Illinois Senate Floor Debate — November 15, 2006

(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Maloney)

Mr. President, I move that the Journal just read by the Secretary be approved, unless some Senator has additions or corrections to offer.

Moment of personal privilege, Mr. President.

It gives me great pleasure to introduce a young man who just, above all odds, won a statewide office - I’m doing this because I’m a downstater and we support him very strongly - is our new Treasurer of the State of Illinois, Alexi Giannoulias. How about a big hand?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Ladies and Gentlemen, we’ll be going to page 3 of your 2  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006 Calendar, Secretary’s Desk, Concurrence. Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to call your attention to the voting procedure that will be followed at this time. When a question is before the Senate, the Presiding Officer shall direct the Secretary to take an oral vote -- roll call vote. The Secretary shall then call the roll in alphabetical order, whereupon each Senator shall individually register his or her vote with an Aye or a Nay or a Present. When the roll call has been completed, the Presiding Officer will three times ask, “Have all voted” to wish -- “who wish?” During this time, Senators must seek recognition from the Chair if they wish to change their vote or register their vote if they have failed to do so. After asking for the third time “Have all voted who wish?”, the Presiding Officer shall direct the Secretary to take the record. At that point, the voting shall be closed. After the Secretary takes the record, the Presiding Officer shall announce the numerical results. So on the Order of Concurrences, we have Senate Bill 611. Senator Link, do you wish to proceed? Madam Secretary, please read the motion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Link, to explain your motion.

Thank you, Madam President. 611 -- House Amendment 1 {sic} of -- to 611 deletes the original bill and amends the County Codes {sic} (Counties Code) by increasing fees to be charged by sheriffs in third-class counties, which is Cook County. The fees must be used for public safety purposes only.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Righter.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates he’ll yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Link.

What changes were made? The House amendment became the bill and it was a -- the bill came over, they shelled it, made it this bill. And what it did is it increased fees for the Cook County Sheriff’s Department.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Righter.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Link.

Okay. Summarize some of ‘em. In summons for each defendant would go from fifteen dollars to thirty-five dollars. For all other processes, it would go from fifteen to thirty-five dollars. Subpoenas would go from twenty-five to thirty-five. Warrants would go from fifteen to thirty-five. Judgments would go from fifteen to thirty-five. Attachments to each defendant would go from fifteen to thirty-five.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Righter.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Senator Link, to close.

Just would ask for an affirmative vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) This is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 611. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have all voted who wish? Senator Cullerton, for what purpose do you seek recognition? Madam Secretary, Senator Cullerton’s vote should be recorded as Aye. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 45 Ayes, 12 voting No, 0 voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 611, and the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Cullerton, on Senate Bill 2185. Madam Secretary, please read the motion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Cullerton, to explain your motion.

Yes, my motion is to concur with House Amendments 1 and 2. What the House did was to add a provision at the request of Representative Hassert, supported by Senator Wilhelmi. It’s my - - it affects their district. It amends the Property Tax Code to provide a property tax exemption to land that is owned by the Water Reclamation District in Cook County, physically located outside of Cook County and leased to a unit of local government. The Water Reclamation District owns parcels of land in Will County. It’s seeking to lease it to units of local government. Under the current law, the land owned by a governmental entity outside its jurisdiction is subject to property taxation even if it’s leased to a unit of local government. This would allow them to lease the land to the Will County Forest Preserve District without them having to pay taxes. And so I move that we concur.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Lauzen.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Senator Cullerton, do you wish to close?

Just ask for an Aye, oral-verified roll call.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) This is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment Nos. 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2185. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have all voted who wish? Senator Cronin, for what purpose do you rise? Madam Secretary, Senator Cronin’s vote should be recorded as Aye. Senator Sullivan, for what purpose do you seek recognition?

I’d like to be recorded as an Aye.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Madam Secretary, Senator Sullivan’s vote should be recorded as Aye. Senator Shadid. No, you are…

I’m just checking to see if I was recorded as an Aye.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 7  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006 No, you are not recorded. What would you like?

I would like -- love to vote Aye.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Madam Secretary, Senator Shadid’s vote should be recorded as Aye. Have all voted who wish? Senator Hunter, for what purpose do you seek recognition?

I would like to be recorded as Aye.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Madam Secretary, Senator Hunter’s vote should be recorded as Aye. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And Senate Bill -- the Senate concurs in House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2185. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. On the Order of Concurrences is Senate Bill 2664. Senator Crotty, do you wish to proceed? Madam Secretary, please read the motion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Crotty, to explain your motion.

