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 given by Pastor Neal Herr from Hope Evangelical Free Church, here in Springfield, Illinois. Pastor.
(Prayer by Pastor Neal Herr)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Pastor. Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Jacobs.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Jacobs)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journals.
Senate Journal of Wednesday, May 26, 2010.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Hunter.
Mr. President, I move to postpone the reading and approval of the Journals just read by the Secretary, pending arrival of the printed transcript.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Hunter moves to postpone the reading and approval of the Journals, pending arrival of the printed transcript. There being no objection, so ordered. Mr. Secretary, Introduction of Bills.
1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Senate Bill 3940, offered by Senator Maloney. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 862, offered by Senator Demuzio and all Members. Senate Resolution 863, offered by Senator Demuzio and all Members. And Senate Resolution 864, offered by Senator Haine and all Members. They are all death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Resolutions Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, Messages from the House.
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 a bill of the following title, to wit: Senate Bill 226. Together with the following amendments which are attached, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Amendments 1, 2, 3 and 5 to Senate Bill 226. We’ve received like Messages on Senate Bill 744, along with House Amendments 1 and 3; Senate Bill 2101, with House Amendments 1 and 3; and Senate Bill 3215, with House Amendments 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 {sic} 2. All passed the House, as amended, May 26, 2010. Signed, Mark Mahoney, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Viverito, Chairperson of the Committee on Revenue, reports that the Motions to Concur with House Amendments 1 and 3 to Senate Bill 49, the House -- and House Amendment 1 and 3 and 6 to Senate Bill 377, Motion to Concur with House Amendment 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2534, Motion to Concur with House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2647, and a Motion to Concur with House Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 3749 recommended Do Adopt. Senator Demuzio, Chairperson of the Committee on State Government and Veterans Affairs, reports that the Motion to Concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3739 recommended Do Adopt, and Senate Resolution 782 and 860 Be Adopted. Senator Sullivan, Chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations II, reports that the Motion to Concur with House Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 1215 recommended Do Adopt.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, we are about to turn to substantive Senate business. If all Members within the sound of my voice could be at their desks on the Floor. We are turning to substantive Senate business. If all Members within the sound of my voice could please be on the Senate Floor. Senator Risinger, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank -- thank you, Mr. President. You know, there are a 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 few events in your life that you -- are -- are very special to you and that you remember. This last Monday at noon, I had the -- I had the privilege of seeing my fifth… Thank you. This last Monday at noon, I had the privilege of seeing my fifth grandchild born. Kiley Kay Risinger came into the world at eight pounds and four ounces, twenty inches long, just crying her lungs out. But, you know, I know many of you can outdo me in grandkids and that kind of thing, but I don’t think you can outdo me in the quality of this grandchild. She is really special, and believe it or not, I am very proud that she’s here. Thank you for giving me the privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) A round of applause for the newest addition to the Senate family. Illinois Statehouse News, WLS-TV Chicago and WFLD-TV, all seek leave to videotape the proceedings. Is there any objection? Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, on your printed Calendar on page 29, on the Order of Motions in Writing to Override the Specific Recommendations of the Governor, is President Cullerton’s motion that Senate Bill 28 do pass, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. Senator Cullerton, do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move that Senate Bill 28 do pass, notwithstanding the recommendations of the Governor. Signed by Senator John J. Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Cullerton, to present the motion.
4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Yes, thank you. Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. I think we all know that Senate Bill 28 contains reforms of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority by creating a new -- governing structure for McPier and institutes various ethics and audit provisions. The bill also offers incentives for McPier and the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont so that they can attract more shows. It establishes, in statute, new rights and rules for exhibitors and labor to make McPier more efficient and friendlier towards shows and conventions. The Governor did an amendatory veto, made four changes, and we are correcting some of these in a trailer bill which has already passed the House. The first thing the Governor did was to eliminate the departure fees. Now, the departure fee is a fee that’s charged coming from the airports in Chicago. So, if you’re leaving the airports in Chicago, if you’re in a cab, for example, cab driver presses a button and you have an extra two dollars. This bill would make that four dollars. It’s designed to be paid for by people who are coming into the conventions. The money is needed. It would go both to Rosemont and to the Convention and Tourism Bureau in order to promote tourism. If the Governor can come up with some alternative revenue in the future, we’d be happy to be open to that. But for now, we need that money. The Governor also takes out the appointment of Jim Reilly as the trustee. In our trailer bill, we provide for and acknowledge that we need a mechanism to remove Mr. Reilly, if it was necessary. Also a mechanism by which the Governor may fill a vacancy, with the advice and the consent of the Senate, and make a temporary trustee should a vacancy occur - we’ve done that in the trailer 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 bill. We also make, in the trailer bill, a technical change that the Governor had in his amendatory veto dealing with the procurement. And finally, the Governor eliminates two of the four labor unions. It’s interesting, I’ve received a number of e-mails from the show managers. The show managers are the people that decide whether or not McCormick Place is their location. So, we’ve heard from the American College of Surgeons, from the Association for Manufacturing Technology, for the Chicago Auto Show, and the -- a very large show, seventy thousand visitors, the PACK EXPO, as well as the National Restaurant Association. They all urge us to override this veto and they actually say that elimination of the two unions that the Governor’s suggesting is actually not even necessary and, in some cases, not even a good idea. So, for those reasons, I believe that we have to override the Governor’s veto. Make this the law of the land so that we can get new shows to come to McCormick Place and continue to generate money for our State. Be happy to answer any questions and ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Mr. President. Senator Kotowski, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I would simply recommend that we move the previous question.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Kotowski has moved the previous question. There are three Senators seeking recognition. Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you rise?
6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 A question of the sponsor, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Sponsor indicates that he will yield.
Senator -- Mr. President, before I start I want to again commend you and the Speaker for your work on this underlying bill, your willingness to file the trailer bill, as you just referenced. You mentioned some of the shows that are urging us to -- to override this veto quickly. And I appreciate your diplomacy, but the Executive Vice President of the National Restaurant Association said, without signing the bill, she couldn’t recommend Chicago as the most competitive place to have the National Restaurant Association Show. Housewares Show, it’s my understanding, is in a similar situation, as I suspect are some of the ones you referenced. How many jobs did the Governor put at risk with the political stunt of this amendatory veto, after all the hard work you put in to get this bill passed to save jobs here in Illinois?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Cullerton.
Senator, I don’t believe that this bill was ever jeopardized by the Governor’s amendatory veto. This bill, as you know, passed 51 to 6. We -- I would have preferred that he sign the bill and we do a trailer bill. There’s a difference of opinion, even with the trailer bill, on some points that we just don’t agree with the Governor. The Governor’s entitled, as a Governor, to make his amendatory veto. We’re entitled to override, and that’s what we’re doing. It’s so important though 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 that we want to do it immediately. I would thank the Governor for doing the amendatory veto while we’re still in Session, not have to make us come back weeks from now. He could hold onto this bill for two months. So, he knows the importance of this bill. He made his points. We are overriding them. We’re correcting some of it with a trailer bill. And that’s -- that’s why we’re doing it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Murphy.
To the bill, and -- and thank you, again, Mr. President, for your leadership on the issue, your tact in that response. It’s my understanding that sixty-five thousand jobs in a State with eleven-and-a-half-percent unemployment were put at risk by the political grandstanding move that the Governor made with this amendatory veto. Everybody knows this needs to be done. A lot of hard work by a lot of people went into this. Had dramatic bipartisan support. And you’re right, Mr. President, everybody knew that it passed by majorities that would override that veto, including the Governor, who decided to risk some of these shows leaving with this stunt so that he could try and impress a couple of unions in advance of the November election. He put himself before the people of the State with this move and it was shameful. I appreciate the swiftness with which this Chamber is acting to address that move and save jobs for the people of this State. I strongly urge a Yes vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator. Senator Koehler, for what purpose do you rise? 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010
Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) To the bill.
Yes, I intend to vote for the override on this, but I -- I want to point out some things that the Governor did that I think are -- are commendable. The Governor’s amendatory veto to Senate Bill 28 attempted to initiate four reforms in the areas of procurement, removal and succession of a trustee, elimination of a departure tax, and the streamlining of work jurisdictions. Yesterday, the House passed Senate Bill 3215, a trailer bill to Senate Bill 28, with 109 votes. The bill addresses some of the issues that the Governor raised in his amendatory veto. So while the Senate may override the veto, it’s important to note that the Governor identified serious issues within this bill. He acted with genuine intent to improve the bill that will support thousands of jobs in our State. Senate Bill 28 required McPier to procure goods and services in a manner substantially similar to the Illinois Procurement Code. Well, the Governor believes that substantial compliance is not enough. His amendatory veto requires actual compliance with the Illinois Procurement Code. The House of Representatives agrees and this change is -- this change was adopted in the trailer bill. Succession and removal of a trustee - while, Senate Bill 28 appoints James Reilly as the Trustee of the Authority, but does not create any mechanism for removal or succession. This is a major problem. If he is incapable of serving or fails in his duties, there would be no remedy for the people of our State. 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 The Governor proposed making the trustee a gubernatorial appointment and allowing the Governor to remove him in accordance with the Constitution. The House of Representatives acknowledged that failing to provide for removal or succession - - that it is a problem. In the trailer bill, the House -- the House did then provide a mechanism to remove the trustee. The trailer bill also allows the Governor to make a temporary appointment if the trustee is unable to serve. So what I want to point out here is that the Governor’s amendatory veto raises these important issues. And though we are overriding the amendatory veto, it’s important to note that he has not made this in a frivolous or carefulness manner, and he should be commended for bringing these issues to the attention of the General Assembly. As I said, I will vote for the -- the override here, but it’s important to note that he very carefully and painstakingly addressed the issues that we should be addressing and will be addressing in the trailer bill. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator Koehler. Leader Radogno is the last speaker who sought recognition before the motion to -- to close discussion. Senator Radogno.
Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to, again, congratulate everyone who was involved with this bill. It’s something that desperately needs to be done. It’s disappointing that we have to deal with an override, because the bill was the product of a lot of thoughtful consideration. I’m glad we’re doing it very quickly. We haven’t done a lot of things right in 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 this building in a number of years actually, but this is a shining example of something that we have done right and will result in some immediate - hopefully immediate - positive reaction by booking conventions back into Chicago. So, I would urge everyone who supported this bill originally to vote in favor of this override. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator. Senator Cullerton, to close.
Yes, thank you, Mr. President. This bill is added to a long list of bills that we’ve passed in this building in the last couple years which have been very successful. And I would urge an Aye vote. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) The question is, shall Senate Bill 28 pass, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. 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 51 voting Aye, 2 voting No, 1 voting Present. And Senate Bill 28, having received the required three-fifths majority, is declared passed, notwithstanding the specific recommendations of the Governor. WICS-TV seeks leave to videotape the proceeding. Is there any objection? Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, the Senate will stand at ease for a few minutes to allow the Committee on Assignments to meet. Will the member {sic} of the Committee on Assignments please come to the President’s Anteroom immediately? Will the members of the Senate Committee on Assignments please come to 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 the President’s Anteroom immediately? The Senate stands at ease. (SENATE STANDS AT EASE)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Senator Schoenberg in the Chair. Will the members of the Committee on Assignments please come to the President’s Anteroom immediately? Will the members of the Committee on Assignments please come to the President’s Anteroom immediately? (SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Senate will come to order. Mr. Secretary, Messages from the House.
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 adoption of the following joint resolution, to wit: Senate Joint Resolution 118. Together with the attached amendment thereto, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Joint Resolution 118. Passed the House, May 27, 2010. Mark Mahoney, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 The Senate will stand at ease for a few moments to allow the Committee on Assignments to meet. If all the members of the Committee on Assignments - all the members - could please come to the President’s Anteroom immediately. Senate will stand at ease. (SENATE STANDS AT EASE/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Senate will come to order. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to the Executive Committee - Motion to Concur with House Amendments 1, 2, 3 and 5 to Senate Bill 226, Motion to Concur with House Amendments 1 and 3 to Senate Bill 744, Motion to Concur with House Amendments 1 and 3 to Senate Bill 2101, Motion to Concur with House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 3215, House Joint Resolution 111, Floor Amendment No. 2 to House Bill 3690, and a Motion to Concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Joint Resolution 118; refer to the Labor Committee - a Motion to Concur with House Amendment 1 and 4 to Senate Bill 2093; refer -- re-referred from the Revenue Committee to the Committee on Labor - Senate Resolution 808; re-referred from the State Government and Veterans Affairs Committee to the Executive Committee - House Joint Resolution 119. Signed by Senator James F. Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Chair wishes to announce a couple of committees that will be meeting later this afternoon. At 2:30 p.m., the Labor Committee will meet in Room 212. Labor in 212 at 2:30. And then the Senate Executive Committee will meet at 3:15 in Room 212. Executive at 3:15 in Room 212. Senator Frerichs, for what purpose do you rise, sir?
Thank you very much, Mr. President. I move to waive all notice and posting requirements so that Senate Resolution 808 can be heard today in the Senate Labor Committee.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Senator Frerichs moves to waive all notice and posting requirements so that Senate Resolution 808 can be heard today in the Senate Labor Committee. All those in… Senator Althoff. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. Opinion of the Chair, the Ayes have it, and all notice and posting requirements have been waived. Senator Muñoz, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR MUÑOZ: Thank you, Mr. President. I move to waive all notice and posting requirements so that House Joint Resolution 119 can be heard today in the Senate Labor Committee.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Senator Muñoz moves to waive all notice and posting requirements so that House Joint Resolution 119 can be heard today in the Senate Labor Committee. Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President. It’s my recollection this is the same motion that we discussed yesterday. As such, I would ask again for a roll call on the gentleman’s motion. 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Thank you, Senator Righter. Senator Muñoz, with a correction. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Yes, thank you, Mr. President. The correction: It’s not in Labor; it’s in Executive, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Senator Righter.
