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 Reverend James Johnson of the Monroe Street Christian Church. Reverend Johnson.
(Prayer by the Reverend James Johnson)
Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Maloney.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Maloney)
Madam Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journals of Thursday, November 3, 2005; Friday, November 4, 2005; and Wednesday, January 4, 2006.
Senator Hunter. Senator Hunter.
Mr. President, I move that the Journal just read by the Secretary be approved, unless some Senator has additions or corrections to offer.
Senator Hunter moves to approve the Journal just read by the Secretary. There being no objection, so ordered. Madam Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 552, offered by Senator Haine and all Members. Senate Resolution 553, Senate Resolution 554, and Senate Resolution 555, 556, all -- 557, 558, -- all offered by Senator Haine and all Members. Senate Resolution 559, offered by Senator Shadid and all Members. Senate Resolution 560, offered by Senator Silverstein and all Members. Senate Resolution 561, offered by Senator Emil Jones and all 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 63rd Legislative Day 1/11/2006 Members. Senate Resolution 562, offered by Senator Shadid and all Members. And Senate Resolution -- pardon me. And those are all death resolutions. Senate Resolution 560, offered by Senator Silverstein and all Members. Senate Resolution 561, offered by Senator Emil Jones and all Members. Senate Resolution 562, offered by Senator Shadid and all Members. And they’re all death resolutions.
Resolution Consent Calendar.
And Senate Resolution 563, offered by Senator Haine. It is substantive.
Madam Secretary, Messages.
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 a bill of the following title, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 2151. Passed the House, November 4, 2005. A Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has adopted the following joint resolution, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Joint Resolution 24. I have a like Message on House Joint Resolution 61. Adopted by the House, November 4, 2005. A Message from the Secretary of State, dated January 10, 2006. To the Honorable President of the Senate: Sir - In compliance with the provisions of the 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 63rd Legislative Day 1/11/2006 Constitution of the State of Illinois, I am forwarding herewith the enclosed Senate bill from the 94th General Assembly as vetoed by the Governor, together with his objections. Senate Bill 2111. Respectfully, Jesse White, Secretary of State. I have another Message from the Secretary of State, dated January 5, 2006. Dear Members - I am nominating Ferdinand Serpe for appointment to the Chairman of the Secretary of State’s Merit Commission. This appointment is to replace Monroe Flinn. I respectfully ask concurrence in and confirmation of this appointment of your Honorable Body. Sincerely, Jesse White, Secretary of State.
Madam Secretary, Introduction of Bills.
Senate Bill 2182, offered by Senator Sandoval. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2183, offered by Senator Sandoval. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2184, offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2185, offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2186, offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2187, offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2188, offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2189, offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2190, offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2191, offered by Senator Collins. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2192, offered by Senator Radogno. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2193, offered by Senator Peterson. 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 63rd Legislative Day 1/11/2006 (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2194, offered by Senator Risinger. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2195, offered by Senator Ronen. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2196, offered by Senator Sandoval. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2197, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2198, offered by Senator Dillard. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2199, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2200, offered by Senator Silverstein. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2201, offered by Senator Silverstein. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2202, offered by Senator del Valle. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2203, offered by Senators Walsh -- pardon me - I’m sorry - Senators Watson and Righter. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2204, offered by Senator Demuzio. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2205, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2206, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2207, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2208, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2209, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2210, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2211, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2212, offered by Senator Crotty. 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 63rd Legislative Day 1/11/2006 (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2213, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2214, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2215, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2216, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2217, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2218, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2219, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2220, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2221, offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2222, offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2223, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2224, offered by Senator Shadid. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2225, offered by Senator Maloney. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2226, offered by Senator Maloney. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2227, offered by Senator Maloney. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2228, offered by Senator Jacobs. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2229, offered by Senator Maloney. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2230, offered by Senator Munoz. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2231, offered by Senator Forby. (Secretary reads title of bill) 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 63rd Legislative Day 1/11/2006 Senate Bill 2232, offered by Senator Link. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2233, offered by Senator Link. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2234, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2235, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2236, offered by Senators Demuzio, Sullivan, John O. Jones, Halvorson, Dahl, Haine, and others. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2237, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2238, offered by Senator Ronen. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2239, offered by Senator Ronen. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2240, offered by Senator Ronen. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2241, offered by Senator Shadid. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2242, offered by Senator Shadid. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2243, offered by Senator Shadid. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2244, offered by Senator Shadid. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2245, offered by Senator Shadid. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2246, offered by Senator Link. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2247, offered by Senator Link. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2248, offered by Senator Link. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2249, offered by Senator Link. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2250, offered by Senator Maloney. (Secretary reads title of bill) 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 63rd Legislative Day 1/11/2006 Senate Bill 2251, offered by Senator Hunter. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2252, offered by Senator Hunter. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2253, offered by Senator DeLeo. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2254, offered by Senator Sandoval. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2255, offered by Senator Sandoval. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2256, offered by Senator Bomke. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2257, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2258, offered by Senator Wendell Jones. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2259, offered by Senator Dahl. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2260, offered by Senator Sieben. (Secretary reads title of bill) And Senate Bill 2261, offered by Senator Jacobs. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
Senator Hendon, what purpose you rise?
