PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The regular Session of the 95th General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desk? Will our guests in the gallery please rise. The invocation today will be given by the Reverend Brandon Boyd, Lincoln Christian Church, Lincoln, Illinois.
(Prayer by the Reverend Brandon Boyd)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Please remain standing for the Pledge Allegiance. Senator Maloney.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Maloney)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Madam Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of Wednesday, February 28th, 2007.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hunter.
Mr. President, I move that the Journal just read by the Secretary be approved, unless some Senators has additions or corrections to offer.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hunter moves to approve the Journal just read by the Secretary. There being no objection, so ordered. Madam Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolutions 80 and 81, offered by Senator Dillard and 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 12th Legislative Day 3/1/2007 all Members. They’re both death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Resolution Consent Calendar. Madam Secretary, Messages.
Message from Emil Jones, Jr., Senate President, dated March 1st, 2007. Dear Madam Secretary - Pursuant to Rule 3-5(c), I hereby appoint Senator Rickey Hendon to resume his position on the Senate Rules Committee. This appointment is effective immediately. Sincerely, Emil Jones, Jr., Senate President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I have two purposes. One is a purpose of a -- an announcement. State Government will meet today at 1 o’clock in Room 409. And then a point of personal privilege - I’d like to welcome two of my constituents, who are in the gallery over there: Commander Schwarz, from the Highland Park Police Department, and Terri Olian, who is a member of the Highland Park City Council. Please give them a warm welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our guests rise and we’ll give ‘em a welcome. Senator Frerichs, for what purpose do you rise?
I rise for a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point. 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 12th Legislative Day 3/1/2007
Today in this Chamber, we’re -- we have a colleague who is celebrating a significant milestone, a birthday. Senator Halvorson has been a friend of mine. She’s been a mentor. She’s been someone I look up to and someone that I hope to -- when I grow up, to be like. So, I’d ask my colleagues to join us in -- join in congratulating our Senate Majority Leader on her birthday.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Happy birthday, Madam Majority Leader. Messages from -- Madam Secretary.
A Message -- a Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has adopted the following joint resolution, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Joint Resolution No. 12. It’s a -- Mark Mahoney, Clerk of the House. It is a death resolution and it’s sponsored by Senator -- Senator Bomke, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Resolution Consent Calendar. …Secretary, any other Messages?
Yes. A Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed bills of the following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 12th Legislative Day 3/1/2007 concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill No. 12. We have received like Messages on House Bills 32, 38, 137, 272, 316, 320, 328, 330, 369, 376, 405, 408, 421, 48 {sic} (438) and 458. All passed the House, February 28th, 2007. Mark Mahoney, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Schoenberg, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise on a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I’m honored today to be joined by Emily Lipson, who is a seventh grader at the Bessie Rhodes Magnet School in Evanston/Skokie School -- School District 65. Emily is a resident of Evanston. She’s here with her mother, Jancy Jerome, up in the Senate gallery on the Republican side. And please give -- Emily is my Page for the Day. And please give them both a warm Springfield welcome. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point. 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 12th Legislative Day 3/1/2007
We also have a birthday on this side of the aisle, one of our newer colleagues to the Senate. I would like everyone to wish Senator Hultgren a very happy birthday.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Happy birthday, Senator. Senator Wilhelmi, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
Well, thank you. I don’t know that everyone heard my distinguished colleague, Senator Frerichs, when he made his announcement. And I was also inclined to make an announcement that would honor our Majority Leader on her birthday. And when you look at it, Mr. President, you see all the things that Senator Halvorson has accomplished. And she just recently told me that she’s in the last year of her forties. And to -- to be able to accomplish all the things that she has been able to accomplish and still be at the young age that she’s -- she’s at, I just want to say congratulations. Thank you for all the mentoring you’ve given to me and -- and the younger Senators in this -- in this Chamber. And we -- we love you and we wish you the best today on your birthday.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Silverstein, for what purpose do you rise?
Purpose of an announcement and a -- a personal privilege. 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 12th Legislative Day 3/1/2007
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
First of all, I have with me a Page from Senator Garrett’s district, Brian {sic} (Benjamin) Englander, and her {sic} parents in -- on the gallery over here, Alan and -- Ellen Englander over here. And also to state a -- an announcement, the -- Senate Executive Committee will meet immediately after adjournment. I wish you’d give them a warm Springfield welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Madam Secretary, I understand you have a correction to the Message you just read.
Yes, Mr. President. On the previous Message from Mark Mahoney, Clerk, instead of Senate Bill 48, it should have been -- read Senate Bill 438.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Rules Committee will meet immediately in the President’s Anteroom. Rules Committee will meet immediately in the President’s Anteroom. Senator Watson, for what purpose do you rise?