Just to make sure I have my bases covered, Mr. President, I would ask for a roll call on the gentleman’s amended motion, if you will.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Senator Muñoz moves to waive all notice and posting requirements so that House Joint Resolution 119 can be heard today in the Senate Executive Committee. A roll call has been requested. That request is in order. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, please take the record. On that question, there are 31 voting Aye, 19 voting Nay, none voting Present. The motion is adopted and the notice and posting requirements are waived. Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. May I move to waive all applicable Senate rules so that House Joint Resolution 111 can be heard in the Senate Executive Committee later today?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Senator Althoff moves to waive all notice and posting 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 requirements so that Senate {sic} Joint Resolution 111 can be heard today in the Senate Executive Committee. All those in favor will -- all those in favor will say… Senator Harmon.
Yes, thank you, Mr. President. I’d request a roll call.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) A roll call has been requested. That request is always in order. Roll call has been requested. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, please take the record. On that question, there are 46 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. The motion is adopted and notice and posting requirements are waived. Senator Hendon, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President. I was wondering, you know, if you have your right glasses today, ‘cause my light is lit. I just wanted to say we did vote for the Republican bill to be called. That’s fine. I was just wondering if they are going to start this delay tactic all day. And I was wondering, as you as the Presiding Officer, if you were going to allow them to do these delay tactics all day. That’s all.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Senator Lauzen, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Please state your point. 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010
I’d like to introduce two guests that we have today here in Springfield who are going to be interns in my office this summer. Anuj Shah, from the Naperville/Aurora area, is a sophomore at the University of Illinois, studying political science and economics. And then, Kathryn Breisch, who is a junior at Illinois Wesleyan. She’s the President of the student body and she is here with her dad, Roger Breisch, who is the Executive Director of the Batavia Chamber of Commerce. They’re in the gallery above the Democrat side. If you would welcome them to the State Senate, I’d appreciate it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Give a warm Senate greeting to our guests today. Thank you. Senator Steans, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Yes. I had intended to vote Yes on HJR 119 and did not get to my button on time. Thanks.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Thank you. The record will so reflect. Senator Luechtefeld, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. I have a young man with me today who’s a -- be a senior in high school next year, hoping to go to West Point next year. Sharp -- sharp young -- or two years from now - sharp young fellow by the name of Andrew Biermonn. His mother, Jill, is sitting in the audience behind us. We’ll hopefully give them a very warm welcome. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Please rise. And let’s give them a warm Senate greeting. Senator Trotter, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you very much, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. On a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Please state your point.
Thank you very much. Mine is a -- is on a much sadder note. In my community today, community of Chatham, hundreds of my fellow residents, neighbors and strangers will be going to two separate funerals - two individuals who really made a -- a difference in my community. Their circumstances of their deaths are -- are entirely different. The first, they’ll be going to Mary Pegue Pullins, who was a hundred and eight years old. She has been one of the -- the real leaders in our community. Back in 1950, she was one of the first people that moved to Chatham to integrate the community. She was a force and a leader in the steelworkers’ union, and raised her family, her grandkids and even her great-grandkids in our community. And they are active in the community now. When she was in her nineties, she was a caregiver to people who were younger than she. She was always, again, a -- a woman on the move, a woman who -- who loved her community, loved her children, and -- and treated us all as children. And so today is her wake and tomorrow will be her funeral. And I would like for the -- the Body to join me in -- in mourning her. And -- but the other death is quite different. Today also, hundreds of our community leaders and friends and neighbors will be going to a funeral of a man who was only 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 thirty years old, a man who believed in community because his parents taught him to believe in community. Last week - it’s been in the news - Thomas Wortham IV was shot and killed and ran over by a car by some thugs. He was a lieutenant in the National Guard, served two terms -- two tours of duty over in Iraq. His day job, he was a Chicago police officer. His twenty-four-hour job was protecting the community that he grew up in. He was also the President of the Advisory Council to Coles {sic} (Cole) Park, which his parents lived across the street from. And if you didn’t read, he was leaving his parents’ house, after having dinner with them, and he was accosted by two guys who wanted to steal his motorcycle. He identified himself as a police officer and he was shot. His father, who’s Sergeant Wortham, heard the ruckus outside the house, grabbed his pistol and killed one of the -- the individuals who shot his son and wounded another, not knowing that there were two other guys in the car waiting on ‘em. The other guys came back, and while Lieutenant Police Officer Wortham was lying there dying, he ran his car over him. So today, with a heavy heart, my community, and I said, and even strangers, are mourning the death of these two great people, two good people, two leaders. And I just ask that the Senate join with us, my -- my family, my neighbors, in mourning these two deaths.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Thank you, Senator Trotter. If the Members could please be at their desk, we’ll observe a moment of silence. (Moment of silence observed) Thank you. Senator Righter, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir? 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010
Thank you, Mr. President. On a point of personal privilege, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Please state your point.
Thank you. Mr. President, a few minutes ago -- and I appreciate that we’re in the -- what we hope are the waning days of Session. When this time of year comes, there’s often a lot of tension. There’s a lot of snapping back and forth, and we all know that and we do our best to keep that under control. Comments that were made earlier about the resolutions, I want everyone to be clear. Senator Althoff’s motion to suspend the rules was agreed to by both sides. The notion that somehow the Republicans were being dilatory because it was a Democrat motion to suspend by Senator Muñoz is a little silly considering the fact that right before Senator Muñoz presented his motion, Senator Frerichs, a Democrat Senator, presented his to which we had no objection because there was an agreement on both sides. There is not an agreement with regards to Senator Muñoz’ resolution. That’s why we asked for a roll call. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Thank you, Senator Righter. The Chair had already turned the page on that issue and I hope that we don’t have to revisit it again. Senator Brady, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Just a point of personal privilege, Mr. President. I’d 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 like to introduce my Page of the Day.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Please state your point.
Thank you, Mr. President. I’d like to introduce to the Members of the Senate, Heather Scranton, who is accompanied by her father, Mark, in the President’s Gallery, from Decatur, Illinois, actually constituents of Senator Kyle McCarter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) …you. Will our guests please rise? And welcome to the Illinois Senate. Chair wishes to make a revised announcement about committee assignments. The Executive Committee will now meet at 3 p.m. Previously it had been announced at 3:15. Executive will meet at 3 p.m., still in Room 212. Senator Pankau, for what purpose do you rise?
A matter of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) State your point.
With us today, we have the second-grade class of Trinity Lutheran School from Roselle, Illinois. My grandson, Jared Pankau, is one of the members of that class. Please welcome them to the Senate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Will our guests please rise? Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Senator Muñoz, for what purpose do you seek recognition? SENATOR MUÑOZ: 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Purpose of announcement, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) State your point. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Senate Democrats requesting a caucus immediately upon recess in the President’s Office.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Senate Democrats are requesting a caucus in the President’s Office upon recess. Senator Burzynski.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Republicans would request a caucus as well, in Senator Radogno’s Office.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SCHOENBERG) Very well. The Republicans will caucus in Leader Radogno’s Office. Senate will now stand in recess until the call of the Chair. After the committee meetings, the Senate will reconvene to receive Committee Reports and for further substantive Floor action. The Senate stands in recess. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The Senate will come to order. Will all Members under the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Floor? Will all Members under the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Floor? We’re about to go to substantial Senate action. And this should be the final actions of the day. So if you come on to the Senate Floor, we can get it done and get you out of here for the holiday, so you can see your families. We know you miss 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 and love your families. So will all Members please come to the Senate Floor? Senator Haine, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President. I wish to thank the President of the Senate, John Cullerton, for placing you in this position this evening.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Well, that’s really nice of you and the people in the gallery as well. We can get some Members on the Floor, I’m going to call the bills and I’m going to go as fast as humanly possible. Will all Members under the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Floor? If you have legislation that’s going to be called, I recommend that you come to the Senate Floor immediately because we’re going to go immediately to that action. We need Democrats and Republicans alike. It’s not like the Republicans to not be on the Floor, Leader Burzynski. Get your Members. Normally the Republicans are on time and the Democrats are slow. Now the Democrats are here and the Republicans are slow. We need all Members, regardless of party, on the Senate Floor promptly. Anne Kelly from WCIA seeks leave to videotape. Is leave granted? Leave is granted. Will all Members under the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Floor so we can go to Senate action? We’re going to Supplemental Calendar. Supplemental Calendar No. 1. Scratch that. We’re going to go to substantial Senate action, but we’ll hold Supplemental Calendar No. 1 for a hot second. Kevin Lee from the Illinois Statehouse News seeks leave to videotape. Is leave granted? Leave is granted. I really appreciate the 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Members who have come to the Senate Floor. It’s wonderful to see you responding so promptly to my request that you come to the Senate Floor. Will all administrative assistants please contact your Senator and tell ‘em we are coming to the Senate Floor? We’re going to go to Executive Appointments. You know you want to be on record voting up or down on these executive appointments. So our first order of business will be Executive Appointments. So I need all Members under the sound of my voice to come to the Senate Floor. Would all administrative assistants please contact your Senator? We appreciate the great work that you do. This is the Memorial Day weekend and we’d like to get to this business and get it done. Will all Members under the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Floor promptly? Okay, the room is filling up. Will all Members under the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Floor? You can prepare yourself. We’re going to go to Executive Appointments when we get enough of you here on the Senate Floor. Will all administrative assistants please tell your Senator that Senator Hendon is in Chair? I’m only in the Chair when it’s time to move legislation quickly. We can be out of here by 5 o’clock if you will come to the Senate Floor. Senator Muñoz. Okay, we’re going to Executive Appointments right now. To fulfill our responsibility under Article V, Section 9 of the Constitution, we will now proceed to the Order of Advice {sic} (Advise) and Consent for Executive Appointments. Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Senate resolve itself into Executive Session for the purpose of acting on appointments set forth in the Messages from the Governor dated 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 April 6, November 12th, November 13th, December 10th, December 16th, and December 29, 2009, and January 11th, February 26, March 1st, April 16th, April 26, May 12th, May 20th, 2010; together with the Treasurer’s Message dated March 25th, 2010.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Muñoz moves that the Senate resolve itself into Executive Session for the purpose of acting on the appointments set forth in the Messages from the Governor dated April 6, November the 12th, November 13th, December 10th, December 16th, December 29th, 2009, January 11th, February 26th, March 1st, April 16th, April 26, May 12th, May 20th, 2010; together with the Treasurer’s Message dated March 25th, 2010. Mr. Secretary. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Muñoz, Chairman of the Committee on Executive Appointments, to which was referred the Governor’s Message of November 12th, 2009, reported the same back with the recommendation that the Senate do advise and consent to the following appointment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, with respect to the Governor’s Message of November 12th, 2009, I will read the salaried appointment of which the Committee on Executive Appointments recommend that the Senate do advise and consent: To be a member of the Chicago Transit Authority Board, for a term commencing November 12th, 2009, ending September 1, 2011: John Bouman. 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Mr. President, having read the salaried appointment from the Governor’s Message of November 12th, 2009, I now seek leave to consider the appointment on a roll call. Mr. President…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? SENATOR MUÑOZ: …will you put the…(microphone cutoff)…rules?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, does the Senate advise and consent to the appointment just read from the -- Senator Duffy. I’m sorry. Senator Duffy, on -- on this appointment? Senator Duffy.
Thank you, Mr. President. I’d like to speak on behalf of the appointments in general. To the bill -- to the motion to consent.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) To the motion. Go ahead, Senator Duffy.
