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 the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Bishop G.E. Livingston, Life Changers Church of Decatur.
(Prayer by Bishop G.E. Livingston)
Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Maloney.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Maloney)
Madam Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journals.
Senate Journals of November 20th and 21st, 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 Journals just read by the Secretary. There being no objection, so ordered. Madam Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 934, offered by Senator Dillard and all 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 180th Legislative Day 12/15/2008 Members. Senate Resolution 935, offered by Senator Emil Jones and all Members. Senate Resolution 936, offered by Senator Lightford and all Members. Senate Resolutions 937 and 938, offered by Senator Koehler and all Members. Senate Resolution 939, offered by Senator Clayborne and all Members. Senate Resolution 940, offered by Senator Haine and all Members. Senate Resolutions 941 and 942, offered by Senator Clayborne and all Members. Senate Resolutions 943 through 948, offered by Senator Wilhelmi and all Members. Senate Resolutions 949 and 950, offered by Senator Forby and all Members. Senate Resolution 951, offered by Senator Dillard and all Members. Senate Resolutions 952 through 954, offered by Senator Koehler and all Members. And Senate Resolution 955, offered by Senator Haine and all Members. They’re all death resolutions, Mr. President.
Consent Calendar.
And Senate Resolution 956, offered by Senator Brady. It is substantive. 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 180th Legislative Day 12/15/2008
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 3889. Passed the House, November 20th, 2008. Mark Mahoney, Clerk of the House.
Fox News and ABC Channel 20 seeks leave to record proceedings. Seeing no objection, so ordered. Senator Link.
Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I move to waive Senate Rule 3-8 so that the -- House Bill 611 can be read for a second time today, December 15th, 2008.
Senator Link moves to suspend Senate Rule 3-8 so that House Bill 611 can be read for the second time today, December 15. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. And the rule is suspended. Will all members of the Rules Committee - all members of the Rules Committee - kindly convene in the Antechamber? All members of the Rules Committee. (Senate stands at ease) Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator DeLeo, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, reports 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 180th Legislative Day 12/15/2008 the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Be Approved for Consideration - House Bill 611 and a Motion to Concur with House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2179. Senator James DeLeo, Chairman. December 15th, 2008.
Supplemental Calendar 1 has been printed and distributed on the Members’ desks. We’ll now proceed to House Bills 2nd Reading. House Bill 611. Senator Link. Senator Link, you wish to proceed on House Bill 11 {sic} (611)? Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 611. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
3rd Reading. Now on Secretary -- on Secretary’s Desk, Concurrence is Senate Bill 2179. Senator Clayborne, you wish to proceed? Madam Secretary, read -- read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2179. Filed by Senator James Clayborne.
Senator Clayborne.
Thank you, Mr. -- thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. This is basically extending the Medical Malpractice Act, which expires December 31st of -- of this -- this month, 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 180th Legislative Day 12/15/2008 extending it to December 31st of 2010. This is probably what all of us have been receding -- this is what you all have been receiving calls on too, to make sure that we pass this. So, I would ask for your -- your favorable vote.
There any discussion? Any discussion? Senator Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill.
Proceed.
You know, this is -- I’m sure all of you, as -- as Senator Clayborne said, in the last couple weeks, have gotten lots of calls from -- from your doctors throughout the State of Illinois, expressing the sincere desire to see this pass before December 31st. And quite frankly, if we hadn’t done it today or hadn’t got to this point of doing it today, this would have expired on December the 31st and then we’d have to completely rewrite the Act. So, I rise in strong support of -- of concurrence on this piece of legislation, Senate Bill 2179. And I would ask for a favorable vote.
Any further discussion? Seeing none, this is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment No. 1 to -- to Senate Bill 2179. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 49 voting Aye, no Nays, none voting Present. The motion -- the Senate concurs in House 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 180th Legislative Day 12/15/2008 Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill -- 2179. And the bill, having received the required constitutional three-fifths majority, is declared passed. Senator Link.
Thank you, Mr. President. I will ask for a Senate Democratic Caucus immediately upon adjournment in the President’s Office.
Senator Burzynski.
Thank you, Mr. President. We’d also request a Republican Caucus immediately after adjournment as well.
There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned till the hour of 10 a.m., Tuesday, December the 16th. The Senate stands adjourned. 6