Thank you very much. Senate Bill 2664 is now a fully agreed bill containing a few parts - which specifically the language authorizes a contract between the sanitary district and a municipality when the sanitary district has acquired easements to reach the municipality and is not otherwise contiguous. It also has language that retains the role for the ICC prior to the sanitary district’s exercise to eminent domain. The language streamlines the petition. It also shortens the time frames for the responses and the hearings. And finally, it narrows the scope of the review for the ICC by requiring the district to prove that it has been in an existence for twenty years, that it’ll serve a new area to be served in the same way that they were serving in the preexisting areas, and that it can serve the 8  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006 new area at the same or less operational costs.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Righter.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates she’ll yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator…

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Crotty.

Those concerns that the -- the House had, I don’t think the Senate did, but the House did. That was already -- that was taken care of by the agreed bill list. The other -- I mean, on the agreed bill discussions. And again, they just had to make sure that the ICC was part of that.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Senator Crotty, do you wish to close?

I just ask for a favorable vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) This is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment No. 5 to Senate Bill 2664. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. Madam Secretary, please call the roll. 9  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have all voted who wish? Senator del Valle, for what purpose do you seek recognition?

Want to be recorded as Aye.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Madam Secretary, Senator del Valle wishes to be recorded as Aye. Senator Garrett, for what purpose do you seek recognition? Madam Secretary, Senator Garrett’s vote should be recorded as Aye. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take 10  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006 the record. On the question, there are 54 Yeas, 3 voting Nay, none voting Present. And the Senate concurs in House Amendment No. 5 to Senate Bill 2664. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Hunter, do you -- Madam Secretary, please read the motion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Hunter, to explain your motion.

Thank you, Madam President. I concur with the two amendments to allow students to be exempt from daily physical education requirements if it is determined that the -- that the time was needed for special education services. Amendment 2 basically extends the exemption to cover grades three to twelve, rather than nine to twelve. And the other amendment simply states that the -- the pupil must be excused of special education services if the parent or guardian agrees, and if there’s no agreement, the IED {sic} (IEP), which is the individual education plan, team must determine that the time is needed for special education support services, and I ask for a favorable roll call.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Righter, do you have a question? I know you’re missing your sidekick, Roskam, so -- but I’ll give you a second. Senator Hunter, do you wish to close?

I ask for a favorable roll call. Thank you.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) This is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments No. 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 2762. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have all voted who wish? Senator Lauzen, for what purpose do you seek recognition? Madam Secretary, Senator Lauzen’s vote should be recorded as an Aye. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. The -- the Senate concurs in House Amendments No. 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 2762, and the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. WAND-TV requests permission to videotape. Is leave granted? Leave is granted. Senator Peterson, on 2772. Madam Secretary, read the motion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Peterson, to explain your motion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? This is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2772. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have all -- have all voted who wish? Senator Viverito, for what purpose do you seek recognition? Madam Secretary, Senator Viverito wishes to be recorded as Aye. Senator Luechtefeld, for what purpose do you seek recognition? Madam Secretary, Senator Luechtefeld wishes for his vote to be recorded as an Aye. Two more have now… Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 57 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And the Senate concurs in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2772. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Please turn the page to page 4. At the top of page 4, Secretary’s Desk, Concurrences. Senator del Valle, do you wish to proceed on 2796? Madam Secretary, read the motion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator del Valle, to explain your amendment.

Thank you, Madam President. I move to concur with House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2796. House Amendment No. 1 -- and first of all, this is the due process bill that allows parents to ensure that their children involved in special education are receiving the services that -- that they need and allows parents to be able to advocate for their children. House Amendment No. 1 gives the party that requested the hearing the explicit right to submit an amended request within five days of the initial request. It lengthens the period during which the parties must attempt to present their respective cases from five days to seven days and restores the one-hundred-and-twenty-day 14  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006 statute of limitations for a party to file civil action if unsatisfied with the hearing outcome. Adds that the hearing officers also will receive training and the training will include instruction on how to handle amended requests. That’s House Amendment No. 1. And House Amendment No. -- No. 2 further clarifies that amended hearing requests may raise issues that weren’t included in the initial request.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Cronin.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) This is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments No. 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2796. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. Madam Secretary, please read the call.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have all voted who wish?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have all voted who wish? Does Senator Ronen wish to be recognized for her vote? You are not recorded as voting. Senator Ronen.