You know, it -- it’s clear at this point that there’s two different set of rules for the people in Illinois. There’s one set of rules for the average citizen and then there’s another set of rules for the powerfully, politically connected people in the majority. The majority in this Chamber are living large. Recession? Struggling? Who’s struggling? The majority is very content flying unlimited hours in private State airplanes, letting family members use their taxpayer-funded legislative cars, and setting up family and friends with high-priced jobs on State boards. Struggling? Who’s struggling around here? When 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 we discussed this subject the last week that we were in Session, I stated my beliefs that legislators should not be allowed to appoint family members and friends to these high-priced State boards and commissions. The Illinois coffers are not your own personal piggy bank. One of the people that were most vocal and creative in their comments to me that day when we discussed this issue is now taking his turn. Now he is pulling up his truck to the Illinois State safe, opening the door and filling his truck with taxpayer money. Cutting costs? Who’s cutting costs in this Chamber? It is wrong for legislators who approve these high-priced positions to be allowed to have family members and friends appointed to these boards. We have five hundred and eighty-five State boards and commissions in Illinois to date. We have added three hundred and five new boards and commissions in the last seven years. I encourage a No vote on all these pay-to-play bills and I believe we should not allow family members of legislators on these boards, and we should also eliminate compensation pay to all State boards and commissions. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The question is, does the Senate advise and consent to the appointment just read from the Governor’s Message of November 12th. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote 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 45 voting Aye, 6 voting Nay, none voting Present. The Senate does advise and consent to the appointment just read. Senate -- a majority of Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to the 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 appointment just read. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Muñoz, Chairman of the Committee on Executive Appointments, to which was referred the Governor’s Message of December 16th, 2009, reported back the same with the recommendation that the Senate do advise and consent to the following appointment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, with respect to the Governor’s Message of December 16th, 2009, I will read the salaried appointment of which the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate do advise and consent: To be a member/Chair of Human Rights Commission, for a term commencing December 12th, 2009, ending January 17th, 2011: Martin Castro. Mr. President, having read the salaried appointment from the Governor’s Message of December 16th, 2009, I now seek leave to consider the appointment on a roll call. Will you put the question as required by our rules?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Dana Jay from -- WSIC {sic} (WSIL) seeks leave to videotape. Leave is granted? Leave is granted. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, does the Senate advise and consent to the appointment just read from the Governor’s Message of December 16th. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Take the record. On that question, there are 49 voting Aye, 3 voting Nay, 1 voting Present. A majority of Senators elected concurring in record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to appointment just read. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Muñoz, Chairman of the Committee on Executive Appointments, to which was referred the Governor’s Message of April 16, 2010, reported the same back with the recommendation that the Senate do advise and consent to the following appointment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, with respect to the Governor’s Message of April 16th, 2010, I will read the salaried appointment of which the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate do advise and consent: To be a member of the Labor Relations Board – State Panel, for a term commencing April 16th, 2010, ending January 24th, 2011: Jessica Kimbrough. Mr. President, having read the salaried appointment from the Governor Messages {sic} of April 16th, 2010, I now seek leave to consider the appointment on a roll call. Mr. President, will you put the question as required by our rules?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, does the Senate advise and consent to the appointments {sic} just read from the Governor’s Message of April 16th. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. The voting is open. 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 48 voting Aye, 5 voting Nay, 1 voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to appointment just read. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Muñoz, Chairman of the Committee on Executive -- Appointments, to which was referred the Governor’s Message of May 12th, 2010, reported the same back with the recommendation that the Senate do advise and consent to the following appointment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, with respect to the Governor’s Message of May 12th, 2010, I will read the salaried appointment of which the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate do advise and consent: To be a member of the Department of Employment Security Board of Review, for a term commencing May {sic} (June) 12th, 2010, and ending January 17th, 2011: Marilyn Orso. Mr. President, having read the salaried appointment from the Governor’s Message of May 12th, 2010, I now seek leave to consider the appointment on a roll call.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, does the Senate advise and consent to the appointment just read from the Governor’s Message of May 12th. All those in favor, 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 vote Aye. Opposed, vote 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 46 voting Aye, 5 voting Nay, 2 voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to the appointment just read. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Muñoz, Chairman of the Committee on Executive Appointments, to which was referred the Governor’s Message of May 12th, 2010, reported the same back with the recommendation that the Senate do advise and consent to the following appointment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, with respect to the Governor’s Message of May 12th, 2010, I will read the salaried appointment of which the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate do advise and consent: To be a member of the Human Rights Commission, for a term commencing May 12th, 2010, and ending January 21, 2013: Diane Viverito. Mr. President, having read the salaried appointment from the Governor’s Message of May 12th, 2010, I now seek leave to consider the appointment on a roll call.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Question is, does the Senate advise and consent to appointment just read from the Governor’s 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Message of May 12th. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote 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 43 voting Aye, 5 voting Nay, 4 voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to the appointment just read. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Muñoz, Chairman of the Committee on Executive Appointments, to which was referred the Governor’s Message of May 12th, 2010, reported the same back with the recommendation that the Senate do advise and consent to the following appointment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, with respect to the Governor’s Message of May 12th, 2010, I will read the salaried appointment of which the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate do advise and consent: To be a member of the Workers’ Compensation Commission, for a term commencing May 12th, 2010, and ending January 17th, 2011: Daniel Donohoo. Mr. President, having read the salaried appointment from the Governor’s Message of May 12th, 2010, I now seek leave to consider the appointment on a roll call.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, does the Senate advise and consent to the appointment just read 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 from the Governor’s Message of May 12th. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote 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 48 voting Aye, 4 voting Nay, 2 voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to appointment just read. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Muñoz, Chairman of the Committee on Executive Appointments, to which was referred the Governor’s Message of May 20, 2010, reported the same back with the recommendation that the Senate do advise and consent to the following appointment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, with respect to the Governor’s Message of May 20th, 2010, I will read the salaried appointment of which the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate do advise and consent: To be the State Fire Marshal, for a term commencing January 4th, 2010, and ending January 17th, 2011: Lawrence Matkaitis. Mr. President, having read the salaried appointment from the Governor’s Message of May 20th, 2010, I now seek leave to consider the appointment on a roll call.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Question is, does the Senate advise and consent to appointments {sic} just read from the 33 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Governor’s Message of May 20th. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. And 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 47 voting Aye, 2 voting Nay, 2 voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to the appointment just read. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Muñoz, Chairman of the Committee on Executive Appointments, to which was referred the Governor’s Message of April 6, 2009, reported the same back with the recommendation that the Senate do advise and consent to the following appointment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, with respect to the Governor’s Message of April 6, 2009, I will read the non-salaried appointment of which the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate do advise and consent: To be a member of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, for a term commencing March 20th, 2009, and ending January 19th, 2015: Edward McMillan. Mr. President, having read the non-salaried appointment from the Governor’s Message of April 6, 2009, I now seek leave to consider the appointment on a roll call.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? The question is, does the Senate 34 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 advise and consent to appointments {sic} just read from the Governor’s Message of April 6. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all -- have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 51 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to appointment just read. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Muñoz, Chairman of the Committee on Executive Appointments, to which was referred the Governor’s Message of November 13, 2009, reported the same back with the recommendation that the Senate do advise and consent to the following appointment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, with respect to the Governor’s Message of November 13th, 2009, I will read the non-salaried appointment of which the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate do advise and consent: To be a member of the Chicago State University Board of Trustees, for a term commencing November 9th, 2009, and ending January 21, 2013: “Z” Scott. Mr. President, having read the non-salaried appointment from the Governor’s Message of November 13th, 2009, I now seek leave to consider the appointment on a roll call.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 35 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Is there any discussion? The question is, does the Senate advise and consent to the appointment just read from the Governor’s Message of November 13th. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, vote 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 50 voting Aye, 1 voting Nay, none voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to the appointment just read. Senator Delgado, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. I was attending another roll call on a piece of legislation. My button was pushed inadvertently a No. My vote should be recorded as a Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The record will so reflect. Mr. Secretary…
Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) …Committee Reports.
Senator Muñoz, Chairman of the Committee on Executive Appointments, to which was referred the Governor’s Message of December 10, 2009, reported the same back with the recommendation that the Senate do advise and consent to the following appointments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: 36 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Mr. President, with respect to the Governor’s Message of December 10th, 2009, I will read the non-salaried appointments of which the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate do advise and consent: To be members of the State Board of Education, for terms commencing December 18th, 2009, and ending January 9th, 2013: James Baumann and Melinda LaBarre. Mr. President, having read the non-salaried appointments from the Governor’s Message of December 10th, 2009, I now seek leave to consider the appointment on a roll call.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) I will put the question as required by our rules. Is there any discussion? The question is, does the Senate advise and consent to the appointments just read from the Governor’s Message of December 10th. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote 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 53 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to the appointments just read. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Muñoz, Chairman of the Committee on Executive Appointments, to which was referred the Governor’s Message of December 29, 2009, reported the same back with the recommendation that the Senate do advise and consent to the following appointment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 37 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, with respect to the Governor’s Message of December 29th, 2009, I will read the non-salaried appointment of which the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate do advise and consent: To be a member of the Northeastern Illinois University Board of Trustees, for a term commencing December 29th, 2009, and ending January 21, 2013: Marvin Garcia. Mr. President, having read the non-salaried appointment from the Governor’s Message of December 29th, 2009, I now seek leave to consider the appointment on a roll call. Mr. President, will you put the question as required by our rules?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) I will certainly do, sir. I want to acknowledge the presence of Leader Tom Cross to the Senate. Leader Cross, welcome to the Illinois Senate. Fine Republican you are. Like that tie. The question is, does the Senate advise and consent to appointments {sic} just read from the Governor’s Message of December 29th. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote 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 53 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to appointment just read. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Muñoz, Chairman of the Committee on Executive Appointments, to which was referred the Governor’s Message of 38 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 January 11, 2010, reported the same back with the recommendation that the Senate do advise and consent to the following appointment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, with respect to the Governor’s Message of January 11th, 2010, I will read the non-salaried appointment of which the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate do advise and consent: To be the Public Guardian and Public Administrator of Monroe County, for a term commencing January 11th, 2010, and ending December 2nd, 2013: Arlie Traughber. Mr. President, having read the non-salaried appointment from the Governor’s Message of January 11th, 2010, I now seek leave to consider the appointment on a roll call. Mr. President, will you put the question as required by our rules?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Question is, does the Senate advise and consent to the appointment just read from the Governor’s Message of January 11th. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote 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 51 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to appointment just read. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
39 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Senator Muñoz, Chairman of the Committee on Executive Appointments, to which was referred the Governor’s Message of February 26, 2010, reported the same back with the recommendation that the Senate do advise and consent to the following appointment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, with respect to the Governor’s Message of February 26, 2010, I will read the non-salaried appointment of which the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate do advise and consent: To be a member of the Health Facilities and Services Review Board, for a term March 1, 2010, ending July 1, 2013: Alan Greiman. Mr. President, having read the non-salaried appointment from the Governor’s Message of February 26th, 2010, I now seek leave to consider the appointment on a roll call. Mr. President, will you put the question as required by our rules?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? The question is, does the Senate advise and consent to the appointment just read from the Governor’s Message of February 26th. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, vote 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 51 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to the appointment just read. Mr. Secretary, 40 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Committee Report.
Senator Muñoz, Chairman of the Committee on Executive Appointments, to which was referred the Governor’s Message of March 1, 2010, reported the same back with the recommendation that the Senate do advise and consent to the following appointments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, with respect to the Governor’s Message of March 1, 2010, I will read the non-salaried appointments of which the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate do advise and consent: To be a member of the Board of Higher Education, for a term commencing March 1, 2010, ending January 31, 2011: Heba Hamouda. To be a member of the Board of Higher Education, for a term commencing March 1, 2010, ending January 31, 2015: Santos Rivera. Mr. President, having read the non-salaried appointments from the Governor’s Message of March 1, 2010, I now seek leave to consider the appointments on a roll call. Mr. President, will you put the question as required by our rules?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? The question is, does the Senate advise and consent to appointments just read from the Governor’s Message of March 1st. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have 41 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to the appointments just read. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Muñoz, Chairman of the Committee on Executive Appointments, to which was referred the Governor’s Message of April 26, 2010, reported the same back with the recommendation that the Senate do advise and consent to the following appointment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, with respect to the Governor’s Message of April 26, 2010, I will read the non-salaried appointment of which the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate do advise and consent: To be a member of the Housing Development Authority, for a term commencing April 26, 2010, and ending January 10th, 2011: Deborah Telman. Mr. President, having read the non-salaried appointment from the Governor’s Message of April 26, 2010, I now seek leave to consider the appointment on a roll call. Mr. President, will you put the question as required by our rules?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? The question is, does the Senate advise and consent to appointment just read from the Governor’s Message of April 26. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, 42 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 vote 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 54 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to appointment just read. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Muñoz, Chairman of the Committee on Executive Appointments, to which was referred the Treasurer’s Message of March 25, 2010, reported the same back with the recommendation that the Senate do advise and consent to the following appointment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, with respect to the Treasurer’s Message of March 25th, 2010, I will read the non-salaried appointment of which the Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate do advise and consent: To be a member of the Treasurer’s Personnel Review Board, for a term commencing May 24th, 2010, ending May 24th, 2016: Tamara Howard. Mr. President, having read the non-salaried appointment from the Treasurer’s Message of March 25th, 2010, I now seek leave to consider the appointment on a roll call. Mr. President, will you put the question as required by our rules?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Question is, does the Senate advise and consent to appointment just read from the Governor’s 43 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 {sic} Message of March 25th. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote 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 55 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. A majority of the Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to the appointment just read. Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Senate arise from Executive Session.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Muñoz moves that the Senate arise from Executive Session. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the motion carries. The Senate has arisen from Executive Session. We’re now going to go to Supplemental Calendar No. 1. Trust me, be prepared, be ready, we are moving. Starting at the top, Senate Resolution 782. Senator Demuzio. Mr. Secretary, read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 782, offered by Senator Demuzio. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Demuzio.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman and -- Mr. President and Members of the Senate. This resolution recognizes the aerospace technology, such as the C-17 Globemaster III. It’s -- which has aided our national defense, humanitarian efforts, and our economy. And I ask for your support. 44 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? The question is, shall Senate Resolution 782 pass. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senate Resolution 860. Senator Frerichs. Mr. Secretary, read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 860, offered by Senator Frerichs. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Frerichs.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. Senate Resolution 860 proclaims September 6th, 2010, as “Westville Day” in honor of the one hundredth anniversary of the Westville Labor Day parade.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Resolution 860 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Silverstein, Chairperson of the Committee on Executive, reports Senate Amendment No. 2 to House Bill 3690 recommended Do Adopt; Motion to Concur with House Amendments 1, 2, 3 and 5 to Senate Bill 226, House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 375, House Amendments 1 and 3 to Senate Bill 744, House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 1642, House Amendments 1 and 3 to Senate Bill 2101, House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2863, House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3012, Senate -- excuse 45 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 me, House Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 3215, and House Amendments 1, 9, 12, 14, 17, 18 and 19 to Senate Bill 3660, and House Amendments 1 and 3 to Senate Bill 3662, and House Amendment 1 to Senate Joint Resolution 118, all recommended Do Adopt; and House Joint Resolution 111 Be Adopted. Senator Forby, Chairperson of the Committee on Labor, reports the Motion to Concur with House Amendments 1 and 4 to Senate Bill 2093 recommended Do Adopt and Senate Resolution 808 Be Adopted.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Continuing on your Calendar is Senate Bill 49. Senator Forby. Senator Forby. We’ll come back to that one. Out of the record. Senate Bill 377. Senator Kotowski. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 3 to -- excuse me. I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1, 3 and 6 to Senate Bill 377. Signed by Senator Kotowski.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Kotowski.
