PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) The regular Session of the 95th General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desks? And our guests in the galleries please rise. The invocation today will be given by Reverend Jeff Chitwood, South Side Christian Church, Springfield, Illinois.
(Prayer by the Reverend Jeff Chitwood)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Maloney.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Maloney)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Madam Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of Tuesday, March 6th, 2007.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Hunter.
Madam 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 HALVORSON) Senator Hunter moves to approve the Journals just read by the Secretary. There being no objection, so ordered. …Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 86, offered by Senators Watson -- Watson, 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 15th Legislative Day 3/7/2007 Burzynski and all Members. It’s a death resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Resolutions Consent Calendar. Madam Secretary, Messages.
A Message from -- from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed a bill of the following title, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 174. We’ve received like Messages on House Bills 4, 49, 133, 140, 160 and 1750. All passed the House, March 6th, 2007. Mark Mahoney, Clerk of the House. I also -- 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 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. 33. (Secretary reads HJR No.33) Adopted by the House, March 6th, 2007. Mark Mahoney, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Crotty, Chairperson of the Committee on Local 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 15th Legislative Day 3/7/2007 Government, reports Senate Bills 83, 253, 285, 599, 612, 725 and 1244 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 662 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Garrett, Chairperson of the Committee on Public Health, reports Senate Bills 15, 233, 650, -- and 1580 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 16, 545, 547 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Jacobs, Chairperson of the Committee on Housing and Community Affairs, reports Senate Bills 34, 137, 220 and 380 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 1687 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Wilhelmi, Chairperson of the Committee on Judiciary- Criminal Law, reports Senate Bills 88, 150, 177, 273, 300, 364, 426, 441, 521, 533, 572, 585, 665, 1228, 1293, 1348 and 1428 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 1430 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Munoz, Chairperson on the Committee of -- of the Committee on Transportation, reports Senate Bills 307, 393, 580, 673 and 678 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 540 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Raoul, Chairperson of the Committee on Pensions and Investments, reports Senate Bills 488, 644 and 1653 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 1179 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Sullivan, Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Conservation, reports Senate Bills 7, 649 and 1559 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 281 Do Pass, as Amended.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Madam Secretary, House Bills 1st Reading. I apologize, Madam Secretary. We need a Rules Committee immediately in the President’s Anteroom. Senator Rutherford, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. For an introduction if I may, please. Actually, I’ve got two of ‘em. 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 15th Legislative Day 3/7/2007
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Go ahead.
Thank you, Madam President. First of all, I’d like to introduce from my home county of Livingston, the Leadership Team from the Chamber of Commerce is down visiting us. So would you please welcome the Livingston County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Team here in Springfield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Guests in the gallery please rise. Welcome to Springfield.
And, Madam President, I also have -- it’s become quite an annual introduction. I’m so glad that he is -- he’s made it -- the repeated trip to join us here at the State Capitol. That’s our -- our friend to many in this Chamber, Grant DePorter. He is the -- now, the Chairman of the Illinois Tourism Alliance, which previously was known as “Visit Illinois”. We know that he is the president/owner of Harry Caray’s Restaurants throughout the Chicagoland area. Comes from quite a bit of activity and asked me tonight to be sure and remind everyone that their reception for the tourism industry is at the Sangamo Club at 5:30. All are welcome. Ladies and Gentlemen, would you please welcome a friend of the Chamber’s, Grant DePorter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Welcome to Springfield. Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 15th Legislative Day 3/7/2007 State your point.
