PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) 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 galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Reverend Richard Irwin, First Christian Church, Springfield, Illinois.
(Remarks and Prayer by the Reverend Richard Irwin)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Maloney.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Maloney)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Madam Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of Friday, March 2nd, 2007.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Senator Hunter.
Mr. President, I move that the Journal just read by the Secretary be approved, unless some Senator has additions or corrections to offer.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Senator Hunter moves the approval of the Journal just read by the Secretary. There being no objection, so ordered. Madam Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 85, offered by Senator Frerichs. 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 14th Legislative Day 3/6/2007 It is substantive, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) …Secretary, Messages.
Have a Message from Emil Jones, Jr., Senate President, dated March 6th, 2007. Dear Madam Secretary - Pursuant to Rule 3-5(c), I hereby appoint Senator Louis Viverito to resume his position on the Senate Rules Committee. This appointment is effective immediately. Sincerely, Emil Jones, Jr., Senate President. I have a Message -- letter dated March 6th, from Senate Republican Leader Frank Watson. Dear Secretary Shipley - Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-2, I hereby appoint Senator Dale Righter to temporarily replace Senator Carole Pankau as the Minority Spokesperson of the Public Health Committee. This change shall take effect immediately. Sincerely, Frank Watson, Senate Republican Leader. A Message from the Secretary of State, dated February 28th. Honorable Members of the Illinois State Senate - I am correcting my earlier letter of 3/31/04 nominating Maria Kuzas for appointment to the Executive Ethics Commission for the Office of the Secretary of State. Sincerely, Jesse White, Secretary of State. Have another Message from the Secretary of State, dated March 1st, 2007. Honorable Members of the Illinois -- State Senate - I am nominating Ferdinand Serpe for reappointment to the Chairman of the Secretary of State’s Merit Commission. I respectfully ask 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 14th Legislative Day 3/6/2007 concurrence in and confirmation of this appointment by your Honorable -- Honorable Body. Sincerely, Jesse White, Secretary of State. I also have 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 concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 625. We’ve received like Messages on House Bills 642, 653, 709, 732, 743, 744, 759, 1004, 1019, 1020, -- and 1026 {sic} (1066). All passed the House, March 2nd, 2007. Mark Mahoney, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Madam Secretary, Introduction of Bills.
Senate Bill 1716 {sic} (1760), offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Madam Secretary, House Bills 1st Reading.
House Bill 12, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 369, offered by Senator Althoff. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 38. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 14th Legislative Day 3/6/2007 Offered by Senator Wilhelmi. House Bill 137, offered by Senator Demuzio. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 138, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 264, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 272, offered by Senator Sullivan. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 310, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 320, offered by Senator Sullivan. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 328, a bill for -- I’m sorry, offered by Senator Righter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill -- House Bill 376, offered by Senator Clayborne. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 405, offered by Senator Jacobs. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 438, offered by Senator Burzynski. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 458, offered by Senator Forby. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 462, offered by Senator Ronen. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 518, offered by Senator Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 551, offered by Senator Collins. 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 14th Legislative Day 3/6/2007 (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 623, offered by Senator Koehler. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 625, offered by Senator -- Silverstein. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 642, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 732, offered by Senator Holmes. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 744, offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads title of bill) And House Bill 1066, offered -- offered by Senators Ronen -- Ronen and Righter. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Senator Haine, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) State your point.
Mr. President, It gives me great pleasure to note in this -- on this busy day and our busy schedule the assumption of the presiding officer’s gavel by such a great statesman from the Metro-East of Illinois - distinguished lawyer, counselor and Cardinal fan. Congratulations, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Thank -- thank you, Senator Haine. Greatly appreciate it. 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 14th Legislative Day 3/6/2007 Thank you. Senator Schoenberg, for what purpose do you rise?
