PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) The regular Session of the 95th General Assembly will please come to order. Madam Secretary, Committee Reports. I’m sorry. Madam Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journals.
Senate Journal of March 5th, 2008.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) …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 MARTINEZ) Senator Hunter moves to approve the Journal just read by the Secretary. There being no objection, so ordered. Madam Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolutions 569 and 570, offered by Senator Haine and all Members. And Senate Resolution 571, offered by Senator Sullivan and all Members. They’re all death resolutions, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Madam Secretary, please put those resolutions on the Consent Calendar.
And Senate Resolution 573, offered by Senator Schoenberg. And Senate Resolution 574, offered by Senator Martinez. They’re both substantive, Madam President. 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Cullerton, Co-Chairperson, and Senator Dillard, Co- Chairperson of the Committee on Judiciary-Civil Law, reports Senate Bills -- 2784 and 2872 Do Pass. Senator Crotty, Chairperson of the Committee on Local Government, reports Senate Bills 2353, 2581, 2743, 2745, 2748, 2749 and 2788 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 2005, -- I’m sorry, 2190, 2297 and 2536 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Garrett, Chairperson of the Committee on Public Health, reports Senate Bills 2461, 2473, 2492, 2734, 2857 and 2860 Do Pass; and a Motion to Accept the Specific Recommendations of the Governor with respect to House Bill 1279 recommended Do Adopt. Senator Jacobs, Chairperson of the Committee on Housing and Community Affairs… Senator Raoul, Chairperson of the Committee on Pensions and Investments, reports Senate Bill 2078, 2250 and 2529 Do Pass. Senator Wilhelmi, Chairperson of the Committee on Judiciary-Criminal Law, reports Senate Bills 1887, 2349, 2366, 2396, 2401, 2785 and 2821 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 2488 and 2596 Do Pass, as Amended; and House Bill 230 Do Pass, as -- Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Collins, Chairperson of the Committee on Financial Institutions, reports Senate Bills 1993 and 2338 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 2513 Do Pass, as Amended. And Senator Trotter, Chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations I, reports a Motion to Accept the Specific 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 Recommendations of the Governor with respect to House Bill 4144 recommend Do Adopt. Senator Sullivan, Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and -- Conservation, reports Senate Bill 1984 Do Pass. Senator Meeks, Chairperson of the Committee on Human Services, reports Senate Bills 2336, 2505, 2531, 2552, 2830 and 2851 Do Pass. Senator Clayborne, Chairperson of the Committee on Environment and Energy, reports Senate Bills 1987, 2120 and 2129 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 2547 and 2783 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Silverstein, Chairperson of the Committee on Executive, reports Senate Bills 2021, 2240, 2399, 2754, 2755 and 2757 Do Pass. Senator Harmon, Chairperson of the Committee on Revenue, reports Senate Bills 1857, 2015, 2097, 2298, 2342, 2474, 2622, 2643, 2820, 2854, 2859 and 2892 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 1981 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Demuzio, Chairperson of the Committee on State Government and Veterans Affairs, reports Senate Bills 2332, 2404, 2636, 2883 and 2887 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 2564 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Lightford, Chairperson of the Committee on Education, reports Senate Bills 1997, 2352, 2387, 2487, 2500, 2575, 2638, 2858, 2864 and 2907 Do Pass. Senator Haine, Chairperson of the Committee on Insurance, reports Senate Bills 2486, 2595 and 2845 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 2002 Do Pass, as Amended.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 Madam Secretary, 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 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 4643. Passed the House, March 5th, 2008. Mark Mahoney, Clerk of the House. I have a like 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 title, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 3679. We’ve received like Messages on House Bills 4390, 4457, 4523, 4574, 4588, 4590, 4603, 4641, 4648, 4653, 4664, 4702, 4727, 4838, 4839, 5226 and 5511. All passed the House, March 6th, 2008. Mark Mahoney, Clerk of the House. And a final 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 111. Offered by Senator Harmon. And adopted by the House, March 6th, 2008. Mark Mahoney, Clerk of the House. 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 And it is substantive, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Ladies and Gentlemen, as you know, today is Ag Day here in the Capitol. And I would like to have some special guests that are here joining us. Can we please welcome them?
