Illinois Senate Floor Debate — November 30, 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.

Thank you, Mr. President. There will be a Democratic Caucus immediately in the President’s Conference Room.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The Senate will come to order. The Journal Star, Channel 20, and Chicago Tribune seek permission to photograph or record the proceedings. Hearing no objections, leave is granted. Ladies and Gentlemen, some of the photographers have asked for permission to photograph from the outside. So if you see photographers out there - cameras - they’ve been given permission to photograph. Keep that in mind. Madam Secretary, Messages.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Ladies and Gentlemen, we will be going to page 4, Secretary’s Desk, Resolutions. Senate Joint Resolution 94. Senator Lightford. Madam Secretary, read the resolution.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Have there been any amendments approved for consideration?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Lightford, to explain the amendment.

Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and Gentlemen, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Joint Resolution 94 addresses the 3  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 school mandate waiver request. We have decided to limit approval for certain P.E. and substitute teacher requests. Those reductions will be two years, opposed to a five-year request for: Ball-Chatham, Addison, Cook County District 130, Champaign, and the Chicago public schools. And we have decided to reduce the waiver for the substitute teachers in the Schaumburg School District from five years to finishing out this school year and one additional year.

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

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Lightford moves the adoption of Amendment No. -- No. 1 to Senate Joint Resolution 94. All in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Now on the resolution. Senate Joint Resolution 94. Senator Lightford.

Thank -- thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. There was a number of waivers that, in fact, Senator Cronin mentioned were approved. But we followed some of the ISBE recommendations and it seems to be a nice package that we have. I’d -- I’d ask for an Aye vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Any discussion? Seeing none, this resolution regarding school waivers requires a recorded vote. Those in favor of the resolution will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Forby, for what purpose do you seek recognition? Madam Secretary, record Senator Forby as voting Aye. Senator Clayborne. Please record Senator Clayborne as voting Aye. Senator Lauzen. Please record Senator Lauzen as voting Aye. Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 56 Ayes, 1 Nay, none voting Present. The resolution is adopted. We will now proceed to the top of page 2, Senate Bills 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1537. Senator Trotter.

…very much, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 1537 is the FY‘07 supplemental request. So, certainly, would like to have everyone’s attention.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator, we need to do a recall. If you’ll give us just a 5  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 second. Senator Trotter seeks leave of the Body to return Senate -- Senate Bill 1537 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 1537. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Trotter, to explain your amendment.

If -- if we could, the amendment is -- well the -- this is the FY‘07 supplemental request. We can adopt the amendment and then take it back to 3rd. I’ll explain it on 3rd Reading.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Trotter moves the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1537. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there are any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 1537. Senator Trotter. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Trotter.

Thank you very much. This is the FY‘07 supplemental request. It’s inclusive of a thirty-million-five-hundred-thirty- two-thousand request. It covers thirteen agencies for purposes ranging from economic development, education, cost of doing business, array of other social service programs, and it also addresses the salary adjustments -- recommended by the Compensation Review Board. Some of the specifics of the bill are -- includes one -- 2.5 million dollars, which addresses the compensation from the Review Board recommendation level for 6  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 Executive and Legislative branches. It has for the judges -- it has -- the recommendation’s -- 1.2 million dollars for the recommendations for the COLAs for the associate judges. For the Comptroller, it adds another seven hundred thousand dollars to address the COLAs for the statutory cost -- COLAs for ‘06 and ‘07. It has for the Court of Claims to satisfy a judgment - State Board of Education {sic} (Elections) - five hundred thirty- four thousand dollars. For the three-percent COLAs which will go to the providers who deliver services to women and children, the bill that we passed just two weeks ago, it has five hundred and thirty -- excuse me, seven hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars going to the Healthcare and Family Services. An additional three million point three thousand going to Human Services. The -- the net cost of that will be 3.5 million dollars of getting reimbursement from the feds. It has here 2.1 dollars to cover utility costs for our military installations in our armories, used to be a cost that was handled and taken up by the federal government. They no longer do that. Without this payment they would have to turn off their lights, shut off the water. Here, also for Public Health, it has 9.5 million dollars so you -- for the purchase of the pandemic flu vaccine, which goes to the first responders here in the State. There is a federal -- cut off of December 31st. If we do not make our order by December 31st, we lose this twenty-five-percent subsidy that we get from the federal government. It covers our -- our G.A. mandate that we made to the State Police Department and to State’s Attorneys of 3.1 million dollars for the interrogating of -- investigations. Again, there -- there are many others that are here, but ninety percent of these -- of these dollars will go for programs -- will go back into each and most of our communities dealing with those necessary things that they need to do to provide the services to the people that elected us to come to Springfield. And I ask for an Aye vote, and waiting for -- will answer questions, if necessary.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Radogno.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) 7  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 Sponsor indicates he will yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Trotter.

…not pay increases. These are COLAs that have been recommended by the Compensation Review Board. So, to characterize them as pay increases, I think is very disingenuous.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Radogno.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Trotter.

And that is basically how it works. Correct. For -- for the past five years. So, this goes in -- inclusive of the ‘07.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Radogno.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Risinger. Senator Trotter, you wish to respond?

Just if I can -- just respond a little bit. One, -- because of the -- the intelligence and the mindset of the founding fathers, they drafted a constitution that gave us two Chambers here in the State of Illinois. What they do in the House has no impact on what we should do on this end. We have a responsibility to do the correct thing for all of our citizens. The dollars over here, COGFA has -- reestimated the -- their estimates for this quarter and we’re sixty million dollars a -- a net, this year. This is thirty-million-dollar bill. When we can afford to pay our bills we should pay our bills. Ninety percent of this legislation, of this supplemental goes for paying our bills dealing with those court costs of a -- of a case that’s been going on since 1995, and was finally settled in 2005. This is ensuring that our children in those after-school programs will in fact have dollars. Ninety percent. So -- so when you say that this has to do with a cost of living increase for us, which is -- only represents ten percent of that, I mean it’s -- it’s just -- it is wrong, and as I mentioned before, disingenuous. 9  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 This is something we need to deal with and not wait on the House to act. We need -- may -- maybe we’d -- they’ll act faster if we give them more work.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Risinger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Watson.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Trotter.

That is the way I understand the case, as well. However, sir, as -- as you know, there’s three branches; there’s a -- Judicial, the Executive, and the Legislative. The Judicial 10  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 Branch has said this is our responsibility. So it’s incumbent upon us, in our sphere of -- of doing things in Legislative Branch is to spend these dollars that have been also approved by appeal in 2005.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Watson.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Trotter, to close.

As -- as pointed out, this is 30.5 million dollars which will go to fund those -- those agencies, those providers that deliver services to some of our most vulnerable. It -- it deals with our obligation in -- in paying our bills. It was mentioned in debate that we oftentimes do not. The resources are there. This bill a -- allows us to do so. And -- and I ask for an Aye vote from all the Members.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall Senate Bill 1537 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those opposed, Nay. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Have all voted who wish? Senator Radogno. Senator Radogno wishes to be recorded as No. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 37 Ayes, 19 Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 1537, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. We will now proceed to the Order of House Bills 3rd Reading, also on page 2, middle of the page. House Bills 3rd. Senator Viverito, on Senate {sic} Bill 1896. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Viverito, on House Bill 1896.

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen. This bill basically is a bill that the Illinois Department of Transportation needed. It is a definite advantage to the Village of Justice. And it will clear up a lot of the hazards in the -- the traffic jams that they’ve had. So I hope that -- everyone would vote a Yes. Thank you.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1896 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those opposed, Nay. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Have all voted who wish? Senator Watson. Senator Watson wishes to be recorded as Yes. Senator Garrett. Senator Garrett wishes to be recorded voting Aye. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, and none voting Present. House Bill 1896, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. The sponsorship -- the sponsorship on House Bill 2197 has been changed to Senator Clayborne. Senator Clayborne, do you wish to proceed? Senator Clayborne seeks leave of the Body to return House Bill 2197 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 House Bill 2197. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne, to explain your amendment.

Yes. Thank you. Just a technical amendment. It removes lines -- oh, I’m sorry -- Senate 1 is the bill. I’m sorry. Senate 1 is the -- the amendment that deals with the utility rates that are supposed to go into effect in January 1st, 2007.

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

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Sponsor indicates he will yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) 14  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 Senator Clayborne.

Nothing. The -- the -- the current bill without the amendment is just a vehicle bill. It dealt with mining.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Righter.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

Yeah. Yes. To answer your question, yes.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Seeing no further discussion, Senator Clayborne moves the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 2197. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne, on…

Yeah.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) …Floor Amendment No. 2.

Basically, Floor Amendment No. 2, on page 7, deletes lines 3 through 34 that dealt with an opt-out provision as relates to credit rating.

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

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Sponsor indicates he will yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

Basically, this removes the provision where if the utility’s credit rating dropped then they can opt-out of phasing in the increase in -- in utility rates.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Righter.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

Yes, I have talked to them.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Righter.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

Yeah. They said if their -- their bonds are downgraded it will cost them more to buy the power.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any further discussion on the amendment? Senator Clayborne moves the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 2 to House Bill 2197. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) 16  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is House Bill 2197. Senator Clayborne, do you wish to proceed? Senator Clayborne, on House Bill 2197. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. House Bill 2197 dealing with Amendment No. 2 is a compromise to what’s going to happen or what potentially could happen in January 1st of 2007. I think in the ComEd territory the rates are expected to go up twenty-two percent; in CILCO I think it’s fifty percent; in AmerenIP and CIPS I think it’s about forty to forty-two percent. And we’ve all heard from our constituents and they understand that the rate freeze extension -- well, that the rate freeze will be eliminated at the end of this year and these rates will go into effect. We understand that there’s various arguments that are taking place or discussions that some people believe there should be a rate-freeze extension. Some people believe we should let the rates go into effect as it is. And some people think that there should be a compromise. And I’m here to propose a compromise. That what we’re intending to do is to allow ComEd to phase in their rates over three years - seven percent, seven percent, and eight percent. And what we’re telling the -- our constituents, those that can’t afford to pay this increase, that we’re not going to charge -- that they won’t be charged interest as it relates to this phase-in. As for Ameren, the phase-in is fourteen, fourteen, fourteen. The same thing applies that they will not be -- required to pay interest on the debt to be recovered by AmerenIP. They will be allowed to file, once this goes into effect - I think within thirty days - a plan with the ICC to determine how they will recover those costs for those, at least those two years where they were not able to get the full cost of what it costs for them to buy power. Also in this bill, and it makes it very clear, because I’ve heard that 17  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 someone from the other side of the Chamber talked about that there would be interest paid. If you look on page 3 of the bill, line 11 it -- states, "Such collections shall not include carrying costs". Also, I believe on page 11, lines 16 through 18 it provides “that the total amount of qualified bondable costs for an electric utility shall not exceed its deferred power supply amounts”. And that is the total amounts that were not paid during those years that they -- that the consumer did not pay the full amount. So in the bill, clearly, it -- there’s no carrying cost of interest charge on consumers for those years. Also, as it relates to the consumers, there are monies in here that will go towards various educational programs. LIHEAP. Ameren -- I mean, I’m sorry -- ComEd will be required to pay three million prior to December 31st of ‘07, for consumer education on efficiency programs, maintenance and upgrades of a website allowing consumers to analyze their energy usage and provide incentives to purchase energy-efficient products or the provision energy-efficient light bulbs to residential customers. They will also be required to pay ten million dollars between -- January 2nd of ‘07 through December 31st of ‘09, for an energy efficiency program including demand response programs approved by the ICC. There will be incremental costs associated with the purchase of a ten-million-dollar worth of renewable energy sources between January 2nd of ‘07 through -- through December 31st of ‘09, which must be approved by the ICC. ComEd will also be required to pay one million per year from 2009 for a pilot program designed by the utilities for residential customers eligible to participate in LIHEAP. And it provides for this provision of electric service on a percentage of income plan. This is also -- will be approved by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services to review and accept the program. They will also be required to pay one million per year for each year through 2009 through -- through -- from 2009 to -- I’m sorry, from 2007 to 2009 for a working family assistance fund. The fund is to -- administered, again, by the Department of Healthcare and Family -- Family Services. This is for those individuals that may not fall up under the eligibility requirements for LIHEAP. They will also be required to pay four million dollars during the years of January 2nd of ‘07 through 18  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 December 31st of ‘09 towards a program that provides senior citizens in subsidized housing who have to pay their own electric bills with credits during July, August, and September. And for Ameren, there would be -- they will be required to pay six million dollars prior to December 31st of ‘08 for customer education on efficiency programs and this will be approved by the ICC. And they also will be required to pay nine million dollars from January 2nd of ‘07 through December 31st of ‘08 for programs that assist low-income residential customers who pay their electricity bills. There’s also securitization that’s in here where they can issue bonds to mitigate the -- the -- the recoverable costs that they didn’t receive those -- those years that they didn’t pay -- the ratepayers didn’t pay the entire amount. I would say to you-all, that this is a very consumer- friendly bill. That is it better than what has been proposed in the House. And -- and clearly, neither company is totally satisfied with this, because there are costs associated with phasing this in. But I believe, at least in my district, that the people that I have talked to have asked that we at least phase in and don’t make the pain so hurtful immediately. So, I think this is a good -- compromise to move this forward, and to make sure that people have some of the -- the -- the services that they need in terms of reliable energy, making sure that those who can’t pay, that there are provisions in here to help them. And, again, it is a -- a true compromise. I would -- I would ask for your favorable vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) One-TV seeks permission to videotape. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. Senator Silverstein.

