PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) The regular Session of the 94th General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desks and will our guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Chaplain Daniel Krumrei, Parkway Christian Church and Command Staff Chaplain for the Illinois National Guard, here in Springfield, Illinois.
(Prayer by Chaplain Daniel Krumrei)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Maloney.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Maloney)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journals of Monday, February 27th; Tuesday, February 28th; and Wednesday, March 1st, 2006.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Crotty.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that the Journals just read by the Secretary be approved, unless some Senator has additions or corrections to offer.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Crotty moves to approve the Journals just read by the Secretary. There being no objection, so ordered. Mr. Secretary, Messages.
Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Dear Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed bills of the following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 4081, 4406, 4442, 4729. All passed the House, March 2nd, 2006. Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Dear Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed bills of the 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 84th Legislative Day 3/7/2006 following title, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 4447. I have like Messages on House Bills 2012, 4081, 4406, 4442, 4666 and 4729. All passed the House, March 2nd, 2006. A Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Dear Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed bills of the following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 2197. We have received like Messages on the following House Bills: 4391, 4785, 280, 1620, 2317, 4739, 4835, 4999, 4819, 4853, 5219, 5244, 5578, 3127, 4238, 4544, 4782, 5031, 4339, 4457, 4805, 4894, 4965, 4977, 5245, 5257, 5259, 5284, 5334, 5337, 5416, 5429, 5506, 2067, 3126, 4203, 4296, 4740, 4828, 4973, 5283, 5342, 5348, 5377, 5407 and 5478. All passed the House, March 3rd, 2006. Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Dear Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed bills of the following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bills 2067, 3126, 4203, 4296, 4740, 4828, 4973, 5283, 5342, 5348, 5377, 5407, 5478. All passed the House, March 6th {sic} (3rd), 2006. Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Dear Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed bills of the following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bills 2197, 4391 and 4785. All passed the House, March 3rd, 2006. A Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Dear Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed bills of the following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 84th Legislative Day 3/7/2006 House Bills 4339, 4457, 4805, 4894, 4965, 4977, 5245, 5257, 5259, 5284, 5334, 5337, 5416, 5429 and 5506. All passed the House, March 3rd, 2006. A Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Dear Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed bills of the following titles, in which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 4447. Passed the House, March 2nd, 2006. Dear Mr. President - I have been directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed bills of the following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bills 2012 and 4666. Passed the House, March 2nd, 2006. A Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Dear Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed bills of the following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bills 280, 1620, 2317, 4739, 4835 and 4999. All passed the House, March 3rd, 2006. A Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Dear Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed bills of the following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bills 4819, 4853, 5219, 5244, 5578. All passed the House, March 3rd, 2006. Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Dear Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed bills of the following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bills 3127, 4238, 4544, 4782 and 5031. All passed the House, March 3rd, 2006. Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Dear Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 84th Legislative Day 3/7/2006 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 No. 89. It is substantive, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 668, offered by Senator Collins and all Members. And Senate Resolution 669, offered by Senator Sullivan and all Members. They are death resolutions, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Resolution Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, Introduction of Bills.
Senate Bill 3176, offered by Senator Righter. (Secretary reads title of bill) And Senate Bill 3177, offered by Senator Trotter. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) House Bills 1st Reading.
House Bill 5578, offered by Senator Link. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5337, offered by Senator Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5342, offered by Senator Trotter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5348, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5377, offered by Senator DeLeo. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5407, offered by Senator Sieben. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5244, offered by Senator Collins. (Secretary reads title of bill) 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 84th Legislative Day 3/7/2006 House Bill 5245, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5259, offered by Senator Clayborne. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5284, offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4835, offered by Senator Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4894, offered by Senator Munoz. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4977, offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4999, offered by Senator Raoul. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5031, offered by Senator Righter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4457, offered by Senator Maloney. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4544, offered by Senator Trotter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4782, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4785, offered by Senator Maloney. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4805, offered by Senator DeLeo. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4203, offered by Senator Winkel. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4238, offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4406, offered by Senator Collins. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4447, offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2067, offered by Senator Raoul. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1620, offered by Senator Dahl. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4715, offered by Senator Raoul. 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 84th Legislative Day 3/7/2006 (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4726, offered by Senator Viverito. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4735, offered by Senator Althoff. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4829, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4959, offered by Senator Righter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5295, offered by Senator Althoff. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5340, offered by Senator Garrett. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4405, offered by Senator Althoff. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4521, offered by Senator Millner. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4523, offered by Senator Maloney. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4527, offered by Senator Clayborne. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4532, offered by Senator Wilhelmi. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4657, offered by Senator Munoz. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4703, offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4186, offered by Senator Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4297, offered by Senator Ronen. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4342, offered by Senator Munoz. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4365, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 874, offered by Senator DeLeo. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2734, offered by Senator Righter. (Secretary reads title of bill) 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 84th Legislative Day 3/7/2006 House Bill 4173, offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) There will be a Rules Committee immediately in the President’s Antechamber. Rules immediately. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Viverito, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Referred to the Judiciary Committee - Committee Amendment No. 2 to House Bill 1299, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 4222; and refer to the State Government Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Resolution 578 and Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Joint Resolution 15. Signed by Senator Viverito.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Crotty, for what purpose do you rise?