Thank you very much, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This is a excellent piece of legislation to generate revenue to help pay our bills in the State of Illinois. First, it creates a tax amnesty program that allows taxpayers -- gives them an incentive to pay their outstanding tax at the Department of Revenue during amnesty period. This period starts 46 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 on October 1st, 2010, and ends on November 8th, 2010. Second, the bill authorizes State agencies to settle, sell or enter into a deferred payment plan for all past due debt, which are debts that have been outstanding for more than twelve months. And third, the amendment authorizes the Department of Revenue to sell State debt that has been certified as uncollectible under current law to one or more outside vendors.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? The question is, does the Senate concur in House Amendments 1, 3 and 6 to Senate Bill 377. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote 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 53 voting Aye, 1 voting Nay, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendments 1, 3 and 6 to Senate Bill 377. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1215. Senator Trotter. Mr. Secretary, read the gentleman’s motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 1215. Signed by Senator Trotter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Trotter.
Thank you very much, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill, as amended -- Senate Bill 3662, as amended by House Amendment No. 3, deletes all and becomes the Budget Implementation Act. It makes various fund transfers, gives the 47 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Governor flexibility… 1215. Sorry.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) You can continue, Senator Trotter, on that. 1215. Senator Trotter.
Yeah. Wrong bill. Wrong bill. Sorry about that, sir. This, sir, is a -- a technical cleanup for revised spending for FY’11. It’s the House Amendment No. 2 and 3, which it includes ’11 budget appropriations and technical changes that are not included in House Bill 859.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Senator Murphy.
To the -- to the motion, Mr. President. You know, this is a little bit more than just a technical little thing. We’re going to supplement the bill from yesterday - the budget that just went to the Governor yesterday - with another seven hundred and eleven million dollars in spending - a hundred and forty- five of it out of GRF. That’s what this little technical measure is. The ink’s not even dry -- the ink’s not even dry on the budget that went to the Governor that increases spending by almost 1.2 billion over last year, borrows six billion dollars more to add to the worst per capita debt figure of any State in the country, and kicks the can down the road on our six billion dollars in current old bills. Ink’s not even dry. 1.2 billion more in spending increase over last year wasn’t enough; we’re going to layer on another hundred and fifty million -- hundred and forty-five million with this one today. Before we even got out of town, realized we needed to spend more money. This is 48 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 yet another step in the wrong direction for a State that is having opportunities systematically crushed for the people who live here by the failure of leadership and the dismal policies out of this -- out of this General Assembly and this Governor. I could not more strongly urge a No vote on yet more spending on top of spending in the shadow of the borrowing. Please vote this down.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Schoenberg.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I, with all due respect to the previous speaker, want to remind all the Members that all of you who are so concerned about implementing tough ethics and contracting reform, that a major part of this -- a major part of this concurrence motion is funding for all the compliance officers and -- and independent procurement officers, chief procurement officers for all the contracting in the State. It also -- so if you want to really stand up for what you believe in and making sure that contracting procedures are done more ethically, more independently, and more honestly, you’ll vote for this so we actually have the money to implement Senate Bill 51 and have those independent procurement officers and compliance officers. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Syverson.
Thank you, Mr. President. Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 49 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 He indicates he will yield for a question. A question. Senator Syverson.
Or two?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Or two. Senator Syverson.
Senator, in the new spending that is in here, were these numbers that were discussed in part of the budget that we passed that were just an oversight in printing of the -- of the budget, or is this new spending?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Trotter.
You are correct in your first statement, sir. Yes, it was discussed, and so -- and it was inadvertently miscalculated and those corrections were made in this bill, with the exception of - was it fourteen? - fourteen million dollars.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Syverson.
The dollar amount then of -- of this money, the hundred and forty-five million for GRF and the five -- a hundred and sixty- six million in other, those numbers were in the totals that we looked at in the budget that we had passed, or are these numbers -- were they inadvertently taken out as well? So, when we look at the total amount of spending, is this number on top of what we looked at…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 50 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Senator Trotter.
…the budget?
No, it is not on top of it, sir. These numbers, again, we had -- there was a miscount in our calculation and this was corrected with this amendment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Syverson.
Okay, last question, then. So these numbers, each one of these different -- the fundings on these issues, there’s not new spending except for that one? These line items were -- and these dollar amounts were all in the budget that we had passed two weeks ago, and so it’s not changing the GRF number that we voted on when we passed the -- the budget?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Trotter.
Repeat it again, I’m sorry, sir.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Syverson, would you repeat the question, please, sir? Senator Syverson.
Thank you. The question was, this hundred and forty-five million from the GRF, you’re saying that this was all in the budget that we passed. So we’re not increasing that dollar amount that you had told us last time and there’s not any new line items or new spending in this that was not in that budget 51 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 that we passed last week? If so, I guess, what -- what has changed on here that was not in that budget?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Trotter.
The -- the net increase to this budget, to that one forty- five, over from last time when we did discuss this bill in committee, or on 859, is the fourteen million dollars and that is -- went to -- 1.4, which went to election -- elections.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Trotter, to close.
And in education. Again, this is a -- a technical cleanup bill to 859 and just ask for its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The question is, does the Senate concur in House Amendments No. 2 and 3 -- 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 1215. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, vote 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 35 voting Aye, 20 voting Nay, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendments No. 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 1215. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2534. Senator Koehler. Mr. Secretary, read the gentleman’s motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2534. Signed by Senator Koehler. 52 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Koehler.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This is a smaller version of what we passed out of the Senate a little more than a month ago that was Senate Bill 2559 in -- in terms of creating a Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program. There were some problems in the House. They wanted to limit the scope of this, and so this is a -- a bill to create a pilot program, which specifically is directed towards a -- restoring a old hotel in downtown Peoria, the Père -- Père Marquette. We came out of the -- the Senate before with - 2559 - with good bipartisan support and I’d appreciate a Aye vote on this as well.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Senator Risinger.
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in support of this bill. Like Senator Koehler said, earlier we had a -- a more expanded version that passed with forty-eight votes out of this Body earlier. It does help us restore a grand hotel, the Père Marquette, in downtown Peoria and one that is vitally needed for the -- the core of the city. So I rise in support of this.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Further discussion? Senator Lauzen.
Thank you, Mr. President. I would just like to suggest to the Senate that we take a moment to consider what we’re voting on right now. I have enormous respect for the -- for the 53 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 sponsor. I love Peoria as a city. It is a beautiful city with lots of good people. But you’ve heard about March madness in Peoria. This is May madness in Springfield. Let me just read a Journal Star, just the opening sentence from February 23rd, 2010, describing this bill. “Developer Gary Matthews could make 6.5 million for developing the Downtown Marriott Hotel project, according to information supplied by the Illinois Finance Authority.” In the Revenue Committee, we were talking about what this represents is a ten-million-dollar credit to a project that a developer’s going to put together and then sell to Marriott when it’s done. That’s my understanding of what this does. Now, do we have so much money that we can take ten million dollars away from education, away from Corrections, all the other needs we have? Ten million dollars to one town, one development, one -- one person - ten million dollars. Haven’t we learned over the last twenty years that these hotel deals don’t work out? I mean, ask the current Treasurer how he feels about what he felt was necessary with the Renaissance here in Springfield, or what occurred outside of St. Louis with the other hotel deal. This is ten million bucks going out of the General Revenue Fund in a tax credit form so that what? So that developer Gary Matthews can make 6.5 million? You’re funding his profit. We should have our heads examined for passing stuff like this. So I recommend a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Koehler, to close.
Yes, thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for the question, but I -- I -- I really have to respectfully disagree. Part of 54 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 the developer’s fee is used to operate the hotel in the -- in the period of time that it takes to elevate it to the status of four stars, in which time the Marriott takes it over. And so this is all built into that. This project is funded a third by the City. The city council just approved this Tuesday night, seven to four. This is funded a third by private equity, which includes Caterpillar. Incoming Chairman/CEO Doug Oberhelman strongly supports this and supported it publicly. And one third is -- is by a -- a first mortgage. This is a good project. The city council has deliberated this for a long time. The citizens are very comfortable with it. And thank you, my colleague Senator Risinger. I would -- to support -- ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments No. 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2534. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote 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 46 voting Aye, 7 voting Nay, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendments No. 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2434 -- 2534. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2647. Senator Koehler. Mr. Secretary, read the gentleman’s motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2647. Signed by Senator Koehler.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Koehler. 55 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010
Yes, thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. We passed this bill earlier and it went over to the House and they basically put restrictions on it, a little bit more of a limitation. But essentially what this does: Peoria School District 150 has a unique relationship with the Public Building Commission. This really allows that relationship in terms of which the school leases property not to be used against it in terms of -- of having State capital development dollars on this. So this is just a little more of a restriction. It actually improves the bill and I’d ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Any discussion? Senator Murphy.
To the motion, Mr. President. The -- the House amendments made what I would deem to be a bad bill worse. The underlying bill still allows for an expansion of borrowing without a -- without a front-door referendum. This cleaned it up a little bit, but not enough to the point where I -- I -- I would feel it warrants our support, and I would encourage a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Further discussion? Senator Lauzen.
Thank -- thank you, Mr. President. My apologies to the sponsor - two in a row here. But, when you describe a unique relationship with the school district, what’s actually in this bill is the execution of a lease with a public building commission without a referendum. We have certain safeguards. We have to -- we have to use those safeguards to protect 56 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 taxpayers. I recommend a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Risinger.
Thank -- thank you, Mr. President. I rise in support of this bill. This -- this bill is very important to our school district and -- to allow us to restore and rebuild some old schools that -- that need to be built in the core of the City of Peoria. And the people in Peoria are very much behind this issue and are very supportive. So, I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Koehler, to close.
On behalf of good bipartisanism, which works in Peoria, thank you to my colleague Senator Risinger. I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments No. 1 and No. 2 to Senate Bill 2647. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. 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 42 voting Aye, 13 voting Nay, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendments No. 1 and No. 2 to Senate Bill 2647. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 3739. Senator Collins. Mr. Secretary, read the lady’s bill.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3739. 57 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Signed by Senator Collins.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Collins.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Amendment No. 1, excuse me, to Senate Bill 3739 does primarily three things. First, it retains the original bill, the engrossed bill, Senate Bill 3739, that extended a current program, the 30-30-30 program that received a 46-0 vote out of the Senate. Secondly, it creates a new program, called the Foreclosure Prevention Program, to be established by the Illinois Housing Development Authority for the purpose of awarding grants to approved agencies and organizations for foreclosure outreach and housing counseling. This replicates another bill that I had, Senate Bill 3738. The initial bill, 3738, was subject to appropriation. What this amendment does, it provides a funding source with an agreement with the banks. The banks will now fund the program, supported by a fifty-dollar foreclosure filing fee. Thirdly, the amendment creates a new Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Program, also to be administered by the Illinois Housing Development Authority. The purpose of this program is to make grants to municipalities to assist with removal costs related to securing vacant homes. With that, I ask for your support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? The question is, does the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} No. 1 to Senate Bill 3739. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have 58 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 48 voting Aye, 3 voting Nay, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendments {sic} No. 1 to Senate Bill 3739. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 3749. Senator Wilhelmi. Mr. Secretary, read the gentleman’s motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments -- their Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 3749. Signed by Senator Wilhelmi.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Wilhelmi.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 3749, with House Amendment No. 3, retains agreed-upon language regarding the valuation of private water systems being acquired through eminent domain by municipalities. I’d be happy to -- happy to answer any questions and I ask for your support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Senator Lauzen.
Thank you, Mr. President. Some questions for the sponsors -- sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Indicates he will yield for a few questions. Senator Lauzen.
Okay. Thank you. Senator, we had this -- some of these 59 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 questions earlier in committee, but what this bill does is it adjusts the valuation methods in eminent domain. What happens to a company or an individual who doesn’t want to sell their property at this valuation -- at this new valuation? What happens in that case?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Wilhelmi.
This gives the jury -- direction on how to value the assets of the water system. So, the case can be filed today without this bill. It flushes out the valuation concept and gives the jury more options in terms of how to value the assets of the water system.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Lauzen.
The end result, though, is that the person loses their property. Isn’t that right? The -- the court takes the property away. The government takes an individual’s property away from them.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Wilhelmi.
Yes. Under current law, that is exactly what can happen today. This is only -- this bill deals only with valuation.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Lauzen.
Final question would be, why -- there was an assertion made 60 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 -- a -- a point made in committee that the private industry property owner in this case has agreed and gone through the negotiations on the legislation, but it doesn’t -- this bill does not apply just to one property in Illinois in -- in the sponsor’s district, but it applies statewide. Do you think that it’s appropriate for one individual company at one period of time with one series of circumstances to then create a law that’s going to apply to all cases at all time all over the State of Illinois?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Wilhelmi.
Senator, I believe it’s very important that the law is consistent. We shouldn’t have one valuation process for northern Illinois and a different valuation process for central Illinois or southern Illinois. If we’re going to change the valuation methodology in the statute, we should make sure that it’s done consistently.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) To the bill, Senator Lauzen.
Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill: I would suggest caution on this bill and a No vote on this bill out of the principle of protection of private property. Even if you didn’t feel that that was a -- you know, the -- the life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness - pursuit of happiness meaning private property rights - even if you didn’t believe that that was important and if -- if we just were going to be mercenary about this, if we want to attract private investment into the State of 61 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Illinois, we can’t have rules in place with eminent domain, under any valuation, where property is going to be seized away from people. So I -- I recommend, respectfully, a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Murphy.