Madam President, I wish to vote Aye.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Madam Secretary, Senator Ronen wishes to -- her vote to be recorded as an Aye. Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And the Senate concurs in House Amendments No. 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2796. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Link, do you wish to proceed on 3088? Madam Secretary, read the motion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Link, to explain your motion.

House Amendment 1 deletes a provision in Senate Bill 3088 that reenacts the Downstate Forest Preserve District Act and all real properties that fall within the definition set in the Downstate Forest Preserve District Act. Be more than happy to 16  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006 answer any questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Lauzen.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates he’ll yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Link. Senator Lauzen.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Link. Senator Lauzen.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Link. Is there any further discussion? Is there any further discussion? Senator Link, do you wish to close?

…affirmative vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) This is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3088. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And the Senate concurs in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3088. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, with leave of the Body, we will be going to the top of page 2. Senate Bills 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1275. Senator Forby. It’s been signed over to Senator Lightford. Senator Lightford seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1275 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of an amendment. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. On the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 1275. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Lightford, to explain your amendment.

Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 1275 is the actual minimum wage increase. The increase would go from six-fifty to seven-fifty an hour, effective January 1 of 2007. There would be an adjustment or an index that would allow the minimum wage to increase annually to protect workers from declining values of wages due to rising prices. That effect will be taking place January 1 of 2008, and it would remove the provision from the minimum wage law that allows employees {sic} to pay fifty cents less per hour to workers under age eighteen. This minimum wage increase would directly and indirectly affect more than six hundred and forty- seven thousand working people in Illinois. Eighty-one percent of those making minimum wage are adults over age twenty and more than half of them have at least one dependant. About one hundred and forty-four thousand affected workers are parents and this affects two hundred and sixty-nine thousand children. Indexing the minimum wage, what we found just in this past election on November 7th, there was six states that voted to have an index on their minimum wage. Those states were Missouri, Ohio, Montana, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado. And all of those votes were overwhelmingly done. Ten states now have indexing their minimum wage, and a total of twenty-eight states have a minimum wage that is higher than the federal government’s wage. There are some opponents who have arguments about the minimum wage increase. One is that there will be a considerable amount of job loss, and we found that in economics - not myself personally - have found that there is more and more studies that’s been conducted over the last nine years, since the federal minimum wage was last increased, and we found that job loss as predicted by opponents never really occurred. A study by the Fiscal Policy Institute found that between 1998 and 2004…

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Lightford, hold on one second, 'cause there’s a lot of people here that can’t hear. We are in tight quarters. Please, everybody, if we can just listen to Senator Lightford explain the amendment. Senator Lightford. 19  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006

Thank you, Madam President. I’ll be wrapping up quickly. The job growth for small businesses in states with the minimum wage higher than the federal level actually was 6.2 percent compared to 4.1 percent of growth rates that happened in states where there was no federal level prevail there. And -- and another question came about: Why not wait for Washington to act? There are some proposals that Washington would increase the minimum wage to seven dollars and twenty-five cents an hour. And I really just don’t see a reason why we need to wait on Washington to enact effective leadership here in the State of Illinois. And I don’t know that if our current President has not done it in the time that he’s been President, that is one of his initiatives that he’s looking to do now. And finally, there is some argument that Illinois experienced a -- a drought. When actually, since 2005, we have here in Illinois created more than a hundred fifty-one thousand new jobs, which is the highest number of jobs in the Midwest. And this is according to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. And we have also, so far this year, created seventy-six thousand four hundred new jobs, which, again, is the best start of states in the Midwest. I’d be happy to answer questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion on the amendment? Senator -- we’re -- we’re asking if there’s any discussion on the amendment. Senator Pankau.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion on the amendment? Senator Lightford, to close on the amendment.

I ask for an Aye vote, or to move it. The adoption. Move to adopt. Move to adopt.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator -- Senator Lightford moves the adoption of Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1275. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 1275. Senator Lightford, do you wish to proceed? Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Lightford.

Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Since I gave such a detailed information during the amendment, I would just open up our discussion by saying a job should lift you out of poverty. It should not keep you in 21  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006 poverty. And that there’s a lot of hardworking people around the State that deserve a higher wage. They’re currently making thirteen thousand five hundred and twenty dollars a year on a full-time employee. And we all know that’s nothing. You can’t even get a college education for one year at thirteen grand. And there’s a lot of people raising a family on that amount. This dollar increase will take them to fifteen thousand, which still isn’t a lot of money. They’re still not removed out of poverty. But I believe every step we take here in the State of Illinois allows them -- hardworking people here a better chance, and I think what we’re doing is letting them know that hard work should be rewarded. And it’s just the right thing to do. So, I’d be happy to answer questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Righter.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) To the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Senator Dillard.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Senator Hendon.