Good afternoon, Members of the Senate. It is our -- it is my privilege today that we celebrate the 38th Annual Illinois Agricultural Legislative Day here at the Capitol. And I’d like to take this opportunity to take a -- a time-out to thank all the students and the teachers and the administrators and all those who understand the important role agriculture plays in Illinois and who make the FFA such a successful organization year after year. I think we should take a time-out here and give them a great big hand, because I know all of us have had the opportunity to visit with our FFA students and our leadership. And let’s give them a great big hand for all the good works that they do. I have the special honor and privilege today to introduce to you a bright young woman from my district, who many of you may have already met, and her name is Kaitlin Weitekamp. Kaitlin is a member of the Lincolnwood FFA Chapter and is currently the 2007-2008 Illinois FFA President. And Kaitlin’s supervised agricultural experiences include Turf Grass Management and Agriculture Communications. And before serving as State President, she was Section 19 President and Reporter and chapter President and Historian. So, you can see, she’s had many, many accomplishments along the way. Her favorite career development event is crop judging. Kaitlin’s planning on attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 majoring Agribusiness Management. I think we should take this moment now and give Kaitlin a great big Illinois Senate welcome to Kaitlin, our FFA State President. Thank you, Kaitlin. 2007-2008 ILLINOIS FFA PRESIDENT KAITLIN WEITEKAMP: (Remarks by 2007-2008 Illinois FFA President Kaitlin Weitekamp)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) And now we have Senator Frerichs with another special guest.
She was previously the Georgetown Fair Queen. She’s a resident of the City of -- of Danville, Illinois. We’re very proud of her. She’s very poised. She’s very articulate. And I think you’ll be -- please do me the favor of applauding her and giving her attention as she speaks to you today. Miss Molly Reeves. 2008 MISS ILLINOIS COUNTY FAIR QUEEN MOLLY REEVES: (Remarks by 2008 Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Molly Reeves)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Ladies and Gentlemen, the Supplemental Calendar No. 1 is being distributed. On Supplemental Calendar No. 1 and the -- is the Order of Motions in Writing to Accept Specific Recommendations for Change. Senator Sandoval, on House Bill 1279. Madam Secretary -- Secretary, read the motion.
I move to accept the specific recommendations of the Governor as to House Bill 1279 in manner and form as follows: Amendment to House Bill 1279 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 In Acceptance of Governor’s Recommendations Amend House Bill 1279 on page 2, line 12, after “any”, by inserting “outdoor”. Filed by Senator Martin Sandoval.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) …Sandoval, to explain the motion.
Thank you, Madam President and Members of the Illinois Senate. I move to accept the specific recommendations of the Governor to House Bill 1279 in accepting his amendatory veto. This amendatory veto attempts to clarify the legislative intent of the General Assembly in the exemption pertaining to park districts. As passed by the General Assembly, a physical fitness facility does not include any facility owned or operated by a park district. This amendatory veto passed the House unanimously 113 to 0. And I’d ask for your favorable consideration.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Sandoval moves to accept the specific recommendations of the Governor as to House Bill 1279. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate accept the specific recommendations of the Governor to House Bill 1279 in the manner and form just stated by Senator Sandoval. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is now open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. With there being 50 Ayes, 2 Nays, 0 Present, the specific recommendations of the Governor to House Bill 1279, having received the constitutional majority vote of the Senate elected, 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 are declared accepted. On the same Supplemental Calendar, we go to Senator Hendon on Senate Bill -- I mean - I’m sorry - House Bill 4144. Madam Secretary, read the motion.
I move to accept the specific recommendations of the Governor as to House Bill -- I’m sorry, -- 4144 in manner and form as follows: In Acceptance of the Governor’s Recommendations Filed by Senator Rickey Hendon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Hendon.
Thank you, Madam President. I concur with the Governor in his amendatory veto. All he simply did was change the effective date from immediately upon passage to July 1, 2008. And this is to give a little help to the homecare workers here in the State of Illinois. I’d appreciate an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Hunter -- Senator Hendon moves to accept the specific recommendations of the Governor to House Bill 4144. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate accept the specific recommendations of the Governor to House Bill 4144 in the manner and form just stated by Senator Hendon. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is now open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. There being 50 voting Aye, 1 voting Nay, 0 voting Present, the specific recommendations of the Governor to -- as to House Bill 4144, having received the constitutional majority vote of the 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 Senators elected, are declared accepted. Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. How are you this afternoon?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Thank you. I’m doing fabulous.
Good. Good. I would like the record to reflect, if it could, that Senator Cronin is not with us today. He’s back in the district on district business. Please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) The record shall so reflect. Thank you.