To the bill, Mr. President. I rise in support of the gentleman’s bill. This involves a situation where we’re trying to -- you’ve got a group of towns trying to negotiate and take over a water system from the company that has the water system now and they’re all in agreement with what the jury ought to hear and the rules that the jury ought to consider. All interests involved on both sides of potential litigation agree on what the jury ought to hear. That’s what this bill is involving. And while it might be better if it were more narrowly tailored, the reality of the situation is you’ve got uniquely positioned players in this instance who probably pretty similarly replicate others who would be in this circumstance in other areas of the State. It’s not an easy thing to get two litigants to agree. I think this is a successful negotiation that deserves support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The question is, does the Senate concur in House Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 3749. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote 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 50 voting Aye, 3 voting Nay, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 3749. And the bill, having received the 62 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 required constitutional majority, is declared passed. We’re going to top of Supplemental Calendar No. 2. Senate Bill 808. Senator Althoff. 808. I’m sorry. Senator Clayborne. I mean, Frerichs. 808. Sorry. You’re the cosponsor. Senator Frerichs. Mr. Secretary, read the gentleman’s motion. Supplemental Calendar No. 2. We’re on Senate Resolution 808.
Senate Resolution 808, offered by Senator Frerichs. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Frerichs.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. Senate Resolution 808 urges the United States Congress to pass legislation to extend the tax incentives for domestic biodiesel production.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed will vote No. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senate Resolution -- I mean, House Joint Resolution 111. Senator Althoff. Mr. Secretary, read the lady’s resolution.
House Joint Resolution 111, offered by Senator Althoff. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Althoff.
Thank -- thank you very much, Mr. President. One in every eight babies born in the State of Illinois is born preterm. 63 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 House Joint Resolution 111 urges the Department of Public Health, the Perinatal Advisory Committee, to investigate how Illinois can reduce the rate of preterm births.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) This resolution requires expenditure of State funds -- may require expenditure of State funds. It requires a roll call vote. And the voting is open. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote 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 55 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. House Joint Resolution 111 has received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 226. Senator Demuzio. Mr. Secretary, please -- please read the lady’s motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1, 2, 3 and 5 to Senate Bill 226. Signed by Senator Demuzio.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Demuzio.
Yes, thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 3610 {sic} provides new requirements for principal preparation programs. It provides, for principal endorsements after July 1, 2014, to have -- a high {sic} education institution must prepare candidates to meet approved standards for principal skills, knowledge and responsibilities.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Demuzio, that’s Senate Bill 226, correct? Is there 64 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 any discussion? Seeing none, the -- the question is, does the Senate concur in House Amendments No. 1, 2, 3 and 5 to Senate Bill 226. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, vote 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 55 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendments No. 1, 2, 3 and 5 to Senate Bill 226. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 375. Senator Kotowski. Mr. Secretary, please read the gentleman’s motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 375. Signed by Senator Kotowski.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Kotowski, to explain his motion on Amendments No. 1, 2 and -- 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 375. Senator Kotowski.
Thank you so much for taking your time, Mr. President. I was explaining to people how wonderful you were as a person and I can go on and on, and that’s what was holding me up. So, I apologize that you have so many great things about you. The -- the Floor -- the -- the amendments to this bill essentially prohibit the automatic renewal of contracts worth over two hundred and forty-nine thousand and requires that these contracts must be competitively bid upon expiration. Requires each chief procurement officer to annually submit a report to the General Assembly detailing each contract the officer sought 65 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 for sole procurement and the justification given for seeking sole source for that contract.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is - and you look magnificent yourself, sir - does the Senate concur in House Amendments No. 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 375. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. And 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 56 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendments No. 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 375. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 744. Senator Link. Mr. Secretary, please read the gentleman’s motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 3 to Senate Bill 744. Signed by Senator Link.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Link.
Thank you, Mr. President. This would just allow that bars who partner with off-track betting parlors to conduct video gaming. It removes the restriction from video gaming -- one thousand feet. I’ll be more than happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, does the Senate concur in House Amendments No. 1 and No. 3 to Senate Bill 744. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote 66 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 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 39 voting Aye, 15 voting Nay, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendments No. 1 and 3 to Senate Bill 744. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1642. Senator Trotter. Mr. Secretary, please read the gentleman’s motion on Senate Bill 1642.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 1642. Signed by Senator Trotter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Trotter.
Thank you very much, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. 1642, as amended, makes three changes to the Pension Code. It strengthens the fraud penalty provisions at the park district. It also changes certain provisions of ordinary disability benefits to apply when a member is absent from duty without pay, rather than on paid vacation. And, finally, it amends the Chicago firefighters’ pension fund article of the Illinois Pension Code so that an individual who’s currently participating in the fund who has had prior service and credit -- is vested into the Chicago Municipal Fund or Labor Fund, that their annuity through the Chicago Fires {sic} Pension Fund will not be reduced.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, 67 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 does the Senate concur in House Amendments No. 1 and No. 2 to Senate Bill 1642. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed will vote 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 50 voting Aye, 5 voting Nay, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendments No. 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 1642. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2093. Senator Forby. Mr. Secretary, read the gentleman’s motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 4 to Senate Bill 2093. Signed by Senator Forby.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
Could I have a point of personal privilege first?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Personal privilege. Go right ahead. Senator Forby.
Today I got a bill coming up here, it’s the STAR bonds, and we got a lot of people from my district, sitting on both sides of the aisle. I won’t be able to -- name everybody, but the one guy I want to name is Mayor Butler, sitting up there, from Marion, Illinois. I want to make sure everybody knows he’s here and he’s the one that really worked on this bill about as hard as there is. And you know what? That mayor’s Republican, but, you know, he’s a great guy. Let’s give him a hand. 68 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Will the great Republican mayor please stand? Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Now talk to some of your Republican Senators and get ‘em to be like you are. Senator Forby, on his bill. Senator Forby.
Thank you. This bill here is the same bill that James Clayborne run a couple months -- a month ago, and everybody pretty well remembers that. There’s a few things that changed on this bill. One of the things is the Governor had a veto on it that he wanted only fifty percent caps on new revenue that could go to the project. Another thing is, on this bill, that fifteen percent of all new revenue goes to the schools in the district. So, what this bill is, is a jobs bill. And, you know, it’s going to put six thousand construction workers - and there’s a lot of ‘em here in the room today - and it’s going to end up putting almost five thousand full-time jobs. One thing about this bill that’s different than where it was before, you know, when you got a puzzle, you got to put the pieces in the puzzle and it’s got to fit; in my district, this STAR bond bill fits. In other districts it won’t fit. We don’t have any opposition. You can look in the aisle up there, there’s everybody you can think of here today from this district - you know, from the college, the county board commissioner, working people. And so we have no opposition at home. And what this bill has done once before is prove that it will work. This is not something brand-new. This works in Kansas City. So it’s been working out there for several years. So it’s proof that this is nothing that -- it’s not we’re doing -- pulling 69 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 something out of our hat or nothing. So there’s proof out there that it does work. So what this bill does is putting people to work and that’s what -- in my district, I have fifteen to twenty percent unemployment. And I think as, down the road that, you know, this could help and I -- I would love to see the fifteen/twenty percent drop down. So, I’m not going to go much further because you’ve heard this bill on and on and on, and it’s the same thing. And I just ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Senator Jacobs.
Mr. President, I -- I rise for the -- to move the previous question.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Jacobs moves the previous question. There are two, four, six, seven, eight. Senator Jones. John Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Indicates he will yield. Senator John Jones.
Senator Forby, first off, I want to make it perfectly clear to all your people from your district in the audience here, I have never really opposed the bill. The only thing that I have opposed is that this bill will take away from the City of Mount Vernon, my hometown, which is forty miles up the road, you know. And -- and nobody can dispute that really if they want to tell the truth about it. And -- and Senator -- Representative Bradley, if you want to present the bill, you’re welcome to come 70 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 on the Floor and present it, I guess. But I will -- I will ask my questions of Senator Forby. Senator Forby, there’s two parts to the bill, is my understanding. There’s -- there’s a recreational part or -- or a destination part of it that would encompass a water park of some part and then there’s -- then there’s a retail part, is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
That is correct.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator John Jones.
The retail part is -- is what I object to, for Marion, Illinois, being the only one with this. We have a new interchange and I know you -- you sponsored a bill for me that - - that give Mount Vernon the quick -- quick-take language in case they needed it for the new interchange in Mount Vernon. You was there for the ribbon cutting, the groundbreaking, and everything else. And we deeply appreciate that. But we never did use that quick-take, but we did have it because of you and I thank you for that. And I’m willing to help Marion in any way I can. But I cannot sit by and let the City of Mount Vernon be destroyed by this bill. And this is what it will do. It will absolutely destroy the new interchange in Mount Vernon for any - - any retail coming to there. And so what I’ve been trying to do - and I know Mayor Mary Jane Chesley has talked to you repeatedly about it. She’s even talked to Representative Bradley about it. I think she’s talked to Mayor Butler about it 71 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 - is to include Mount Vernon in it. And I filed a bill yesterday, 2881, and it has the exact language that you have in your bill, only it adds Mount Vernon to it. So, my question to you, I guess, is, is why wouldn’t you let Mount Vernon be included to where we can both benefit in southern Illinois with this bill?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The Chair would appreciate succinct questions and answers. There are a lot of people seeking recognition. Senator Forby.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker {sic}. One thing, one of the reasons -- the way this bill came up, it was designed for a twenty-five mile area. And that’s what it was designed. And we’re looking at a pilotship that worked out in Kansas City. And as you said before, that you think it’s going to hurt Mount Vernon, well, I’m going to have to disagree with you because I think this bill is absolutely going to help Mount Vernon. It’s going to bring people to your district. It’s going to help your district. I got people that’s forty miles from me, from Metropolis, all the way over to Johnson County, all the way from Saline County. They’re forty miles away. So you’re talking about forty miles. I’ve got a lot of district in my thirteen counties that are forty miles away and every one of ‘em has signed something says they’re for this bill. Not one of ‘em has disagreed on this bill. So, I think, John, in your district, this bill is going to help you. It’s going to help Mount Vernon. And, you know, I think, you know, when this bill didn’t happen over in Senator Clayborne -- I don’t know why Mount Vernon didn’t go over there and talk to him. The contractor 72 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 told me he came through the district, he came through Mount Vernon and he looked at Mount Vernon and he came on down to where I’m at. And he says it works better in my district because we’re drawing from seven different states. What -- what’s the big thing about this thing, probably fifty percent of this money that’s coming to the State of Illinois is coming from another state and we’re putting four thousand people to work. I mean, we got fifteen/twenty percent unemployment. And, John, I -- I feel like this is going to help you big time.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Clayborne. I mean -- I’m sorry. Senator John Jones. To the bill, sir? Senator Jones.
Mr. President, if I could, just -- and ask your indulgence. This does affect my hometown and my district and I’d like the opportunity to ask three or four more questions and then -- go to the bill, if I might, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator John Jones. In all due respect, I cannot allow you to ask three or four more questions. I have a thousand lights lit, but I’m going to ask -- allow you to ask some more questions. Senator Jones.
We -- we’ve been here for quite some time and I think you can -- well, then and give me -- let me -- do a couple more questions, Senator Forby. You -- you mentioned earlier in your remarks, whenever you was opening, that it was going to create six thousand jobs. Now you just said four thousand. We have a new -- no, don’t -- hang on just a minute. Hang on just a 73 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 minute. Mr. President, I’m asking the question, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) I’m going to allow you, Senator John Jones, to ask -- ask the questions. I’m going to ask the sponsor…
There is a new -- there is a new…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Just a moment. Just a moment. I’m going to ask the sponsor to answer your questions and let’s maintain the dignity of the Senate. Senator John Jones.
Since we do not know exactly what you’re going to build in Marion, Illinois, so there is no way to determine how many construction jobs or how many permanent jobs will be there. I - - I want to ask you this, though. This morning I picked up the southern Illinois newspaper and in there you made a quote, and - - and I just want to make sure that -- that the newspaper was quoted accurately, because you said - because I’m trying to get Mount Vernon included in this; I think every community in the State of Illinois ought to be included in it - but you made the statement that if we -- if we let them in, then everybody’s going to want in and then we’ve really got something.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
This bill, John, is -- is not amendable. It’s in there it’s for a twenty-five mile deal. And the other deal - I want to go back - it was six thousand construction workers and four thousand full-time workers. That’s what I said. And what I 74 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 said -- and, you know, the -- you’re talking about that paper, southern Illinois paper, and that’s one paper that’s endorsed this and they say the bill ought to go like it is.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator John Jones.
…you, Mr. President. To the bill: And in response to the newspaper, you need to pick it up and read it if you haven’t, because it quotes you in there word for word that you said if we let one community in, then they’re all want -- want to be included in it, from -- from Cairo, I guess, to Chicago and probably Mayor Daley will be down here shortly wanting to be in it. But I just want to say that, you know, God bless Marion. I mean, they’ve -- they’ve done a great job down there in economic development. You know, I’m all for Marion. I’m only forty miles away, and I spend a lot of money in Marion, Illinois, you know, patronizing things. And hopefully I’ll be down there in just a -- a month or so at a function and I’ll see the mayor there. But this bill is detrimental to not only Mount Vernon, but a lot of towns in southern Illinois. And I would just caution each and every Member in this -- in this Body right now, especially if you’re on the November ballot. How in the world can you vote for this and go back home and say, well, I helped Marion, Illinois, out, but I didn’t care about Litchfield or -- or Jerseyville or wherever else it may be? So, I just want to warn people that, hey, it’s going to be hard to defend this vote if you go back home and you don’t include everybody in it. So I would encourage a No vote. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 75 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Senator Clayborne.
