The regular Session of the 96th General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desk? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? And the invocation today -- will be Pastor Olson, of St. John’s Lutheran.
(Prayer by Pastor Paul Olson)
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 Tuesday, February 9th, 2010.
Senator Hunter.
Mr. President, I move to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal just read by the Secretary, pending approval {sic} of the printed transcript.
Senator Hunter moves to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal, pending arrival of the printed transcripts. There being no objection, so ordered. I would like to announce that the Executive Committee will meet in one hour, at 11:03, in Room 212. Executive Committee will meet one hour from now, at 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 11:03. Madam Secretary, Introduction of Bills.
Senate Bill 3197, offered by Senator Delgado. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3208, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3308, offered by Senator Demuzio. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3309, offered by Senator Holmes. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3310, offered by Senator Bomke. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3311, offered by Senator Koehler. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3312, offered by Senator Koehler. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3313, offered by Senator Bond. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3314, offered by Senator Burzynski. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3315, offered by Senator Garrett. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3316, offered by Senator Garrett. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3317, offered by Senator Noland. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3318, offered by Senator Noland. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3319, offered by Senator Althoff. 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3320, offered by Senator John Jones. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3321, offered by Senator John Jones. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3322, offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3323, offered by Senator Demuzio. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3324, offered by Senator McCarter. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3325, offered by Senator McCarter. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3326, offered by Senator Hultgren. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3327, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3328, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3329, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3330, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3331, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3332, offered by Senator Cronin. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3333, offered by Senator Cronin. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 Senate Bill 3334, offered by Senator Lauzen. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3335, offered by Senator Frerichs. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3336, offered by Senator Wilhelmi. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3337, offered by Senator Wilhelmi. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3338, offered by Senator McCarter. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3339, offered by Senator Wilhelmi. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3340, offered by Senator Bivins. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3341, offered by Senator Wilhelmi. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3342, offered by Senator Clayborne. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3343, offered by Senator Clayborne. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3344, offered by Senator Clayborne. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3345, offered by Senator Clayborne. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3346, offered by Senator Steans. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3347, offered by Senator Steans. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3348, offered by Senator Steans. 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3349, offered by Senator Frerichs. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3350, offered by Senator Hendon. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3351, offered by Senator Holmes. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3352, offered by Senator Jacobs. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3353, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3354, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3355, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Senator Schoenberg in the Chair.
Senate Bill 3356, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3357, offered by Senator Muñoz. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3358, offered by Senator Muñoz. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3359, offered by Senator Silverstein. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3360, offered by Senator Viverito. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3361, offered by Senator Viverito. 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3362, offered by Senator Viverito. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3363, offered by Senator Viverito. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3364, offered by Senator Viverito. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3365, offered by Senator Viverito. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3366, offered by Senator Viverito. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3367, offered by Senator Viverito. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3368, offered by Senator Jacobs. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3369, offered by Senator Jacobs. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3370, offered by Senator Hutchinson. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3371, offered by Senator Trotter. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3372, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3373, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3374, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3375, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 Senate Bill 3376, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3377, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3378, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3379, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3380, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3381, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3382, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3383, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3384, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3385, offered by Senator Wilhelmi. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3386, offered by Senator Wilhelmi. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3387, offered by Senator Wilhelmi. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3388, offered by Senator Jacobs. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3389, offered by Senator Millner. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3390, offered by Senator Millner. 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3391, offered by Senator Millner. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3392, offered by Senator Wilhelmi. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3393, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3394, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3395, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3396, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3397, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3398, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3399, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3400, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3401, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3402, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3403, offered by Senator Raoul. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3404, offered by Senator Raoul. (Secretary reads title of bill) 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 Senate Bill 3405, offered by Senator Raoul. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3406, offered by Senator Raoul. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3407, offered by Senator Raoul. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3408, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3409, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3410, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3411, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3412, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3413, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3414, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3415, offered by Senator Koehler. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3416, offered by Senator Kotowski. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3417, offered by Senator Kotowski. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3418, offered by Senator Kotowski. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3419, offered by Senator Kotowski. 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3420, offered by Senator Kotowski. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3421, offered by Senator Kotowski. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3422, offered by Senator Kotowski. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3423, offered by Senator Kotowski. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3424, offered by Senator Kotowski. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3425, offered by Senator Kotowski. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3426, offered by Senator Bond. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3427, offered by Senator Bond. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3428, offered by Senator Bond. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3429, offered by Senator Bond. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3430, offered by Senator Althoff. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3431, offered by Senator Syverson. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3432, offered by Senator Syverson. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3433, offered by Senator Bivins. (Secretary reads title of bill) 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 Senate Bill 3434, offered by Senator DeLeo. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3435, offered by Senator DeLeo. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3436, offered by Senator DeLeo. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3437, offered by Senator Bond. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3438, offered by Senator Bond. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3439, offered by Senator Bond. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3440, offered by Senator Bond. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3441, offered by Senator Bond. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3442, offered by Senator Bond. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3443, offered by Senator Burzynski. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3444, offered by Senator Forby. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3445, offered by Senator Maloney. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3446, offered by Senator Silverstein. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3447, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3448, offered by Senator Brady. 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3449, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3450, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3451, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3452, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3453, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3454, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3455, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3456, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3457, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill - do you have more? - 3458, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3459, offered by Senator Muñoz. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3460, offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3461, offered by Senator Link. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3462, offered by Senator Link. 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3463, offered by Senator Demuzio. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3464, offered by Senator Demuzio. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3465, offered by Senator Demuzio. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3466, offered by Senator Demuzio. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3467, offered by Senator Bond. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3468, offered by Senator Cronin. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3469, offered by Senator Althoff. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3470, offered by Senator Steans. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3471, offered by Senator Steans. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3472, offered by Senator Steans. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3473, offered by Senator Steans. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3474, offered by Senator Wilhelmi. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3475, offered by Senator Steans. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3476, offered by Senator Steans. (Secretary reads title of bill) 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 Senate Bill 3477, offered by Senator John Jones. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3478, offered by Senator Syverson. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3479, offered by Senator Righter. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3480, offered by… Senate Bill 3481, offered by Senator Steans. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3482, offered by Senator Steans. (Secretary reads title of bill) And Senate Bill 3480, offered by Senator Steans. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Seth Perlman of the Associated Press requests leave of the Senate to –- for still photographs. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. The Chair would like to remind all the Members that there are birthday treats available in honor of Senator Garrett’s fifty-plus-ten birthday tomorrow in my office, Suite 218 in the Capitol - fresh fruit, muffins, and coffee in honor of Senator Garrett’s birthday. Chair also wishes to remind everyone that the -- the filing deadline for Senate bills is tomorrow. Madam Secretary… Madam Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 627, offered by Senator Frerichs and all Members. Senate Resolution 628, offered by Senator Kotowski and all Members. 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 Senate Resolution 629, offered by Senator Kotowski and all Members. Senate Resolution 630, offered by Senator Kotowski and all Members. Senate Resolution 631, offered by Senator Lightford and all Members. Senate Resolution 632, offered by Senator Bivins, Risinger and all Members. They are death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Madam Secretary, Resolutions Consent Calendar.
Senate Resolution 633, offered by Senator Wilhelmi. Senate Resolution 634, offered by Senator Hultgren. Senate Resolution 635, offered by Senator Link. Senate Joint Resolution 89, offered by Senator Wilhelmi. Senate Joint Resolution, Constitutional Amendment, 90, offered by Senator Raoul. And Senate Joint Resolution, Constitutional Amendment, 91, offered by Senator Schoenberg. They are substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Senate will stand in recess to the call of the Chair. After committee meetings, the Senate will reconvene to receive committee reports and for further Floor action. Senate now stands in recess. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES) 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Senate will come to order. A correction: The Senate will stand at ease for a few minutes to allow the Committee on Assignments to -- to meet. If the committee –- if the members of the Committee on Assignments would please come to the President’s Anteroom immediately. The Senate will stand at ease. (SENATE STANDS AT EASE/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Senate will come to order. Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Harmon, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to the Agriculture and Conservation Committee - Senate Bill 2484, Senate Bill 2556, Senate Bill 2573, Senate Bill 2580 and Senate Bill 2587; refer to the Appropriations I Committee - Senate Bill 2539; refer to the Commerce Committee - Senate Bill 2534, Senate Bill 2559, Senate Bill 2577, Senate Bill 2628 and Senate Bill 2629; refer to the Criminal Law Committee - Senate Bill 2551, Senate Bill 2578, Senate Bill 2589, Senate Bill 2590, Senate Bill 2607, Senate Bill 2824, Senate Bill –- 2951, Senate Bill 2952, Senate Bill 2987, and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2513; refer to the Elections Committee - Senate Bill 2576, Senate Bill 2631, Senate Bill 2638, Senate Bill 2925 and Senate Bill 2934; refer to the Energy Committee - Senate Bill 2612, Senate Bill 2810, Senate Bill 2812; refer to the Environment 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 Committee - Senate Bill 2549; refer to the Executive Committee - Senate Bill 2464, Senate Bill 2469, Senate Bill 2470, Senate Bill 2472, Senate Bill 2494, Senate Bill 2495, Senate Bill 2496, Senate Bill 2500, Senate Bill 2506, Senate Bill 2515, Senate Bill 2532, Senate Bill 2568, Senate Bill 2588, Senate Bill 2620, Senate Bill 2621, Senate Bill 2782, Senate Bill 2816, and Senate Joint Resolution, Constitutional Amendment, 84; refer to the Financial Institutions Committee - Senate Joint Resolution 81, Senate Bill 2438, Senate Bill 2443 and Senate Bill 