Thank you, Mr. President. I’ll make this short. I hope my power is on after I’m done speaking, too. When we came down here during the Veto Session, we had three issues that I thought were very important; one was property tax relief, the minimum wage, and then this utility increase. All of ‘em I think are very important, but the most important I thought was the utility increase because that affects everyone in our district, every one of our voters. An increase of twenty-two percent or even fifty percent, I believe, is totally unconscionable and unbelievable. 19  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 And, every morning, my - God bless her - my -- my eighty-year-old ma asks me what are we doing to do with the utility increase. And -- and honestly, I don’t have an answer for her. We all have a hundred or a thousand Ethel Silversteins in our district. And we’re going to leave here and we’re going to blame everybody; we’ll blame the House, we’ll blame the Republicans, we’ll blame everybody under the sun. However, the people in the State of Illinois are sick of the blame. They’re sick of the rhetoric. And, they want some action done, specifically on this issue. Now, let’s look at this bill and -- and I -- I don’t know if this is the right bill. Many of us are going to vote for it because it’s the only thing out there. And let’s be honest, if it passes today, it’s going to go to the House, and the House adjourns nothing is going to happen. And come January 1st there will be an increase to our constituency of either twenty-two or fifty percent. So what’s the solution? Well, I filed a bill to extend the rate freeze for six months, five months, that didn’t work. What am I going to do? I tried. I wrote to -- and here’s my last solution - because I can’t sleep at night, ‘cause this affects a lot of people in my district. And it -- and let me tell you, you’re going to hear about this at home, if we don’t do something. On January 17th, I wrote to the Governor asking for him -- his involvement. It was the day after we left. Now, I didn’t get a response. Maybe he didn’t get the letter. I -- I’m not faulting him on this. But -- but I -- but -- but today, seriously, ladies and gentlemen, I’m seriously -- publicly calling on the Governor to get involved and to bring the utility companies, the Legislative Leaders into a room to work out a compromise where these utility companies stay in business, where the consumer is protected and people can have confidence in their elected officials. And that’s very important. So, yes, I’m going to vote for the -- the bill. I know what’s going to happen January 1st and I feel very sad for the public. But maybe some divine intervention can come in from now until January 1st where the parties can come together. It means maybe a special Session. I don’t know. But something there that we can protect these companies and also the consumers. Thank you.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Risinger. 20  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Sponsor indicates he will yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

Yes, there were. There were slips. I know that Ameren is opposed, CUB, AARP and IBEW.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Risinger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

Yeah. Just a response to Senator Risinger. The choice, Senator, is either to have your constituents pay interest on the outstanding amount or let the -- let the fifty percent go into effect in January.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Risinger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

The -- the -- basically, and there are some other differences, but the two major differences between what Ameren wants to do with the ICC is the interest rate. So if -- if you’re supporting that then what you’re saying is that you will charge your constituents interest over the course of three years. That’s -- that’s -- that’s pretty much the difference, along with the provision that you talked about, the opt out. They don’t want it mandatory for those who may want to pay their bill totally. But, because we don’t have interest in here, it doesn’t make a difference because you’ve just allowed them to phase it in. So the difference is, what you’re -- what I hear you saying is the compromise that Ameren wants is that they want to charge interest and they want to make it optional.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Risinger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

I’m just telling you what -- what the discussions with Ameren and -- and ComEd are. Both of ‘em would like to have interest. And what we’ve done in here, we’ve told our constituents that we’re not going to charge them interest. So I’m -- I’m just telling you what the discussions are.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Rauschenberger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Sponsor will yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

That is what the utilities have said. Yes.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Rauschenberger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

Senator Rauschenberger, and -- and maybe it wasn’t clear last night. Senator Harmon did ask that question and I did indicate that there would be an amendment in the morning to take that out. One of the reasons why it is believed that we don’t 24  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 want the utilities to opt out of this and create a heavier burden again on our constituents. So, it doesn’t make sense to allow them to opt out and to not phase it in, which we’re back in the same situation. I -- I think the -- the key is - and I’m not a bond lawyer - but I was talking to one of -- one of -- one of my colleagues here who mentioned that there’s a way that you could probably -- issue bonds, the mitigation bonds, where they will pay a very de minimis or almost no interest rate that the utilities can move forward.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Rauschenberger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

No. No. I don’t -- I don’t think that’s -- that’s the intent. I -- I think basically, the intent of this bill is not to hurt the utilities. I -- I know there’s some concern on the 25  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 part on Ameren. There’s some people that believe, I mean, in -- in talking to the CUB, they believe that we’re moving in the right direction and that Ameren shouldn’t or ComEd shouldn’t get another nickel. So they don’t think we’ve gone far enough. AARP and -- and CUB say we haven’t gone far enough. So we believe that we’re right there to assist the utilities to get, at least the first year, they will get a third of what they have to pay for coming back in terms of a rate paid by the consumer. The second year, they have to borrow a third and they’ll get two- thirds of what their cost come from the -- the consumer. And then the third year, obviously, their -- their borrowing, they will get their entire cost back from the -- the consumer as it relates to what it costs for them to buy the power. So, we’re really asking them two years; one year is to pay two-thirds and the second year to pay a third. And -- and, I believe that these companies have the ability to make this work for themselves, like they have during the ten years that there was a rate freeze. They made substantial record profits during that period of time, because there’s a reason why they’ve been viable. They’ve purchased other companies during that period of time. We believe that they have the capability to continue to be a profitable company.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Luechtefeld.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Sponsor will yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

Residential.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Luechtefeld. 26  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

Yeah. The -- it’s still before the Commerce Commission, they can decide that. But Ameren still has the ability -- well, not ComEd, but -- well, both have the ability if they want to offer this same phase-in to -- to businesses, as well.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Luechtefeld.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

Well, Senator, and -- and -- and I’m a lawyer, so I’m a small business owner. But, at the same time I -- I -- I guess what people -- the same argument that people have made about the consumers ten years ago -- the manufacturers, the retailers, all of them came out in support of this. They -- they supported the law as it is today. So, I mean, it’s no surprise. And -- and, just like Senator Rauschenberger talked about it, I mean, you got to forecast and -- and make these decisions and know that as time passes on that you’ve got to adjust to these costs. Otherwise, anything can happen and you may not survive. So, they have the opportunity; Ameren and -- and ComEd have the opportunity to offer the phase-in to businesses, as well.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Luechtefeld.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

Right. And -- and -- and as I understand it, part of the -- the process in talking to -- to -- to the companies, it was contemplated by one of the companies to offer this to businesses, schools and other entities. So they still can do it.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Luechtefeld.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

This -- this bill is just residential.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Luechtefeld.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

It’s the same, that they can offer the same package to -- to them, as well.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Luechtefeld.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

The -- the -- there’s a rate case going on now. If -- if that’s decided before this is signed into law then -- then you 28  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 have a decision. I’m not sure -- is it being offered? I’m not sure if it’s being offered in the -- yeah, in -- in fact, I don’t believe that now the rate case offers this to the schools or the businesses or the municipalities during their filing.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Watson.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

To answer your -- your question, Ameren has said with the provision in there they were going into junk status as the bill was last night. They said they were going into junk status last night. So, I mean, I -- I -- I guess the -- the point I’m making and they -- they -- they did say this morning that if it was in there then they may not go into junk status. So, I guess if they go into junk status then it -- it raises the cost of them to buy the power.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Watson.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

Well, they -- they say they’re many things that may happen. But I -- I mean I don’t work for Ameren, so I can’t exactly tell you what decisions that they will make. But I can tell you this, is that the -- the issue, Senator Watson, Frank, is, do we charge interest to our consumers as a phase-in or do we let that forty 30  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 percent that you said was outrageous, that fifty percent you said was outrageous take effect? I mean, the cost to Commonwealth Edison is what, in -- in excess of two hundred and fifty-eight million dollars. And to Ameren is three hundred -- in excess of three hundred million dollars for not allowing them to charge interest on those years that they don’t recover their -- the debt that they have to recover for phasing it in. I mean, that’s the issue here. The issue is, do we stand up here and tell our constituents that we’re going to allow them -- we’re going to pass a bill to say it’s okay to charge you interest for those years that you didn’t pay the full amount. I mean, that’s the -- that’s the bottom line.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Watson.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Emil Jones.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Dillard.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) 34  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 Senator Jacobs.

Question of the sponsor.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Sponsor indicates he will yield.

You know, the horse that we have nearest the door is not in the best shape. And today our choice becomes a choice between an unhealthy horse and no horse at all. And, while Senator Risinger hopes that the Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro walks in the room, do you believe Barbaro is going to trot into this room?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

No.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any further discussion? Senator Clayborne, to close.

There -- there were -- thank you, Mr. President, and -- for all your -- everybody’s comments, because this is an important bill. I mean, there were questions regarding CUB and -- and AARP and why they’re not supporting it. But, we all know the -- the answer to that. The answer is that they want a three-year rate extension. So, that’s why they’re not supporting this. So, I’m surprised that that -- that that question came up. Again, the difference in this matter is very simple. If you look at the case that is filed before the -- the Illinois Commerce Commission and what they intend to do - both Commonwealth Edison as well as Ameren - the difference is that they -- well, Commonwealth Edison wants ten, ten, and ten; and Ameren wants -- they want interest. Both of them want interest. In fact, Commonwealth Edison wants it compounded. They want to compound interest over the course of the phase-in and Ameren wants to charge -- interest, as well. So, this -- the -- the -- the issues is simple. Do you move forward to make sure -- because one of the things that happens that -- that wasn’t mentioned, in ‘08 they have to go out and buy another third of their power. So, we don’t know what those rates are going to be. So, in the fourth year if they’re charging 35  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 interest and the rates go up, then we’re looking around again and our constituents are coming at us, because we have not given them certainty in year four, five, and six. In this bill, it gives them certainty as to what their costs are going to be, and the ICC is still involved. ComEd will spend thirty-four million dollars -- about thirty-three million dollars as it relates to consumer education, LIHEAP, senior citizens and so forth to make sure that they’re educated and they keep their lights on. Ameren will spend fifteen million dollars for the same educational programs. I think that it’s very simple. And I believe that these companies can be creative enough - based upon them surviving the ten years - to find ways to make this system work, to make sure that they remain viable, that they provide liable -- reliable services to our constituents, and, at the same time, ease the burden for our constituents. I ask for a favorable vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall House Bill 2197 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those opposed, Nay. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Have all voted who wish? Senator Pankau. We -- we -- we did call your name, Senator, but we will have the record show that you are voting No. Senator Dillard. Senator Dillard wishes to be recorded as a Present. Senator Syverson. Senator Syverson wishes to be recorded as No. Madam Secretary -- Madam Secretary, please record Senator del Valle as Yes. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 40 Ayes, 16 voting Nay, 1 voting Present. House Bill 2197, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Illinois Information Services seeks leave to videotape the -- the proceedings. Permission is granted. Proceeding to House Bill 2708. Senator Emil Jones. Out of the record. House Bill 4344. Senator Munoz. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Munoz.

Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 4344 simply allows Illinois to join the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact. The main purposes of the compact include: promotion, development, and implementation of improvements and long-range plans for intercity passenger rail service in the Midwest, coordination and interaction among Midwest state officials and among the public and private sectors at all levels, and additional support for current State efforts 37  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 being conducted through State departments of transportation. Only two questions were asked in committee yesterday: Senator Garrett, concerning the definition of gift will be addressed by the Commission in their bylaws; Senator Radogno, regarding partisan make-up. We have currently, as of October 1, fourteen Republicans, three Democrats, four vacancies, and eleven nonpartisan. I know of no opposition and I’ll attempt to answer any questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 4344 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those opposed, Nay. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) 38  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 Have all voted who wish? Senator Petka, for what purpose do you seek recognition? Senator Petka wishes to be recorded as Aye. Senator Brady. Madam Secretary, record Senator Brady as voting Aye. Senator Axley. Please record Senator Axley as Aye. Senator Meeks. Please record Senator Meeks as Aye. Senator Harmon. Record Senator Harmon Aye. Senator Hendon. Record Senator Hendon Aye. Senator Shadid. Record Senator Shadid Aye. Senator Lauzen. Record Senator Lauzen Aye. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Senator Hunter. Please record Senator Hunter as voting Aye. Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 50 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 4344, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 4804. Senator Dillard. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Dillard.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) 39  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 4804 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those opposed, Nay. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Have all voted who wish? Senator Munoz, for what purpose do you seek recognition? Madam Secretary, record Senator Munoz as voting Aye. Senator Clayborne. Record Senator Clayborne as voting Aye. Senator Hendon. Record Senator Hendon as voting Aye. Senator Syverson. Record Senator Syverson as voting Aye. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 53 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 4804, having received the required 40  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 constitutional majority, is declared passed. On House Bill 4895. Senator Meeks. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Meeks.

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

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Meeks. Senator Meeks, to close.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall House Bill 4895 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those opposed, Nay. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Have all voted who wish? Senator Raoul. Record Senator Raoul as Aye. Senator Shadid. Record Senator Shadid as Aye. 42  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 Senator John Sullivan. Record Senator John Sullivan as Aye. Senator Luechtefeld. Record Senator Luechtefeld as Aye. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 54 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 4895, having received the constitutional majority, is declared passed. Turning to the top of page 3, House Bill 5475. Senator Harmon. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Harmon.

Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 5475, like the last bill, is a TIF extension - this for the Village of Franklin Park. The school districts and other local governments are all in support, and I would ask for your Aye votes.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 5475 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those opposed, Nay. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Have all voted who wish? Senator Lightford. Please record Senator Lightford as an Aye. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Senator Sullivan. Senator Sullivan wishes to be recorded as Aye. Take the record. On the question, there are 51 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 5475, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, we are proceeding to Secretary’s Desk, Concurrences, and with leave of the Body, we will go to Senate Bill 1268. On the Order of Concurrence is Senate Bill 1268. Senator Lightford, do you wish to proceed? Madam Secretary, please read the motion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator -- Senator Lightford, to explain the motion.

Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 1268 is actually the Minimum Wage Law. It -- which would increase the minimum wage current law and it actually supplements the bill that we sent over that was held up in Rules. So this is the bill that was sent back over to us and there are a couple changes that I just want to bring to your attention from what was originally 44  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 passed over. The minimum wage would increase by one dollar from six fifty to seven fifty an hour, beginning July 1st of 2007. We had initially wanted a COLA to be there to go in effect every year at the urban rate of index. Well, what actually this bill does is allow a twenty-five-cent increase beginning July 1 of ‘08, which would raise the wage to seven seventy-five, another quarter, on July 1 of ‘09 to eight dollars. Then on 2010, eight dollars and twenty-five cents and then there’ll be a sunset provision there where, it would freeze at eight dollars and twenty-five cents. There’s also a provision in here that creates a ninety-day probationary period for which employers may pay workers fifty cents less than the current minimum wage until the employee has completed a ninety-days of employment training and it also made clear that employees under the age of eighteen are subject to the learners’ wage and are subject to the most recent minimum wage provision, which means eighteen and under would also be paid fifty cents less than the actual wage. I’d be happy to answer questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Pankau.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Sponsor indicates she will yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Lightford.

Well there’s a concern that the ninety-day training period would affect day laborers, individuals, so what would happen is every ninety days the company will just hire someone new, instead of giving the same employees the opportunity to stay on, because then they could pay them fifty cents less. So, for legislative intent, I’d like to read some information into the record to 45  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 clarify what the intent of this legislation is to do. And then there will be a trailer bill coming in January to make sure that that isn’t the loophole that will cause companies to be able to do that. And -- and so I think the concern here is that we want to make sure that this legislation is not an -- an attempt to create a sub-minimum wage for contingent workers or in any way to prevent temporary workers or street corner day laborers from receiving the same minimum wage as workers who have completed the ninety-day period. And I want to bring your attention to Section {sic} (Sec.) 4, sub-paragraph No. (2), regarding the -- probationary wage provision. First, if an employee is working for a day- and temporary-staffing agency, and is assigned to work at a multiple companies, that employee is not to be considered to be a new employee at each company that they go to. That employee’s employment will begin from the point the employee began working at the day- and temporary-staffing agency for purposes of this amendment. And, also employees who work at a single company, but through multiple day- and temporary-staff agencies or is switched back and forth between a company and staffing agency, the employee will be a continuous employee of the company and staffing agency for purposes of this amendment. And finally, it is not the intent of the General Assembly to create an incentive for employers to displace workers after the ninety-day period solely to replace the worker with a new worker who they can then pay lower wages for another ninety days, nor is it the intent of this amendment to create a loophole -- whereby employees can attempt to create a class of what we would consider “permanent employees in training”. So, we will be addressing that issue in January.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Pankau.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Lightford.

Well, the only opponent who filed for it -- this amendment was actually United Food and Commercial Workers. The retailers 46  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 and the merchants didn’t file in -- in opposition to this amendment, and UFCW was very upset with the fact that we were considering our youth as -- unpaid -- or less pay workers, that we were actually not paying them equal pay for the job that they do as we fought really hard for equal pay for women and -- and they feel - and I agree - that if you do the same job, you should get paid the same work -- wages, regardless if you’re elderly or a young person. So that was their opposition.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Pankau.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any further discussion? Senator Winkel. Can we get a microphone to Senator Winkel, please?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Sponsor indicates she will yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Lightford. Senator Winkel.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Lightford, we didn’t record your answer to the question.

Right. And I’ll be just really brief. That’s no way near the intent. It’s just more of an incentive, actually, if you’re in a ninety-day training period. You know after ninety days you will receive a fifty-cent increase that will take you to the minimum wage. It’s more of an incentive. I don’t know that I agree with it, that I like it, but I have to think about all of the other hundreds of thousands of people across the State of Illinois who needs a higher minimum wage. And, I know that with the dollar increase going straight to seven dollars and fifty cents, the quarter thereafter will be very helpful in a lot of households. And so I am just going to stay focused on all the great things that this bill will do and work really hard to make sure that the intention of the other areas is -- is rectified come January.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, this is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House 48  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 1268. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Have all voted who wish? Senator Clayborne. Please record Senator Clayborne as voting Aye. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take -- take -- take the record. On the question, there are 40 voting Yea, 17 voting Nay, and none voting Present. Senate Bill 1268, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Schoenberg, on Senate Bill 1453. Madam Secretary, read the bill. With -- 49  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 Senator Schoenberg… Excuse me. With leave of the Body, we’re going back to the top of the order to -- to Senate Bill 36. Senator Martinez. Madam Secretary, read the bill. Read the motions, Madam Secretary.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Martinez, on Senate Bill 36.

Thank you, Mr. -- Mr. President. The House Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 36 becomes the bill. It requires that labor organizations officials and employees be allowed to establish service credit for prior employment. It also provides that a officer or an employee of the statewide teacher organization or officers of a national teacher organization, who is a certified teacher, may establish service credit. It also provides a person employed by the Macon-Piatt Regional Office of Education in a birth-through-age-three pilot program receiving funds under Section 2-389 of School Code who is required by the Macon-Piatt Regional Office of Education to hold a teaching certificate to establish service credit. And it also permits that if a teacher transfers from one board or administrative agent to the control of a new or different board or administrative agent, such a change in employment shall be retroactively applied in -- to June 1st, 2005. I will be happy to answer any other questions.

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

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) This is final action. The question is -- any further discussion? Okay. This is… Senator Lauzen.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Sponsor will yield.

No. It does not have any unfunded liability. It’s a great bill. I’m cosponsor with Senator Watson. It’s a great day.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) This is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 36. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Have all voted who wish? Senator Demuzio. Please record Senator Demuzio as voting Aye. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 55 Ayes, no Nays, 1 voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 36. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Cronin, on Senate Bill 380. Madam Secretary, read the motion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Cronin.

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

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Lauzen.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Sponsor will yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Cronin.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any further discussion? Senator Garrett.

Yes. I’d like to speak to the issue and I guess primarily to the bill that the reason that this is a problem and Ford Heights is experiencing this shortfall is that the appeals process - the way it works in Cook County - is quite faulty. The school districts don’t have any clue that there is going to be an appeal on the property taxes and so they find out after the fact, and many of these corporations are filing these appeals at -- one after another, after another. The schools don’t know. They’re trying to plan for the future and then they find out that the 54  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 appeal, in this case by Ford Motor Company, was won and the school districts are then less -- you know, they’re out of their tax revenue. This is a very serious issue. We tried to bring up a bill last year to address it. Part of it comes with disclosure, that school districts would have that information so they could, in fact plan. But, the way the law reads now, they don’t even know this is happening. So, again, I will reintroduce a bill to try to correct this, because what is happening in Ford Heights is going to continue to happen over and over again. In my district, in Northbrook, Allstate was doing this over and over again and school districts have just come up way too short for way too long.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Any further discussion? Senator Cronin, to close.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) This is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 380. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. Mr. Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Have all voted who wish? Senator Clayborne. Please record Senator Clayborne as voting Aye. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 48 Ayes, 6 Nays, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 380. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Cullerton, on Senate Bill 505. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Cullerton.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This bill deals with two restaurants in Chicago, dealing with their liquor license, because they are within a hundred feet of a school or a church. We have passed both of these in separate bills. One is for Senator Iris Martinez’s district and one is for mine. The 56  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 House chose to put ’em both in the same bill. As you may recall, for some reason our State law for every city other than Chicago there is no limitation. You can have a liquor license within a hundred feet of a school or church. For some reason, in Chicago you have to come to the Legislature and ask its permission. In both cases, there’s support from the community. In the case of the one in my district the alderman has asked for this. There’s no opposition from the -- the -- the -- the school, which it’s near, and the same thing is true in Senator Martinez’s area. The -- it’s a Leona’s Restaurant. It has support of the community and the church that’s across the street. So, I would ask for your vote. It has an immediate effective date, and be happy to answer any questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? This is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 505. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. Mr. Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. Senator… Excuse me, we have to go back. There are some people who haven’t voted. Senator Brady. Senator Brady wishes to be recorded as No. Is there anyone else? Senator Collins. Senator Collins wants to be recorded as No. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 42 Ayes, 10 Nays, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 505. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Harmon, on Senate Bill 716. Senator Trotter, on Senate Bill 821. On the Order of Concurrence is Senate Bill 821. Senator Trotter, do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, read the motion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Trotter.

On Senate {sic} -- Amendment No. 1, we’re going to basically table Senate -- Senate {sic} Amendment No. 1 and Senate {sic} Amendment No. 2 -- becomes the bill. Okay. I concur.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator, for the record, is your motion to concur on all three amendments? Okay. Let -- let the record so reflect that the motion is to concur on -- on Amendments 1, 2 and 3?