Mr. President, I rise on a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) State your personal privilege - your point.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I am honored today to be joined by two wonderful young women who are my Pages for today. Izzy and Natalie Buchholz are from Northbrook, Illinois. Izzy is in the eighth grade at Northbrook Junior High and plays the harp, among her many interests. Natalie is in fifth grade at Greenbrier -- Greenbrier School, and she’s a speed skater and plays the piano and viola, among her many talents. I’d like to ask you all to give them a warm Springfield welcome, as well as their parents, Jim and Pam Buchholz, who are in the gallery directly behind me. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Will our guests please rise? And would you please recognize our visitors? Thank you for coming. Welcome to Springfield. Senator -- Viverito, for what purpose do you rise?
Personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) State your point.
I’d like very much if you’d give a warm welcome to the Mayor of Willow Springs, Mr. Nowaczyk, and his lovely daughter, Lori {sic} (Lauren). 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 14th Legislative Day 3/6/2007
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Welcome to Springfield. Senator Demuzio, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. A point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Please state your point.
Thank you. Today with us in the gallery, we have with us the LEADership Council of Christian County, and they are taking note as to all of our leadership skills here today on the Floor. So I would like to welcome the LEADership Academy.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Will our guests in the gallery please rise? Let’s welcome them to Springfield. Senator John Jones, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Would you please state your point?
Well, I -- I, too, rise. It is a great honor that the distinguished Senator from the Metro-East is in the Chair today. It gives me great encouragement that something may be done on the electric rates with you in the Chair. So, congratulations on being in the Chair today.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Thank you, Senator Jones. Senator Althoff, what -- for what purpose do you rise? 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 14th Legislative Day 3/6/2007
Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Please state your point.
Thank you, Mr. President. I also have a great honor today. I have with me Haley Muller, who is twelve years old and attends Keller Junior High in Barrington. And also with her is her father, Aaron, and he is the Government Affairs Committee Chair for the Barrington Chamber of Commerce. Might we give them a nice warm welcome?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Would you please rise? And welcome to Springfield. Thank you for coming. Madam Secretary, any Messages?
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 concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 138. I have like Messages on House Bill 462, 497, 518, 551, 574, 593, -- and 623. All passed the House, March 1st, 2007. Mark Mahoney, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) The Rules Committee will meet immediately in the President’s Anteroom. Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 14th Legislative Day 3/6/2007 Senator Halvorson, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Agriculture and Conservation Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 281 and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 550; refer to Environment and Energy Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 303, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 357, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1184 and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1704; (Housing and Community Affairs Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1687); refer to -- Human Services Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 244, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 390, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 544, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 581, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 595, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1579 and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1699; refer to Judiciary-Civil Law Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 148 and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 461; refer to Judiciary-Criminal Law Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 265, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1430 and Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1686; refer to Local Government Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill -- 662 and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1313; refer to Pensions and Investments Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 610 and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1179; refer to Public Health Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 16, Committee -- Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 545 and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 547; and refer to Transportation Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 540. (Legislative Measure within parentheses submitted in writing but inadvertently not read into the record.) 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 14th Legislative Day 3/6/2007 Be Approved for Consideration, Senator Debbie Halvorson, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Senator Link, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. It’s a pleasure looking at you up there. I would like to call for a Democratic Caucus in the President’s Office immediately.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Senator, we will take care of some other business and the caucus will take place once we accomplish that -- that business. Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Two brief points, if I might. First, to announce the excused absence of Senator Pankau. She is ill and will not be in Session today. Second, immediately upon adjournment, the Republicans would also request a caucus in Senator Watson’s Office, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Senator Righter, that is always in order. And once we adjourn, we’ll take -- take -- take care of that. Senator Haine, for what purpose do you rise?
A point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Please state your point.
Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I would ask a hearty Senate welcome for a young couple who are here 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 14th Legislative Day 3/6/2007 because of the midwifery bill, lobbying their Members of the Senate: Chris Vilander, Cindy Vilander and their wonderful children, Joshua, Sarah, David, Anna, Peter and Caleb. Ladies and Gentlemen, they’re right behind the Speaker’s -- or, the President’s Die. If you could stand and be recognized.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Will our guests in the gallery please rise? And let’s give them a warm welcome. All of the meetings -- all of committees scheduled today will be postponed by one-half hour. Again, all the committees today will be postponed by one-half hour. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 11:30 a.m., tomorrow, March 7th, 2007. The Senate stands adjourned. 11