…I have a loud mouth so I don’t necessarily need the mike. But I hope Senator Dillard was saying that he’s going to vote for this and that would be a wonderful thing. It’s so close in here. Be great if we can have some closeness on this issue, some togetherness, Kumbaya moment where we look out for the people of the State of Illinois. It’s easy to say we should not have minimum wage jobs, we should have twenty-dollars-an-hour jobs, but the reality is, even if you had twenty-dollars-an-hour jobs, there are some - some - not all, but some employers who will still pay five dollars an hour if they can get away with it. It’s a question of economics. It’s a question of profits. And I have a great deal of respect for Senator Righter, but the only person that I saw got elected out of this Chamber to Congress is Senator Roskam. I wasn’t hoping that he made it, but he made it. But I doubt if he goes to Congress and votes for the federal minimum wage. It was mentioned yesterday as if the manufacturers were -- would support the minimum wage it will -- if it was federal, but they wouldn’t commit to that because they’re going to fight it at every level. As Senator Lightford said, this is the right thing to do. Seven dollars and fifty cents is no money, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. It’s no money. And what people fail to mention is that that’s before taxes. So, you take taxes out of that, what are we talking about? Eight dollars a day with taxes out of it. And then you have to get to the job - transportation - two/three dollars one way, two/three dollars 24  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006 back. Don’t eat lunch. Don’t get sick. Don’t let your child have a school project. It’s nothing. The minimum wage should actually be nine, ten dollars an hour. As Senator Lightford said, seven fifty doesn’t even lift you out of poverty, but you can get one more slice of bologna a week to give your children. You should all vote Yes on this.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Senator del Valle.

Thank you, Madam President. I just want to remind the Members that Congress is going to be taking action pretty soon. I think it’s a safe bet - not guaranteed - but we know what message was sent on November 7th throughout the entire country. People want, support an increase in the minimum wage. That increase is probably going to be to seven twenty-five. At seven fifty, we’re just twenty-five cents above that level. That means that all states will be at seven twenty-five. So the argument of whether or not Illinois will be competitive, I think becomes a moot point, because twenty-five cents’ difference is -- is not all that much and there’ll be some states that I’m sure will be - - will be higher. The second point is - and I agree with Senator Dillard - that we want jobs. We want good manufacturing jobs. We want jobs in all sector, but many manufacturers will tell you that their main concern is the skill level of the workforce. And so if we want people to command higher wages, higher wages that employers are willing to pay because they need those skill levels, then we’ve got to look at what we’re doing in this Body to make sure that our educational system improves and that our community college system improves and that there are educational and training options available out there for people. Because that is really the way that we’re going to lift people out of poverty, giving them the education that they need in order to be able to take the jobs that sometimes go unfilled because employers cannot find the skills they’re looking for.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Senator Martinez.

…you. There’s just a couple more points that I would just like to add to everything that has been said in this Chamber 25  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006 today. The minimum wage workers are most likely to spend their income locally, so raising the minimum wage can provide a boost in local retail businesses and restaurants. Also, raising the minimum wage helps break the cycle of dependency on social programs and -- and then fosters independence. A routine increase in the minimum wage helps alleviate discrimination against women and minorities and substitutes the -- the market leverage these workers do not have. In one of the -- I was reading one of the studies done by the Voices for Illinois Children and one of the things that they have discovered through their -- their -- some of their research is that some of -- a recent study has shown that state minimum wages found no evidence of negative employment effects on small businesses or in the retail industry. Another analysis also shows that employment in small businesses grew fastest in states with higher minimum wages and found most -- more positive growth in the number of small business establishments and payrolls in higher minimum wage. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, this is the right thing for us to do for those that are at the bottom of the scale. So, I -- I urge an Aye vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Senator Collins.