That’s correct.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator -- Senator Trotter, to explain your motion. 58  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006

If you could, as I said, we are going to table Senate {sic} Amendment No. 1. Senate {sic} Amendment No. 2 becomes the bill. Senate {sic} Amendment No. 3 is a technical amendment. I can explain the bill now or wait until it goes back on 3rd. Is that where we are?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) I think, Senator, this is a motion to concur.

This is concur?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) You can explain your motion.

Okay. Okay. Thank you. Well this what -- what the motion does, it creates the Riverdale Development Authority Act. It creates a five-member board, consisting of three members appointed by the Mayor of Riverdale and two by the Governor. Riverdale is a community that has approximately twelve-hundred acres. This gives the Authority the ability to issue up to two- hundred-million dollars in revenue bonds.

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

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) That’s correct, Senator. That’s correct.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator, this bill does require thirty-six votes. Senator 59  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 Althoff.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Sponsor indicates he will yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Trotter.

Senator, no, I do not. I know a portion of the dollars will be spent for the remediation of the land. This is a brownfield area. So the extensive work needs to be done before they can begin any phases of operation.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Althoff.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Trotter.

That is correct. In addition to that, different to make this -- the Riverdale Development Authority different from the Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority and the Quad Cities Regional (Economic) Development Authority and the Will- Kankakee Development Authority is that they do not -- we -- the State is not on the hook for anymore obligation for the bonding authority. So, again, it is clear. Thank you for doing my homework for me…

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Althoff.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) This is final action. Oh, I’m sorry. Senator Lauzen.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Trotter.

Thank you very much. I need to begin, again, by thanking Senator Althoff because she essentially answered your question. This is not just for the City of Riverdale. This is a regional project that is going to be taken up -- undertaken by these individuals. It’s for the whole southwest side of -- of the northern Illinois, which, and if you want to include, since Riverdale is just right outside of Chicago, and we’re talking about people who will be impacted on this are in the millions, and not in just a couple hundred thousand as you point out for your region. This being a major train hub for years. To revitalize this, can have tremendous impact on the economy for the City of Chicago, inclusive to these south suburbs where it’s -- it’s sitting, itself.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Rauschenberger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Trotter.

It’s either the Calumet River or the Little Calumet. I know they’re -- they’re both there - intersection.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Rauschenberger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Trotter.

I -- I did speak to the Senator of the sponsor - of the House sponsor and he had no idea that this might have been one of those considerations. I mean, I know it’s Christmastime and we all think that we’re -- there’s going to be some Christmas presents, going to be -- be someplace, but this isn’t one of ‘em that we know of and -- and certainly the Mayor of my City who is contemplating a -- a boat or at least a casino hasn’t authorized me to carry any bills for anybody else to -- to get one.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any further discussion? Senator Trotter, to close.

I -- I just ask for a -- a Aye vote, please. 63  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) This is final action. The question is, shall Senate concur in House Amendments 1, 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 821. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. Mr. Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Have all voted who wish? Senator Schoenberg. Record Senator Schoenberg as Aye. Senator Demuzio. Please record Senator Demuzio as Aye. Senator Sullivan. Please record Senator Sullivan as Aye. Senator Righter. Please record Senator Righter as Aye. Senator Clayborne. Please record Senator Clayborne as Aye. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take 64  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 the record. On the question, there are -- 48 Ayes, 6 Nays, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendments 1, 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 821. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 858. Senator Collins. Senator Collins, on Senate Bill 858. Proceeding to page 5, Senate Bill 1453. Senator Schoenberg. On the Order of Concurrence is Senate Bill 1453. Do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Schoenberg.

Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I ask that you concur with House -- with Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1453, which is a direct response to a challenge issued by the appellate court within this past year on -- on clarifying what our intent is for the use of qualifications-based selection for design professionals within the Local Government Professional Services Selection Act. I -- I know that we -- the Act which -- which provides a ensurance and a firewall for greater accountability and predictability in the level of quality that would be provided by design professionals, such as architects and engineers, in public construction projects. The court ruled that the statute had been silent and recommended that we make the local government portion of the statute consistent - that we needed to -- be the ones to act to make the local government Section of the statute consistent with what we are doing on a State level, what’s being done on a federal level and what’s being done in forty-six other states. The -- in short, the qualifications-based selection process places a greater weight in premium, on qualifications, and track records of design professionals. It does indeed factor in cost, but it is not weighted the way the opponents would like it to be, which is to be primarily based on cost. By doing it this way, we will ensure that all public buildings in local political subdivisions will meet the same high standards that we enjoy for our capital 65  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 projects on the State level, on the federal level, and forty-five other states. So I would urge that we concur with this amendment. I’d be happy to answer any questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Risinger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any further discussion? Senator Righter.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Sponsor indicates he will yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Schoenberg.

What you -- first of all, what should tell them is that this is the -- this is the accepted method that we have been using, not only for the past twenty years, in ensuring a high standard of integrity and professional qualification for design professionals for public capital projects, but that this is recommended as the gold standard way of proceeding by the American Bar Association’s Model Procurement Code. Senator Risinger had alluded to a 1993 Blue Ribbon Commission that the 66  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 Auditor General put together. I served on that commission and we almost -- and all the recommendations by that commission were to adopt those higher standards for accountability in contracting for competitive bidding and for competitive selection processes. So what you can tell your constituents, in short, is that we wish to continue to maintain the high standard of accountability and transparency in track record and professional qualifications for those who bid in the professional selection process.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Righter.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Schoenberg.

There’s a home rule exemption, as there was a home rule exemption prior to the court challenge. So this essentially re- codifies into law these high existing standards which we’ve been using.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Righter.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Schoenberg.

That’s not addressed in the court decision. Interestingly enough, in the court -- in the court’s decision - on the appellate court basis, the majority of the decision actually 67  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 talks about the fact that local political subdivisions wish that they are -- wish to be different than the political divisions that we have, whether it’s a four-year college or university, whether it’s a State agency. The home rule exemption is a constitutional -- the home rule issue is a constitutional issue that is not addressed within here. What we’re seeking -- in early of this -- early of this year, a -- early this year, the appellate court said it’s silent on the need to codify into law the -- what the existing practice has been, so what we’re doing is responding to the courts.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Righter.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Schoenberg.

Quality -- a -- a quality-based selection criteria and the scoring systems and the payment system -- and the payment systems - the rate schedules for home rule communities are being adopted by home rule communities. Those very standards which are being set on the State level. If I -- if -- if I were to have home rule in here, I would not be specifically addressing the shortcoming that the appellate court asked us to -- asked us to remediate. And that’s really my intention. My intention is to provide the clarity that the court asked the Legislature, and no one else, including the courts, to decide.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Righter.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Lauzen.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Schoenberg.

That’s correct. The -- how these variables are weighted determine -- places quality, track record, professional experience at a premium and does at a latter stage in the process - where you’re correct, Senator Lauzen, multiple firms are taken into consideration - it does indeed factor cost in. The reason why we need to have this qualitative firewall is because we want -- we don’t want firms that have less experience and less of a track record to lowball as a means of -- to lowball a bid as a means of getting into the business. And then we see, subsequently, there’s a higher likelihood of change orders as well as the need, from time to time, to actually repair the project which has been done because the architects and engineers who were engaged were engaged on the basis of how low they came in, primarily. And in the end, we end up paying more.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Althoff.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) He indicates he will yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Schoenberg.

…legislation clarifies and codifies into law the -- the high standards and practices which we’ve been involved in for -- applied to local governments for about twenty years, which we on 70  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 the State level apply, which is applied for in forty-five other states, as well as through the federal government. Namely, on the prequalification process, we place primary weight on the ability and professional experience, on their respective track records. And then subsequent to that, after they’ve been pre- selected, the cost variable does get weighed in.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Althoff.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Schoenberg.

The -- first of all, in practical term if -- in practical terms there are -- say there are three bidders that are -- three firms which are selected, based on their qualifications - first - - and their track record, first and foremost. The -- the firm that scores the highest - and this is the way we do it for - and have been doing it for years with all our capital projects - the firm that scores the highest has that opportunity to negotiate down to the price. Generally, it’s a one or two percent margin and I would - and Senator Risinger would know better than I would, because he did this for a living. But, I would guess that ninety-nine out of a hundred times the first -- the -- the -- the first-ranked bidder is the one that’s able to complete a successful agreement with the public body, because firms that have a proven track record and proves -- firms that have that high level of professional experience they know what -- they know, once they have an understanding what the scope of the work is - the rough range on what it is that they have to -- that -- that it’s ultimately going to cost. In the end, where the negotiation takes place is over if a project needs to expedited, if a -- if a public body says this is the Lincoln Presidential Museum, we need to have your “A” Architectural team, the top- flight people, not your junior people at the firm and -- and that -- that would, in turn, impact the overall business relationship. 71  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 And -- and -- anyway, I hope that answers your question.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Althoff.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator -- Schoenberg, to close.

Thank you. In conclusion, I would urge your support, because a vote for this bill is a vote to ensure that we have a higher level of accountability and a greater level of cost savings in how we do public capital projects throughout the State.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) This is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1453. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. Mr. Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Have all voted who wish? Senator Lightford. Senator Lightford wishes to be recorded voting Present. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 45 Ayes, 5 Nays, 2 voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1453. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Forby, on Senate Bill 1989. On the Order of Concurrence, Senate Bill -- 1989. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Forby.

Thank you. I concur with Senate Bill 1989, Amendment No. 1. What this amendment was addressing the finding of -- of the Attorney General that there was no State funding in this bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, this is final action. The question is, shall the Senate 73  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 concur in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1989. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. Mr. -- Mr. Secretary, please call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Have all voted who wish? Senator Althoff. Please record Senator Althoff as an Aye. Senator Bomke. Please record Senator Bomke as an Aye. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 54 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1989. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator 74  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 Haine, on Senate Bill 2608. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Haine.

Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, this extends the Sunset Act for the Medical Practice Act for two years and does other minor things, but that’s the main thing and we have to do it now. And -- it takes a three-fifths vote. I would appreciate an Aye vote.

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

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) This is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2608. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. Mr. Secretary, read the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Have all voted who wish? Senator Millner. Senator Millner wants to be recorded as voting Aye. Senator Bomke. Senator Bomke wants to be recorded as Aye. Senator Jones - John Jones. John Jones wants to be recorded as voting Aye. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 51 Ayes, 1 Nay, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2608. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Trotter, on Senate Bill 2684. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) On the Order of Concurrence is Senate Bill 2684. Senator Trotter.

Yes. I move to concur with Amendment No. 1 in the bill. It deals with the running of the speedy trial statute for the defense -- rather defendant is on bail and that defense {sic} is also in custody for violating conditions of parole of another -- parolee. This is legislation that we all saw in the spring. It was Amendatory Vetoed by the Governor. It has been ruled that he has exceeded his authority in that, so -- in that veto, so we 76  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 have now brought to back -- this bill back in this Senate Bill 22 -- 2684.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, this is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2684. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed Nay. Mr. Secretary, call the roll.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Have all voted who wish? Senator Sieben. Senator Sieben votes Aye. Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 48 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. And Amendment No. 1 -- Senate concurs with House Amendment No. 1 to 77  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 Senate Bill 2684. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Mr. Secretary. Mr. Secretary, Messages.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Mr. Secretary, do you have any resolutions on file?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Watson moves to suspend the rules for the purpose of the immediate consideration and adoption of Senate Resolution 914. Those in favor will say Aye. Those opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the rules are suspended. Senator Watson now moves for the adoption of Senate Resolution 914. Is there any discussion? Senator Sieben.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Peterson.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Dillard.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Cullerton.