Thank you, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Moving on to Senate business, we’re moving to the regular Calendar on page 2. On top of the page, Senate Bills on 2nd Reading. Senator Demuzio, on Senate Bill 1850. Madam Secretary, please read the -- the bill.
Senate Bill 1850. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on State Government and Veterans Affairs adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Has there been any Floor amendments for approval?
No Floor amendments reported, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 3rd Reading. Senator Lightford, on Senate Bill 1864. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill -- Senate Bill 1864. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Human Services reported Committee Amendment No. 1 as Adopted.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Has there been any Floor amendments for approval -- for approved consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 3rd Reading. Senator Halvorson, on Senate Bill 1867. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1867. (Secretary reads title of bill) The Committee on State Government and Veterans Affairs adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Has there been any Floor amendments for approved consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 3rd Reading. Senator Koehler, on Senate Bill 1893. Senator Schoenberg, on -- Senate Bill 1923. Senator Schoenberg. Senate Bill -- Senator Schoenberg, on 1923. Senate Bill 1923. 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 Senator Schoenberg, on Senate Bill 1925. Senator Schoenberg, on Senate Bill 1930. Senator Maloney, on Senate Bill 1939. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1939. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Have there been any Floor amendments for approved consideration?
No further amendments reported, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 3rd Reading. Senator Hultgren, on Senate Bill 1946. Senator Lightford, on Senate Bill 19… We’ll -- we’ll go back to you in one second, Senator Lightford. Senator Hultgren, on Senate Bill 1946. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1946. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 3rd Reading. Senator Lightford, on Senate Bill 1955. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1955. (Secretary reads title of bill) 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 3rd Reading. Senator Clayborne, on Senate Bill 1957. Senator Clayborne. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1957. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 3rd Reading. Senator Clayborne, on Senate Bill 1958. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1958. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 3rd Reading. Senator Hendon, on Senate Bill 1979. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1979. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Housing and Community Affairs reported -- adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Has there been any Floor amendments for approved consideration? 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008
No further amendments reported, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 3rd Reading. Senator Frerichs, on Senate Bill 1982. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1982. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 3rd Reading. Senator Haine, on Senate Bill 2023. Madam Secretary, please read the bill. With the leave of the Body, we’ll be back to Senate Bill 2023. Senator Koehler, on Senate Bill 2033. Senator Koehler. Senator Bond, on Senate Bill 2042. Senator Dillard, on Senate Bill 2044. Senator Dillard. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2044. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 3rd Reading. Senator Jacobs, on Senate Bill 2070. Senator Jacobs. Senator Wilhelmi, on Senate Bill 2098. Senator Wilhelmi. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2098. (Secretary reads title of bill) 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 3rd Reading. Senator -- Senator Raoul, on Senate Bill 2118. Senator Raoul. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2118. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 3rd Reading. Senator Millner, on Senate Bill 2135. Senator Millner. Senator Murphy, on Senate Bill 2142. Senator Syverson, on Senate Bill 2149. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2149. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on State Government and Veterans Affairs adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Has there been any Floor amendments for approval -- consideration?
No further amendments reported, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 3rd Reading. Senator Halvorson in the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine, on 2160. Madam Secretary, read the bill. 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008
Senate Bill 2160. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Koehler, on 2187. Senator Delgado, on 2099 {sic}. Senator Link, on 2239. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2239. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Meeks, on 2288. Senator Maloney, on 2292. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2292. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Sullivan, on 2300. Senator Sullivan, 2300. Top of page 4. With leave of the Body, we’ll come back to 2301. Senator Garrett, on 2311. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2311. 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Garrett, on 2314. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2314. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Local… The Committee on Local Government adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd -- 3rd Reading. Senator Trotter, on 2321. Senator Cullerton, on 2327. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2327. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. With leave of the Body, we will be returning to page 2. Senator Haine, on 2023. Senator Haine, 2023. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 Senate Bill 2023. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have there been any other Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. I would like to announce, for the Members on our side of the aisle, there will be a brief caucus in Senator Watson’s Office immediately upon adjournment. Thank you, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Thank you, Senator Righter. Rules Committee will meet immediately in the President’s Antechamber. Rules Committee will meet immediately. Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Halvorson, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Re-refer to Rules Committee from State Government and Veterans Affairs Committee - Senate Bill 2063 and House Joint Resolution 49. Senator Debbie Halvorson, Chairman. March 6, 2008. And a second Rules Report. 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 Senator Halvorson, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Appropriations II Committee - Senate Bill 1871; refer to Education Committee - Senate Bill 2799; refer to Environment and Energy Committee - Senate Bill 1926, 2105, 2220 and 2313; refer to Executive Committee - Senate Bills {sic} 2063 and House Bill 2482; refer to Housing and Community Affairs Committee - Senate Bills 1988 and 2425; refer to Local Government Committee - Senate Bill 2824; refer to Public Health Committee - Senate Bill 1900; refer to State Government and Veterans Affairs Committee - Senate Bill 1989; and Be Approved for Consideration - House Joint Resolution 49. Senator Debbie Halvorson, Chairman. March 6, 2008.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Ladies and Gentlemen, just for your notification, we’ll be doing some paperwork and then we will be immediately going to the NIU memorial resolution. But, at this time, we will now proceed to the Order of Resolutions Consent Calendar. With leave of the Body, all those resolutions read in today will be added to the Consent Calendar. Madam Secretary, have there been any objections filed to any resolution on the Consent Calendar?