2480; refer to the Gaming Committee - Senate Bill 2487; refer to the Higher Education Committee - Senate Bill 2538 and Senate Bill 2615; refer to the Human Services Committee - Senate Bill 2605, Senate Bill 2622, Senate Bill 2809 and Senate Bill 3021; refer to the Insurance Committee - Senate Bill 2493, Senate Bill 2516, Senate Bill 2544 and Senate Bill 2584; refer to the Judiciary Committee - Senate Bill 2508, Senate Bill 2509, Senate Bill 2514, Senate Bill 2540, Senate Bill 2557, Senate Bill 2570, Senate Bill 2606, Senate Bill 2632, Senate Bill 2807, Senate Bill 2821, Senate Bill 2933 and Senate Bill 3007; refer to the Labor Committee - Senate Bill 2471, Senate Bill 2497 and Senate Bill 2640; refer to the Licensed Activities Committee - Senate Bill 2542, Senate Bill 2604, Senate Bill 2635, Senate Bill 2799, Senate Bill 2800 and Senate Bill 2805; refer to the Local Government Committee - Senate Bill 2523, Senate Bill 2524 and Senate Bill 2614; refer to the Pensions and Investments Committee - Senate Bill 2356, Senate Bill 2358, Senate Bill 2359, Senate Bill 2360, Senate Bill 2456, Senate Bill 2483, Senate Bill 2525, Senate Bill 2547, Senate Bill 2558 and Senate Bill 2574; refer to the Public Health Committee - Senate Bill 2526, Senate Bill 2535, Senate 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 Bill 2536, Senate Bill 2572, Senate Bill 2583, Senate Bill 2593, Senate Bill 2601, Senate Bill 2627 and Senate Bill 2806; refer to the Revenue Committee – Senate Bill 2486, Senate Bill 2505, Senate Bill 2575, Senate Bill 2579, Senate Bill 2930 and Senate Bill –- 2950; refer to the State Government and Veterans Affair {sic} Committee – Senate Bill 2548; refer to the Transportation Committee – Senate Bill 2552 {sic} (2452), Senate Bill 2466, Senate Bill 2467, Senate Bill 2477, Senate Bill 2608, Senate Bill 2798, Senate Bill 2803, Senate Bill 2994, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2566 and Committee Amendment to Senate Bill 2927. Signed by Senator Don Harmon, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Senator Haine, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Mr. President, I rise on a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Please state your point.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I have with me my intern for the day. She’s a citizen of Paraguay, in South America. She’s studying law there and she’s visiting the United States on an exchange program. And she’s here –- her father and her father’s family are involved in the politics of that great nation and she’s here to observe how we do business in the State of Illinois. I’d -- I’d ask that you give a warm Senate welcome to Felicita Argaña, from Paraguay.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 Buenos días, Felicita. Madam Secretary, Introduction of Bills.
Senate Bill 3483, offered by Senator Luechtefeld. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3484, offered by Senator Cronin. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill… Senate Bill 3486, offered by Senator Cronin. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3487, offered by Senator Cronin. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3488, offered by Senator Cronin. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3490, offered by Senator Cronin. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) All right, the Senate will stand in recess until the call of the Chair. After committee meetings, the Senate will convene to receive committee reports and for further Floor action. The Senate now stands in recess. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) The Senate will come to order. Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Silverstein, Chairman of the Committee on 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 Executive, reports Senate Amendment 2 to House Bill 2240 recommended Do Adopt. Senator Hunter, Chairperson of the Committee on Human Services, reports Senate Bills 2527, 2533 and 2545 Do Pass; Senate Joint Resolution 82 Be Adopted. Senator Noland, Chairperson of the Committee on Criminal Law, reports Senate Bill 2504 Do Pass. Senator Koehler, Chairperson of the Committee on Local Government, reports Senate Bills 2520 and 2603 Do Pass. Senator Demuzio, Chairperson of the Committee on State Government and Veterans Affairs, reports Senate Bill 2802 Do Pass; Senate Resolution 561 Be Adopted; and House Joint Resolution 66 Be Adopted. Senator Collins, Chairperson of the Committee on Financial Institutions, reports Senate Bill 2581 Do Pass.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Madam Secretary, Introduction of Bills.
Senate Bill 3485, offered by Senator Cronin. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3489, offered by Senator Steans. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3491, offered by Senator Millner. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3492, offered by Senator Millner. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3493, offered by Senator Bivins. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3494, offered by Senator John Jones. 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3495, offered by Senator Althoff. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3496, offered by Senator Syverson. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3497, offered by Senator Cronin. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3498, offered by Senator Dillard. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3499, offered by Senator Risinger. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3500, offered by Senator Lauzen. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3501, offered by Senator Jacobs. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3502, offered by Senator Jacobs. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3503, offered by Senator Jacobs. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3504, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3505, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3506, offered by Senator Muñoz. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3507, offered by Senator Emil Jones. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3508, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 Senate Bill 3509, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3510, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3511, offered by Senator Frerichs. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3512, offered by Senator Millner. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3513, offered by Senator Emil Jones. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3514, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3515, offered by Senator Garrett. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3516, offered by Senator Clayborne. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3517, offered by Senator Clayborne. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3518, offered by Senator Clayborne. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3519, offered by Senator Clayborne. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3520, offered by Senator Holmes. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3521, offered by Senator Holmes. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3522, offered by Senator Steans. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3523, offered by Senator Sandoval. 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3524, offered by Senator Sandoval. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3525, offered by Senator Althoff. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3526, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3527, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3528, offered by Senator Wilhelmi. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3529, offered by Senator Viverito. (Secretary reads title of bill)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Will members of the Committee on Assignments please come to the Anteroom? Members of the Committee on Assignments, if you would please come to the Anteroom immediately. The Senate will stand at ease for a few minutes to allow the Committee on Assignments to meet. The members of the Committee on Assignments will come to the President’s Anteroom immediately. Will all Members please come to the Chamber? Will all Members please come to the Senate Floor? The Senate will stand at ease. (SENATE STANDS AT EASE/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Will all Members please come to the Senate Floor? We will be going to final passage. All Members, if you would please come to the Senate Floor for final action. The Senate will come 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 to order. Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Harmon, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Be Approved for Consideration - Floor Amendment 3 to House Bill 2240. Signed by Senator Don Harmon, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, if you’re under the sound of my voice, would you please come to the Senate Floor for further Floor action. Legislative assistants, if you could please contact your Members and invite them to join us on the Senate Floor immediately. Thank you. Madam Secretary, Introduction of Bills.