Thank you, Madam President. Often it is said that the Members on this side of the aisle are values deficient. So today I rise to speak in support of this legislation from a position of faith, fairness and justice. What does it say about a society, the wealthiest nation in the industrialized world, when working full time - fifty-two weeks out of a year - those earning at or near the minimum wage do not earn enough to make ends meet? At the State hourly minimum wage of six fifty, a worker earns just thirteen thousand five hundred and twenty dollars for a full year of work. That’s more than three thousand below the federal poverty level for a family of three. Children should not be poor. I believe that our position on the minimum wage is one way that our society shows how we value work and how we value the poor. Just by increasing the minimum wage a dollar will enable those working at the minimum wage to see or experience nearly a five-percent increase in their wages, which also would allow six 26  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006 hundred -- I’m sorry, two hundred and sixty-nine thousand children who would benefit from this increase. So let me say, I believe that poverty in America is a political problem caused less by a lack of resources than by a failure to come to terms with reality and the will to change it. It’s universally understood that food, shelter, healthcare and other basics are crucial to the well-being of children and families. Here is our opportunity as a State to form a new grand alliance between liberals and conservatives that makes overcoming poverty a nonpartisan agenda and a bipartisan cause. Dr. King once said: On some positions, a coward asks the question, “Is it safe?” Expediency asks the question, “Is it politic?” Vanity asks the question, “Is it popular?” But Conscience asks -- asks the question, “Is it right?” And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he or she must take it because Conscience tells him or her that it is right. And I believe the time is always right to do the right thing. And that’s why I support this legislation.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Senator Rauschenberger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Further discussion? Senator Sullivan.

A question of the sponsor.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates she’ll yield.

Senator, just as a -- a follow-up to Senator Rauschenberger’s, the provision to remove or -- I guess they -- 28  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006 they refer to it as a training wage, under eighteen provision, what -- I -- I -- I -- this morning on my way over I called a couple of businesses in my district just to visit about a couple of the issues that were going to be faced here in the Veto Session and one of those was a -- was a restaurant, just a mom- and-pop restaurant. I think they said they had twenty employees there. And several high school-age kids come out and work at the restaurant on the weekends or after school busing tables, whatever. And when I explained to the owner of that business that -- that under the bill that we’re going to be -- that we’re talking about right now, that that wage that she -- she would have to pay seven fifty an hour, she was quite distraught about that. What -- what -- what is the reason -- and I understand the seven fifty for -- for somebody that has a family, a seventeen-, eighteen-, nineteen-year-old. What about a fourteen-, fifteen-, sixteen-year-old? Why are we removing that provision?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Lightford.

Thank you, Madam President. I’m glad you asked that question, Senator Sullivan, because there’s this misbelief and there’s this concept that all teenagers who work are just working for play money. When, in fact, many teenagers work to subsidize their parents’ income. Many teenagers work so that their parents don’t have to give them the income because the parents don’t have it to give. So, just because someone’s seventeen years old/eighteen years old doesn’t necessarily mean it’s play money to go to the movies all the time. This is money because momma can’t give ‘em any lunch money. And this is money because daddy didn’t buy them any school clothes. This is the ability for them to get school books if they’re in college, because they’re so very expensive. So I think there’s a reality that’s not consistent with today’s world, in that many young families start at sixteen, seventeen and eighteen years old and they’re raising households. So this is twenty percent of the population that we’re talking about affecting - twenty percent. And I don’t see a reason why if they’re doing a job, why they should get paid less. If they’re there, if they’re busing those tables, if they’re homecare workers who are taking care of sister-in-law, 29  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006 Joan, then they need to be provided with adequate funding. So, I disagree with the argument that because they’re under eighteen years old that they should be paid less.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Sullivan.

And I -- and I’ve seen the facts, Senator, with regard to that twenty percent. Of course, you realize as the information has been given to me that does include nineteen- and eighteen- year-olds in that figure. I’m talking about seventeen, sixteen, fifteen. My sons and daughter who worked after school, worked on the weekends. Those are the individuals that I’m talking about. The -- the factors -- the numbers that you're -- the stats that you’re using do, indeed, include nineteen- and eighteen-year-olds as well. That -- that percentage would not be, in my opinion, nearly as high as it is right now. But let’s -- let’s move on. I had one -- one other question. The CPI, it’s tied to -- I think the -- the wording is urban wage earners. How is that -- how is that figured? I mean, how is that going to affect downstate, southern Illinois, western Illinois, as far as -- as how that -- that figure is derived at?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Lightford.

