PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) The regular Session of the 96th 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 delivered by Rabbi Michael Datz, from Temple B’rith Sholom, in Springfield, Illinois. Rabbi.
(Prayer by Rabbi Michael Datz)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Rabbi. Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Jacobs, to lead us in the Pledge.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Jacobs)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Madam Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journals of April 2nd and 15th, 2009.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) 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.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Hunter moves to approve the Journals just read by the Secretary. There being no objection, so ordered. Madam Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 218, offered by Senator Haine and all 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/21/2009 Members. It’s a death resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Resolutions Consent Calendar.
And Senate Resolution 219, offered by Senator Hultgren. Senate Resolution 220, offered by Senator Pankau. Senate Joint Resolution 59, offered by Senator Althoff.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) The Senate will stand at ease for a few moments to allow for the Committee on Assignments to meet. Will all members of the Committee on Assignments please come to the President’s Anteroom immediately? The Senate will stand at ease. (SENATE STANDS AT EASE/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) The Senate will come to order. Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to the Energy Committee - Floor Amendment 4 to Senate Bill 2009; refer to -- to Judiciary Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 2539; and refer to Public Health Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 3779. Senate James F. Clayborne, Chairman. April 1st {sic} (21st), 2009.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/21/2009 Thank you, Madam Secretary. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, for purposes of an announcement. With leave of the Body, I would like to announce the committees for this afternoon. Today at 1 p.m., the Committee on Public Health will meet in Room 212, the Committee on Agriculture and Conservation will meet in Room 409, and the Committee on Elections will meet in Room 400. Those are the 1 p.m. committees. At 2:30 p.m. today, Human Services will meet in Room 212, the Committee on Judiciary will meet in Room 400, and the Committee on Higher Education will meet in Room 409. Those are the 2:30 committees. At 4 p.m. today, the Committee on Appropriations I will meet in Room 212, the Committee on Transportation will meet in Room 400, and the Committee on Education will meet in Room 409. Those are the 4 p.m. committees. Tomorrow morning at 9 a.m., the Criminal Law Committee will meet in Room 212, the Committee on Environment will meet in Room 400, and the Committee on Local Government will meet in Room 409. Those committees are tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Please state your point, Senator.
Once I stop popping my P’s. I have a -- I have a very important guest with me today. He’s one of my local businessmen from Huntley. His name is Ken Jablonski. He is the owner and operator of BK Fire and Safety, and was down here doing some business with the State of Illinois and decided that he would 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/21/2009 also visit the Senate Chambers. May we give him a warm Springfield welcome, please?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Welcome to Springfield, Mr. Jablonski. Senator Raoul, for what purpose do you rise?
Mr. President, -- point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) State your point, Senator.
In the gallery behind you, Mr. President, there’s some guests that are down here from -- for the rally for the Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic. We have Mr. John Erickson, his wife, Jane, and parents. And John lost his sight when he was in eighth grade and has been using the Recording for the -- Blind & Dyslexic ever since. And with the help of the reading for blind and dyslexic, he’s been able to complete his master’s and be very successful. So I want to acknowledge his presence and the -- the presence of the people from Reading -- Reading and Blind & Dyslexic {sic}.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you. Will our guests in the galleries please rise to be recognized by the Senate? Welcome to the Senate, Mr. Erickson. Senator Lauzen, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you very much, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Please go ahead and state your point, Senator. 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 4/21/2009
Thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, today we have two guests joining us from St. Charles. Christine Galush is a senior at St. Edward’s Catholic High School. Cheerleading and enjoys baseball very much. And her message for the Senate today is “Go Cubs”. And then also joining her is a good friend, Jackie Green, is also from St. Charles East High School. She’s a member of the lacrosse and swimming teams. If you would welcome both of these young ladies, I’d appreciate it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator. Let’s welcome our White Sox fans to the Senate today. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I have a correction on the committee announcements. The Committee on Agriculture and Conservation has canceled its meeting today. It will not meet at 1 p.m. The other committees will go ahead and meet as scheduled. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009. The Senate stands adjourned. 5