Senate Bill 3530, offered by Senator Silverstein. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3531, offered by Senator Silverstein. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3532, offered by Senator Trotter. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3533, offered by Senator Raoul. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3534, offered by Senator Raoul. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3535, offered by Senator Raoul. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3536, offered by Senator Raoul. (Secretary reads title of bill) 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 Senate Bill 3537, offered by Senator Raoul. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3538, offered by Senator Raoul. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3539, offered by Senator Raoul. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3540, offered by Senator Raoul. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3541, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3542, offered by Senator Jacobs. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3543, offered by Senator Hutchinson. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3544, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3545, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3546, offered by Senator Crotty. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3547, offered by Senator Muñoz. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3548, offered by Senator Muñoz. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3549, offered by Senator Muñoz. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3550, offered by Senator Hunter. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3551, offered by Senator Hunter. 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3552, offered by Senator Forby. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3553, offered by Senator Jacobs. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3554, offered by Senator McCarter. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3555, offered by Senator Cronin. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3556, offered by Senator Lauzen. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3557, offered by Senator Sandoval. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3558, offered by Senator Sandoval. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3559, offered by Senator Sandoval. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3560, offered by Senator Sandoval. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3561, offered by Senator Sandoval. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3562, offered by Senator Muñoz. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3563, offered by Senator Silverstein. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3564, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3565, offered by Senator Delgado. (Secretary reads title of bill) 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 Senate Bill 3566, offered by Senator Delgado. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3567, offered by Senator Delgado. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3568, offered by Senator Delgado. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3569, offered by Senator Delgado. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3570, offered by Senator Forby. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3571, offered by Senator Forby. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3572, offered by Senator Link. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3573, offered by Senator Link. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3574, offered by Senator Syverson {sic} (Link and Syverson). (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3575, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3576, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3577, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3578, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3579, offered by Senator Risinger. (Secretary reads title of bill) 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 Senate Bill 3580, offered by Senator Radogno. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3581, offered by Senator Bivins. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3582, offered by Senator Murphy. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3583, offered by Senator Bond. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3584, offered by Senator Bond. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3585, offered by Senator Bond. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3586, offered by Senator Millner. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3587, offered by Senator Burzynski. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3588, offered by Senator Demuzio. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Madam Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 635, offered by Senator Link. Senate Resolution 636, offered by Senator Althoff. Senate Joint Resolution, Constitutional Amendment, 92, offered by Senator Maloney. Senate Joint Resolution, Constitutional Amendment, 94, offered by Senator Althoff. Senate Joint Resolution, Constitutional Amendment, 95, 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 offered by Senator Brady. Senate Joint Resolution, Constitutional Amendment, 96, offered by Senator Brady. Senate Joint Resolution, Constitutional Amendment, 97, offered by Senator Brady. Senate Joint Resolution, Constitutional Amendment, 98, offered by Senator Brady. And Senate Joint Resolution, Constitutional Amendment, 99, offered by Senator Lauzen. They are substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, we will be going to page 2 on the Calendar for House Bills 3rd Reading. May I have your attention? Please, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, can you please quiet down? We will be going to House Bills 3rd Reading. House Bill 2244 –- 2240. Senator Cullerton seeks leave of the Body to return House Bill 2240 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Leave is granted. On the Order of 2nd Reading is House Bill 2240. Madam Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment 2, offered by President Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Cullerton.
Thank you, Madam President. This bill changes the date requirement for the Governor to submit the State budget from -- February 17th to March 10th, and the bill also contains language that would require the Governor to submit certain information. 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 By February 24th, he must file a written report with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House telling us information concerning the fiscal year 2010 - the year we’re in - the revenues for all budgeted funds, both actual to date and estimated; also for fiscal year ‘10, the expenditures for all budgeted funds, both actual and estimated; for fiscal year ‘11, the estimated revenues for the General Revenue Fund; and also for fiscal year ‘11, estimate of the anticipated liabilities for all budgeted funds, including the Revenue Fund appropriations, the debt service on bonds, and the State’s contribution to the pension system. I would ask for the adoption of this amendment so that we can debate it on 3rd reading.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Oh! Senator Murphy, for what -- Senator Murphy? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor will say {sic} Aye. Opposed Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 31 voting Aye, 20 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Amendment 2, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration? Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, we do have a slight complication with our voting system. LIS is in process of fixing us up here, if you could stay tuned. Senator Burzynski, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. Just for an inquiry of -- of the Chair. 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please state your inquiry.
