty-seven yet. Sixty-four, I think he told me. And so, not even close, he says, to your age, but maybe he should act it, you think? But anyway, so we have cake down here for Senator Luechtefeld, as well. Thank you.

Senator Jacobs was raised right, Senator Burzynski, that’s why he’s a Democrat. Madam Secretary, Motions in Writing.

Print it on the Calendar -- shall be printed on the Calendar. Introduction of Bills. Proceed, Madam Secretary.

Madam Secretary, Introduction of Bills.

Senator Roskam, what -- for what purpose you rise?

Thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege. Mr. President, on the way down today, Senator Cronin was, let’s say, taking a leadership role on the highway and I managed to get a copy of his driver’s license, and his driver’s license says that yesterday was his birthday. Now, he’s not prepared to really celebrate with a cake or anything like our famous Senators, but he does have some old Halloween candy that’s in his desk that he’s happy to share later on.

Well, a belated happy birthday to our colleague, Senator Ronen {sic}. Senator Bomke, what purpose you rise?

Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I would move to suspend the rules…

Pardon me a minute, Senator. Can the Members quietly hold it down. Even you, Senator Barack. You got to hold it down here, too. Proceed, Senator.

Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I would move that we suspend the rules for the immediate adoption of Senate Resolution 684. It’s a death resolution for William “Bill” Wozniak. We all knew Bill. Many of us saw him every day. We know that he was gunned down right here at the north end of the -- the Capitol. But it’s important that we move on the -- death resolution today, as there is a ceremony for him tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock where there will be a planting of a tree. Thank you.

Senator Bomke moves to suspend the rules for the purpose of immediate consideration and adoption of Senate Resolution 684. Those in favor, signify by saying Aye. Those opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the rules are suspended. Senator Bomke now moves for the -- the adoption of Senate -- Senate Resolution 684. Is there any discussion? Senator Halvorson.

Senator Watson.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. I, too, want to just acknowledge Bill. I -- I’d get here early in the morning and he would, as Senator Halvorson mentioned, was the first person you’d see. And maybe a lot of you don’t know about this about Bill, but he was very, very philosophical. I mean, he had a -- a passion about some beliefs of government and what should be done, and I couldn’t -- I -- I had a very difficult time, every time I came in, getting by him. I mean, he -- he’d stop me and we’d talk and literally take me right to the elevator, and I couldn’t get on the elevator until he -- till he finally got out what he wanted to say. But he was a wonderful guy, just a wonderful person. And -- and it just really shocked me when we -- when we heard this. And -- and -- and very disappointed, obviously, that something like this could happen in the -- in the people’s house. You know, it’s just a -- a very sad day for sure, and certainly a sad day for his family. And my sympathy goes out to them and -- and to the other guards who -- who -- had to be a very, very stressful time for them during all this time, and still is for that matter as we witness today, those of us that came back for the first time, the changes that have 9  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 154th Legislative Day 11/8/2004 been made. So I just -- I just want to put out my -- my support for Bill, his family. They have a scholarship fund, I believe, Larry, that they put together. And -- and there are some things that they’re doing that I think we ought to maybe all try to be a part of, because he was certainly a part of us. And he was very -- a very good person. So, we’re going to miss him.

Senator Hendon.

The question is, shall -- shall Senate Resolution 684 be adopted. All those in favor, signify by saying Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The resolution is unanimously adopted. Senator Halvorson in the Chair.

Madam President, I move to suspend the rules for the immediate consideration of Senate Resolution 716.