Thank you, Mr. President. Don’t worry, Senator Petka, this will not be a rebuttal. We -- I first got elected to the House; I had come from the Cook County Public Defender’s Office. A few 84  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 years later, Senator Petka came and he was the State’s Attorney of Will County. So, we were on the Judiciary Committee together over in the House. And, I would say, initially, we weren’t on the same page in terms of a lot of those -- lot of those votes. It’s -- he had a very high conviction rate as a State’s Attorney. I had a really higher conviction rate as a Public Defender, actually. But aside - I -- I -- I bragged about that - I said, I -- you -- you lost some cases, I -- I didn’t win any. But -- but, what happens was when you leave that experience, you tend to move away from your experience as a public defender and as a state’s attorney. I think, arguably, you grow and you come more nuanced and you come more towards the middle. A few years ago in the Senate, we were in the Judiciary Committee, there was a good, tough law and order bill. I voted for it. Senator Petka said, “You know what? There’s something wrong with this. It really -- it really isn’t fair to the -- to the other side.” And I said to Ed, “You know what? We’ve been moving to the middle so far now, I think we passed each other.” But, I point that out because in spite of this reference as Todd said about “Electric Ed”, I mean, Ed, as -- as Senator Dillard had pointed out is a very, not one- dimensional person. And he understands about the -- the Constitution, understands freedom, understands about the presumption of innocence. And I -- I think has -- has been a -- evidence that. I’ve gotten to know him through working on some legal matters together. I’ve gotten to know how dedicated he is to his -- his wife, Phyllis, and -- and his children and his grandchildren. And I know that when he goes to the bench that he will -- and I -- I happen to have a matter out in Will County in front of him, that he will not have to recuse himself and that he’ll be very fair, as he will be for all of us if we ever have to find ourselves in -- in a courtroom. I just really think that this place is a great university to learn how to become a judge, because you have to meet people from all over the State, all walks of life, all races. And -- and you understand and learn how important it is to -- to appreciate people’s individual backgrounds and that’s critical for a judge. And, I know Ed will be -- will be a -- a great one. Thank you very much.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Collins. 85  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006

Hi. I know time is running short, but I would be -- it would be remiss if I did not stand up to articulate my respect for Senator Petka and to sing the accolades of a man of deep and abiding human values that we all cherish as Americans and as citizens of a democracy. First of all, I find Senator Petka to be a man of personal and professional integrity and astounding intelligence, and of moral courage and moral character. I would like to personally thank him and to express my deepest gratitude for his leadership and his vision in helping me champion the Sudan -- Illinois/Sudan divestment legislation. This landmark and historic legislation, the first in the nation to place Illinois on the map as a General Assembly that took a stand, a moral stand, that said we will not support and be complicit in a repressive regime that continues to murder, maim and rape men, women and children. I can never thank you enough, Senator Petka. And, I know it was because of you that we were able to get the legislation out with the fifty-nine to zero vote. So, I just thank you. I always want to say -- to send you Godspeed -- on with Godspeed. But also to say, because you are a man of the word and scripture, and we know that God would give us the desires of our heart. And, on numerous occasions, you have expressed your desire to go back and sit on the bench. So, I want to say I send God blessings to you and to your family and you will be a wonderful asset to the bench. I thank God for the blessing of serving with you.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Burzynski.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Munoz.

Just serving with you for about eight years, Senator, but when I first got here, you were in the majority. I like to push tough crime bills, as you all know, but your door was always open there and the only bill that we never really saw eye-to-eye on and that was when I was pushing the assault ban weapons. So -- but, other than that, it’s been an honor to serve with you and I appreciate all your support that you had given me when I was working on those bills. Thank you and God bless you.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Watson.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall Senate Resolution 914 be adopted. All in favor, say Aye. Opposed -- opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is unanimously adopted. Senator Petka.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Madam Secretary, do you have any resolutions on file?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Please read the resolution.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Jones moves to suspend the rules for the purpose of the immediate consideration and adoption of Senate Resolution 912. Those in favor will say Aye. Those opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the rules are suspended. Senator Jones now moves the adoption of Senate Resolution 912. Senator Jones. Is there any discussion? Senator Jones.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Clayborne.

Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. I, too, will miss you, George. I’ve always kidded George, all the time, and he -- he takes it in stride. And even when he didn’t take it in stride, I didn’t care. But -- and maybe I’ve moved up a little bit because I guess for the last seven years or so I take my sons and their friends to the 2-A State playoffs and always see George. He’s never let me use his -- sit in his seat. You know, he had courtside seats. But, maybe now I’m up talking about you, so, maybe now George will let me sit in his seat. But -- but truly, as -- as Emil said, George can be very tough on the outside, but he has a very big heart. He’s a good person. He cares about the people who -- who he represents and he generally -- George cares about everyone. But he -- he tries to wear that gruff -- gruff -- that gruff character. And I -- I kid George all the time. I call him. I said they made a movie after him, well actually two - the grumpy old man. But George is -- has a big heart. I want to tell one story, if I can, George. And, I’m not going to mention any names. But, George had a birthday and he was given a gift. He was given a gift that I think only had 95  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 one pill in it. You remember that, George? And, it was a Viagra pill. And the person who gave George the gift, I guess there were some slots that were missing. So, George takes his -- puts it in there. Takes the briefcase home. George forgets that he received this gift. So, Mrs. Shadid goes into the briefcase and wants to know what happened to other two pills. Now, George told me that story, so I’m just sharing it with you-all. But -- but truly I’ve -- I’ve enjoyed working with -- with George over the years and I constantly kid him. And -- and tell one other story and I’m going sit down, George. The Mayor of St. Louis is a Lebanese. And, he comes in and we meet with him. This was last year. He’s says, how’s Senator Shadid? I say, who? He says Senator Shadid. It’s George -- I said, no, no, no. He’s Americanized. It’s George Shadid now. But, truly I’ve enjoyed you, George. And I continue to look forward to coming to Peoria to see you and Godspeed to you and your family. I’ll and always love you, George, and will truly miss you. Thank you.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Munoz.

I just wanted to rise and tell you that I’m going to miss you, as well, Senator. Probably about the last four years we’ve been on Transportation together before you were the Chairman, and now since you went into leadership, I was given the privilege to be the Chairman of Transportation. But, I know all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle that serve on Transportation - we got a great committee together - and -- and everyone’s always looking to George, either when you’re screaming at a bill that you don’t like, or laughing at something that somebody did. But, Transportation will never be the same with out you, my friend. But, I do want to wish you well and thank you for your support over the years that you’ve given me. And, it was great to work with you. And, I wish I could have been a policeman with you at least for a couple years, ‘cause I heard you were a great cop. You take care and God bless.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Sullivan.

You know, yesterday when we were on recess, we were kind of 96  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 waiting for some paperwork, I went across the street to the hot dog joint over here and -- and was up to the counter paying for a hot dog and the gentleman that was a cashier looked behind me out the window and he says, “Is that Shadid?” And I turned around and sure enough George was coming across the street. And I said, “Yes.” And he said, “Didn’t he used to be a Sheriff in Peoria?” And I said, “Yes, he did.” And he kind of shook his head and I knocked on the window and told George to come in and come to find out they had known each other. But, the point being that George is the type of individual that once you meet him you never forget him. Now, that gentleman, that man that we -- you saw yesterday, George, you hadn’t seen him for what, twenty-five years? But he -- no, I should say, you made an impression on him. Well, I’ll let George tell the story about who he locked up and who he didn’t. But the fact of the matter is, George, is that it’s your character that people remember. It’s your honesty - sometimes your -- sometimes, your brutal honesty. It’s your no-nonsense, tell it like it is, if people don’t like it, so what, that’s where -- that’s who I am, that’s where I stand. And I believe that everybody that we meet in life, that we develop a relationship with, we learn something from them. And, George, that’s what I have learned from you - to be honest, to be truthful, to tell -- to speak you remind, to tell and stand by your beliefs and I want to thank you for that. It’s been a great honor. I’m not saying goodbye, ‘cause I know we’re going to see each other often. Thank you.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Risinger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Link.

Yeah, that’s what I say, George. George is one of the last of the back-rowers that we were. You know, George and I were in the back row for quite a few years together. I was smart enough to be at the opposite end of George, because you didn’t want to sit next to George because everybody that was next to George 98  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 decided to leave. Larry Walsh, Barack Obama, everybody moved out quite quick. But it was always interesting being near George and seeing him the first thing in the morning. And listening to his comments about what was going on in the day, especially when we were in the minority for those six years. His comments were a little bit more brash than they were when we were in the majority. But the meetings we have now in the majority and being in leadership together with George, they’re a little bit brash, too, in some of his statements. He hasn’t changed in those either. But, I got to echo some of the other comments about George and his heart. I’ve worked with George on a couple different projects and a couple different things and you find out the real Senator Shadid and you find out what he’s really like when it comes to those kinds of push and shove moments. And, when you really need him on some issues that may not be downstate or upstate or collar counties or Chicago or where they’re at - that they’re Illinois issues and you present ‘em to George in that way and he sees ‘em in that way and he says, why are we talking about it, let’s do it. And he understands that they need to be done. And that’s the kind of person that we have in Senator Shadid and that we’re going to miss. But, I do have to commend the people of your district that they did do something that - they went to the opposite extreme this time. That they went from George Shadid and they put a reverend in there now. So, they did get some wisdom in there of getting someone that is going to have us see the opposite side of you and that there is going to be some -- a little bit calmer individual coming into the Senate replacing you. But, George, one thing, there will never be a person to replace you. And I got to tell you, it’s been a pleasure to listen to you, to take your guidance and to become a friend of yours. And I always will be and we will, I promise, when the President and I make those journeys, come and see you. Thank you for everything.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Demuzio.

Well, George, what can I say? We go back a long way and Senator Link and I’ve had the pleasure of setting next to George for the last two years. And, the first day I was there my arm 99  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 started hurting and I couldn’t figure out why. Well, it was him hitting me every time - going like okay, okay. But we go back a long way. And, Senator, I wish you and Lorraine the best. He -- he used to call the house every morning - what, about an hour conversation? And I used to, like clockwork every morning by eight o’clock that it was George Shadid on the phone. I’d say, “Vince, Shadid’s on the phone.” “All right, tell him I’ll be there.” And they would discuss the -- the whole issue of the day. And, as the -- as our years went through, we had many trips together. What -- we took a trip to Florida and - he and Lorraine, and Vince and I - and so -- and over the years we’ve had many, many memories and the last few years we’ve had many, many good memories. And the last couple years as your seatmate, I want to say that I really, really appreciate your guidance. Some of your -- some of your thoughts were a little off-base, but that’s okay. I didn’t follow everything. Like Vince had said, “Don’t listen to everything George Shadid would tell you.” Okay. So, I did stick that in the back of my mind. But, I do want to say thank you very much for being a friend. And a friend to not only me, but also a friend to my family. My son and daughter-in- law and my children have been up to Peoria. Also, many of my friends have been there for the ballgames. Thank you to Roseann. She’s been there with you. She comes out of our -- out of Gillespie and related to my sister-in-law and we cared enough to send our very best in to you when -- when you joined the Senate. So, we -- we really want to say thank you to Roseann, too. And, good luck to you and Lorraine. And, I know you’re going to be calling me and I’m going to be calling you like you have. And, stay in touch with me, all right? God bless you and God bless to Lorraine.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Viverito.

You know, I really wasn’t going to say anything, because I knew there were so many people that wanted to say so many nice things about George. And, I really didn’t have a lot of nice things to say. But, I -- I -- but I had to tell you that -- you devil you -- but George and I, you know, we share the office downstairs kind of with Ira and we’ve always kind of had a good 100  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 rapport. He comes in grumpy, but after a while we really enjoy laughing and kidding with George. But, a few short weeks ago I was at a convention with my family, and others as well, and I had the opportunity to go over to see George at his office. And, we had a cup of coffee and we talked for a while. And George talked to me about his humble beginning and where he’s at today and the fact that he never was able to get a PhD from Harvard or Notre Dame. And, the things that he accomplished touched my heart, because, frankly, it was almost like Ed’s story as well, how much he’s done for so many people in giving of himself. The fact that -- lost his son just a few short years ago - the -- the difficulty with that. And, then how proud he was to tell me, “You know, Lou, I’m going to have lunch today with my son, who’s a judge.” I mean, it’s so warm. You feel so good that we, in America, have a father, a grandfather, a loving person here in the Senate and his son became a judge, but he never had the opportunity to go to college. George, it tells a story to all of us. You lived the American dream and we’re proud of you. Thank you very much.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall Senate Resolution 912 be adopted. All in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senator Shadid.