Thank you. I think there was some confusion as to the voice vote on this particular amendment and I was curious as to –- or, I mean the roll call vote, and I was just curious, had someone requested a roll call vote on this amendment?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Burzynski, President Cullerton, the sponsor of the bill, requested a roll call vote. Senator John Jones, for what purpose do you rise? The Senate will stand at ease. LIS will be soon rebooting our system. If you could please stand at ease. Thank you. (SENATE STANDS AT EASE/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) The Senate will come to order. We will resume with House Bill 2240. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, may I please have your attention? House Bill 2240. Senator Cullerton seeks leave of the Body to return House Bill… Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment 3, offered by President Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) President Cullerton.
Thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. In the previous amendment, we provide that between February 24th and 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 March 10th, the Members of the General Assembly may make written budget recommendations to the Governor, and the Governor shall promptly make those recommendations available to the public. This amendment adds members of the public who also could make written public budget recommendations to the Governor. I would ask for a roll call and Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is -- all those in favor will say {sic} 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 33 voting Aye, 17 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. The amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is House Bill 2240. Senator Cullerton, do you wish to proceed? He indicates that he does. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 2240. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) President Cullerton.
Yes, thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. What we’ve -- we’ve -- I’ve explained the two amendments and so 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 I’ll just explain the bill now. This is a reaction to the Governor’s request to first move the Budget Address from February 17th to March 24th. I suggested to him that that would not provide us enough time to have hearings on the budget. And we -- then suggested that we have some really historic changes to the way we go about our budget making and to correct some of the flaws and, quite frankly, lack of -- of support in our budget process from our previous administration. So we have this bill which will say that two weeks prior to the March 10th Budget Address, the Governor will disclose to the General Assembly and the public the projected revenues and liabilities of the State. This disclosure will provide the foundation for all interested parties to develop their own budget priorities, utilizing the same information used by the Governor. So the legislators and members of the public can share their priorities. So during this two-week period, the individual Members of the General Assembly and the public have an opportunity to submit written recommendations to the Governor. In the past, apparently all you could do was pick up the phone and call the -- the Governor or the Budget Director and tell them your private, over the phone, recommendations. This now, then, would be written and these would be made public as soon as they’re -- they’re made. And then the Governor will present his budget proposal to a Joint Session of the General Assembly on March 10th. So the information that we will have will be for two different fiscal years. First of all, for the current fiscal year, fiscal year ’10, the revenues of -- for all budgeted funds, both the actual and the estimated for the rest of the year, will be revealed. Okay? How much money we 33 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 actually did take in. And the same thing will be said about the expenditures. We’ll know, really for the first time, as presented by the Bureau of the Budget, how much money we spent. So, for example, many people in this State are unaware of the fact that we actually cut spending this year. They don’t know that we’ve done that. We appropriated 2.2 billion less dollars. So we will be able to see exactly how much money we have spent and -- and verify to the public that we did in fact cut. And then for the second fiscal -- for the next fiscal year, fiscal year ‘11, we will know, again, for the first time, the estimated revenues that the Governor is using to prepare his budget for the full fiscal year and we will know what the anticipated liabilities are. So, for example, the debt service on bonds and our contribution to the pension system. So this will then allow us, in that two-week period, to make our written suggestions to the Governor so that he can take that information and then present his budget. After his budget, then we can -- will have our budget hearings. If anyone here thinks that we don’t have enough time left after March 10th to complete our budget by July 1st, if they want, we can start having appropriation hearings next week on your proposals, if you have any, in writing, and we can have those hearings, so that we’ll have even more time to have -- have hearings. But I believe that the March 10th date, in light of the fact we’re going to have information two weeks before that, in light of the fact we’re going to have the opportunity for the first time in history to have this open, transparent dialog between members of the public, the General Assembly and the -- the Governor’s Office on how to fashion this budget -- we certainly need cooperation. The people in the 34 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 State know that we have a fiscal crisis. The people want us to come down here and participate - all of us - and in a cooperative way. So that’s why I believe this is a very good bill. Be happy to answer any questions and ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Thank you, Mr. President. Is there any discussion? Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) To the bill.
It’s interesting to note that, as the sponsor indicated, the people in this State know that we’ve got a budget crisis. The Governor, who has been the Governor for over a year, I’d like to think, has known we’ve had a budget crisis for at least that long. And yet we’re coming down here and -- and -- and pushing back the date to start the process of solving the problem. This is precisely the type of attitude that has gotten us into this problem. This lack of a sense of urgency is precisely what has gotten us into this situation in the first place. The people of this State want this problem solved. They want us to come down here and actually do something about it. The involvement and the transparency aspects of this, that’s all nice; that’s a good step in the right direction. But this has got to get addressed sooner rather than later. And for the Governor to want till March 24th and for this Chamber to give him till March 10th is utterly inexcusable. He’s known about these problems for years. He’s presided over a quarter of a 35 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 million job losses since he became the Governor. And yet he can’t come up with a budget with a full Bureau of the Budget staff by the constitutional date. This is an insult to the people of this State. They want us to participate. They want us to work together to solve problems. They didn’t send us down here to jointly kick the can down the road. Tell the Governor to get back to work and get us our budget proposal on time. Vote No.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Further discussion? Senator Syverson, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Just a - Madam President - a question for the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) The sponsor indicates he will yield. Senator Syverson.