Thank -- thank you, Madam President. I’ve got news for you, Senator, isn’t much different from urban America than downstate America, and especially here in the State of Illinois. Poverty is the same. And I don’t think there’s too much difference. Actually the urban wage will actually help downstate, in terms of putting more money into their pockets, because the -- the rental is a little less expensive. So, actually you have an advantage in the urban -- taking the index from the urban area. But I wanted to go back still and just close out on your first concept about children so that you don’t have a misunderstanding. My statistics is not nineteen years old. This legislation is for eighteen and under. And that’s where the information come from. And I can speak personally because I’ve worked a job since I was thirteen years old and I didn’t have a father that was a Senator. And I didn’t have a mother that was a Senator. So, my income 30  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006 basically bought my school clothes and my income did all the things that I could. It sent me to prom. It bought my prom dress. It did my school pictures, because my parents didn’t have the ability to give me those things, but I didn’t want to show up less than any other children - so, a child there. So I worked so that I could take care of myself and take that burden off of my parents. So, we don’t want to be misconceived in thinking that every parent has an income as our incomes are higher. We’re talking about families who make thirteen thousand five hundred and twenty dollars a year. And if you break that down, that’s only a little bit more than a thousand dollars a month, which is absolutely no money. And so the reality is, increasing it to fifteen thousand still gives them not a whole lot of money. And like Senator Hendon said, it may buy some bologna. I don’t really care for bologna. But what I think it would do is allow families an opportunity to better provide for their children. Many kids go to school on cereal. Many kids go to school on cookies and snacks. I feed my child a hot breakfast every morning. And I don’t know that many parents have the ability to -- to provide that and I think this would give them an option to do so.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Sullivan.

Just to -- just to clarify that issue. As far as that twenty percent, and this is information that was given to me by the Governor’s Office, it -- it does have the age up to nineteen. It does include nineteen-year-olds and it’s -- the percentage is excellent. And the -- and the percentage exactly right is nineteen percent. So, the last -- the last question I have is just, do we have -- has there been any discussion with the House as to where their position on this bill?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Lightford.

Thank you, Madam President. Well, I’m in the Senate, and I haven’t cared a whole lot about what’s taking place in the House. And we picked up five seats on the Senate side. So that’s where my areas is focused right now. But I didn’t go from the 31  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006 Governor’s information on eighteen and under, and in fact, when I sponsored this legislation some years ago when it wasn’t popular, when Governor Ryan was the Governor and President Pate Philip was the President, I sponsored the legislation because it was the very right thing to do. It wasn’t something that was popular that Senator Collins has indicated. It wasn’t something to play with. It’s just simply helping people who work hard, move them out of poverty. And again, if you work a job, you shouldn’t live in poverty because you’re working a low-wage job. And I would encourage all of you to vote Aye.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further… Senator Crotty.

Thank you very much. I can’t sit back and -- and not stand in -- in some disagreement with some of the comments that were made about persons with disabilities. Before I came here, I job coached with United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago. And in doing that, I was in the retail food industry with some of my clients and -- and I would have to say those employers were looking forward to us bringing our special ed students to their employment. The one thing that we always hear -- and I still attend their breakfast, where the employers and the -- and the employees sit down at House of Hughes and has breakfast, where the employees get to stand up and actually thank their employers. But moreover, those employers stand up and thank the employees. The reason being is, if you looked at some of the students that I -- I had employed at some of ‘em -- the businesses in -- in our districts, they were the most enthusiastic of -- of the employees. They couldn’t wait to get to work. And they really didn’t want to go home. They also will always, always tell that employer thank you, because they realize that they are different from their colleagues on the job, but they really do appreciate and they make sure that their employer knows that they appreciate it. They worked hard all the time that they were in school. And it was always so disappointing in the years past with special education that those students became couch potatoes. But I also know that many of them, thank goodness, have families that bring them in and are able to help, but some, after those families are gone, do have to live independently. So, they need those wages. 32  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006 So, I, too, want to make sure that nobody thinks that because a person has a disability that their worth might be just a little bit less than ours. Thanks.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Senator Lightford, to close.

Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen for -- of the Senate. I appreciate the discussion and all of the heartfelt comments and I just hope that we would all want to reward hardworking people. Hard work should be valued and they should be paid a -- a decent wage. So, I urge an Aye vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) The question is, shall Senate Bill 1275 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those opposed, Nay. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 33 Yeas, 21 Nays, 3 voting Present. And Senate Bill 1275, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Lady and -- Ladies and Gentlemen, we’re going to go to committee announcements, but don’t leave. We’re not going to committees. We’re going to continue on with the business, but for right now, we’re going to do committee announcements. Senator Lightford.

The Senate Education Committee will convene in Room 212 of the State Capitol at 3:30. Education at 3:30.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Cullerton.

I’ll repeat that. The Judiciary Committee will meet in Room 212 at 3:45. We only have one bill - only take a minute.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Silverstein.

Senate Executive Committee will meet at 4 o'clock in 212.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Schoenberg.