You’re going to think this is a little silly, but we’ve been sitting here about three hours. I got to go to the bathroom. So, I’m going -- I’ll be right back.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) We’ll -- we’ll stand at ease just for a minute. (SENATE STANDS AT EASE/SENATE RECONVENES)

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Shadid. Senator Shadid.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you very much. I feel better. My eyes aren’t watering, are they? Okay. You know, I didn’t expect you folks to get up and do all these things. And, so -- but I thought I better be prepared. So I took it upon 101  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 myself to put together some notes and I brought my assistant with me. Roseann, did you bring my notes here? So, I’m going to -- we’re going to stay here a long time. Hey, my friend, Roseann, has been with me ever since I’ve been down here. And, she is a wonderful lady. She’s married to a nice guy, got two nice kids. And, when I interviewed her, she said -- first, I was without a secretary for about a month and a half. And of course, I got a lot of advice from a lot of people saying, “Oh, you ought to hire this gal or that gal or this gal.” And you know, down here it’s pretty hard to take everybody’s word for -- whatever. So, I interviewed her and so I found out in that interview that she -- she used to work in the House and she had a couple kids and she decided she wanted to stay home and raise ‘em. So she went home, started raising her kids and her husband got laid off and so after about six months, they weren’t eating very well and I guess they weren’t paying their bills too well. But anyway, she needed to come back to work, so I interviewed her. So, when she told me that she left to go home and take care of her kids and raise ‘em, I said that’s a great thing. I’m glad to hear that. And, she thought I wouldn’t be so happy about that. But, that’s what it’s all about, with me. You raise your kids to a certain level and then you go to work, if you want to. It’s up to you, but you’ve got an obligation when you have kids to raise ‘em and be there with ‘em. And I’ve stuck with that for a long time. And I just want to tell you that I grew up in a very -- oh, in a very poor family and my dad and mom had nine kids in Clinton, Iowa. I don’t know if you know where that’s at. It’s somewhere close to Jacobs’ place and also Sieben. Right across the river, on Mississippi River. And make a long story short, we were starving in the thirties. My dad had two dress shops and he lost ‘em both. And, of course, I was only about six, seven years old at the time and I couldn’t figure out why were we moving so often. We moved about every thirty days, ‘cause we weren’t paying the rent, I found out later. So, anyway, we got to Peoria, Illinois, and who would know that some guy who come from a couple immigrants and during the war years I didn’t go through school very -- for very long - Eighth grade. And I -- my two big brothers were in the service and so my dad was having a little problem with the family, taking care ‘em. So, anyway, I quit 102  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 school and -- I didn’t like school anyway. So -- so here I am. And, I’ve had a great, great time. And, I just want to make things pretty clear here. Emil Jones says how many times he comes to Peoria to see me. Him and Link and whoever else - Munoz. I never see ‘em. They come to Peoria to go to the boat, for Chrissake. And, I’m glad they don’t call me, ‘cause they’d probably need some money. You know, I’ve got so many stories and before I start I want to just tell everybody I really, really thank you all. I thank the staff for the great job they do. Do a great job waiting on us guys and making sure we don’t look stupid when we get up here and all those things. But, I do want to thank you and I thank all of you, all the staff and all. Jill, you’ve been great to work with. You know, when Clayborne says he comes to Peoria to visit, he comes to the ballgames ‘cause he needs either some tickets -- and, if you’ve ever been to the IHSA basketball tournament, they have a little room that they serve free chili and all these things. And, I didn’t realize you had about ten kids, for Chrissake. Every year he comes, he’s got two more kids. I said, Jesus, you know. But, that’s okay. I have no problem. But then he wants to sit in my front-row seats. You know, I always thought the Chicago guys were a little greedy, but -- them guys from East St. Louis there they can go a close second. I -- when I said I had a great career, I did. I’ve been very fortunate. And I think you guys and you gals will agree with me, most things in life happen when you’re in the right place at the right time. Somebody gets to open the door for you, but then it’s up to you to make the best of it. I just want to very -- sum it up very quickly to tell you I -- I’ve enjoyed all of you. I’ve had fourteen great years down here. And, I’ve surprised a lot of people that I’m still here and I haven’t been thrown out. But, I am a little bit rough, sometimes. And with Emil -- where is Emil? Did he have to go to the bathroom again? Oh, no. Emil, you know when you say you and I had some well, sort of, hectic times, I’ll say that. I was really only negotiating with you. Now, when I found out he needed my vote, you could take the leadership thing and, you know, do whatever you want with it, I had some other things on my mind. And I said, there ain’t no way, Emil, I can go for that - no way. They’re not going to run me out of Peoria. But needless 103  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 to say, on one particular vote and I won’t even tell you what it was, I told Emil - and by the way, you know, when you come down here a lot of pretend people say to you, don’t ever be the thirtieth vote. Don’t ever be the thirtieth. Well, I got news for everybody. Emil came to me, he says, “I need your vote and I got to get this.” I said, Emil, if you get twenty-nine votes I’ll be number thirty. In the first place, I didn’t think he’d ever get twenty-nine votes. But he did and he said to me, he says, “Are you crapping me? You’re going to be the thirtieth vote?” I said, “No, I’ll be there.” Well, needless to say, he twisted a lot of people’s arms. And I saw that thing light up. Twenty-nine, I hit thirty and they shut the votes off. That was it. But, Emil, you know, I just appreciate working for you, working with you. It was more like a team thing, it’s more than that, than a boss. And as you know, we’re all independent contractors and we’re here because people vote us to come down here. And, we -- so, I just want to tell you all again that my wife is waiting for me to come home and she said, “If you don’t get home pretty soon, I’m going to leave you.” And after fifty- three years I said, “Where in the hell would you go?” Once again, thank you all very much and if I -- if I bothered you or insulted you, I meant it. Thank you.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Madam Secretary, do you have any resolutions on file?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Madam Secretary, please read the resolution.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Jones moves to suspend the rules for the purpose of immediate consideration and adoption of Senate Resolution 913. Those in favor will say Aye. Those opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The rules are suspended. Senator Jones now moves for the adoption of Senate Resolution 913. Is there any discussion? Senate President Jones.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Sullivan.

Fifteen years ago this month -- or actually on the seventh of November, our youngest son, Mark, was born. And he was born early in the morning and after he was born I was at the hospital with my wife, Joan, and -- and it started to snow. And it started light and then it got heavy and it snowed and it snowed and it snowed all day. At about three o’clock in the afternoon, I headed home from the hospital. The roads were still in pretty good shape at that time. And I went home and I picked up my -- our three older children, because they wanted to go to the hospital and see their new sibling, their new baby brother. So, I loaded them up into a four-wheel-drive pickup - had on hats and boots and coats - and we proceeded to head to Macomb where Joan was at the hospital with Mark. I went about eight or nine miles and by this time the roads were not in very good condition. There was probably eight or nine inches of snow and they were slick and there was cars off in the ditch, both sides of the road. And -- and I went by this one car and I saw that there was two people sitting in that car. And so, kind of without thinking, I just -- the -- the car was in the opposite ditch and I just took my truck and just did a u-ie and pulled off to the side and I backed up to the car and a gentleman got out and he had on a suit and tie and little thin shoes. And I jumped out and I grabbed -- had a log chain -- had a chain in the back of my truck and I threw it on my truck and threw it on the bumper of the car and I said, “Put it in neutral,” told this gentleman, “put it in neutral and I’ll pull you out.” And I pulled him up out on -- onto the road. I jumped back out, took the chain off and started to get back in the -- my truck, and he said -- he was fumbling for his wallet and he said, “Wait, I want to give you something. I want to thank you, you know.” And I said, “No. No, I don’t want anything.” You know, just good luck and I continued on my way. About -- about two weeks later, I go a -- a 107  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 letter came in the mail from Senator Miguel del Valle. And I thought what in the world is this? And I opened it up and the letter said that he was -- he and his assistant, Luz, were the two individuals that I pulled out of the ditch. They were headed up to Western Illinois University, up to Macomb, to give a presentation at the University and he -- he simply said, “Thank you, and if there’s any -- ever anything I can do to repay you, let me know.” Let’s fast forward ten years. We took that letter and we put it in Mark’s baby book and ten years later, about five years ago, I decided I wanted to run for the Senate. And I -- my wife, I said, “Do you still have that letter?” And she said, “It’s in Mark’s baby book.” We got the letter out. I read it again. Hadn’t seen it in ten years. And I thought, I wonder if he is still a Senator. I wonder if he’s a Democrat or Republican. I didn’t know. I came over to Springfield. I asked somebody, “Is…” I had the letter. I said, “Is -- is…” I couldn’t even pronounce his name. I said, “Is this gentleman still here?” They said, “Yes, he’s right down the hall there. His office is right down there.” I met Miguel. I met Luz. I said, “You know…” I said -- I showed him the letter. I said, “You know, it says here if there’s anything I can do to repay you.” I was sitting here a little bit ago and up behind all of us on the wall is some words that Abraham Lincoln spoke in November of 1863, and the last line says, “And dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” And I thought, that’s what Miguel del Valle is all about. You’ve taught me so much - leadership, passion with the issues that you believe in. I want to thank you for your friendship and, Miguel, your debts are paid. Thank you.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Cullerton.

…President and Members -- Members of the Senate. Okay, now there’s five ways -- there’s -- there’s five ways to leave this place. There’s five ways to leave this place. I’m going to give you the -- the five ways in the order of least favorable to most favorable. The worst way to leave this place is to die. If you die, you’re not in the Senate anymore. The second worst, not far behind, is get indicted. If you get indicted, you got to leave 108  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 the Senate. A bad thing, but much better, is you lose an election and then you have to leave. Okay? I used to think the best way was the -- the fourth way and that would be that you -- you retire with a full pension. But, there’s really a fifth way and Senator Petka and Obama and Fitzgerald and Roskam and Senator del Valle have done that. You leave the Senate and you go on to continue to serve in another office. Miguel, I can tell you, has a great, great wife and family. They are brilliant children, who Miguel will tell you, take after their mother. And he also has a tremendous reputation, of course, in -- in his community having been the first Senator -- first Hispanic Senator in the Illinois Senate. When he became appointed, you know, a lot of people in Chicago they don’t follow us down here that well. They don’t know that much about what we do. So, I got a call from a few people that said, “Hey, this guy del Valle is running for City Clerk. You know, it’s a Hispanic name, you know, maybe -- maybe there’s some other people that might want to run against him.” I had some people say, “Maybe -- maybe I can -- how do you think I’d do?” I said, “You don’t understand. This guy is a famous guy. He is a famous guy not only in his community, but down here as well, because of the groundbreaking that he has done.” The editorials that came out in the Sun-Times and the Tribune said the Mayor made a brilliant move, which he did, because this man is independent, he is dedicated to education as an issue and he has the competence that will hopefully result in no one daring to -- to run against him. So, Miguel, I think you’re -- you’re doing what all of us really would like to do, to -- to go out the best way - the fifth way. And, I really wish you well. Thank you.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Martinez.