Thank you. Senator, it -- these outlines -- the outlines that you gave us with things that we want to achieve with this, can -- can the Governor do these things now - except for delaying the date? But can the -- can the Governor implement these measures now if he -- if he chose to do that?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) President Cullerton.
I don’t believe so, Senator. I think that I -- in committee I mentioned that, in the past, the administration -- the Bureau of the Budget was not cooperative with the General Assembly. We would ask, “How much money have you spent so far 36 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 during the fiscal year?” Now, you might think that that’s somewhere in the -- in the -- within the Comptroller’s Office or somewhere within the -- the State. I don’t know if it’s ever been compiled the way it’s going to be compiled when we ask this Governor to present this. So that’s with regard to what we’ve spent so far this year. And then as far as the next fiscal year, we need to know what the Governor’s budget numbers say. We need to know, for the first time really this early in the process, what are the numbers that -- that Governor is using in terms of his projections and what are our specific liabilities, both pension and budget. So I -- I -- I think -- I know you asked this question in committee that we already can do this. If -- if we could already do this, then I would ask you to present these answers. If you think that they’re already available, I would ask you, before next week, tomorrow, present all these numbers, because I don’t believe that they’re available.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Syverson.
So what we’re saying is, the Governor is -- at this point, is refusing to release data or having his bureau release data unless we pass legislation that tells them to release this information. If they’re able to compile this information, why do we have to -- why do we have to pass a bill to tell the Bureau of the Budget to put these numbers together? And for the idea of getting input from the public, why can’t he open that website up now and get information? Why is there just -- why just a short window of time that people can make suggestions? 37 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 And if it -- if he wanted input from the public, why doesn’t he have that up and running and getting those same ideas now, as opposed to waiting until legislation is done?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) President Cullerton.
Senator, this is the first time this has ever been done. It was, quite frankly, our -- our caucus’s suggestion to the Governor to do this, and he agreed to willingly do this, in contrast to the previous Governor that would stiff-arm us and not give us this information. He’s not -- I think what we’re doing -- we’re making it a law so people know that this is what’s going to happen. He -- he would voluntarily do this, if -- if we asked him. That’s why he wrote the letter to all of us saying he’s willing to do it. I just want to make sure it’s in the law so the public knows this is what we’re going to be getting and the public knows this is how you can communicate with the Governor’s Office and give them your input. It’s never been done before. We’re talking about the Budget Address being moved back by two weeks, not the budget. The budget’s still -- you know, the budget’s -- we still have -- July 1st is when the fiscal year starts. We -- the Constitution says that we can pass this with a majority vote up until the end of May. We’re - - we’re -- we’re trying to get out of here early this year, which we hope to do, on May 8th, I believe it is. We’re -- we’re going to be finished by then, hopefully, with cooperation. So, I just for the life of me don’t understand why this isn’t -- why this is so controversial. It’s not really a big deal to have the speech be two weeks later. The actual process of 38 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 working on the budget is starting the same day with our input. And I would suggest that we all should consider making some suggestions, in writing, to the Governor on how he wants to put his budget together.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Syverson.
Thank you. Just -- just last point. And I -- I agree with you and I have no problems with implementing these things. As you said, that could be done now, but if we want to put it in statute so it’s done in the future, that is certainly not a problem. The concern is that -- what’s two weeks more going to do? Why -- if he’s just giving his Address, if he’s giving his blueprint of what he wants to do and then we come in and make those changes after that, isn’t he prepared to give his blueprint so then people back home, organizations can start weighing in based on his blueprint? The longer he waits to give that blueprint, the harder it is for people to weigh in, because they don’t know where he’s going, what his priorities are, what he is planning on funding. And so until that gets done -- that’s the starting point. Now that starting point is what is being delayed, and that’s where, I guess, our concern is - that starting point didn’t have to be delayed. The other parts of the bill I certainly agree with you and I -- I appreciate you putting that into legislation.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Further discussion? Senator Garrett. Senator Garrett, for what purpose do you rise?
39 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 I’d like to speak to the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) To the bill.
Yes, I -- I am rising in strong support of this legislation. We did, as a caucus, decide to reach out to the Governor and ask that we have more time to look at the numbers and make sure that our voices are heard, and that the input that he needs to receive, that he does receive from us. It actually is an interactive process - the first time at least since I’ve been here in the General Assembly. And I think this is exactly what we’re here for. To argue that it’s two weeks late in receiving the Governor’s Budget Address, it -- by doing that, it allows us to be more involved and more part of the process, which I believe that every single one of us in this Chamber would like to see. I welcome these kinds of discussions and these kinds of -- sort of opportunities to provide the kind of input that the Governor needs to hear. Not every day do we have the opportunity to go into the Governor’s Office and -- and talk to him about specifics in the budget. But this is our opportunity and we should seize upon it and -- and vote Yes on this legislation and not make it a partisan issue because of fourteen days and when the Governor’s going to be giving us his Budget Address. To reiterate what Senator -- President Cullerton said, this isn’t going to change when the budget is going to be released. But I think we can all work together on this and make sure that as a Body we provide the Governor with the kind of input that he needs to make the proper decisions when presenting his budget and Budget Address. 40 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Thank you, Senator. Further discussion? Senator Burzynski, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) To the bill, Senator.