…Appropriations II Committee will meet at 4:15 in 212.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Garrett.

State Government, A-1 Stratton Building, 4 p.m.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Forby. 34  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006

Labor Committee in Room 400 at 4:15.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Harmon.

Thank you, Madam President. The Senate Revenue Committee will meet today at 4 o'clock in Room 400.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Schoenberg.

There is no Senate Appropriation II Committee at 4:15. I was in error. Thank you.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Well, that was something to get excited about. If everybody can go to page 5 in their Calendar under Total Vetoes. Page 5 on your Calendar, Total Vetoes. Senator Silverstein, do you have a reason to seek recognition? So, page 4 of your Calendar. Okay. We are on page 5. Now that you’re totally confused, we're on -- it’s under Motions in Writing, Override Total Vetoes. It’s Senate Bill 185. Senator Silverstein, do you wish to proceed? Madam Secretary, please read the motion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Silverstein, to explain your motion.

Thank you, Madam President. This is a motion to override the veto of the Governor on Senate Bill -- 185, which allows the Water Reclamation District Board of Commissioners to set their compensation. It’s up to them, within their own discretion. I’ll take any questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Righter.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates he’ll yield. 35  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Silverstein.

We give them the authority if they want to set their own salaries. I think they need a two-thirds majority vote to set their own salary. So we’re not giving any… It’s up to them.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator… Is there any further discussion? The question is, shall the Senate pass Senate Bill 185, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have all voted who wish? Senator Cullerton, for what purpose do you seek recognition?

Wish to vote Aye.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Madam Secretary, Senator Cullerton’s vote should be recorded as Aye. Senator Cullerton -- I mean, Cronin. Madam Secretary, Senator Cronin’s vote should be recorded as Aye. Senator John Jones. Senate -- Madam Secretary, Senator Jones -- John Jones’ vote should be recorded as No. Have all voted who wish? Senator Bomke. Senator -- Madam Secretary, Senator Bomke’s vote should be recorded as No. Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 51 Yeas, 5 voting Nay, none voting Present. The bill, having received the required majority, is declared passed, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. Senator Sandoval, do you wish to proceed on 2255? Madam Secretary, please read the motion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Sandoval, to explain your motion.

Thank you, Madam President, Members of the Illinois Senate. I move that the Senate, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor, move Senate Bill 2255, or override the Governor’s Veto of Senate Bill 2255. Senate Bill 2255 amended the District’s personnel Act to include the position of assistant director of personnel in the select list of positions exempt from formal civil service exam requirements. The select list of positions appeared in the -- the District’s Act and should have been amended to include the -- the title of assistant director of personnel at the time of passage of Senate Bill 288. Both Sections 4.7 and 4.11 of their -- their personnel Act relate to the appointment and examination 37  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006 and process of civil service candidates. I ask a favorable vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate pass Senate Bill 2255, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) For the record, Senator Radogno, could you please clarify your vote? Senator -- Madam Secretary, Senator Radogno’s vote should be recorded as an Aye. Senator Sieben, for what purpose do you seek recognition? Madam Secretary, Senator Sieben’s vote 38  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006 should be recorded as Aye. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 Yeas, 2 voting Nay, none voting Present. The bill, having received the required majority, is declared passed, notwithstanding the veto of the Governor. Madam Secretary, please let the record reflect that the Senate President did vote Aye on the previous bill. And if I could just please remind you, it’s very difficult to hear up here, so please, while we’re doing the vote at least, if we could have it a little quieter. We will now be going to Motions in Writing, Override Specific Recommendations. Senator -- so Senator Cullerton, are you calling 2445? Senator Shadid, do you wish to proceed on 2477? Madam Secretary, please read the motion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Shadid, to explain your motion.

Yes. Thank you, Madam President. I’m going to give you a little background if you don’t mind. Peoria School District 150 has fourteen thousand seven hundred students. Fourteen current buildings were constructed before 1929. When it comes to spending public money to construct new buildings or fix up old -- old ones, the City of Peoria, the county, the park district, the library, even the Greater Peoria Sanitary District can use the bond issuing services of the Public Building Commission without direct public consent. The one that can’t is Peoria School District 150 or any other school district in the State of Illinois, with the exception of the City of Chicago. The City of Chicago can still use Public Building Commission money, but not the rest of the State. So what I’m asking you to do is just level the field and allow District 150 - and it’s only for a five-year open window - for them to use Public Building Commission money to build some schools that are sorely needed. Since the time when the Governor filed his veto, the school board has passed a resolution capping the annual levy for this purpose at six -- .60 percent. 6. -- 6.2 percent is what this district 39  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006 has levied for public building projects in the past. I’m sorry. .62 percent is what is presently being levied. So it would go down two -- two-tenths of a point. I would ask for your approval of this and be glad to answer any questions if you might.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Cronin.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Any further discussion? Senator Lauzen.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor -- sponsor indicates he’ll yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Shadid.

