The regular Session of the 95th General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desks? Will our guests in galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Dr. Reginald Mills, Central Baptist Church, Springfield.
(Prayer by Dr. Reginald Mills)
Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Maloney.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Maloney)
Madam Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of February 20th, 2008.
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.
Senator Hunter moves to approve the Journal just read by the Secretary. There being no objection, so ordered. ABC Nightline requests leave to record proceedings. Is leave granted? Leave is granted. Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 130th Legislative Day 2/21/2008 Senator Cullerton, Co-Chairperson, and Senator Dillard, Co- Chairperson of the Committee on Judicial Civil Law, reports Senate Bill 2044 Do Pass. Senator Crotty, Chairperson of the Committee on Local Government, reports Senate Bills 1990 and 1992 Do Pass. Senator Wilhelmi, Chairperson of the Committee on Judiciary-Criminal Law, reports Senate Bill 2049 Do Pass. And Senator Raoul, Chairperson of the Committee on Pensions and Investments, reports Senate Bills 1957 and 1958 Do Pass.
Madam Secretary, Introduction of Bills.
Senate Bill 2944, offered by Senator Watson. (Secretary reads title of bill) And Senate Bill 2945, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
Madam Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 551, offered by Senator Wilhelmi and all Members. Senate Resolution 552, offered by Senator Harmon and all Members. And Senate Resolution 553, offered by Senator Hunter and all Members. They’re all death resolutions, Mr. President.
Resolution Consent Calendar. 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 130th Legislative Day 2/21/2008
Senate -- and Senate Resolution 554, offered by Senator Harmon. It is substantive.
Senator Collins, what purpose you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege.
State your point.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I would like for you to welcome about fifty-two young men and women from my parish and my church. These are the eighth graders from St. Sabina. They’re in the President’s Gallery. They wanted to see the -- the General Assembly and the place where the next President of the United States, Barack Obama, honed his political skills. So, would you please welcome, from St. Sabina, the eighth graders with their teachers, Mr. Johnson - Sylvester Johnson - and Danielle Drayton?
Will our guests in the galleries then please rise? Madam Secretary, Messages.
Have a Message from the Governor by Joseph B. Handley, Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative Affairs, dated February 14th, 2008. Mr. President - The Governor directs me to lay before the Senate the following Message: 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 130th Legislative Day 2/21/2008 To the Honorable Members of the Senate, 95th General Assembly - I have nominated and appointed the following named persons of {sic} the offices enumerated below and respectfully ask concurrence in and confirmation of these appointments of your Honorable -- Honorable Body. Rod Blagojevich, Governor.
We’ll pause a moment. We have some guests here. Senator Burzynski.
Thank you. If I could have the attention of the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Filing in behind me today is the State Champion Cross Country Team from Sycamore, Illinois, in my Senate district. We’re very pleased that they’re here with us today. And I can tell you, as a parent of a former cross country runner, I think there’s no athlete who is more determined, who is more disciplined, and better, perhaps, and fit -- or, fit, than cross country runners. They spend a lot of their time. These young men achieved something that’s never been done at their school before. I’ve already challenged them to be back here next year, and we might have a steak lunch or something prepared for them. But, at this time -- just as part of their preparation, you need to understand, they ran over ten thousand miles last summer to get ready for their season. So, if you would -- thank you. I’m going to have the coach step up and introduce the gentlemen we have with us here today. Coach.
(Remarks and Introductions by Coach Michael Lambdin)
4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 130th Legislative Day 2/21/2008 Thank you. Let’s give them a round of applause again. And thank you all for your attention.
Okay. We have some more guests. Senator Pankau.
Thank you. I’d like to introduce to the Senate the winners of the State Stock Market Game, from Addison Trail High School, in my district. And I’d like to -- come forward their coach. And these are the women -- oh! I may -- did you notice they’re all women that won in this team effort? These are the women that took an amount of money, they invested it, and they had the most return of any of the participants in this game. So, please welcome them to the Illinois Senate. And this is their team leader, Mr. Adam Chibulka, and he will introduce the members.
(Remarks and Introductions by Mr. Adam Chibulka)
Senator Hendon, what purpose you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
State your point.
Mr. President, being African American History Month, I wanted to introduce a young man who served in the military Tuskegee Airmen, Mr. Beverly Lawrence Dunjill. He flew over one hundred combat missions as a jet fighter in the 334th Fighter Squadron, the 4th Fighter Group, in Korea. He was promoted to Lieutenant. And he is here with us today. He was over at DHS, 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 130th Legislative Day 2/21/2008 letting them know the importance of the Tuskegee Airmen in our history. He’s also the recipient of a number of -- of medals from the Air Force: the U.S. Presidential Unit Citation and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation. I’d like for the Senate to welcome a hero, Beverly Lawrence Dunjill, to the Illinois Senate.