Thank you. It’s my understanding that, under current statute and under current law, the administration and his office of the budget are required to make quarterly reports to the General Assembly already that contain exactly the information that’s being asked for under this bill. It’s also my understanding that that hasn’t been done. So, when you put that together, I don’t know what passing another piece of legislation will do that makes it that much more difficult for this administration to not comply with the State statute. Now having said that, it’s also my understanding as -- looking at this bill and looking at the legislation that we’ve had, that, really, the only need for this legislation is to change the date that the Governor gives his Budget Address. That does push the process back. As a legislative Body, we are to react and to respond and to be able to have time to go back to our constituents. Just because you pass this bill doesn’t mean the Governor’s going to take input; it doesn’t mean that it’s going to change his mind on his spending patterns or anything else. Therefore, I would urge a No vote. And, Madam President, I would also request a verification of the roll call once the roll call’s taken. Thank you. 41 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) You’re welcome, Senator. A verification is in order. Further discussion? Senator Lauzen, for what purpose do you rise?
Question for the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) The sponsor indicates he will yield. Senator Lauzen.
Thank you. You know, if our constituents back home don’t pay their mortgage, they start into a foreclosure process. If they don’t pay their auto loans, they have their cars taken away. Will pushing back the Budget Address help the State of Illinois pay its bills to schools and to social service agencies any quicker? Will pushing it back help us pay our bills any quicker, by delaying it even two weeks?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) President Cullerton.
We’re starting the budget process the same day that the Governor would otherwise have given his Address. We’re starting that process by giving Members of the General Assembly and the public the right to give their impressions, in writing, of what the Governor should put in his budget. And for the life of me, I do not understand why most everybody in your party has even voted against an amendment that would get the public -- give the public the right to give that input - it baffles me. The day that the Governor was supposed to give his Address is the day we start this process with -- for the first time, getting this 42 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 information that we have not had in the past. We give input. It’s more transparent. It’s in writing; it’s not just secret phone calls to the Governor from Members of the Legislature. And then he gives us his Budget Address and his budget. We have plenty of time from -- from March 10th to May 8th to do the normal hearings that we have. The fiscal year still starts the same day. The requirement to pass legislation before you need a three-fifths vote is the same day. It’s just -- and it’s the normal budget process that we’ll have. The difference here is that there’s two weeks of transparency with input from the legislators and the public - which you for some reason voted against - is going to improve the product. That’s why we’re doing it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Lauzen.
Then, to the bill: I am sorry, Senator, that -- that last part about, you know, and you vote against it, I don’t know if - - I would assume that everybody’s district is -- is very much the same as my district. People are beyond rage about what’s going on in this State. This idea that people might vote against postponing, when this Governor has been in charge for at least the last year, that we’re going to postpone a chief executive’s statement of what he’s going to do, if he hasn’t had the plan, roughly within ninety to one-hundred and twenty days of taking office last year and working against that plan, it is an absolute disaster. We were at an emergency two, three years ago. We were at a crisis two years ago. We were in chaos when we went through this process last year. It is now anarchy. 43 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 This is fiscal anarchy - when people who we serve get assets taken away from ‘em, and, yet, when a public institution - where all of us were raised that a public institution, our collective work, is a higher standard - that when the government doesn’t pay its bills, it’s like, “Well, we’re just going to postpone it”. And what are the consequences? So, I say No. And the idea that, well, people wouldn’t go along - all the transparency has been during an election season, during the appropriations cycle - if the Governor doesn’t know what he’s going to say on the schedule, then we truly are lost. I -- I recommend a No vote. And, obviously, let’s get down to the work, have the government -- have the Governor make his statement, have the Governor and the State government pay the bills back home.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Further discussion? Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mrs. President. May I speak to -- Madam President. May I ask the sponsor a question, please?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Sponsor indicates he will yield. Senator Althoff.
I’ve served on Appropriations for the last four years while in this Chamber and I’ve seen in many instances how we welcome input from the public and from our agencies, which is to limit them to one person to come forward and address an issue of grave concern or their budget requests. Do you anticipate that that’s the same type of behavior and attitude we’re going to give the public when they come to talk and ask about budget issues? 44 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) President Cullerton.
Well, I think you’re pointing out that in our budget process, when people are forced to come to Springfield to testify and there’s limited time, that there’s a -- a constraint on getting the public’s input. So, instead, we have a bill that allows for the public, for the first time, throughout the United States, without having to come to Springfield, with as much time as they want, in writing, to make their recommendations. So that’s the first response I have. And then, secondly, as you know, we’re going to have the same opportunity with the Appropriations Committee, or maybe even a Committee of the Whole because of the crisis we’re in, to get input. And the budget’s going to be the huge -- most important thing we do this year. So maybe we can even spend more time in getting the public’s input in our course of our appropriation process.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Althoff.