No objections filed, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall the resolutions on the Consent Calendar be adopted. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The motion carries, and the resolutions are adopted. Madam Secretary, Resolutions. Madam Secretary, Messages. 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008
I 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 114. Offered by Senator DeLeo. (Secretary reads HJR No. 114) Adopted by the House, March 6, 2008. Mark Mahoney, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Madam Secretary, Resolutions. Senator DeLeo moves to suspend the rules for the purpose of the immediate consideration and adoption of the House Joint Resolution 114. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the rules are suspended. Senator DeLeo now moves for the adoption of House Joint Resolution 114. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the House Joint Resolution 114 is adopted. The Senate stands… Will the Members please be in their seats? Will the staff please retire from the Floor? Will the doormen please secure the doors? Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 572, offered by Senators Burzynski, Watson, Emil Jones and all Members. (Secretary reads SR No. 572)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Burzynski moves for suspension of the Senate rules 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 for immediate consideration and adoption of Senate Resolution 572. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the rules are suspended. It is the intent of the Chair to allow those Senators whose districts were most closely affected by this tragedy to speak first and then to be followed by any other Members who would like to seek recognition. Senator Dahl.
Thank you, Madam President. Julianna Gehant was from Mendota, Illinois, which is in the 38 District. Julianna was thirty-two years old. She’s from Mendota. She graduated from Mendota High School. After high school, she enlisted in the U.S. Army and served our country for twelve years in the Army Corps of Engineers. She was stationed around the world, from Korea to Bosnia and other international hot points. She rose to the level of Staff Sergeant. And more recently, Julianna attended Northern Illinois University as an elementary education major. She could presume -- pursue her lifetime dream of becoming a second-grade schoolteacher. When you look at everything Julianna did accomplish in life and where she wanted to go, one thing stands out: Her life was of service - service to her family, service to her community, and service to her country. What happened at NIU on February 14th didn’t just rob Julianna’s family and -- friends of a wonderful part of their lives, it also robbed all of us of the tremendous good work and dedicated service she has given back to our country and our communities. As lawmakers, there are some things we have to do we don’t like to do, but there’s nothing worse than what we’re doing today. When an event like the tragedy at NIU happens and 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 innocent people are impacted - and not just innocent people - good people, decent people who have devoted their lives to serving others, whether it’s the victims of this shooting or our fallen heroes from other wars, law enforcement members, firefighters who die in the line of duty, it kind of chokes you up. The world is truly a better place because of the work Julianna did, and our world will not be the same without her. We cannot erase the tragedy of February 14th, but we can remember the victims and honor them. This Senate resolution is a good start. Again, Julianna’s friends and family, your loss is our loss. Hopefully this resolution can be one small way this Body can express not just our sympathy for your loss, but our thanks for her life. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Dillard.
