PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The regular Session of the 94th 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 Faye Buttrick, First Congregational Church, Springfield, Illinois. Reverend.
(Prayer by the Reverend Faye Buttrick)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Maloney.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Maloney)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Madam Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of Tuesday, April 19, 2005.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Silverstein.
Mr. -- Mr. President, I move that the Journal just read in by the Secretary be approved, unless some Senator has additions or corrections to offer.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Silverstein moves for the approval of the journal just read by the Secretary. There being no objection, so ordered. Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Clayborne, Chairperson of the Committee on Environment and Energy, reports Senate -- pardon me, House Bills 414, 466, 1149, 1321, 1549 and 2580 Do Pass; House Bill 433 Do Pass, as Amended; and Senate Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 239 recommended Do Adopt. Senator Sullivan, Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Conservation, reports House Bills 229, 445, 601, 942, 1181, 1182, 1339, 1486 and 3785 Do Pass; and House Bill 295 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Ronen, Chairperson of the Committee on Health and Human Services, reports House Bills 20, 172, 210, 398, 700, 759, 785, 808, 991, 1077, 1345, 1406, 1430, 1511, 1548, 2344, 2490, 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 33rd Legislative Day 4/20/2005 2527, 3564 and 4067 Do Pass. Senator Haine, Chairperson of the Committee on Insurance, reports House Bills 59, 116, 197, 731 and 2375 Do Pass. Senator Crotty, Chairperson of the Committee on Local Government, reports House Bills 15, 114, 115, 203, 330, 339, 413, 594, 668, 720, 723, 729, 832, 1125, 1315, 1323, 1338, 1395, 1458, 1500, 1574, 2500, 2564, 2611 and 3538 Do Pass; and House Bill 528 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Munoz, Chairperson of the Committee on Transportation, reports House Bills 386, -- pardon me, -- 544, 577, 956, 960, 966 {sic} (996), 1316, 1358, 1386 and 3738 Do Pass. Senator Meeks, Chairperson of the Committee on -- Committee -- Chairperson of the Committee -- Committee on Housing and Community Affairs, reports House Bills 328, 515 and 603 Do Pass. Senator Lightford, Chairperson of the Committee on Education, reports House Bills 156, 312, 404, 678, 733, 755, 1324, 2589 and 3680 Do Pass. Senator Martinez, Chairperson of the Committee on Pensions and Investments, reports House Bills 227, 373, 741 and 3258 Do Pass. Senator Trotter, Chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations I, reports House Bills 1520 through 1544 and 1546, plus 1547 all Do Pass. Senator -- Senators Cullerton and Dillard, Chairpersons of the Committee on Judiciary, reports House Bills 23, 29, 173, 180, 181, 215, 245, 381, 396, 444, 524, 566, 582, 598, 611, 617, 701, 763, 767, 783, 793, 806, 885, 887, 888, 892, 893 {sic}, (923), 950, 992, 1002, 1079, 1081, 1095, 1134, 1318, 1344, -- pardon me, 1434, 1483, 1523, 1562, 1587, 1588, 2242, 2341, 2389, 2411, 2699, 3515, 3595, 3597, 3874 and 4020 Do Pass. (Bill within parentheses submitted in writing, but inadvertently not read into the record.)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Radogno, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point. 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 33rd Legislative Day 4/20/2005
I’d like to introduce to the Body my Page for today, Jamie Gerber from Frankfort, Illinois, and his dad is up in the gallery watching us. So…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our guests please rise and will our -- will the Senate extend a warm welcome to our guests? Senator Peterson, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
Mr. President and Members of the Senate, I’d like to introduce my Pages for the Day, Molly Voska, her sister, Sarah, and her brother, Matthew, and her mom and dad are up in the gallery behind the Republican side. Like to have a warm welcome extended to them.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our guests in the gallery please rise, and extend our warm welcome? Senator Bomke, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
We have with us today students from Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois. It’s the Advisory Union of Student -- Activists. Teacher Ron Keller. They’re behind the Democrats. Will you please help me welcome ‘em here today?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our guests please rise and will the Senate give them a warm welcome? Senator Wojcik, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. I would like to introduce my Page for the Day, Taylor Johns. She’s a student at the DuJardin Grade School in Bloomingdale and her parents are Norm and Karen, and they’re up in the balcony right over the President’s chair. Welcome to Springfield. 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 33rd Legislative Day 4/20/2005
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our guest in the gallery please rise, and will the Senate give them a warm welcome? Senator Geo-Karis, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
In the President’s Gallery above are two ladies that had the Matigian School of Preschoolers. And they just sold it after fifteen years. They did a great job in the community and they live in Gurnee, Illinois, and now they’re vacationing and joining us here in Springfield. It’s Juanita Matigian M-A-T-I-G-I-A-N, and Jackie Luce, L-U-C-E. They had the Matigian School for Preschoolers. They did an excellent job for thousands of children and I’d like you to welcome them here today with -- warmly, ‘cause they deserve it. They did a great job. They’re up there in the…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our -- will our guests in the gallery please rise and will the Senate give them a warm welcome? Senator Viverito, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
I wanted to say something that was rather significant that happened to me this morning. You know, my wife has been a member of the DAR for many, many years and she had me go real early this morning…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator -- Senator Viverito, excuse me a second.