On a point of information. Local Government will meet today, at 1 o'clock, in the Stratton Building, Room A-1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Collins, for what purpose do you rise?
Purpose of an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) State your announcement.
The Appropriations I Committee will meet today, at 4, in Room 212.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Garrett, for what purpose do you rise?
For -- purpose of announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) State your…
State Government will meet tomorrow, in the Stratton Building, A-1, at 11 a.m. 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 84th Legislative Day 3/7/2006
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Clayborne.
I rise for point of an announcement. Environment and Energy will meet tomorrow, in Room 212, at 9 a.m. Again, Environment and Energy, in Room 212, at 9 a.m.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Martinez.
Thank you, Madam President. The Housing and Community Affairs Committee has been canceled today at 2:30. And the Pensions and Investments will meet today, at 4 o'clock, in Room 400.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Harmon.
For the purpose of two announcements, Madam President. First, the Senate Judiciary Committee will meet today, at 2:30, in Room 212. And second, the Senate Revenue Committee will meet tomorrow, at 11 a.m., in Room 400.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Hunter.
For point of -- point of announcement, please. Appropriations III will -- III will be meeting tomorrow, in Room 212, at 12:30.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Watson, for what purpose do you rise?
Yes. Thank you very much, Madam President. I -- just to give an update in regard to Senator Adeline Geo-Karis. I think most of you -- most of you know that Senator Geo-Karis is -- is in the hospital in -- in Libertyville. I was able to get ahold of the hospital. She has no phone in her room. But they said she’s doing fine. They expect her to be in there maybe tonight and her condition is -- is good, and so, anyway, that’s good news for us. There’s a lot mixed views out there as to what her condition might be. And the hospital, the nurse at the -- at the attending station said she’s doing good, and we obviously look 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 84th Legislative Day 3/7/2006 forward to her -- she won’t be here this week, but we look forward to seeing her the following week.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Watson, if you speak to her please give us -- give her all of our best.
I -- I appreciate that and I know she will, too. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Thank you. Senator Schoenberg, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. I rise on a point of personal privilege. It gives me great pleasure to introduce the State Champions in the ten- to eleven-year-old age group. They’re Northbrook Bluehawks. We all think that 1980 that was the miracle, the Olympic hockey team was the miracle on ice. This is the real miracle on ice, Madam Chair and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. The Northbrook Bluehawks first won the Northern Illinois Hockey League Championship. They then went on to win the President’s Cup. They then went on to win the Silver Stick International Tournament in Sarnia, Ontario. Their overall record is fifty-seven and one. We all should have such good success. They’ve scored three hundred and fifteen goals. They only gave up sixty-nine against, and most importantly, they’ve not only succeeded on the ice, but also in the classroom, as five of the team members carry straight A averages. All of the players participate in other schools and sports activities throughout the Northbrook community and the surrounding area. This is a great honor not just to the -- Village of Northbrook, but to the entire State of Illinois. Ladies and Gentlemen, please join me in giving a warm Senate welcome to the Northbrook Bluehawks.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) All right. Welcome to Springfield. Great job.
Madam President, they’re led by their coach, Evan Poulakidas. Their parents are in the gallery. We all share in their pride and accomplishment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 84th Legislative Day 3/7/2006 Will our guests in the galleries please rise? Congratulations. Senator Burzynski, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. We would request a Republican Caucus immediately upon adjournment, just prior to committees. We should be able to get through and be in our committees on time.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Thank you, Senator Burzynski. Keep it brief and the committees will stay on their schedule. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 2 p.m. tomorrow, March 8th, 2008. The Senate stands adjourned. 2006. 10