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in support of this bill. I -- I think there’s one fundamental purpose behind STAR bonds and there are other bills in here besides STAR -- I mean, other concepts in here besides STAR bonds. But I think if you look at the whole concept, it’s really about drawing people not only from within the State, but mostly from out of the State into Illinois. And I know there’s a -- a minor league baseball stadium down in southern Illinois, but other than that, in -- in the Marion area, there’s no draw. There’s no reason why somebody comes - other than the riverboat in Metropolis - there’s no reason why people would come other than maybe some tourist opportunities, but there’s no reason why for them to come to southern Illinois, the Marion area, to spend their money. Why would people from Kentucky, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri come across the State line? Well, now, if you have a destination retail or destination entertainment, you have a reason for them to come to Marion, to southern Illinois. And that should be sufficient enough, because we -- as -- as Senator Forby said, we’re going to attract dollars from other states. Well, what does it do for other areas in southern Illinois? You know, you have golf courses, you have other smaller resorts that it should attract people to. As my colleague on the other side talked about Mount Vernon, it would -- it would allow people -- everybody probably won’t be able to stay in Marion. So, being forty miles away, maybe they’ll stay in -- in Mount Vernon. So it’ll give them an opportunity to spend money in Mount Vernon and the other little towns as well. Not only is that a good 76 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 concept, we also have the angel tax credit, which creates venture capital for -- for new innovative businesses. We have the new market tax credit that would allow investment into census poverty-tracked communities. I rise in highly -- support of this bill. Think it’s a good concept. Think it creates jobs and also provides economic development in an area that is -- is in need. So I support the Senator’s bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Pam Althoff. Senator Althoff.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. I, too, rise in support of this legislation. It’s supported by the local public officials, by the local chambers of commerce, by the local economic development commissions. The region wants this project. They see value in this project. In addition, the legislation includes the oversight by these same local units of government. They’re going to be able to watch and see how this project unfolds. I urge an Aye vote and think it’s a great piece of legislation.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Luechtefeld or Syverson turned on their light after we moved the previous question. I’m not going to split the baby and try to decide, so I’m going to recognize them both. Senator Luechtefeld.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Question of the sponsor, and then maybe to the bill. First of all, Senator, as you know, towns around -- and the same thing happened in -- in the -- in the Metro East area, where towns 77 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 around become very nervous about what will this do to us, and -- and none of us are real sure just what it will do to -- to -- to the communities around it. You know, I’ve always felt that there are overstatements made in what it’s going to do and there are overstatements made in what the bad things that will happen because of it. It certainly is sort of a pilot project, I think, that -- that hopefully does turn out. I look at it as something that is probably good for the area. I think the pluses outweigh the minuses. It happens to be out of my district and -- and obviously there are people within my district who have -- who have -- who are somewhat nervous about it. A question that I would ask you, and maybe out of just legislative intent, obviously there will be, hopefully, a lot of construction there, a lot of money spent there, and -- and I guess there is nothing in the bill that gives transparency as to the fact that -- that those bids should be open to the whole area, rather than just the Marion area, when it comes to construction, when it comes to engineering, those sorts of things. Hopefully, for legislative intent, you would hope that that comes from the entire region. Is…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
Yes, Dave, this is what this is all about. It -- all intents about southern Illinois. You know, you’ve heard me say before, you know, anything below I-70 helps everybody. So, this is help on construction. Yeah, we want it to help everybody. We want to go in your district and help you and whatever and up north and if it gets on further - construction work. There’ll 78 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 be some people come in from everybody’s district in here. You know, Marion’s not going to get all the jobs. They’re not going to get all the construction jobs. But we just want to put people to work and we want to help the district. You know, the State’s in such -- such bad deals right now and the only way we’re going to get out of our budget problem is putting people to work. You know, we got people out there today that’s going out and I’m seeing -- well, I hate to say, political ads or whatever, but, you know, they say we’ve got to give contractors a break. We need to give ‘em a -- tax breaks and putting people to work. And I really believe this bill right here does that. So, yes, I -- I -- I will do whatever I can do for people in the district to have a job.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Luechtefeld.
Thank you. And I -- and I -- and I guess I just rise -- hopefully, you can get some votes from this side of the aisle and -- and hopefully good things happen with -- with this particular bill. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Koehler.
Thank you, Mr. President. I’ll be brief. Senator Forby asked me to speak to this. I wholeheartedly support it because I think we need to have strategies that bring people together. Economic development is not a zero-sum game. As we create the pie, we’ll have more pieces for everyone. I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 79 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) He indicates he will yield. Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: Senator Forby, as you know, I’ve been following this, when it started in the Metro East, and I’m -- I mean, I’ve -- I can’t tell you that I’ve read every page of this, but I tried reading a little bit. Has a project impact analysis - an independent project impact analysis - been done on this project, as it was in the Metro East?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
Not yet. We had a group there, with the economic development group, that went through this, throwed figures together, put together and tried to look at Kansas City, what they’d done, and tried to come up with figures. So, there -- you know, there’s not a hundred percent figures on that, because we don’t have a clue what’s going to be there yet. We don’t know. We’re -- we got to get this bill passed. If we get it passed, then they got -- the contractors got to go out and put stuff in there. So, finding out the figures and the numbers yet, we don’t know.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: So, if we don’t know all the -- the figures and the 80 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 numbers, how do we know what we’re voting on now?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
You’re voting on a bill that Senator Clayborne talked about. I’ll tell you. We’re voting on a bill that Senator Clayborne’s talking about. We’re voting on a bill that happened out in Kansas City. We have a program that’s happened out there. It’s -- it proves that things is going to happen. They went through the same system we’re going here today and it worked out there. And our goal in life is to make it work here.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: So you’re saying that because it worked in Kansas City, it’s going to work in Marion, Illinois? I mean, I hear -- hear you saying that. Okay. What -- well, Senator Jones already asked you about the jobs and -- and we can’t -- we can’t find that out either. What kinds of -- what kind of -- do you know what the destination user is for this project?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
Well, one of the -- no. The answer is no, for sure. But there’s things that we’re looking at. You know, like a Cabela. A -- you know, a motel is -- like a indoor slide motel. And maybe a deal out like Branson is, the music deal. So that’s the -- two of the three things that we’re looking at right now.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 81 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Senator McCarter, if you could, sir. To the bill, sir. SENATOR McCARTER: To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: I -- I’m -- you know, I -- I came in here amazed. I’m even more amazed now. Not only are we talking Cabela’s, we’re talking Branson. This thing gets -- if we stayed here till tonight, it’d be -- it’d be Disney World, wouldn’t it? You know, here’s -- here’s the thing. You’re talking about a cost to the State. We’re talking about a cost to the State of four hundred and -- thirty-seven million dollars per Senate district - per Senate district. I’m taking Revenue’s numbers, dividing it out by every one of your districts. Go home and tell your human service providers why you can’t pay their bills and why you’re cutting their projects and that you’ve committed to a corporate welfare program like this to benefit one developer whose partners happen to be related to a sitting legislator. Now nobody wants to talk about that. This is the wrong time for a big corporate welfare package like this. I know we need jobs, but let’s lower the cost of doing business in this State and put people back to work the old-fashioned way, instead of like this. I urge a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Delgado.
Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 82 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 I’m sorry, Senator Delgado. Senator Forby? Senator Forby. Senator Delgado.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. I rise in support, and in all due respect to my great friend and colleague in Mount Vernon, I would really encourage that we do look out in that area someday, as a trailer bill, sometime in the near future. But it’s very important to me. We talk about, in all of our tenure, trying to find alternatives for southern Illinois, because one who has fought to make sure that they just don’t build prisons, locking up many of our communities from the north, and many of the folks who come downstate only come downstate for prisons. And so I want to just point out that I rise in strong support, because we don’t have to do it the old- fashioned way and just build prisons, but be able to build and know that Senate Bill 2093 will make possible that destination development in southern Illinois. It’s going to serve as an engine for economic opportunity. It is going to create the jobs that -- that Mr. Forby has been talking about, but more importantly to me, it includes a provision to not only support the host community - Marion - schools, but a trust fund to help schools throughout that area. To me, it’s very important that we do vote Yes on this, that we do look at the trailer bills in the future, because this economic engine will continue to be able to create new jobs and that’s what this is about - jobs, jobs, jobs. And now folks will have an alternative to just working in the prison systems and being the keepers of the kept. I would urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 83 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Senator Syverson.
Thank you, Mr. President. Some questions of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Syverson, he will yield. Senator Syverson.
Thank you. Senator, you had just mentioned a second ago that you -- you don’t have a clue of what’s going to go in there yet. I guess my -- my next question is, is why are we setting up a -- a program that is going to give, in essence, the largest tax incentive ever given in the State of Illinois to someone that we don’t even know whether or not they are -- they need that tax incentive? How do you know that someone is not going to come there and develop there without this incentive?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
You know, you can say whatever you want to, but -- I -- using definitions, and say whatever, clues, and whatever you want to, we don’t have nobody signed on the dotted line yet. I hope that’s better than using the word “clues”. We don’t have anybody on the dotted lines yet. Furthermore, if nobody comes there, we don’t lose no tax money. There ain’t no tax money to lose or gain if we don’t get something. But if we don’t try it, we don’t know. So, I feel we do have -- I’ll go back to what I said again, this project has worked once before in another state. And all we’re doing is going through the same things that they done and we’re trying to put people to work. Now then, over in Kansas City where this is, their unemployment’s 84 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 different. Their -- people’s moving into their towns and they’re getting growth and they’re having work. And that’s what we’d like to have in my district. I got the poorest district in the State of Illinois.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Syverson.
Well, I would beg to differ that. Come to Rockford, where we have the highest unemployment and the highest poverty rate in the State. But my question is, is -- you know, you’ve had a lot of growth down there. I know you’ve got new trucks stops, hotels. You’ve got a new Menards. You got a new golf course. You’ve built a new baseball stadium. Now you’re saying we don’t know who’s going to go here, but we know we have to give up somewhere between two hundred and seventy and four hundred million dollars in -- in revenue to this developer, even though we don’t know who it’s going to be. And the question is, how do you know that these people -- all these others have built in your area, how do you know that these developers do not want to come there and build in the absence…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Syverson -- Senator Syverson, are you speaking to the -- you asked the exact same question. Could you ask a different question or speak to the bill, sir? That’s the same question, sir. Senator Syverson.
Thank you, Mr. President. I am trying to get an answer. Did the developer say we are not going to come here unless you give us this incentive, and if not, why don’t we wait until you 85 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 have a developer on line and see if that incentive is necessary or not? Why give up these tax dollars now if it’s not necessary?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby, would you ask -- answer the same question again, sir? Senator Forby.
We’re not giving this guy any tax dollars. He’s got to come in and do the job and collect the tax where he gets some revenue. We’re not giving him nothing. This -- this contractor has got to come up with a plan to pay this -- this program. And that’s what he’s got to do. If he finds a plan and it comes up what it says in this bill, then everything works. And another thing is, in seven years, we have a committee. If this bill -- if this plan down in Marion, Illinois, does not work, it can be done away with. Period. So there is a program that shows if there’s -- if it’s not doing what they say, what they’re going to do, it’s over with. It’s done.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Syverson.
How do you do away with a program if you’ve issued bonds for this program in seven years?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
Revenue can stop it. In this bill, the revenue can stop it if it does not work. If they don’t do what they’re supposed to do, they don’t put on as many jobs as they’re supposed to, they 86 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 don’t come up with -- with the issues of -- the three big issues we’re talking about, this bill -- I mean, this thing’s dead.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Syverson.
If this is -- works well in the other state and there’s no downside to it working here, then why is this legislation not being made statewide? Why don’t we allow other communities to have that same opportunity to do something? If there’s not a downside and it’s going to create all these jobs, why is this legislation not statewide?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
Well, one thing we don’t know, we don’t know if this works statewide or not. The contractor today in committee said, you know, if you get scattered out so far, it don’t work. He -- he mentioned another town that tried STAR bonds. They had part of it over there, part of it over here. It didn’t work. He says you need a project where they all come together so we can draw from each other. That’s why this is.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Syverson, could you speak to the bill, sir? I didn’t put a clock on you, but believe me, you’re beyond the time. Senator Syverson.
Well, thank you. This is new breaking ground for Illinois. And the…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 87 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Senator Syverson. Senator Syverson, you don’t have to lecture me, sir. I’m giving you more time to speak. I’m simply telling you you’re beyond your time and I’m still giving you more time. Spend your time to speak to the bill and not lecture the Chair. Senator Syverson.
Thank you, Mr. -- Mr. President. My question is you keep - - well, let me ask this question. Does the Governor support this legislation?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
I have a good feeling the Governor does. The words -- I’ve talked to him. It sounds like he’s going to support this legislation.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Syverson.
Explain to me, then -- in closing, explain to me the -- the tax issue. You keep saying this is not going to cost the State anything. Now the Revenue says that if you’re giving up half of the sales tax for this period of time, that the number is somewhere between two hundred and eighty and four hundred million dollars. So, explain to me what the State is giving up. If this project is successful, what is being rebated back to the community or to that developer?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
88 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 There’s no upfront money. It’s all new money. There’s no -- there’s no money -- there’s no tax from the State. You keep coming up with figures, two or three hundred -- there’s no tax. What this does, he’s got to put up -- if he wants the full sales tax, he’s got to have a business of thirty -- thirty -- he’s got to spend thirty million dollars on a business to get the full sales tax. And if it’s smaller retail stores, then you only get twenty-five percent of the State’s taxes on that. So, it’s no upfront money. If he don’t generate the money, he don’t get nothing.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Syverson, to the bill, sir. Or should I move forward? Senator Syverson, to the bill, sir?