Thank you, Madam President and Members. Daniel Parmenter and his family attended my church, Christ Church of Oak Brook. And, in fact, that’s where his funeral service was held. And his father was a member of our men’s weekly breakfast group. Dan Parmenter was a big kid, really big tall guy, about six foot five. In fact, in one of the obituaries, somebody referred to him as a young man the size of a refrigerator. You may remember that some headlines, including one in the Chicago Tribune, said that Danny died protecting and sheltering his girlfriend, which he did. Dan was a typical sports guy. He was a football player at York High School in Senator Cronin’s district, proud member of the York Dukes. He was a rugby player. The business adviser to the Northern Star newspaper said that, quote, “Dan was our 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 gentle giant”, end quote. He worked at the campus student newspaper as an advertising representative. He was a finance major from Westchester, Illinois. And he was a proud member of Pi Kappa Alpha, also -- or better known as the Pikes. But Dan’s family and friends, if you look at what they said about him, are going to remember his -- his, not only his size, but his intelligence, his honesty, his common sense, and incredible strong work ethic, as people who knew him at Northern Illinois and his football coach from high school would say. And he had a tremendous curiosity about learning. In fact, he sat in the front row of that class with his girlfriend, and people who knew him and at his funeral said it was very typical for Dan to sit in the front row because he wanted to soak up the knowledge that was there. He was somebody who was an honor student and clearly wanted to learn. So, please remember his family and his friends and the Northern community in your prayers. Do not forget his girlfriend, Lauren Debrauwere, who was seriously injured. She still has more surgery to go. But Dan Parmenter -- and I read a great column by Mark Brown, the good and great Sun-Times -- Chicago Sun-Times columnist, who’s an adviser to the Northern Star newspaper. And I think Mr. Brown summarized it so well - that this is the kind of young man that you want to be in the State of Illinois, to grow up, to have a family, to live here. And to have him taken at such an early stage of his life is -- is just a terrible, terrible tragedy. So please -- Senator Burzynski and others from the Northern Illinois community, my heart goes out to all of you and their families. And Dan Parmenter will be sorely, sorely missed. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 Senator Pankau.
The tragedy that occurred at Northern Illinois University took the lives of talented and gifted students. One of those talented students was Gayle Dubowski. She was of Carol Stream, Illinois. Senator Millner and I share that area together. She was a sophomore studying anthropology at NIU. She was also a graduate of Glenbard North High School. She was involved in the school’s choir, the drama programs, and her peers described her as popular and high-spirited. She was on the path to success. She demonstrated it with her talent and drive and the endeavors she undertook at NIU, and during her time at Glenbard North High School as well. Gayle’s memory will be carried on by her family and loved ones. Her hidden energy and drive for things she found exciting will never be forgotten. Let us all pray for them to have the strength to go through these heartbreaking times. And remember, always remember the legacy of Gayle Dubowski.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Sandoval.
You know, it was ten years to the day almost that I was sitting at my desk at the Environmental Protection Agency when I received the phone call from another family member that my sister had been killed in a tragic car accident - a teacher, a young lady who had lived in our neighborhood for -- born in our neighborhood and walked the streets of our neighborhood and stayed around to teach the children of our neighborhood, a Latina. Ten years to the day I received a call from the family 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 of Catalina Garcia, another young Latina who was studying to be a teacher, lived just a few blocks away from my district office, had decided not to be a statistic, had decided to do something with her life, to take advantage of an education, of immigrant parents who had just arrived here from Mexico not too many years ago, and to someday come back and teach the children at Morton East High School, where she had graduated from just a couple years ago. She was a -- a twenty-year-old sophomore from Cicero, majoring in elementary education. One of her teachers said she was a star among stars. Her brother said she was their princess. After receiving that call, I called my good friend, Larry Dominick, the President of the Town of Cicero, and we went and walked over from my office to visit the family. It was a -- it was a tough moment. You could only imagine ‘cause many of you have lived those tragic moments, ‘cause some of us have lived through that. And I wish it on nobody and I wish it on no one’s family. Catalina Garcia - just yesterday - ’s life will be forever embedded in a classroom at the new community center of the Town of Cicero, just across the street from my office. In the new community center, there will be a learning center, and we dedicated last night a learning center -- a classroom, where children from our community will learn about computers, about the Internet, they will learn to read, they will learn about math, and they’ll learn what it needs to get ahead in life, and they will learn not to be a statistic. They would learn to live and dream about the American dream. It is a tragedy, but it’s also a time to celebrate, in our community, someone who had made it out of poverty, someone who had -- was not going to be a statistic, someone who was going to do 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 something with her life. And we, in my community, have a high dropout rate, sixty-five percent dropout rate from high school. She was not. She had succeeded. So it is with much sorrow that I stand here with all of you celebrating the life of one of my constituents, Catalina Garcia, whose memory will live on forever in the Town of Cicero.