Yeah. Thank -- thank you, Madam President. Today marks the end, as well as a beginning, for our colleague, former colleague, Senator Barack Obama. This is the second ending I’ve had with this dynamic young man. Nearly twenty years ago on the far south side of the City of Chicago, I had my first meeting with him. Working -- he was working with a group as an organizer for the Development Communities Project. It dealt with the social issue as relate to school dropouts, drug prevention programs. And they were getting on the politicians, then, to get in there and do a job. And I told him then, I said, “Well, we can work together. You haven’t got a deal on the House side. Come on in the office.” And we -- we forged that relationship. Began -- set forth -- put together programs to deal with the critical issues that impacted our communities. And I enjoyed working with him, but one day he -- he called me and said, “You know, I’m thinking about leaving. I want to go to law school.” I tried to discourage him. I tried to keep him out there, because you know, usually when people come to you with a problem it’s, one thing, but when they have the solution to the problem, it’s another. So it’s an easy thing for me. But he went on to law school, as you all know by now, and he did quite well. Became President of the Harvard Law Review. I didn’t see him again until he came back to Chicago to work on voter registration and things of that nature. Then one day he said he’s running -- he’s going to be running for the Senate district over in -- from Hyde Park community. And he became our colleague. It’s been a warm working relationship. Each of you know him as he -- as relate to his legislative duties. He’s never been abusive in debate. He’s always been one to explain 11  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 154th Legislative Day 11/8/2004 his side of the issue. He’s been one who was willing to work with anyone, and that’s quite evident by him becoming the -- the top vote-getter for any public official in the State of Illinois this past election, more votes than any other elected official has ever received in the State. He’s going to do us well in Washington. He’s -- he -- he -- he will not be in the majority, but he know how to work with the majority and to get things done. He’s been a friend all those years. Many of us, who joined in and supported him, even you on the other side of the aisle, recognize his intellect and the qualities of him. That’s why four out of every ten Republican voted for him. He’s going to do Illinois well. He’s going to do us justice, again. I’m proud to see him go. I hate for -- to see him leave, and that - - that’s the dilemma you are faced with in a situation like that. My proudest moment in politics, when we were in Boston at the convention, and I looked around at Terry Link and tears was running down his eyes. So I didn’t feel bad about the tears coming down my eyes, because here was a young man that we were so proud of, who -- who did such an excellent job, and now, all across the nation, people love him. Those of you who were not there, I was on the elevator at the Hilton that Monday before he gave the speech, and -- with delegates from around the country. So they were introducing themselves, telling each other what state they were from. A lady looked at me. She said, “I know where you’re from.” She said, “You’re from Alabama.” She was looking at the Barack Obama button I had on. And I -- and I told her, “No. That’s -- that’s your keynote speaker for the convention.” After he gave that speech, everyone who had a Barack Obama button, people were begging saying, “I’ve got to have one.” And he -- in his speech, and the part I liked about it most, and sometimes you look at campaigns and people talk about this guy’s a conservative, he’s a liberal, he’s black, he’s white, he’s Hispanic, he’s Indian. We are all Illinoisans. And if you noticed during his fight on critical issues on this Floor, when he passed legislation dealing with racial profiling, dealing with videotaping of confessions and interrogations, he stuck to the issue. Even though at one point in time the issue was before us before, but those bills passed nearly unanimous because he said we are one people. We are Illinoisans. And I’m 12  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 154th Legislative Day 11/8/2004 quite certain, during his tenure in Washington he’s going to represent all of us as Illinoisans. So we’re very proud of you, Barack. And at the conclusion, I think we will give you leave to speak from the rostrum up here, and that you will do a tremendous job. So I hate to see you go. We wish you well. This is the second time you’re leaving me, but -- but we all wish you well, ‘cause you know -- we -- you’re going to do a tremendous job for all of us.

Madam Secretary, do our colleague have leave to speak from the rostrum?

Well, thank you, Madam President. This is maybe -- I tried to get recognition earlier and -- and would’ve liked to have had the opportunity to -- to say a few words before Barack spoke, but, first of all, Barack, I want to wish you well and I know that -- in fact, when you were in Greenville and you came by the drugstore, they said all you did was buy a pack -- a pack of gum. I would’ve liked to have seen, you know, share the wealth a little bit, but unfortunately, I was out of town when you were there and people asked me, “Would you have gone over there to the Pantry Restaurant to have been -- been with your fellow Senator?” And I said, “Absolutely, yes.” I would have been glad to -- to have welcomed you to my home community and -- and 14  STATE OF ILLINOIS 93rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 154th Legislative Day 11/8/2004 feel that you have represented us well. And when we left the last few days of -- of Session, I think it was the last day of Session when we -- we extended time, and you were getting ready to go to Boston and I told him -- I told Senator Obama, I said, “You know, we differ a great deal in our philosophies, our politics. We -- we talk on the Floor as if we’re just vehement enemies, but that isn’t the case at all.” And I said, “When you go out to Boston and when you deliver that speech before the Democrat National Convention, you represent all of Illinois and you do us proud.” And little did I know what would happen. I mean, a lot of people thought you were going to be a multitude - - there was going to be a multitude of people that would be the keynote address. I mean, that’s what we were told. You were the man. You were the guy. And you did a wonderful job before your fellow Democrats. You represented us proud on this side. And you, more importantly, represented Illinois proud in the manner in which you conducted yourself and the speech that you gave. So I congratulate you on that. I know that you will represent us well in -- in Washington. We’ll probably disagree a great deal on issues. You will hear from us. I appreciate the opportunity to even -- he’s got an appointment with me this afternoon. Comes in my office at 2:30. I have a very long list - a very long list, Senator. But we -- we do wish you well. And keep your -- your feet on the ground, and if you need any humility, you know where you can find it, right back here in the Illinois State Senate. Good luck to you.

Yeah. Thank --thank you, Madam President. I would like to invite all of you this evening to a special reception at the Hilton, 7 p.m. to 9 in -- 7:30 to 9 at the Hilton. All of you are invited. You did get a flyer on it. But it’d be a special reception we’re holding in honor of Senator Barack Obama.