Thank you, Mr. President. She had me go real early this morning to the Lincoln Museum, because she wanted to be the very first one to go in and pay the seven dollars and fifty cents. So I paid seven dollars and fifty cents and she paid seven dollars 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 33rd Legislative Day 4/20/2005 and fifty cents, which was fifteen dollars. That’s a senior citizen rate. So, now that we are on record as being the very first ones that came in this morning, she’ll be able to go back to her DAR and let them know how privileged we were to be able to visit the museum. And I encourage all of you to do the same. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Viverito, there was a question. Did you pay for your wife or did she pay for her own? No -- no response needed. There will be a Rules Committee meeting immediately in the President’s Anteroom. Senator Collins, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Purpose of announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
The Senate Financial Institutions Committee will meet tomorrow morning at 8:30 in Room 400.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Luechtefeld, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
In the gallery on the Republican side a young lady who’s here today to sort of watch what we do. Her name is Sara LaBusier. She is with her dad and Bill Williams. I would appreciate it if they would rise and if you would welcome them, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our guests in the gallery please rise and will the Senate give them a warm welcome? Senator Garrett, for what purpose do you rise?
For a purpose of announcement, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement. 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 33rd Legislative Day 4/20/2005
Now, I’ve been told I have to wait till after Rules.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Thank you, Senator Garrett. Senator Hendon, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege and to make an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State -- state your announcement and your point of personal privilege.
If you -- if you could get the attention of the Body, I’d greatly appreciate it, sir. This is very important. As you know, Mr. President…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Could we -- could we please have -- could we please have silence? Could we keep the -- could we keep the conversations down to a minimum so we can hear what’s going on? Senator Hendon.
The pride of the Senate -- the pride of the Senate is at stake, Mr. President. As you know, the House has beat us in the last couple years in the softball game barely, but they made it. We were there. Every year we were there, but you know what? We beat ‘em a couple years so we stopped practicing. We thought we were so good we didn’t even have to warm up. All of us know Father Time has caught up with people like Sullivan and Petka and some of these guys like del Valle are a little slower than they used to be. So we have to go out and practice, Mr. President. So doggone it today at 5 freakin o'clock. We, the Senators, both male and female, co-ed as we are, Democrat and Republican shall descend on Lincoln Park and we will practice Ladies and Gentlemen, and practice, and practice until the sweat drips down your bra or brow, whichever comes first. I have a book here of games in the past that we won. We have pictures of Shadid and pictures of Adeline Geo-Karis. We have pictures of Terry Link rounding third. We’re going to pass this book around so you can remember your past glory, and I hope all of you will be at 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 33rd Legislative Day 4/20/2005 Lincoln Park at 5 o'clock. I don’t care if your committee’s still going, you take a leave to vote Aye and be at the field at 5 o'clock today. So, May 11th we can defeat the House once and for all.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Thank you, Senator Hendon. And for those who might not have understood that, I think there’s practice at 5 o'clock tonight. Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Viverito, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Commerce and Economic Development Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 909, Floor Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 14; refer to Executive Committee - Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1965; and refer to Licensed Activities - Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 202 {sic} (201) and Floor Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 1828.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Demuzio, for what purpose do you rise?
Purpose of an announcement, Mr. -- Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
Yes. This afternoon Licensed Activities will be meeting at 2:30 in the Stratton Building A-1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Maloney, for what purpose do you rise?
For purpose of an announcement, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
The Senate Higher Education Committee will meet at 4 o'clock in Room 400.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Schoenberg, for what purpose do you rise?
Purposes of an announcement, Mr. President. 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 33rd Legislative Day 4/20/2005
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
The Senate Appropriations II Committee will meet at 2:30 today at 212. And the Senate -- followed immediately by the Senate Appropriations III Committee, which will also meet at 212. Appropriations II at 2:30 in 212. Appropriations III at 4 o'clock in 212.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Silverstein, for what purpose do you rise?
Purpose of an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
The Senate Executive Committee will meet at 1 o'clock in Room 212.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Forby, for what purpose do you rise?
Purpose of announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
Labor will meet today at 2:30 in Room 400. 2:30, Room 400.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Raoul, for what purpose do you rise?