Will our guest stand and be welcomed by the Senate? Yes, Senator Hendon.
One -- one final thing, Mr. President. As you know, last week - I know you all had some wonderful things to say about Adeline Geo-Karis, a former Senator who has gone on to be with the Lord - I was not here. But I wanted to say publicly what I’ve said to Adeline privately - I love you and I will miss you.
Senator Radogno.
For a point of personal privilege.
State your point.
I’d like to introduce to the Body a young lady who is visiting with us today, Eva Ping. She is here from Paris, Illinois. She’s in the fifth grade, and her father, Jay, is up in the gallery.
Guest -- will our guest please rise and be welcomed by the Senate? Senator Kotowski, what purpose you rise? 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 130th Legislative Day 2/21/2008
Mr. President, Point of personal privilege.
State your point.
Thank you, Mr. President. It’s my pleasure today to introduce Brittney Patterson. She’s a resident of Park Ridge, a constituent. She also goes to the great University of Illinois, my alma mater. And she works for The Daily Illini On-Air. She could have covered any range of issues today. She covered the great Senate President, but she decided to write a story about me. So, I’m exceedingly honored that she’s here. She’s a wonderful person. She’s got a great career ahead of her. Can you please welcome her to Springfield and give her a round of applause?
Our guest please rise and be welcomed by the Senate. Okay, on top of page 2 on your Calendar, Senate Bills on 2nd Reading. Madam Secretary.
Senate Bill 1863, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
Senator Schoenberg. Senate Bill 1867. Senate Bill -- 1872. Senator Harmon. Senate Bill 1874. Senator Forby. Senate Bill 1920. Senator Garrett. Madam Secretary, read the bill. 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 130th Legislative Day 2/21/2008
Senate Bill 1920. An Act… I’m sorry. Senate Bill 1920, offered by Senator Garrett. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
Have there been any Floor amendments? 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1927. Senator Sullivan. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1927, offered by Senator Sullivan. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. Senator Martinez is in the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Sullivan, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. A point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Please state your privilege.
I have a young lady here with me today. She’s a Page for the Day. She’s from my hometown of Rushville. Her name is Emily Morrell. And she’s a sophomore at Rushville-Industry High School. And I’d just like everybody to welcome her to the Senate today.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 130th Legislative Day 2/21/2008 Can everybody please welcome her? Welcome to the Senate. Ladies and Gentlemen, going to the Calendar on page 4, middle of the page, we have a resolution. Senate Joint Resolution 65. Senator Clayborne. Senator Clayborne? Moving on to Senate Joint Resolution 75. Senator Maloney. Madam Secretary, resolution.
Senate -- Senate Joint Resolution 75, offered by Senator Maloney. No committee amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Maloney.
Thank you, Madam President. Senate Joint Resolution 75 simply voices support for international education programs in Illinois. It finds that higher education programs that teach economic, social and political issues, encourage language and study abroad are important to the economy of Illinois. This was brought to me by Diane Viverito. Yes, Madam President, it is that Viverito, a relative of that Viverito. So -- but please don’t hold that against the resolution. She’s the Director of International Studies at Moraine and has been a supporter of this and has other prestigious institutions supporting this as well, such as the University of Chicago. And I’d like to thank Diane for bringing this issue forward. And this simply recognizes the importance of international education and how important it is in a global economy. I’d be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Maloney moves the 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 130th Legislative Day 2/21/2008 adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 75. All those in favor will -- will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Resolutions Consent Calendar. We will now proceed to the Order of Resolution Consent Calendar. With the leave of the Body, all those resolutions read in today will be added to the Consent Calendar. Madam Secretary, has there been any objections filed -- any resolutions on the Consent Calendar?
No objections filed, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall the resolutions on the Consent Calendar be adopted. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the motion carries. And the resolutions are adopted. Madam Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Joint Resolution 85, offered by Senator Halvorson. (Secretary reads SJR No. 85)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Halvorson moves to suspend the rules for the purpose of immediate consideration and adoption of Senate -- House Joint Resolution 85. All -- I’m sorry. Senate Joint Resolution 85. All in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the rules are suspended. Senator Halvorson now moves the adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 85. All in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. And the Senate Joint Resolution 85 is adopted. Pursuant to the Senate Joint Resolution 85, the Senate stands adjourned until Tuesday, 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 130th Legislative Day 2/21/2008 February 26, 2008, at 12 noon. The Senate stands adjourned. 11