PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DeLEO) 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 Pastor Zachary Lee of the Mt. Paran Baptist Church. Reverend.
(Prayer by Pastor Zachary Lee)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DeLEO) Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Maloney.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Maloney)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DeLEO) Madam Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal, please.
Senate Journal of Tuesday, February 14, 2006.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DeLEO) 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.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DeLEO) Thank you. Senator Hunter moves to approve the Journals just read by the Secretary. There being no objection, so ordered. For the purposes of an announcement. For the purposes of an announcement. All members of the Rules Committee, please report immediately to the President’s Anteroom. All members of the Rules Committee, please report to the Anteroom. For the purposes of an announcement. For the purposes of an announcement. All Members within the sound of my voice, please report to the Floor immediately. Both respective caucuses will be meeting before the Budget Address. All Members, please report to the Floor immediately. Both respective caucuses will be going to a caucus before the Budget Address. Madam Secretary, Committee Reports, please.
Senator Viverito, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 75th Legislative Day 2/15/2006 reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Commerce and Economic Development Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3056; refer to Executive Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2400, Committee Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 2558, Committee Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 2688 and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2847; refer to Financial Institutions Committee - Committee Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 2611; refer to Licensed Activities Committee - Committee Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2469 and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2574; refer to State Government Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2949.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DeLEO) Madam Secretary, Messages from the House, please.
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 96. (Secretary reads HJR No. 96) Adopted by the House, February 9, 2006.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DeLEO) Thank you, Madam Secretary. Ladies and Gentlemen, at this time, Senator Halvorson moves to suspend the rules for immediate consideration and adoption of House Joint Resolution 96. All those in favor will say Aye. All those opposed will say Nay. The Ayes have it. Now Senator Halvorson moves the adoption of the House Joint Resolution 96. All those in favor, indicate by saying Aye. All those opposed will say Nay. The Ayes have it. House Joint Resolution 96 is adopted. Ladies and Gentlemen, at this time, we’d like to announce the committee of five Senators who will be appointed to escort the Governor to the House of Representatives. Senator Don Harmon, Senator Wendell Jones, Senator Marty Sandoval, Senator Don Trotter and Senator Winkel will be the committee on escort. Senator Link, for what purpose are you seeking recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. An announcement. There will be a 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 75th Legislative Day 2/15/2006 Democratic Caucus immediately upon recess in the President’s Office.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DeLEO) Thank you very much. There’ll be a Democratic Caucus immediately in President Jones’ Office. Senator Burzynski, for what purpose do you rise, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. For purposes of announcement. There will be also be a Republican Caucus in Senator Watson’s Office immediately upon recess. We encourage all Members to get there very quickly. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DeLEO) Thank you, Senator. Ladies and Gentlemen, both caucuses will meet immediately in their perspective {sic} offices. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Senate will stand in recess to the call of the Chair. Please listen. After committees, we will reconvene for Committee Reports and other matters not - I repeat - not requiring Floor action. The Senate will stand in recess -- we -- we’ll reconvene again tomorrow at the hour -- at 1:30 for Senate Floor action. So the Senate will reconvene tomorrow at the hour of 1:30. Senate stands in recess. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DeLEO) The Senate will come to order. Mr. Secretary, Messages, please.
Message from the President, dated February 15, 2006. Dear Madam Secretary - Pursuant to Rule 3-2(c), I hereby appoint Senator Rickey Hendon to temporarily replace Senator Ira Silverstein as a member of the Senate Commerce and Economic Development Committee. This appointment is effective immediately. Signed, President Jones.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DeLEO) Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports, please.
Senator Haine, Chairperson of the Committee on Insurance, 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 75th Legislative Day 2/15/2006 reports Senate Bills 2375, 2582, 2718 and 2959 Do Pass. Senator Crotty, Chairperson of the Committee on Local Government, reports Senate Bills 2255, 2631, 2777, 2798, 2969 and 2986 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 2340 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Lightford, Chairperson of the Committee on Education, reports Senate Bills 2477, 2546, 2795 and 2829 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 2762, 2796 and 2882 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Munoz, Chairman of the Committee on Transportation, reports Senate Bill 2808 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 2405 and 2650 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Meeks, Chairperson of the Committee on Housing and Community Affairs, reports Senate Bills 2290 and 3036 Do Pass. Senator Cullerton and Dillard, Co-Chairs of the Committee on Judiciary, report Senate Bills 2243, 2368, 2374, 2427, 2515, 2680, 2684, 2960, 2985, 3016 and 3037 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 2197, 2284, 2291, 2320, 2613, 2616, 2673, 2676, 2737, 2738, 2869, 2873, 2959 -- I’m sorry, 2955, 2962, 2968, 2980 and 3018 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Martinez, Chairperson of the Committee on Pensions and Investments, reports Senate Bills 2492 and 2740 Do Pass. Senator Sullivan, Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Conservation, reports Senate Bills 2263, 2744, 2810, 2841 and 2887 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 2716 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Environment and Energy, reports Senate Bills 2198, 2580 and 2884 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 2333, 2579 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Garrett, Chairperson of the Committee on State Government, reports Senate Bills 2159, 2674, 2870, 2921 and 2931 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 2868 and 2949 Do Pass, as Amended. Committee on Revenue, chaired by Senator Harmon, reports the following bills: Senate Bills 2173, 2241, 2242, 2246, 2369 and 2872 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 2123, 2185 and -- 2709 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Silverstein, Chairman of the Committee on Executive, reports Senate Bills 1835, 2302, 2358, 2827, 2845, 2983 and 3053 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 2180, 2310, 2400, 2445, 2505, 2558, 2688, 2847 and 3086 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Maloney, Chairperson of the Committee on Higher 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 75th Legislative Day 2/15/2006 Education, reports Senate Bills -- 2376 Do Pass.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DeLEO) Mr. Secretary, Messages from the Governor, please.
Message from the Governor by Joseph B. Handley, Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative Affairs, dated February 2nd, 2006. Dear Mr. President - The Governor directs me to lay before the Senate the following Message: To the Honorable Members of the Senate of the 94th General Assembly - I have nominated and appointed the following named persons to the offices enumerated below and respectfully ask the concurrence in and confirmation of these appointments by your Honorable Body. Signed, Governor Blagojevich. I have like Messages, Mr. President, from the Governor, dated February 9th, 2006, and February 15th, 2006.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DeLEO) Well, Ladies and Gentlemen, there being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate will stand adjourned until the hour of 1:30, tomorrow, February 16th, the year 2006. The Senate stands adjourned. 5