For purpose of announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
The Senate Commerce and Economic Development Committee will be meeting tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. in the Stratton Building A- 1, barring injury from softball practice.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett, for what purpose do you rise?
For the second -- for the second time for purpose of 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 33rd Legislative Day 4/20/2005 announcement. State Government will meet today at 1 o'clock in the Stratton Building A-1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Collins, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
The Revenue Committee will meet today at 1 in Room 400.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hendon, for the second time. Calmly. What -- what’s your purpose?
Purposes of an announcement, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
The Executive Appointments Committee will meet tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. in Room 212. 8:30 a.m., tomorrow morning.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Could I please have everyone’s attention. Everyone’s attention, please. Could the conversations in the back please stop? And we have this -- we have an important announcement. Senator Geo-Karis. Madam -- Madam Secretary, please read your resolution.
Senate Resolution 162, offered by Senator Geo-Karis and all Members. It is a death resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Geo-Karis.
Madam -- Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. And a point of personal privilege. Archbishop Iakovos, I-A-K-O-V-O-S, who led the Greek Orthodox in the Americas for about forty years, passed away recently. He died at Stamford Hospital of a pulmonary ailment in Stamford, Connecticut. He headed the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in North and South America 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 33rd Legislative Day 4/20/2005 with an estimated two million followers for about forty years. And he met with Pope John XXIII after his -- 1959 enthronement, becoming the first Greek Orthodox Archbishop in three hundred and fifty years to meet with the Roman Catholic Pope and spent nine years as the President of the World Council of Churches. Archbishop -- Iakovos marched with Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., in Selma, Alabama in 1965, and he received a Medal of Freedom from President Jimmy Carter in 1960. He said -- ecumenism is the hope for internal -- international understanding, for humanitarian allegiance, for true peace based on justice and -- and dignity, and for God’s continued presence and involvement in modern history. During his long tenure as Archbishop he led the Greek Orthodox Church out of immigrant isolation and into the main -- mainstream of American religious life playing a leading role in bringing English into the liturgy. He was born Demetrios Courcouris in Turkey. He took the name Iakovos, which means James, when he was ordained a Deacon in 1974. He spoke several languages and could hold children as well as adults spellbound by his sermons. One of those children were George Stephanopoulos, an alter boy who would become advisor to President Clinton and then an ABC News commentator. George said, “What I remember more than anything else is the voice. To a young child he sounded like the voice of God. Deep, measured, but rounded, with gentle tones.” Archbishop Iakovos was instrumental in setting up dialogues between Orthodox churches and Anglicans, Lutherans, Southern Baptists and other denominations. He met every president from Dwight Eisenhower through Clinton, and was one of the U.S. Christian Leaders who met with Pope John Paul in historic gathering in South Carolina in 1967 {sic} (1987). He sought to maintain Orthodox traditions. In -- after his retirement the church split into North and South American dioceses. He resigned in 1999, and was replaced by the current Archbishop Demetrios. In a statement Archbishop Demetrios hailed Archbishop Iakovos as a superb Archbishop who offered to the church an intense, continuous, multifaceted and creative pastoral activity. I knew him well. He was a wonderful, wonderful clergyman who cared about all peoples irrespective of race, color and creed. And the fact that he marched with Martin Luther King, Jr., in Selma, -- Alabama, at 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 33rd Legislative Day 4/20/2005 the time which was very critical, showed that he had the guts to do it. I’m very proud of him and his heritage. And I certainly wish him well with God and I’m sure he will be. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Thank you, Senator Geo-Karis. Senator Geo-Karis moves to suspend the rules for the purpose of immediate consideration and adoption of Senate Resolution 162. Those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The -- the rules are suspended. Senator Geo-Karis now moves for the adoption of Senate Resolution 162. Is there any discussion? The question is, shall Senate Resolution 162 be adopted? All in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The Resolution is adopted. Further Resolutions, Madam Secretary.
Senate Joint Resolution 41, offered by Senator Garrett. It is substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Burzynski, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I’d like to make an announcement. I won’t be quite as adamant, quite as emotional as Senator Hendon was in his great announcement. It was just tremendous and I do interpret Hendon as well. So I knew what you said. But we would request a Republican Caucus immediately upon adjournment for about forty-five minutes or so.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) That request is always in order and we would ask that you try to keep it at the forty-five minute level. Committees are in -- will be -- are scheduled already. They will be moved back fifteen minutes. So, those committees that have been announced at 1 o'clock will be meeting at 1:15. And so forth. Fifteen minutes later than the announced time will be starting. All members please be in your committees on time so that we’re not backed up for the rest of the day. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate will stand adjourned until the hour of 10 a.m., Thursday, April 21st, 2005. The Senate stands adjourned. 11