PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 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 Pastor Jonathan Franklin, from Mt. Zion Apostolic Church, here in Springfield.
(Prayer by Bishop Jonathan Franklin)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Please remain standing for the Pledge Allegiance. Senator Maloney.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Maloney)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Madam Secretary, Reading and Approvals of the Journal.
Senate Journal of May 20th, 2008.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 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 MARTINEZ) Senator Hunter moves to approve the Journals just read by the Secretary. There being no objection, so ordered. Madam Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 725, offered by Senator Demuzio and all 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 159th Legislative Day 5/21/2008 Members. And Senate Resolution 726, offered by Senator Link and all Members. They’re both death resolutions, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Madam Secretary, Consent Calendar.
And Senate Resolution 727, offered by Senator Hunter. It is substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Crotty, Chairperson of the Committee on Local Government, reports House Bills 4147, 4167 and 5196 Do Pass; Senate Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 2654, Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 4675 and Senate Amendment No. 2 to House Bill 5195 recommend Do Adopt. Senator Garrett, Chairperson of the Committee on Public Health, reports House Bill 5251 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Jacobs, Chairperson of the Committee on Housing and Community Affairs, reports House Bill 5238 Do Pass; and Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 4683 recommend Do Adopt. Senator Wilhelmi, Chairperson of the Committee on Judiciary-Criminal Law, reports House Bills 4628 and 5524 Do Pass; House Bill 4578 Do Pass, as Amended; Senate Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2305, Senate Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2719, Senate Amendment No. 2 to House Bill 230, Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 4207, Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 4402 and Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 5101 recommend Do 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 159th Legislative Day 5/21/2008 Adopt. Senator Munoz, Chairperson of the Committee on Transportation, reports House Bills 4694, 5159 and 5288 Do Pass, as Amended; Senate Amendment No. 2 to House Bill 4754 and Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 5076 recommend Do Adopt. And Senator Trotter, Chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations I, reports Senate Bills 1102, 1103, 1104, 1108, 1111, 1112 and 1113 Do Pass.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Madam Secretary, Messages.
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 concurred with the Senate in the passage of the -- of a following bill of the -- of the following title, to wit: Senate Bill 1923. We’ve received like Messages on Senate Bill 1933, with House Amendment No. 1, and Senate Bill 2188, with House Amendment No. 1. Passed the House, as amended, May 20th, 2008. Mark Mahoney, Clerk of the House. And a second 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 2651. We’ve received like Messages on House Bills 4863, 5257 and 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 159th Legislative Day 5/21/2008 5576. Passed the House, May 20th, 2008. Mark Mahoney, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Madam Secretary, House Bills 1st Reading.
House Bill 2651, offered by Senator Clayborne. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4285 {sic} (4289), offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4550, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4618, offered by Senator Forby. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4665, offered by Senator Bomke. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4920, offered by Senator Noland. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4762, offered by Senator Noland. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4940, offered by Senator Kotowski. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4968, offered by Senator Noland. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5006, offered by Senator Noland. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5257, offered by Senator Koehler. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5576, offered by Senator Clayborne. 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 159th Legislative Day 5/21/2008 (Secretary reads title of bill) And House Bill 5684, offered by Senator Noland. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) The Rules Committee will meet immediately in the Senate -- in the President’s Anteroom. Rules Committee, immediately. (SENATE STANDS AT EASE/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Hendon, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Appropriations II Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1115; refer to Appropriations III Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1129; refer to Commerce and Economic Development Committee - Committee Amendment No. 2 to House Bill 4470; refer to State Government and Veterans Affairs Committee - Senate Joint Resolution 101; and Be Approved for Consideration - Senate Bill 872 and 874. Senator Rickey Hendon, Chairman. May 21st, 2008. And a -- another Report. Senator Hendon, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Appropriations I Committee - Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1102; refer to Education Committee - Floor Amendment No. 2 to House Bill 5077; refer to Environment and Energy Committee - 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 159th Legislative Day 5/21/2008 Floor Amendment No. 2 to House Bill 1842 and Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 944; refer to Insurance Committee - Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 872 and Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 874; refer to Licensed Activities Committee - Floor Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 3679. Senator Rickey Hendon, Chairman. May 21st, 2008.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Trotter, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of announcement, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Please state your announcement.