You’re talking about one building or… Would you -- what was the question again?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Shadid.

…school district. District 150. Yes. 40  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Lauzen.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Shadid.

Think it’s a matter of record that most of the school districts that pass referendums are small school districts that basically only have one or two school buildings. And they pass them very easily, because of the school construction money. You’re shaking your head no. District 150 has never been able to pass a referendum to pass. This -- this school district has a lot of students, a lot of people who are in depressed areas. They sadly need to build schools and this is the only way it’s available to them.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Lauzen.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Shadid.

I’ll try to answer your question or your statement. And I don’t presently have the exact number. I think -- I think there are only six or seven public building commissions in the whole State. And if these other school districts had public building commissions, they’d probably use them. So -- also, the District 150 has an elected school board that is responsible to the taxpayers and they’re the ones that have -- all this allows them to do is use the Public Building Commission if they so vote to do so. This is not forcing ‘em to. So, they are elected and they will answer to the taxpayers at the next election if they don’t decide to.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Is there any further discussion? The -- Senator Shadid, to close.

Yes. I’d like to also make a comment that the Public Building Commission was created by referendum initially. And in answer to the other statements, if we don’t want the public building commissions, then let’s vote to eliminate all of them in the State of Illinois and not just leave one. Okay? Thank you. I’d appreciate a Yes vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) The question is, shall the Senate pass Senate Bill 2477, notwithstanding the amendatory veto of the Governor. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) We cannot hear a thing up here. I’m not going to continue until it’s quiet.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have all voted who wish? Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you seek recognition? Madam Secretary, Senator Althoff would like her vote to be recorded as an Aye. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 45 Yeas, 11 Nays, 1 voting Present. The bill, having received the required majority, is declared passed, notwithstanding the amendatory veto of the Governor. All right. George, hurry up, take your bow. We have to go on. Thank you, Senator Shadid. Ladies and Gentlemen, you’ve all been given a Supplemental Senate Calendar. Does everybody have a Supplemental Calendar? Should be on your desk. If not, share with your neighbor. We’re going to start with Senate Bill 830. Senator Crotty, do you wish to proceed? Madam Secretary. We’re on the Order of Specific Recommendations for Change. Madam Secretary, please read the motion. 43  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Crotty, explain your motion.

Thank you very much. Senate Bill 830, when it left the Senate, Minority Leader Frank Watson asked to expand the territorial jurisdiction of SWIDA to include Bond County. Now it’s being recommended that we expand that board from twelve to fourteen members.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Watson.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? The question is, shall the Senate accept the specific recommendations of the Governor to Senate Bill 830, in the manner and form just stated by the Senator. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Millner.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Shadid.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Silverstein.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have all voted who wish? Senator Peterson, for what purpose do you seek recognition? You’re not.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Madam Secretary, Senator Peterson’s vote should be recorded as an Aye. Have all voted who wish? Senator Demuzio.

45  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 111th Legislative Day 11/15/2006 Madam President, I’d like to be recorded as an Aye.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Madam Secretary, please record Senator Demuzio’s vote as an Aye. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. So the specific recommendations of the Governor as to Senate Bill 830, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared accepted. Now, on the Supplemental Calendar is -- Ladies and Gentlemen, just as a reminder, I want to go through the committee schedule. Education, 3:30 in 212. Judiciary, 212, in -- at 3:45. Executive in 212 at 4. Revenue in 400 at 4. State Government, A-1, at 4. Labor, 400 at 4:15. Senator Burzynski, for what purpose do you rise?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Happy birthday, Senator. Madam Secretary, any motions on file?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) The record shall so reflect on tomorrow’s Calendar. Message from the House.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) The Senate will stand in recess till the call of the Chair. After committees, the Senate will reconvene to receive committee reports and all other matters not requiring Floor action. There will be no Floor action until the Senate reconvenes at 10 a.m. tomorrow. The Senate stands in recess to the call of the Chair. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senate will come to order. Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Madam Secretary, Resolutions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Resolutions Consent Calendar. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 10 a.m. on Thursday, November 16th, 2006. The Senate stands adjourned. 48