Thank you. To the bill: I guess I’m just reading from the Department of Revenue, which we talk a lot about, that there is a -- a tax to this -- that there is a cost to this. If this project is successful, you’re saying that we are giving up the sales tax. That is State sales tax dollars that are going to this project. And so that was the question, is what -- in the end, if this project is up and running, how much dollars are being rebated back out of the State to fund this project? And you keep saying none. Yet the Department of Revenue says that you’re giving up half of the sales tax. So there’s got to be a cost to this. How much -- if this program is successful, how much comes out of the State tax dollars to fund this -- go to this development? And I’ll leave it with that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Wilhelmi. 89 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010
Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill: I rise in strong support of Senator Forby’s bill. In today’s day and age, we all know that we have to do everything within our power to create jobs in the State of Illinois; everything within our -- our -- our tool kit, we have to use those tools - and here’s one. This bill will create an incentive to bring in out-of-state developers to come into the State of Illinois and to invest up to a billion dollars of private equity and create thousands of jobs. We can’t walk away from this opportunity. If you’re for economic development, if you’re for job creation - and I’ll bet every one in this Chamber has been out there saying both, we need to create jobs, we need economic development plans - this will be such a plan. And at the end of the day, fifty percent of zero is zero. The cost issue: Right now this land is not developed. There’s no revenue coming off this land right now. None. It’s an old strip mine, from what I understand - hundreds of acres of a former strip mine that now, because of this bill, with the incentive, will result in a -- an amazing entertainment destination with thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue. An abatement program is an incentive, absolutely. And we need it for that developer to come in. Once the developer comes in, the State of Illinois will reap revenue in the first year. We’re not giving up all the sales tax. It’s a fifty percent maximum sales tax abatement. This -- this bill will create jobs, bring in a developer, take this land and make it active and produce jobs and revenue from that land. This is a Yes vote all the way. And I rise in strong support of Senator Forby and this bill. 90 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby, to close.
Thank you. You know, this job does -- the State of Illinois will end up with three hundred and seventy-five million dollars of tax money on this job. And there is a committee there at seven years that looks at it and makes sure everything’s -- everything’s done. And to -- and, you know, I guess maybe I want to talk about myself just a little bit here, as a legislator. And, you know, I’ve always said anything happening downstate, we got to work together to get it. So, I think I could -- I’ve proved I’ve don’t that. You know, as John said, you know, they called me one time and asked for an eighteen-million-dollar bridge. You know, my county wants an eighteen-million-dollar bridge. We’ve been ten years trying to get a bridge in my district. But, you know, did I go up there an holler foul? No. I went up there and done what I did. Maybe they didn’t use my idea, but I had good intentions to do that. You know, they got a Continental Tire up there. What they’d do, they called Gary Forby. They said, “Gary, would you go talk to the Governor? We need a million seven in your -- in our district to help keep Continental Tire.” So, it’s not in my district, but the people works there. I went and done that. And, you know, another deal on up north is the FutureGen. I thought the FutureGen was going to come to my district. I really fought for it. But the puzzle didn’t work. That piece of the puzzle didn’t work in my district. It worked up north. So what’d I do? I get in my car. I drive up there and I beat the drums. We want FutureGen here. And Dave Luechtefeld, I 91 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 really appreciate what he’s done. And he’s called once or twice too. You know, there was a shooting range. This -- this side over here gave me a nickname of Spartaca one year, on a fund of fifty million dollars that got out of here. And I -- and I worked at it. We got to work together, ‘cause what happens in Dave’s district helps mine, in John’s district helps mine, in my district helps John’s. So I think I’ve been really fair. I haven’t really got out and asked for nothing for myself -- something. And you can look at all these people up here that are here today. They need these jobs. They need putting something to work. And another thing is, what really worries me about, I have a prison in my district. I know another guy that’s got a prison in his district. They tried to close ‘em. When I came up here, they wanted to try to close one of mine and tried to close his. You know what? This time next year -- this time next year, you’re going to see a lot of closures in schools, nursing homes, prisons and everything if we don’t come up with jobs and come up with revenue. So this is a deal that’s putting people to work and is going to help our budget. And I’ll ask for an Aye vote. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The question is, does the Senate concur in House Amendments No. 1 and 4 to Senate Bill 2093. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. And 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 34 voting Aye, 17 voting No, and 3 voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendments No. 1 and 4 to Senate Bill 2093. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is 92 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 declared passed. We took forty minutes on that bill. We will not take forty minutes on anything else tonight - I promise you. Senator Sandoval, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) State your point.
Members and -- of the Illinois Senate, I’d like to give everyone -- like to recognize a -- a visitor from the southwest side of Chicago. Like to -- I’d like to welcome one of my constituents from the southwest side of Chicago. She is visiting here -- me today, is my daughter, Angie Sandoval, a sophomore at the University of Illinois-Chicago. Like to have everyone welcome her to Springfield. She’s in the gallery -- the Presidential Gallery.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Welcome to Springfield. Welcome. And you can be proud of your fine Senator father, even though he owes me a phone call. Senate Bill 2101. Senator Collins. Mr. Secretary, read the lady’s motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 3 to Senate Bill 2101. Signed by Senator Collins.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Collins.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the 93 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Senate. Senate Bill 2101, with House Amendment No. 3, gives the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation the authority to transfer 4.2 million from the Illinois Bank Examiners’ Education Fund to funds under IDFPR’s authority in FY’11. It’s an initiative of the Department. According to IDFPR, the transfer authority is to needed -- is needed in order to help fund various funds which are running short on cash.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) There any discussion? Senator Burzynski.
Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill. Thank you. Just very, very briefly. I talked with the -- with the sponsor in committee and we did have an understanding that there have been a shortage in some of these funds and primarily that’s because they’ve been swept in the past. So here we go again. We’re going to put more money back into them. And she does have a commitment. IDFPR has said they don’t want to sweep these funds. They don’t want to do that. I understand it, but the ultimate decision does not lie with them. It will lie with the administration. So just for your information, these funds could be swept, even though we’re replenishing them once again. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Collins, to close.
I just ask for an affirmative vote. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The question is, does the Senate concur in House Amendments No. 1 and No. 3 to Senate Bill 2101. All those in favor, vote 94 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Aye. Opposed, vote 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 44 voting Aye, 9 voting No, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendments No. 1 and No. 3 to Senate Bill 2101. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2863. Senator Collins. Mr. Secretary, read the lady’s motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2863. Signed by Senator Collins.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Collins.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and -- Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Basically what this bill does, House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2863 replicates a bill, Senate Bill -- 678, which passed the Senate 50 to 0. When Senate Bill 678 arrived in the House, it was left in the Rules Committee. So this just replicates a bill that we’ve already supported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? The question is, does the Senate concur in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2863. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote 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 54 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. The Senate concurs to House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2863. And the 95 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Page 2. Senate Bill 3012. Senator Link. Mr. Secretary, read the gentleman’s motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3012. Signed by Senator Link.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Link.
Thank you, Mr. President. This is the elections cleanup bill. It shifts the dates of the election calendar for two additional to three additional weeks to help the clerks get the cleanup -- or the ballots out in time. This is something we did when we did early voting to clean it up. It also expands the judicial {sic} -- municipal electoral borders {sic} (boards). It modifies the service and filling -- filing requirements for electoral boards. It changes the nominating periods for candidates filling vacancies after a primary to make it consistent with House Bill 723 that we passed last year. It establishes a pilot program for a grace period registration and early voting at -- for main campuses at Illinois’ nine universities. And last, it allows duplicate applications for absentee ballots. Be more than happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Senator Emil Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to move the previous question. 96 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Jones moves the previous question. There are two - - remaining speakers. Senator Burzynski.
Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill: We had some discussion about this in Executive Committee as well. And just to point out, there have been some changes to the component that deals with the early -- early voting for -- on our university campuses. It has tightened it up somewhat. But I also would be remiss if I didn’t stand and -- and let you know that the County Clerks’ Association, I believe, still in opposition to the bill, in particular that particular aspect of it, which will cost them additional dollars as they try and provide that early voting opportunities on campuses. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield, please?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) He indicates he will. Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senator Link, I have come across -- I have come across a provision in the bill that I did not see when we were in committee. I just want to ask you about it. It has to do with absentee ballot applications. Currently, someone can -- can only apply for an absentee ballot if they use the official form that comes from the election authority. This bill would now allow an individual, any individual, to make copies - as many copies as they want - of an absentee ballot application 97 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 and return them to -- to the election authority. Why are we allowing that?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Link.
Thank you for that question, Senator Righter. Basically what we’re doing is clarifying something that’s been out there for quite a while. A lot of clerks have it on their website right now that would allow them to -- to -- or would show that they could do this, but without this law changed, they could not do it. A lot of candidates send out cards to people, but this - - and would be against the law prior to this. What we’re doing is just allowing them to do this. This is only the application. The ballot itself would have to still come from the clerk. All the clarification to make sure that Dale Righter is a registered voter at a particular address would still come through the county clerk’s office or the city clerk, whatever the jurisdiction may be for that election. So it’s still coming through the election authority. It’s just saying the process of what we’re doing as far as the application form.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill, if I might, please. Thank you, Mr. President. Actually, to the gentleman’s motion. Ladies and Gentlemen, I stand in opposition. I don’t want to repeat what Senator Burzynski had to say with regards to the unfunded mandate on the county clerks. But I would remind everyone that what we are doing here in Springfield is telling 98 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 those county clerks that you’re going to set up a special office for college students, as opposed to individuals with disabilities or neighborhoods with racial minorities or seniors or someone like that. I’m not sure that we should be making that call for the individually elected county clerks. Second of all, Mr. President, a little broader point, and Senator Link touched on it, and that is that this Senate passed a number of elections bills over to the House of Representatives during the course of the Session, some of which I supported, some of which I did not. The House collected them all and rolled them into one big bill, made the changes that the Leader of the House wanted, and then now is sending them over here to the Senate and say, “This is the elections bill.” I have risen before, Mr. President, to express my concern that sometimes it does not seem like this Chamber is the master of its own house - small h. And I think this is yet another example of that. I’m sure there are some changes in here that Senator Link is not quite comfortable with because he sponsored bills that are a little bit different than what’s in here. We all do -- we could all do Senator Link a favor to establish his independence from the House and yours too, Mr. President. Let’s vote No on this and send it back to the House and put these bills separate and put them back in the order and in the fashion that we passed them over. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Link, to close.
Thank you, Mr. President. Just to clarify something. First of all, this is common practice of consolidating all these 99 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 bills to make it one elections bill. Matter of fact, we have done the same, where we consolidate ‘em and send ‘em over to the House to concur on one bill. So it’s been done with both Chambers. So the practice is done both ways. Number two: You know what? I am a little tired of hearing this, that we’re only setting up these at these universities. I was the sponsor of early voting. And you know what? There is not one individual that we are precluding from having to vote early voting. We have made it -- this General Assembly has made it easy for every individual. Seniors, disabled people, college students, any individual in this State - we have given them an opportunity of two extra weeks to vote. So if you want to oppose the fact of giving people extra time to vote, go ahead and do it, because it’s working in the State of Illinois. We’re getting more people out to vote. And you want to ask those senior citizen judges that are working long, hard hours for minimal pay if they don’t like this also, because it lessens the amount of people that come out on Election Day that have already voted in early voting. They appreciate it also. This is a good piece of legislation. It’s a pilot program, the one part. We’re codifying the absentee ballot. It’s time that we do this. It’s positive election reform. I ask for your vote. I think there should be all green lights. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The question is, does the Senate concur in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3012. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote 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 37 voting Aye, 18 100 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 voting Nay, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendments No. 1 to -- the Senate concurs in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3012. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 3215. President Cullerton. Mr. Secretary, read the gentleman’s motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 3215. Signed by Senator Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) President Cullerton.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This is a bill which has been drafted in -- partial response to the Governor’s amendatory veto of the McPier bill. It does four things. First of all, it deals with the possible succession to the existing trustee, Mr. Reilly. Provides for a mechanism for him to be removed by a joint resolution of the General Assembly and a mechanism by which the Governor may fill a vacancy with the advice and consent of the Senate or make a temporary appointment should the trustee have a vacancy in its office. Secondly, it alters the membership of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau slightly so that no more than two members -- currently, no more than two members may be from the restaurant or attractions industry. This separates the two industries and provides that neither industry will have more than two members on the board. Third, the bill adds an additional legislative finding to the exhibitor’s rights provision to clarify the 101 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 necessity of the legislation. And finally, it clarifies that procurements shall be conducted in accordance with the Procurement Code. Be happy to answer any questions and I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, does the Senate concur in House Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 3215. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. 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 53 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 3215. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 3660. President Cullerton. Mr. Secretary, read the gentleman’s motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1, 9, 12, 14, 17, 18 and 19 to Senate Bill 3660. Signed by Senator Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) President Cullerton.
Yes, thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. I would move to concur with the amendments. The amendments authorize changes in State programs that -- much of which has already been passed out of this Chamber. Allows for the Governor to require reserves from appropriations for all general funds and special State funds until January 9th, 2011. All State programs are subject to appropriation. It also amends the 102 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 State Finance Act by extending the lapse period from August 31st to December 31st. Requires Members of the General Assembly to take twelve furlough days. Also requires State officers to take twelve furlough days for fiscal year ’11. The State Treasurer and Comptroller would have authority to make transfers from special funds of the State into the General Revenue Fund and the Common School Fund as directed by the Governor. And it would create the Railsplitter Tobacco Settlement Authority, which would allow for the State to sell half of the State’s rights to the Master Settlement Agreement. This authority would be limited to 1.2 billion. The Authority would then issue 1.2 billion of tax-free special revenue bonds. It also provides transparency by requiring the Governor to distribute written quarterly budget statements to Members of the General Assembly. Requires State agencies to review existing contracts and provide them with the ability to rebid contracts when in the agency’s best interest. Does reduce the per diem for General Assembly Members, as well as the mileage. It establishes that we will not receive a COLA for fiscal year ’11 - not only for the Members of the General Assembly, but also other elected officials. And, finally, it changes the calculation of the furlough days to be consistent with the -- the furlough from last year. Be happy to answer any questions and ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) There any discussion? Senator Pankau.