Thank you. And, I -- I -- I am here today because of Miguel del Valle. Miguel del Valle, in our community, is a legend. He’s a man who for many years, and I know we’re not too far in age, but someone that -- I worked in the community for the past twenty years working on -- on issues always in the community working in the Mayor’s Office. And I remember the day back in -- about five years ago when the whole remapping was occurring, 109  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 Senator del Valle called me. Now, the funny thing is that Senator del Valle is -- to get his support, is not the easiest thing. If Miguel puts his support behind someone, it’s because you’ve got to be someone who is willing to work, someone who is going to deliver to the community. Miguel never endorses just to endorse. It’s very rare the few people who will get an endorsement from Senator del Valle, and let alone people who, at the time, worked for the Mayor’s Office like I did. You know, people who worked, you know, in organizations. But, I remember Senator del Valle called me and says to me, “Iris, we’re in the middle of the remapping here and I just want to -- I’m checking on your address.” And I said, “Why are you checking on my address?” And he says, “Because, you know, it looks like with the remapping we’re going to have another seat and it may open up a brand new seat and I think that it’s time for a Latino woman to run.” And the first thing I did was I had to laugh because I said, “You’ve got to be kidding me, right?” And he says, “No, Iris, I’m -- I’m really serious. But, I want you to think about this and -- and -- and really give it a lot of thought because I don’t really reach out to people as often as people would like me to, as far as running for public office. I -- I just want you to think about it and know that if I’m reaching out to you, it’s because I really believe that you can do a good job. And, I -- I’ve seen your work in the community. You came down to Springfield. You lobbied a little bit down here on behalf of the Mayor’s Office and I’ve seen that you can probably do this well.” And I -- I first thought this is not something that I really want to do because it’s -- it’s scary in the fact that to run for a district like the district where I live, which I know was part of Miguel’s old district, would be a real challenge. Especially, you know, running and -- and -- and trying to follow someone like Miguel del Valle in our -- in our community. There’s a saying in our community that -- well, the name that we’ve given Miguel is “San Miguel”. “San Miguel” is St. Michael, because he is a man of integrity, someone who the community loves and adores and knows that it’s the man with the most highest integrity in our community. And I remember that when he said to me, “I’m going to -- I’m going to stand behind you,” it was an honor for me, because here was a man who was calling me, reaching out to me and 110  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 saying to me, “You can be the first. I was the first Latino. I want you to be the first Latina.” And that to me was an honor. When I went and I talked to the Mayor -- “First, I got to go talk to the Mayor, ‘cause, you know, I do work for the Mayor. I want to make sure that, you know…” -- and he goes, “Well, I’m going to tell you something. Along the way, you’re going to be told -- they’re going to make you offers. The -- the Mayor might even at one point tell you to get out of the race, because maybe something else is going on. I want you to know that if I’m standing behind you, I’m standing behind you a hundred percent, but don’t walk away from this if something else comes up. Are you willing to stay with it all the way through?” And I said, you know, it was a very tough decision because sometimes things don’t work out the way they’re supposed to based on just things that -- political things that go behind the scenes. But, I knew that when this man called me and told me that he was behind me a hundred percent, I knew that he was going to stand by me no matter what and -- and he was right. You know, along the way people did call me and say, you know, this, maybe you’re better doing this or we’ll offer you this. And I said, “No, I have a mission and that is to respond to the man who called me to become the first Latina.” And I say to you, Miguel, today, thanks to you. Thanks to the vision, as far as the remapping and -- and making sure that more Latinos are represented down here in Springfield. I thank you, on behalf of all the Latina women. We thank you because you believed in one and I will continue to carry this mission on, no matter where I go. I’m going to miss you because I always look for the mentorship that you give me. When I came down here, I was so afraid. When I first went to orientation, I thought for sure I was not going to make it through this. And, you know, and -- and it was -- it’s been a great experience. But, I thank you every day for the last four years of my life here -- down here representing our communities, teaching me everything I need to know about being a good Senator, someone who has nothing but honest things to being back to the community. When the Mayor -- I remember when the Mayor said to me, “You mean Miguel del Valle’s with you?” And I said, “Yes, Mr. Mayor, Miguel has -- has -- he’s offered me his support.” And he says to me back then, he goes, “God, for the first time in 111  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 my life, I’m going to be on the same side with Miguel.” And -- and, today, you’re going to be the City Clerk. So, it’s -- it’s great to know that a relationship came out of all this. There’s a lot of people that I think really came to admire you and respect you even more, based on the work you do. But, I know in our community, you will always be the San Miguel that we all love and cherish. And I wish you the very best. It’s going to be great to -- seeing a City sticker with your name on it. It’s going to be an honor for us. But, I know down here we are going to miss you because you have so much to give and so much to offer. And, from the bottom of my heart, I love you, Miguel. Gracias.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Winkel.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Munoz.

Senator del Valle, you are truly a gentleman and a scholar. Gentleman being you’ve got a kind heart, you’re willing to help out people. Also, if I may share a little story with everyone here, my first day on the Senate Floor, Senator del Valle comes up to me - had never met the man before - but, I did know one thing, he was very, very close to the man that I had just beaten in the primary. He came up to me. He says, “Welcome to the Senate. My friend, as you probably know, I was sorry to see him lose and I’ve been his friend for a number of years. But again, I want to welcome you. I look forward to working with you and anything that I can do to help out I just want you to know that.” So, at first, I was thinking, did he really mean it? Should I go ask him sometime? Well, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I can only say after eight years, he meant every word of it. Came out to be a great friend. Helped me pass a lot of legislation and I learned a lot from you, my friend. So -- and I appreciate that. You’re going to do an outstanding job as a City Clerk. We’re all going to miss you and I know you’re going to miss the Senate, as well, after being here all these years. It was a little unexpected and I’m sure you’re still surprised at leaving. I know you always have so many things that you want to do. You being the scholar that you are, champion of education, there’s nothing that you don’t know about education. So, I look forward to you -- working with you, ‘cause I know you’re going to be working with the Mayor’s Office on education issues. So, I’m sure we’re going to be seeing you back down here in Springfield. But, again, my friend, thank you for everything. You are a good friend. We did the caucus together. We’ve had the Latino caucus now for a number of years. So, I think we’ve done some good things together. Again, I wish you the best and God bless.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Schoenberg. 113  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006

Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. We all know that Miguel del Valle was a pioneer, but Miguel del Valle’s pioneering spirit did not just come from being the first. If you put it in the context in which Miguel del Valle became an elected official, you will admire this man even more. Miguel probably doesn’t even remember that he met me in the late 1980s when he was actively involved in a very small organization that hasn’t been in business for a number of years called PROCAN. It was the progressive candidates network. And when Miguel del Valle became a pioneer, he was leading a historic fight - not just to be the first. We all, in whatever we do, want to be at the first of the line in our respective endeavors. But Miguel was at the front of the line as part of a movement. It was a very heady time in Chicago politics, at that time. Harold Washington was concluding his first term as Mayor. It was a breakthrough for community political empowerment in the African-American community and the Latino community and for progressives and communities throughout the City of Chicago who felt that the old way of doing business had to be changed and that we were all equal under the law and that there needed to be greater practical application of that legal principle, both in how the laws were passed, enforced, and how resources that contribute to the quality of way of life in our families and our households throughout the area on how that manifests itself as well. I met Miguel del Valle at a time when Chicago politics and Illinois politics arguably were at a critical historic breakthrough. And he was at the front of the fight. And as we all know, sometimes you have to lose some fights in order to win some larger battles. But, the reason why I was able to be inspired by Miguel del Valle when I met him was that his fights were grounded, not in personalities, but his fights were grounded in principles - principles which all of us have had a chance to learn and had a chance to share. He’s an incredibly grounded individual. He’s an incredibly independent thinker. There’s a cost in politics, at times, for being an independent thinker. Certainly, when democratic politics were at that critical watershed during the Washington administration, Miguel del Valle did not back down. And, not only did he help open doors later on 114  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 in history for some of us who are here in this Chamber, but he opened up many other doors. And, some of them were harder to open than others, all in the name of community empowerment. And, the attainment of power in and of itself isn’t enough, as we all know. It’s how that power is applied and toward what goals and toward ends that power is applied. And the fact that Miguel del Valle was a leader in opening doors so that people in communities who shared a set of principles with him, particularly those who were disadvantaged so that they could advance, we’re all richer and we’re all better because of it. Miguel, you have stood out, not in -- not just in the issues for which you’ve been such a strong and effective advocate, but through the qualities that you’ve demonstrated in fighting those fights. Those are qualities that I know in my public service I’ve sought to emulate. Those are qualities I know that all of us seek to emulate. And, that’s truly your legacy. And, for that, we’re all blessed. Congratulations.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Raoul.

Senator Schoenberg stole a lot of my fire. You know, I -- I believe that if “progressive public servant” were in the dictionary, Miguel del Valle’s picture would be right next to it. Notwithstanding, how others are trying to label his recent appointment now, you can’t erase your years of service and the deeds and your advocacy for education, in particular, just based on perceptions by the media largely. And, I’d like you to know that I -- I observed and was inspired by you. And, I don’t know if you recall many of the -- of my colleagues in the Chamber may not know that my -- I first sought to be in this Chamber in 1996. I ran for State Senate in 1996. And at that time I believe, Miguel, you were in the -- in the Black Caucus. And, the Black Caucus -- and I presented before you and Senator Hendon and others at the Quality Inn in Chicago and I remember your -- your advocacy then for education and your making sure that all the candidates, potential candidates, knew that they had to fight just generally a -- a very progressive fight, but how education had to be prioritized. Obviously, I didn’t win back then. But watching you over the years inspired me not to quit. And so it 115  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 was a great pleasure when, after coming here two years ago, and after being appointed to the Racial Profiling Task Force by the Governor and you and I shared the experience of -- having -- being given no direction as to exactly what the Governor wanted and we were put in the middle of sniping from community activists and law enforcement. I -- I was happy to have you there as a co- chair to -- to survive that experience and get something productive out of those meetings. And -- and, I don’t think I would have been able to do it, without you by my side. Now, as I shared with you, both Stephanie Neely and Arne Duncan were high school classmates of mine and -- and I think the -- a testament to your years of service and your advocacy for education is -- is basically the changing of the definition of what the City Clerk is going to be involved in. It’s not going to be about City stickers. It’s going to be about bringing your advocacy for education and changing the -- the way the City of Chicago approaches education policy from within. And -- and that’s very much needed. And, I know from speaking to Arne that he appreciates -- he says, Miguel gets it. And that’s why you’re there, notwithstanding, what everybody else has -- has said. And, so, I -- I appreciate having been able to serve with you here and I -- I’ll appreciate the years to come so we could fight for equity in education.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Maloney.

Thank you, Mr. President. Many of you know that I was a high school government teacher - taught government in high school. And -- and, especially social studies teachers, very often, if they want to relax for a day, they throw a movie in the machine and that kind of thing. Well, our -- our library received a videotape one time, a long time ago, that was on the Illinois Legislature. I don’t know if anybody has ever seen this. It’s probably near twenty years old. And, featured in the videotape was Speaker Madigan talking about the legislative process and, I think, Representative Lou Jones was featured in the -- videotape. And Miguel del Valle was in the tape, as well, articulating, very eloquently, the legislative process, his priorities for education and the fact that he was the first -- 116  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 the pride in the fact that he was the first Latino Legislator. So, it was a very interesting tape. But Miguel, if you’ve got that cheesy yellow sport coat you had in that tape, please -- please get -- please get rid of that. I -- I’d just like to say that when I -- when I came down here with my background in education, one of my first bills regarding -- had an issue dealing with high school education. So, -- and I knew Miguel’s reputation as an expert in education. I went to his office - a little bit nervous, ‘cause he had the office, you know, a leadership office - and was willing to see me and I asked him what he thought and he told me. And then he stopped and he said, “Well, what do you think?” And I thought, wow, what do you mean what do I think? And, he knew my background and he was actually interested in what I had to say. Miguel, you’re -- you’re the first person here that made me feel like I belonged here. And, I think, the reason this Body has so much respect for you is that you have demonstrated so much respect for us. So, thank you for your service. And, now, I’ve got to trudge through the snow this Saturday and circulate petitions, but I’m proud to do it. Thank you very much.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Watson.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Sandoval.

Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Illinois Senate. Just a few weeks ago, I’ve had the honor and distinction of being the only person sitting in this room today to witness the taking of office of this elder statesman, who became the City Clerk of the City of Chicago. I was -- I sat there with his lovely wife and his son, as part of his entourage, as I witnessed the City Council of Chicago and Mayor Daley confirming his appointment as City Clerk of Chicago. What an honor and what a distinction it was for me. And during that ceremony, Senator, I had a chance to sit on the bench there listening to the accolades bestowed upon you by the City Councilmen of the -- Chicago. And as I sat there - just like in the movies as the -- the young man who sits on a park bench thinking about the future or thinking about what happened as the movie shoots forward sometimes - and I sat there and I remembered as also a young man who has in his career been tapped by the Mayor of the City of Chicago to serve in public life on several occasions, I sat there thinking about the man, the legend, Miguel del Valle. Miguel del Valle, for me, who I’ve just known, really, recently. I met him in 1999, when the Mayor of Chicago asked me to leave my federal career to accept an appointment by Governor George Ryan to be the first Latino commissioner at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. And, it was in 1999 that I had my first encounter with Senator Miguel del Valle, ‘cause he was one of the first few men that I had to go see. Now, not knowing about the regular Democratic Party, not knowing about Republicans, not knowing about -- anything about politics, ‘cause I was a federal employee, I knew 119  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 that I had to go see the great Senator Miguel del Valle, ask for his advice. In 2000, just a year and a half later, when I ran for my first election in a countywide race, six million people in -- in Cook County, the second largest county, a Latino with a name like Sandoval was going to have a real tough time getting elected by the electorate. I felt an instinct, once again, to go see Senator Miguel del Valle. And, Senator Miguel del Valle was one of the first few men who was there for this young man named Marty Sandoval, as he launched his -- his public career. And in 2002, once again, when I was tapped by the Mayor of Chicago to leave the Water Reclamation District and run as the first State Senator to represent the 12th Legislative District, the first man I went to see in his office was the great man, the great legend, Senator Miguel del Valle. And I had -- this was a special visit because Senator Miguel del Valle, as history knows, was the first Latino Senator ever to serve in the Illinois Senate. And it was Senator Miguel del Valle who provided me the strength, the courage, the wisdom to put -- put it together in 2002 to win the primary. And it was not a difficult time, because in 2002 the Dons of the great southwest side of Chicago weren’t necessarily supportive of this young man, Marty Sandoval. And, it was once again the man, the legend, Senator Miguel del Valle, who stood up and called out Speaker Mike Madigan, one of the most powerful men in Illinois. And, it was Miguel del Valle that stood up with me and called out Congressman Bill Lipinski. And, it was Senator del Valle who stood up with me and called out my Alderman Edward M. Burke, one of the most powerful men in Chicago. And, it was Miguel del Valle who stood there with Emil Jones, with me, in 2002 against Pate Philip, who had gone to federal court in attempts to break up the map that had -- that was going to bring the first Latino female Senator and this young man to the -- to the Legislature. It was Miguel del Valle who led the charge to elect what is today the Latino Caucus in the State of Illinois. Miguel, thank you for being there. Thank you for my success. You have made great contributions, not only to the Latino community, to the -- all the people of the State of Illinois. Many times I feel that in my four years in my first term you have been like Obi-Wan Kenobi, or maybe just like Kung Fu with the young grasshopper. And, as I sat there in the Appropriations 120  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 Committee and as I would sit there -- as I would sit there calling out every department head in the State of Illinois for the last four years, how many Hispanics do you have, and how many of this and how many of that? And, you sat there. And many people would not know, but it was Senator Miguel del Valle who took time out over the last four years to come to the Crowne Plaza and to sit down and talk policy with Marty Sandoval. And, it was Senator Miguel del Valle that would take time out to go have a beer and some good Mexican food at La Mex over by the Crowne Plaza. And, it was Miguel del Valle who would take time out to come to the town of Cicero to talk strategy. And, Miguel, you really have taught me to a certain extent how to use the force. And, I’m not the same Marty Sandoval I was four years ago. Amen, right? But, I leave you just with these last two anecdotes and it tells you the caliber of the man in the -- the - - what Miguel has meant to -- to me. President Emil Jones told me when he made me a chairman of a committee, he said to me, “Marty, Marty, Marty, I’m going to make you a chairman, but remember I want a strong chairman, a strong chairman and I want you to make the decisions about what goes on in your committee.” So, I took that to heart. I figured what Senator -- President Jones was telling me was the truth and this is what he expected of me. Well, there was a bill called, “Opportunity Returns” - Major bill of the Governor and carried by my colleague, Senator Don Harmon. And, it came to my committee and it had some flaws. It has some major deficiencies. And, so I told Senator Harmon, “Senator Harmon, I am not going to call this bill. It has some problems. Go back -- go speak to the President. Work on the bill and when you’re ready I will call the bill.” He looked at me kind of fish-eyed and said, “Marty, you got to be kidding. This is the President’s bill.” Well, just a couple hours later I got a visit by his Chief of Staff, Jill Rock. And Jill came to see me and says, “Senator Sandoval,” in a real quiet demeanor sitting -- leaning over in my -- on my desk, “Senator, the President would like you to move his bill today.” And, I said to Jill, I said, “Jill, respectfully, I am not inclined to move the bill. Let the President know that he’s got some problems. And, I will not move the bill today, unless I see an amendment.” And she looked at me fish-eyed and she said, “Senator, Senator”, and 121  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 her eyes got kind of watery and glossy and she said, “Senator, do you know what you’re doing?” And, she left. Before committee -- Senator Harmon was sitting in the front row chairs and ready to present his bill and I -- we went through the day’s business and I adjourned the committee and I did not call Senator Harmon to present his bill. I got a call from the President - to go see President Jones. And he -- he was slouched in his chair and said, “Marty, I told you I wanted a strong chairman, but you realize you have to make exceptions for the President.” Little did I know that -- I said, “Mr. President, I understand.” I said, “But you know we do need an amendment on the bill.” And, so, he left and he said, “Marty, I want you to be a strong chairman, but I’m going to send Senator del Valle to come talk to you.” And I got a visit by Senator Miguel del Valle and -- and Senator del Valle said, “Senator, if you know what’s good for you, move the bill.” And so forth, history dictates “Opportunity Returns” moved out of the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development. And just the -- the last anecdote I’d like to share is I remember the day that this young grasshopper was perturbed about not being able to pass a piece of legislation with friends on my side of the aisle. It was late in the evening one day as - - right before we were voting on the budget and I decided to take a ride. I decided to take a ride on the other side of the aisle and I sat right next to Senator Adeline Geo-Karis reading the newspaper as the budget bill was debated. And, of course, it was sacrilegious to go on the other side of the aisle because we are the Democratic Caucus. Well, I felt that I needed to send a message to my colleagues that what I was fighting for in my community was very important. And, so, they went on to send Senator Hendon, and they went on to send the Senator Reverend Meeks. Eventually, I remember once again the master, the legend, Senator Miguel del Valle walking over graciously and saying, “Marty, if you know what’s good for you, you’d get out of the chair.” Senator Sandoval left the chair and went back to his office. Miguel, I love you, you’re the best. You -- you leave the Illinois Senate on the top of your game. You leave a successful man, a man who has left an imprint on the State of Illinois and you go on to bigger and greater things in the City of Chicago, and we love you and we look forward to working with 122  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 you. God bless you and your family.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Burzynski.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Collins.

I know it’s late and so… But I wanted to open and close my remarks with a quote that I think defines the dignity and the decency of the man Miguel del Valle, as well as what it means to be a public servant. And, I think so many beautiful things have been said. So I won’t repeat some of the things I had that I wanted to say. But, I think this quote from Abraham Lincoln truly exemplifies the man that we are speaking to and paying tribute to. And it’s a quote that I’m sure you’re very familiar 123  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 with, but I think it is Senator Miguel del Valle. And President Lincoln said, “A politician works and looks to the next election, but a statesman works and looks to the next generation.” So, I thank you, Senator Miguel del Valle, for the statesman that you are, for raising such a passionate, powerful and prophetic voice for all those who have been marginalized in this society. For when we speak and give voice to the voiceless, I think we truly celebrate the best of what makes us human. So, I thank you. And, thank you for all your service.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Meeks.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall Senate Resolution 913 be adopted. All in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The resolution is adopted unanimously. Senator del Valle.

Thank you. Well, I’m glad some of you have -- I’m sure some of you are thinking, I’m glad he’s a man of few words, unless he’s speaking about education. And -- and, we’re not going to do that. I -- I want to thank all of you for your kinds words and your thoughts and -- and all the -- all the -- all the folks that have approached me during the last few weeks to wish me luck and to -- and to offer assistance and to thank me for the work that we’ve done over the years. It -- you know, I came here and I started a campaign in my first primary with three hundred and fifty dollars out of my pocket. And, not ever having run for any office and not ever even thinking about running for office. I registered and voted for the first time when I was twenty-seven years old. I didn’t want to participate in politics. I saw it 124  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 as being corrupt. I grew up in the Chicago neighborhood where politicians just didn’t respond. And so I -- I wanted to stay as far away from politics as I could and decided that the way to effect change would be to -- to become a community organizer, become an activist and -- and -- and run programs. But then I came to Springfield one day and I sat in the gallery and for the first time I realized how important this place is. And for the first time I really began to make a connection between public policy and the votes that every single one of us casts, and the role that we play in shaping that policy. And, so, once I made that connection and once I realized that, for years, I had been developing programs and responding to RFPs that were shaped by others, that were shaped by -- by bureaucrats, but with some parameters, many times established by the legislative process or the rulemaking process. When I saw all those connections, that’s when I made the decision. I’m basically a public policy wonk. I love it. Some people have wondered whether I’ll be able to do enough of it as a City Clerk. But, I think it was stated here very well. I -- I’m not going to sit down and deal with City stickers, all the time. I’m going to be doing a lot of -- a lot of special projects, a lot of creative things. But, I -- I have to tell you that it -- it’s wonderful and I think Senator Petka said it when he looks at the building and he would pinch himself. We’ve all done that. We’ve all -- we’ve all, at times, stopped and for -- for a second thought about how lucky, how fortunate we are to be one of fifty-nine. How fortunate that there was enough people out there expressing confidence in us as individuals to give us their vote and to ask us to come down here and represent them. And here in this country, only in the United States, can a fellow with three hundred and fifty bucks - who -- who didn’t want to participate at all in the process - practically, when you consider timeframes, overnight become a State Senator and be here for twenty years. We have a wonderful system. We have a wonderful system and it’s the people that make that system. It’s the people that make the system work or not work. And, I have so much respect for every one of you because one of the things I learned early on, I came in and I -- as an angry young man, Senator Sandoval, I did come as a -- I came as an angry young man wanting quick change, wanting -- wanting and getting frustrated 125  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 and it was frustrating. It was, early on. But, I learned that every one of us is here to represent our folks back home in our districts. And, that if we’re acting responsibly, we’re going to vote our districts. But, if we’re acting responsibly we’re also going to look at the bigger picture and we’re going to deal with issues. And I’m, Senator Meeks, glad to say that I felt real good this week when I went to a press conference and I stood in the back of the room. I didn’t go to the front. I stood in the back of the room and listened to a group of Senators and Representatives, Republicans, Democrats talk about the need to take action on education funding reform. And I -- I felt, wow, what a way to leave. I’m not going to separate myself from that struggle. I’m going to work even harder, but what a way to leave. It reminded me that this place can -- can be the place for change, because that’s what people expect and that’s what they expect from us when they vote for us. What they’re voting for is hope - hope for change. Every time they cast that ballot, it’s hope for change. That’s what our founding fathers wanted. That’s the system that they established. A system that every few years gives the individual an opportunity to use that vote to express hope for change. And that’s what this place is all about. And I have to say that it’s been a tremendous privilege for me to have been part of this and I thank you. We got to get going. Gracias a todos. Thank you very much.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Madam Secretary, Messages from the House.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Viverito moves to suspend the rules for the purposes of immediate consideration and adoption of House Joint Resolution 152. Those in favor will say Aye. Those opposed, Nay. The Ayes 126  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 116th Legislative Day 11/30/2006 have it. The rules are suspended. Senator Viverito moves the adoption of House Joint Resolution 152. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. We will now proceed to the Order of Resolutions Consent Calendar. With the leave of the Body, all resolutions read into -- today will be added to the Consent Calendar. Madam Secretary, have there been any objections filed to any resolutions on the Consent Calendar?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall the resolutions on the Consent Calendar be adopted. All in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The motion carries. The resolutions are adopted. Pursuant to House -- Joint Resolution 152, the Senate stands adjourned until 3 p.m. on Sunday, January 7, 2007. The Senate stands adjourned. 127