Purposes of an announcement, Mr. President, if I could get the attention of our colleagues. I know they’re all excited. They haven’t seen each other since 2005. But if I could have just a moment - if I could have just a moment. While we were away - Happy New Year, by the way - but while we were away - and you -- you look wonderful, by the way - I guess that marriage that you had while we were away -- some people I’m sure they know that Reverend Doctor Meeks performed the ceremony and you got hooked up. The President got hitched, and you married a lovely lady, Lorrie. We wish you both well. But the big surprise, the biggest surprise, the most single woman in this Senate, the most available, the most effervescent, the most beautiful, Debbie DeFrancesco Halvorson, got married, and we want to congratulate 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 63rd Legislative Day 1/11/2006 her. Big Jim Bush - no related to Jeb - decided that it was time for him to inherit everything that Debbie has to offer. And we do want to acknowledge, she will not be changing her name, because Democrats may not vote for a Bush, but they will certainly support Debbie Halvorson. And we want to congratulate her on her nuptials and hope she’s having a wonderful time as a married woman. So all you single guys stop calling her. Delete her cell phone number from your phone. She is no longer available. Thank you, Mr. President.
Madam Secretary, House Bills 1st Reading.
House Bill 1404, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) And House Bill 2151, offered by Senator Forby. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
I, too -- I, too, would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy New Year and to congratulate my colleague, Senator Halvorson. I had the opportunity to -- to witness the great occasion of her marriage to Jim Bush and I told them then that only -- and I signed the papers, but I said only reason I’m signing these papers, just so long as you don’t change your name. I don’t believe I can stand a Bush in the Democratic Caucus. And Senator Meeks, when performing the ceremony for me, he had a little gavel. He took the gavel and gave it to my wife, Lorrie, and said, “Now you have all the power.” But I read somewhere in the newspaper - I don’t believe any of the papers here in Springfield - but they say if you’re married, you live longer. And -- married men live longer. And so when I had my procedure last week, I want to thank my wife, because she’s the one that advised me to go ahead to the hospital and get this taken care of, which I did. That’s the reason why I’m here feeling so good today. So all of you who are not married, go ahead and get married, you know. You want to be around. That’s what happened to me and I feel great. It’s good -- good to see most of you here. I want to thank all of you for the very warm and kind words that you sent by way of flowers and -- and calls and 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 63rd Legislative Day 1/11/2006 everything. But I really feel great and I definitely want to be here. Those say, “You ill.” No, I wasn’t ill. I just had a minor procedure taken care of, you know. And there was a little blockage of the blood, but the blood’s flowing well these days, great, and I feel great. Senator Link, for what purpose do you rise?
For purpose of announcement. We’ll see how good your blood’s flowing, Mr. President. There will be a caucus immediately upon adjournment in your office.
Senator Burzynski, what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. -- thank you, Mr. President. First of all, congratulations, but, secondly, for purposes of announcement. There will also be a Republican Caucus, not in Senator Jones’ office, but in Senator Watson’s office, immediately after adjournment.
Your caucus is welcome to come to my office. Senator Demuzio, what purpose do you rise?
Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege. With us today in the President’s Gallery are students from the -- Midwest Youth Services Alternative School from Jacksonville, Illinois. There are six students and four instructors here, and if they would like to rise, I would -- let’s give them a big warm welcome from the Illinois Senate.
Will our guests in the galleries please rise and be welcomed by the Senate? Senator Geo-Karis, what purpose you rise?
Personal -- personal privilege.
State your point.
Mr. President, I congratulate you on your marriage and I also congratulate you on your birthday and may you have many, many, many birthdays filled with love, happiness, good health, 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 63rd Legislative Day 1/11/2006 and prosperity because you have been a terrific guy and I’ve known you for thirty-two years. You and I, we are first classmates, when we went into the Illinois House, and I admire you and I respect you because you are a standup guy, and God bless you and God bless your family and I’m glad you married a gal who looks after you, and she is cute, too, by the way. So, God bless Emil Jones and family.
There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 10 a.m., Thursday, January the 12th. The Senate stands adjourned. 10