Yes. Thank you very much, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. I’d like to introduce some guests in the gallery if I could: the Mayor of Mt. Zion, Mayor 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 12th Legislative Day 3/1/2007 Don Robinson; the Administrator, Jerry Potts; and the Treasurer, Julie Miller. They’re over here on the Republican side in the President’s gallery and they will be testifying in the Revenue Committee. And I’d like to have all the support of the Revenue Committee members as they try to extend their TIF district. So, I thought I’d editorialize my introduction if I could. I’d like for our guests to be recognized, Mr. President. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our guests -- please rise and be welcomed by the Senate? Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Halvorson, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Commerce and Economic Development Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 207, Committee Amendment No. 1 to -- and 2 to Senate Bill 208, and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 368; refer to Education Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 424; refer to Executive Committee - Committee -- Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 158 and Senate Resolution 65; refer to Higher Education Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 313 and Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 395; refer to Licensed Activities Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 509, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 571 and Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1225; refer to State Government and Veterans Affairs Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 116, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 597, Senate Joint Resolutions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 14, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, Senate Resolution 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55. 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 12th Legislative Day 3/1/2007 Senator Debbie Halvorson, Chairman. Senator Crotty, Chairperson of the Committee on Local Government, reports Senate Bills 222, -- 249, -- 255, 263, 299, 305, 341, 343, 374, 382, 384, 434, 436, 439, 473 and 513 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 270 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Garrett, Chairperson of the Committee on Public Health, reports Senate Bills 5, 6 and 19 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 10 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Cullerton, Co-Chairperson, and Senator Dillard, Co- Chairperson of the Committee on Judiciary-Civil Law, reports Senate Bills 337, 355, 452, 454, 481, 497, 528, 531, 534, 738, 1260, 1296 and 1545 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 229, 333, 486 -- and 486 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Wilhelmi, Chairperson of the Committee on Judiciary- Criminal Law, reports Senate Bills 129, 132, 165, 174, 226, 274, 527, 529, 594, 705 and 1379 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 97 and 363 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Munoz, Chairperson of the Committee on Transportation, reports Senate Bills 56, 71, 73, 80, 140, 169, 170 and 172 Do Pass. Senator Raoul, Chairperson of the Committee on Pensions and Investments, reports Senate Bills 377, 493, 1380 and 1553 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 153 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Clayborne, Chairperson of the Committee on Environment and Energy, reports Senate Bills 569, 620, 661, 1242, 1299, 1366, 1392, 1422 and 1663 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 376 and 1174 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Sullivan, Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Conservation, reports Senate Bills 202, 206, 498, 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 12th Legislative Day 3/1/2007 518, 557, 560, 627 and 1617 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 201 Do Pass, as Amended. And Senator Meeks, Chairperson of the Committee on Human Services, reports Senate Bills 47, 108, 124, 284, 611, 715, 1364 and 1368 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 335 Do Pass, as Amended.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) All committees that were supposed to meet at 1 o’clock will meet upon adjournment. All the other committees will meet at their scheduled time. Senator John Jones, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Inquiry of the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your inquiry.
Yesterday I -- I -- I got up to speak on the Senate Floor about an issue that’s -- I think is dear to everybody in the Chamber here. I brought one folder of citizens’ utility bills. Today I have two. Twenty-four hours later, I have two. I know it’s affecting everybody on both sides of the aisle. So I was just curious, is there -- is there any bills? Are we getting close to getting a bill to the Senate Floor that we could possibly address the electric issue?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Clayborne is having hearings on this right now. And I defer -- encourage you to be involved with Senator Clayborne, who is Chairman of Energy and Environment. Is having these hearings all over the State. He is having a hearing, I know, very shortly in the City of Chicago and will be having ‘em 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 12th Legislative Day 3/1/2007 throughout the State. He has had ‘em in other parts of the State. And I would encourage you, as I encourage all Members, to be involved in this, because we all realize this is one of the most important issues we face in the State of Illinois. Senator Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. I -- and I appreciate that. I -- I know that Senator Clayborne had a hearing in East St. Louis earlier this week, on Monday. I -- I appreciate what he’s doing, but I think we’re past the hearing process. I think it’s time to get -- you know, encourage the Governor to come down and show some leadership. And let’s get a bill here on the Floor that will help alleviate the -- the electric problems in the State of Illinois, and especially downstate. But northern part of the State, Commonwealth Edison people are -- are going to see this big hit come summer. But, Mr. President, I appreciate your time. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 11 a.m., on Friday, March 2nd, 2007. The Senate stands adjourned. 10