Yes. I would like to announce that Energy and Environment will be meeting in Room 212 at 2 o’clock this afternoon. Excuse me, 1:55 this afternoon, in Room 212, to hear Floor amendments. And Appropriations I will be meeting in Room 212 at 5:30 this afternoon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Collins, what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madame President. For a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Please state your privilege.
Thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I would like for you to welcome to Springfield the Phi Beta Sigma and the Zeta Phi Beta sorority and fraternities. They are 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 159th Legislative Day 5/21/2008 accompanied by Judge Carl Anthony Walker, of the Circuit Court of Cook County, as well as Omer Moore and Jennifer Childress. They are sitting here to my left in the gallery. Please give them a -- warm welcome to the General Assembly.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Will our guests please rise? Will the Senate please welcome? Thank you for being here in Springfield. Senator Kotowski, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Ms. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Please state your announcement.
Thank you. It gives me great pleasure to welcome to Springfield Colton Cannon. Colton is a resident of Park Ridge. He goes to Lincoln - please stand up, Colton - he goes to Lincoln Junior High School. He’s thirteen. He loves math and science. He plays soccer and he’s terrific at tennis. And he came down here to grace us with his presence and he’s going to teach us a little bit about what it’s like to be a -- a wonderful citizen. So, please give him a great Springfield welcome. Colton Cannon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Welcome to Springfield, young man. Senator Schoenberg, what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) I -- I’m sorry, let me go back to you in a minute. Senator 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 159th Legislative Day 5/21/2008 Kotowski.
Thank you, Ms. President. I also have another announcement. I have a -- a constituent here today from Congressman Peter Roskam’s Office. She also works there. Katie Weiner and Marge Meyer, who works in the office as well. Please stand up and give them a great Springfield welcome. Katie and Marge.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Welcome to Springfield. Senator Schoenberg.
I know that Senator Kotowski was the Most Valuable Player of the softball game last week, but I think we’ve been giving him considerable license, Madam President, and I think it’s got to end right now. In any case, I’m rising on a point of personal privilege, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Please state your privilege.
Thank you, Madam President. I’m delighted today to be joined by my Page for the Day, Sarah Danson. Sarah lives in Evanston. She’s a fifth grader at the Orrington School. Her interests, besides her schoolwork, include soccer, the flute, playing the piano and swimming. She’s doing a remarkable job today. She’s joined by her mother, Deb Danson, who’s in the gallery directly behind the Democratic side of the aisle. And please extend to them a warm Senate welcome. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Welcome to Springfield, Sarah. Senator Crotty, for what 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 159th Legislative Day 5/21/2008 purpose do you rise?
I rise on a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) State your privilege.
Today I have with me two Pages. This is Corey. Corey is going to be a sixth grader next year. And his cousin, Jacob. And Jacob will be a seventh grader next year. And they’re joined today by their grandmother, Diane. And Diane and I served on school boards together and served on the Illinois Association of School Boards and SCOPE and other organizations. And I’d like everyone to welcome them to Springfield.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Welcome to Springfield. Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you rise?
A point of personal privilege, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Please state your privilege.
I am joined today by my Page, Ryan Pearson. Ryan is a third grader at Windsor School in Arlington Heights. He wanted everybody to know that he, too, plays the cello. I’d like everybody to give a -- a big Springfield welcome to Ryan and also his father, Cary, up in the -- up in the balcony. Thanks very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Let’s all welcome them to Springfield. Senator Althoff, 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 159th Legislative Day 5/21/2008 what purpose do you rise?
Also a point of personal privilege, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Please state your privilege.
I, too, have a wonderful guest with me today. And might I also indicate, Madam President, that it’s wonderful to be able to once again say Madam President. Our guest with me today is Maddy Riddell. She is from Crystal Lake, a seventh grader from Hannah Beardsley School. Also in the gallery to my right are her mother, Kelli, and her two sisters, Morgan and Sydney. Madyson also plays soccer. And, more importantly, Madyson has numerous family members who are either elected officials or involved in State government in Peoria and Chicago. Might we give her and her family a nice welcome to Springfield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Welcome to Springfield. Senator Risinger, for what purpose do you rise?
The Senate Republicans would like to request a thirty- minute caucus in Leader Watson’s Office.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) That request is always in order, Senator. The Republicans will be causing for thirty minutes in the President -- I mean, in the Minority Leader’s Office. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 22nd, 2008. The -- the Senate stands adjourned. 10