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Noland.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Ryanne Mace was from Carpentersville, Illinois, which is in my -- my district. She was a sophomore and a psychology major at NIU. She had the unique ability to help and comfort people with her words and her actions, so I’m told by her family. In high school, some of her friends were kind of the fringe kids, her father tells us. They were the kind of kids who were maybe picked on by others and who were sometimes disenfranchised. She was a level-headed kid and smart, and as a result, people would come to her for advice. At some point in her life, she decided that she wanted to help others in the field of psychology. At NIU she majored, as I say, in psychology. She was -- she was nineteen years old. She was an honors student and she had the intention of attaining a doctorate-level degree and working in the field of counseling. She’d already served an internship in high school at a counseling center. And so I stopped to think, what good could we do here on behalf of her. And I want to take the opportunity here to thank my colleagues from both Chambers for not politicizing this event with all the things that we might. But I think there is some information that she would want me to pass 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 on to you and hope that we might act on. It’s important for us to note that mental health disorders here in the United States cost us over three hundred billion dollars. And seventy-five percent of those disorders are successfully treated. Ninety- eight percent of insurance companies impose oftentimes arbitrary restrictions on access to mental health treatment by way of higher copays, limited outpatient treatment and lower caps on lifetime benefits. And I think that the family would want us - and the families of all of these individuals - while recognizing that there’s only so much that we can do to prevent instances like this, to do everything that we possibly can to help prevent these instances in the future. And on behalf of Ryanne, who’s a psychology major, I think that she would want us to devote what resources or application of the law that we possibly can to come to bear on instances and prevent instances like this. It is wrong that we suffer these disparities in the application of our health care resources. And so I say this, that we should mourn not the dead, but those who move ahead now with blithe indifference, those who see the world’s great wrong and the -- the great wrong that might have prevented this instance and dare not act.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Seeing no further discussion, Senator Burzynski, to close.
Thank you, Madam President. Gayle Dubowski. Catalina Garcia. Julianna Gehant. Ryanne Mace. Daniel Parmenter. I’ve heard those names many, many times over the last three weeks and they’re names that we really shouldn’t forget. Three weeks ago today, a terrible tragedy occurred on the campus of Northern 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 Illinois University. And while I personally did not know any of those that were -- lost their lives or that were injured prior to that time, I now have had the opportunity to meet many of them and witness their resolve in both their physical and emotional recovery. And it is truly a remarkable spirit that indwells within all of us that helps us to move forward after these types of terrible tragedies. During the past three weeks, I’ve been on the campus several times. First, the day after the tragedy, hearing firsthand of the actions and activities that had gone on with all of the first providers, first response people, the University faculty, the University Senate, the administration, all of the police agencies that were on campus. And I can tell you that all of these had in the uppermost of their mind that they were there to serve the community, that they were there to serve Northern Illinois and its students. I also had the opportunity to be on campus several other times at memorial services, where the lives of all of these individuals were celebrated, as well as mourned. And today, we gather here to mourn for the lost lives and those who were injured. Many have been very closely touched by this event, and surely all of us and all of our lives have been forever changed, because who of us here would expect that our students would not be safe on one of our university campuses. I can tell you that the response of the University, the surrounding communities, the State of Illinois and the federal government has been nothing less than superb, as everyone has worked together, again, to meet the needs of the community, the University, but again, most importantly, the needs of the students and their families. As we continue to mourn, it is also now time for us to heal and 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 134th Legislative Day 3/6/2008 move forward. And as we continue to pray for and to offer our expressions of sorrow and grief for the victims and their families, may our prayers be that those families and the entire NIU community seek peace and strength in the great comforter, the God of mercy, the God of strength and the God of all comfort. As Northern Illinois University President John Peters has so appropriately said, it’s time to move forward, together forward. We should never forget this terrible tragedy, but we almost -- we also must continue working together for a brighter and better tomorrow. My heartfelt condolences and sympathies go out to those families who lost loved ones and who were victims of this tragedy. Forward, together forward. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Thank you. Senator Burzynski now moves for the adoption of Senate Resolution 572. All those in favor of this resolution, please rise. The resolution is adopted. Pursuant to House -- or Senate Joint Resolution 572 -- House Joint Resolution 114, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 12 p.m., Tuesday, March 11th. The Senate stands adjourned. 28