I, too, have a very important guest with me this morning. Traveled all the way from Crystal Lake to hear the Governor’s speech. His name is Casey Voris and he is the past president of the Crystal Lake Chamber. It must be Christmas -- Chamber Day. Can we give him a nice warm welcome from Springfield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Welcome to Springfield. Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Halvorson, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative -- Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Agriculture and Conservation Committee - Senate Bill 216; refer to Commerce and Economic Development Committee - Senate Bill 1606 and 1615; refer to Education Committee - Senate Bill 538, 1183, 1436, 1462, 1473 and 1478; refer to Environment and Energy Committee - Senate Bill 215, 268, 482, 635, 1187, 1400 and 1543; refer to Executive Committee - Senate Bills -- 60, 157, 262, 420, Senate Bills 751 through Senate Bill -- Senate Bills 800, Senate Bills 801 through Senate Bills 850, Senate Bills 851 through 900, Senate Bills 901 through 950, Senate Bills 951 through 1000, Senate Bills 101 {sic} (1001) through 1050, Senate Bills 1051 through 1101, Senate Bill 1189, 1190, 1305, 1327, 1385, 1591, 1593 and 1751; refer to Financial Institutions Committee - Senate Bill -- Senate Bills -- I’m sorry, 546 and 551; refer to Higher Education Committee - Senate Bill 1246; refer to Housing and Community Affairs Committee - Senate Bill 487; refer to Human Services Committee - Senate Bill 147; refer to Insurance Committee - Senate Bill 21 and 1518; 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 15th Legislative Day 3/7/2007 refer to Judiciary-Civil Law Committee - Senate Bill -- Senate Bills 1230 and 1306; refer to Judiciary-Criminal Law Committee - Senate Bills 200, 450, 607, 677, 697 and 1627; refer to Labor Committee - Senate Bill 1249; refer to Licensed Activities Committee - Senate Bill 280, 263 {sic} (463), 637, 648, 745 and 1355; refer to Local Government Committee - Senate Bills 345, 399, 417, 523, 632, 733, 735, 1201, 1250 and 1276; refer to Pensions and Investments Committee - Senate Bills 1166, 1169 and 1587; refer to Public Health Committee - Senate Bill 1324; refer to Revenue Committee - Senate Bill 52, 109, 136, 629, -- and 638; refer to Transportation Committee - Senate Bills 166, 378, 489, 1337, 1483, 1527 and 1738. Debbie Halvorson, Chairman. Dated March 7th, 2007. 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 and 2 to Senate Bill 1578; refer to Education Committee - Committee -- Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 79, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 198, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 266, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 396, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 505, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 641, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1165 and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate -- Senate Bill 1702; refer to Financial Institutions Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1224 and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1347; refer to Higher Education Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 325, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 326 and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 457; refer to Insurance Committee - Committee -- Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 15th Legislative Day 3/7/2007 422, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1279 and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1688; refer to Licensed Activities Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 573, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1226 and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1424; refer to Revenue Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to -- to Senate Bill 1429 and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1680; refer to State Government and Veterans Affairs Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 66, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1358, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1448, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Joint Resolution 2, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Joint Resolution 6, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate -- Senate Joint Resolution 9, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Joint Resolution 14, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Joint Resolution 26, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate -- Senate Resolution 51 and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Resolution -- 52. Signed, Debbie Halvorson -- Senator Debbie Halvorson, Chairman. Dated March 7th, 2007.
RESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) …Secretary, Messages from the House. Madam Secretary, we will now go to the Order of Resolutions. Senator Viverito moves to suspend the rules for the immediate consideration and adoption of House Joint Resolution 33. All those in favor will indicate by saying Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. Senator Viverito moves for the adoption of House Joint Resolution 33. All those in favor, indicate by saying Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and House Joint Resolution 33 is adopted. Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to announce the committee of five Senators who will be appointed to escort -- escort the Governor 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 15th Legislative Day 3/7/2007 to the House of Representatives. Will be Senator Willie Delgado, Senator Gary Forby, Senator Linda Holmes, Senator Randy Hultgren and Senator John Millner. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Senate will stand in recess to the call of the Chair, and after the Joint Session, we will reconvene for matters not requiring Floor action. The Senate stands in recess. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) The Senate will come to order. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, the committee meetings will be at their regularly scheduled time this afternoon. Committees will meet this afternoon at their regularly scheduled time. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 11 a.m. tomorrow, March 8th, 2007. The Senate stands adjourned. 8