And, again, I think that’s a laudable goal; that’s what we all want. How is that information going to be compiled and disseminated out to all of us in a timely fashion? Building on what Senator Lauzen had stated, we have people in this State that are extraordinarily frightened. In fact, they’re -- they’re upset at what we’re dealing with and grappling with here in the State of Illinois with regard to our fiscal condition. I anticipate thousands of people providing their input or expressing their frustration. How are we going to do that in a 45 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 timely fashion, to take all of that information and disseminate it amongst ourselves?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) President Cullerton.
Senator, first of all, you know we’re talking about a budget for 2011, which starts July 1st. That’s what we’re discussing here - not the current budget. Okay? That’s number one. Number two, we are going to take extraordinary steps - that’s why we have this bill - in this year to get input from the public to help us decide what that budget should be starting July 1st. For those people who are struggling right now, in fiscal year ‘10, we have proposed ideas during the course of this year that you guys didn’t support. We had proposed even borrowing, as recently as a couple of weeks ago - the House passed it; you don’t support. I don’t want to get into a debate about what you have been doing to help us in fiscal year ‘10; we have a disagreement on that. But this is about fiscal year ‘11 and we’re talking about the process by which we get public input - and this is an improvement by far.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Althoff.
Thank you. I -- I -- again, I appreciate all of those comments and responses to my original concerns. I don’t believe that they’ve truly been addressed. I think that we’re going to create even more crisis by going in this direction, in that individuals are going to truly feel that they have some kind of a say-so and can respond and we’re going to listen. And, again, 46 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 for four years in Appropriations, I watched us have people come forward, express themselves, cut them off, tell them that there’s no longer any time for us to hear their concerns, wait till 8 o’clock in the evening, after they’ve sat there for four and a half hours. I think that’s the process we need to work on. We need to improve that. We need to let government work the way it’s supposed to, and I think we need the information sooner rather than later. So, thank you very much for answering my questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, President Cullerton, to close.
Yes, thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. Just on a -- we will look into this; it was -- it was mentioned by one of the previous speakers that there’s quarterly reports that are issued. I believe -- I’m told by staff that that’s on capital projects only. And we will double-check that to see if there’s something that’s about the general appropriation process. Look it, I think this does not bode well for the rest of this year, because this is, really, a pretty simple concept. We’re starting the budget process on the same day; instead, we’re having input to the Governor so he can give his Address on March 10th. We have plenty of time to have hearings on his budget, whatever it is, and act in time before we adjourn and so that we’ll have a budget in place on July 1st. This is -- in light of the previous administration’s fighting with the General Assembly, this is dramatic stuff; this is transparency. For the first time, we’ll have a forum where we can get input to the 47 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 Governor before his Address and the public can do so as well. I would urge an Aye vote. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) The question is, shall House Bill 2240 pass. All those in favor will 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 31 voting Aye, 21 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 2240, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Burzynski has requested a verification. Senator Burzynski, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. I noticed that a couple of Members have been able to find their way back to the Floor and I’ve done a fairly accurate head count and I think we’ll not have the verification.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Thank you, Senator. Senator Harmon, for what purpose do you rise?
Just for purposes of an announcement, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please state your announcement.
Senator Clayborne is not with us today. He’s attending to business in his district. He wanted me to make sure that that was on the record.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) So noted. Madam Secretary, Messages from the House. 48 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010
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 bills of the following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate to wit: House Bill 4667. We have received like Messages on House Bill 4698 and House Bill 4738. All passed the House, February 10th, 2010. Mark Mahoney, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, we will have further Floor action. Please do not leave the Chamber. We will have further Floor action. Senator Dahl, for what purpose do you rise?
Moment of personal privilege, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) State your purpose.
Thank you. Thank you very much. I’m proud to have with me today a young gentleman. Matthew Olivero is a senior at La Salle-Peru Township High School. He’s a three-sport letterman and has also just recently received his Eagle Scout Award. And I’d like to -- welcome him to the Senate Floor. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Congratulations. Thank you for being here and welcome. On your printed Calendars, if you could please go to Secretary’s 49 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 Desk, Concurrences, Senate Bills, on page 2. Senate Bill 321. Senator Link, on Senate Bill 321, do you wish to proceed? He indicates that he does. Madam Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1, 2, and 3 to Senate Bill 321. Signed by Senator Link.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Link.
Thank you, Madam President. This is a bill we well discussed but we’ve worked it out and I don’t think there’s any opposition on this bill anymore. And I would just ask for a affirmative vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 321 pass. All those in favor will 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 40 voting Aye, 5 voting Nay, 1 voting Present. Senate Bill 321, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Madam Secretary, Resolutions Consent Calendar. Madam Secretary, we’ll 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 resolutions on the Consent Calendar?
50 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 81st Legislative Day 2/10/2010 There have been no objections filed, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the resolutions on the Consent Calendar be adopted. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The motion carries and the resolutions are adopted. On the Order of Resolutions is Senate Joint Resolution 93. Madam Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Joint Resolution 93, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads SJR No. 93)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Schoenberg moves to suspend the rules for the purpose of immediate consideration and adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 93. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it and the rules are suspended. Senator Schoenberg moves for the adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 93. All in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 12 p.m., noon, on the 16th day of February, 2010. The Senate stands adjourned. 51