Thank you, Mr. President. A question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 103 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 He indicates he will yield. Senator Pankau.
Thank you. President Cullerton, in committee, we had a -- we -- I had asked some questions about the contingency reserves and you said that the Governor would need to put 2.2 billion dollars -- well, he would need to put that aside in this contingency reserve. And I forgot to ask at the time - I was assuming that that would be done, in essence, evenly among the different departments, but I have now been told that it doesn’t have to happen that way. He could take a billion dollars out of one area and nothing out of a second area. Is that correct or how does this -- contingencies work?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) President Cullerton.
Yes, thank you. I thought you asked very good questions in the committee, because you accurately pointed out that it would be the ability to -- say, you have a hundred dollars, you can tell the agency you have to hold back twenty dollars. That -- that’s actually right. And Mr. Vaught testified that -- that the total amount of money that the Governor can put in reserve is one-third of the total amount of bills that we owe at the end of fiscal year ’10, which should be approximately two billion dollars. And you’re right, I think it’s true that the Governor has the discretion to -- he’s not -- there’s no formula by which he can hold this back. There’s just a limitation on the total amount. The money’s been appropriated, but he can, for cash flow purposes, hold back certain reserves in certain State agencies or boards or commissions or universities. I think 104 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 that’s what we’re giving him, and as you know, this is authority that we’ve given in the past in tough times to other Governors.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Pankau.
So if he has a particular itch against a particular department or they’re not doing things the way he wants to, he could, in essence, hold back substantial amounts of their money to, in essence, make them do what he wants them to do? I mean…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) President -- President Cullerton. I -- that’s a question, I -- President Cullerton.
Well, I -- I just think that -- I wouldn’t characterize his motivations because he has a particular desire to limit money to a particular agency. I think this is -- extraordinarily short on money to help pay for State government. We’re giving him the authority to -- extraordinary authority admittedly, but to give him the money to get through this -- this crisis. So he -- he - - he has to see which agencies can make it without having the full amount of money that we appropriated and try to do so as the money comes in.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Pankau.
To the bill, Mr. President. This is tremendous power that we are giving the Governor. And we -- we did not do this amount of power last year. And the Governor didn’t do very well in managing the money. We -- we walked away from here last year 105 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 saying, “Governor, we’re going to give you the right to manage 1.2 billion dollars.” You know what? He didn’t do it. He didn’t cut where he said he was going to cut. He didn’t do anything. To give him even more power now is almost shameful to us. Please keep the power where it should be - in our hands. Let us determine our own fate, not give it away to the Governor. I urge a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Murphy.
To the bill -- to the motion, Mr. President. I just -- lot of good things in here. A lot of things we intend to support. I suspect we’ll have multiple roll calls on this. But I just want to make the Body aware that one little new credit card that we passed and sent over to the House earlier, the tobacco securitization, which is, you know, sounds all highfalutin, but really all it is, is taking a revenue stream and borrowing against it, creating a new credit card, taking all the money up front and having to pay it back with a billion dollars in interest over the next ten years. That’s all we’re doing, is creating another credit card, ‘cause Governor Quinn already maxed out all the other ones we have. So don’t forget, if you were opposed to this budget the first time, if you were opposed to giving Governor Quinn a new credit card the first time, you should still be opposed to this motion now, with regard to House Amendment No. 9 in particular, because that credit card is still there.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Righter. 106 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010
Thank you, Mr. President. First, I rise to make a motion to divide the question, specifically in the following manner. I would ask that the Senate President’s motion to concur with regards to Amendment 9 be separated out and given its own roll call from the Senate President’s motion to concur in the other House amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Righter, I need that motion in writing. Senator Cullerton, to close.
Thank you, Mr. President. The fact is that this is not giving the Governor extraordinary power; it’s giving him a very thankless task, and that is to try to manage the government when we have very little money. And as a result, that’s what we have to do. We’ve done it in the past. As far as the tobacco settlement money, we did talk about that the last time we passed it and it -- it’s something which makes sense, because that money is very speculative whether it will come in at the same rate it’s coming in right now. So, for those reasons, I would urge an Aye vote and ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The -- the question is, does the Senate concur in House Amendments No. 1, 9, 12, 14 and 17. All those in favor will vote Aye -- and 19 -- 18 and 19. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed will vote 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 32 voting Aye, 23 voting Nay, and 1 voting Present. The Senate concurs in 107 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 House Amendments No. 1, 9, 12, 14, 17, 18 and 19. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Righter, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Well, Mr. President, first of all, that was extremely disappointed -- disappointing, the way you blew through your own rules. It’s clear from Rule 7-14 that no written motion is required in order to divide the question. Any Senator may divide the question upon a request. And that’s the request that I made. Second, Mr. President, I would note that on the board, when we were voting, Amendments 18 and 19 were not there. So, I guess I would, secondly, make an inquiry of the Chair. Mr. President, was it your intention to have that roll call reflect the motion to concur on Amendments 18 and 19? The board did not reflect that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator, even though it was not up on the board, I verbally made it perfectly clear that we were dealing with 18 and 19, as included in the motion. So, yes, it was all included in there. Plus, the bill has passed. We voted on it and it passed. When you asked your question, I asked you to put it into writing, ‘cause in the opinion of the Chair, it was a motion. And I waited and I paused, Senator, and you said nothing. I waited and I paused, as I always do. Senator Righter, as I always do, because with due -- all due respect for you, because I may not always be in the majority and I’d want that same respect. I paused, you didn’t say anything, so I went to Cullerton to close. Senator Righter. 108 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010
Mr. President, first of all, I had my light on. I had my light on. It…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator, your light -- Senator -- Senator, in all due respect, I would not lie, because we’re friends, nor would I dishonor this institution. Your light was not on, Senator. Senator Righter.
…President, I can’t speak if my light is not on. If -- if it’s not on, like it is now, I can’t speak. Let me quote the rule for you, Mr. President. Let me quote the rule for you. “7-14. Division of Question. If the question in debate contains several points,” - which this one clearly did - “any Senator may have the same divided.” There is nothing -- there is nothing in this rule that requires it be a motion in writing, unless you have another rule. If you -- do you, Mr. President? Do you have another rule? This is a pretty important point. Do you -- can you refer me to another section of your rules that demonstrates that this needed to be in writing?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator, you can interpret things in any way you wish. In the opinion of the Chair, it was a motion. We’re moving forward. Senate Bill 3662. Senator Trotter. Mr. Secretary, read the gentleman’s motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 3 to Senate Bill 3662. Signed by Senator Trotter. 109 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Before Senator Trotter, the Chair -- President would like to acknowledge our esteemed Governor. Governor Pat Quinn has joined us in the Illinois Senate. Governor Quinn, welcome to the Illinois Senate. And hopefully your stay here will give you a greater appreciation to what we have to go through. Senator Trotter. Mr. -- I mean, Mr. Secretary, read the gentleman’s motion. Senator Trotter.
Thank you very much, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. I move to concur with House Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 3662. It is -- becomes the Budget Implementation Act. It makes various fund transfers, gives the Governor flexibility to implement the budget. It prorates general State aid payments and it provides for late payments to vendors after interest penalties are over fifty dollars. It retains existing practice directing the State Pensions Fund contributions to comprise a portion of the State’s requirement {sic} contribution to SURS.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield, please?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) He indicates he will. Senator Righter.
Senator Trotter, there are a number of provisions in the -- in this legislation that are standard for a Budget Implementation Act. There are also some in here that are not standard language. I want to ask you first about a change to 110 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 the school funding formula, which I think will be of particular interest particularly to downstaters on both sides of the aisle. Right now, the State Board of Education, if there’s a shortfall on funds in general State aid or the poverty grant, the poverty grant is prorated. This bill would change that law and give the State Board of Education the discretion to prorate either the poverty grant or general State aid, which clearly, if that happened, would work to the disadvantage of downstate schools. Why is this being changed?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Trotter.
You’re correct, sir, in your assessment. One - let me first put it into perspective - this has not always been the law, as you’ve just quoted. In 2003, what is now Public Act 93- 21 was my bill that changed it so that -- which was a Blagojevich initiative, so that we did not have to cut the federal -- the -- the existing foundation level. So, what we’re doing here -- as you know, in the general State aid ISBE line, it has two subsections. One is the general State aid, which is based on the foundation level, and the other is the supplemental general State aid, which is commonly known as the poverty fund. Well, when we did this, we used it so we could maximize the -- getting all the dollars for the foundation level. What has happened in time since 2003 is we’ve discovered by cutting -- arbitrarily cutting the poverty lines, we have caused more harm to those schools at risk. It may -- cutting both the general State aid and the poverty lines, it puts everyone at -- at -- on an even playing field. It’s a -- it’s a question of equity. 111 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 So, though you want to have more dollars for your suburban schools, you did it at the -- at the loss of most of the urban schools, which were the recipients of the grant line. So we thought that was unequal and I’m changing the law back to the way it was in 2002.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Leader Righter.
Senator Trotter, who are you trying to help here with this change?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Trotter.
Well, in large part, I’m trying to help individuals in my district. But in -- and even larger, I’m trying to help those school districts that are the recipients of the poverty grants, which are the poorer districts throughout this State. And that’s inclusive care, and of course that -- that doesn’t include your district, because you don’t get poverty grants ‘cause that’s not the dollars that would be that following your community. But so -- but you asked me the question. That’s who I’m trying to help. Those people who were unfairly impacted - the unintentional consequences of the law that we passed, which was my bill in 2003. The unintentional consequences is, you hurt those poorer districts.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Righter.
Senator -- Senator Trotter, I represent thirty-five school 112 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 districts. Do you believe that I don’t represent any that get poverty grant money? Do you really believe that?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Trotter.
You do get some poverty grants. Everyone gets some poverty grants. My whole point is, what -- what level. The level is those districts that get the majority of the poverty grants so that -- that are -- invariably are hurt by the legislation that we passed in 2003. So, now defend -- so, yes, you do have some people who do not -- fully rich or -- or are more affluent than others. So, yes, you do get poverty grants, but that is not your issue.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President. To the motion, if I might. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, and I’m going to -- I am going to speak to those who represent suburban school districts and those who represent downstate school districts. Now, maybe none of you or most of you aren’t having the experience that I’m having now, which is that I am being called on a daily basis by teachers, by teacher’s aides, by superintendents, by school board members, saying, “Why don’t you guys just pay us the money that you owe us?” For those of you in those regions, this will hurt those schools. If you believe that the payments to your schools aren’t coming quite slowly enough or you’re getting a little bit too much money from the State for a suburban school or a downstate school, this is the bill for you. This has 113 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 nothing to do with implementing the budget that you folks think you need to pass. This has nothing to do with that. But it will hurt your schools. I urge a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Chris Brooks from WICS seeks leave to videotape. Leave is granted? Leave is granted. Senator Trotter, to close.
Thank you. This does help some districts, but it hurts many more. This is a bill -- or this -- the language that we were just discussing is a provision that was put in here as a provision of fairness. The rest of the language in the BIMP bill is necessary for the Governor to go forward to implement the budget that we’re -- we’ll be passing him. So -- and I ask for an Ave vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The question is, does the Senate concur in House Amendments No. 1 and 3 to Senate Bill 3662. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. And 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, 23 voting Nay, and none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendments No. 1 and 3 to Senate Bill 3662. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Joint Resolution 118. Senator Sullivan. Mr. -- Mr. Secretary, read the resolution. Read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments {sic} numbered 1 to Senate Joint Resolution 118. 114 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Signed by Senator Sullivan.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Sullivan.
Thank you, Mr. President. The original -- I do want to concur with the House changes. The original resolution designated two separate routes and this simply removes one of those routes and has a single route designation.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) In the opinion of the Chair, we need a roll call on this motion. Senator Risinger.
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in support of this resolution. You know, I’ve worked on a lot of these roads. We’ve worked a long time to talk about the Kansas City to Chicago. It’s kind of interesting downstate bemoans Chicago and yet then we work very have to build a road so we can get there. So I am very much in support of this joint resolution and I hope we have a Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) In the -- Senator Burzynski.
Thank you. Thank you. Will the sponsor yield for a question?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) He indicates he’ll yield. Senator Burzynski.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senator, I -- I kind of asked this question a little bit in -- in Executive Committee, but I 115 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 just thought I’d follow through on it. You know, this is really the first time I’ve heard about the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and the naming of it. And I’m curious, I did ask -- you talked about the signage that has to go up, and my question was, who would pay for that? And so, one question is, who would pay for that? And then I have a follow-up question.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Sullivan.
It would be up to the Department of Transportation to -- to put the signs up when they -- when they deem it’s -- they’re able to do so.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Burzynski.
Thank you, Mr. President. And as a former engineer, I know that Senator Risinger is well aware of the cost that it takes to put up those signs. So, I don’t know, have you and he had any discussion as to what that cost might be?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Sullivan.
Senator Risinger and I have not discussed that. But, again, this was also another change and I didn’t even talk about it, Senator Burzynski, but I will mention it because IDOT actually had some concerns about the -- the initial resolution when it passed this Chamber, which you did support. It did say that the Department was required to do it. Now it gives ‘em that discretion to do it at their -- at their leisure. 116 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The question is, does the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} No. 1 to Senate Joint Resolution 118. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote 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 55 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendments {sic} No. 1 to Senate Joint Resolution 118. And the resolution, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. We’re going to go back to Supplemental Calendar No. 1. The first bill -- third bill down that we passed was Senate Bill 49. Senator Forby, on Senate Bill 49. Mr. Secretary, read the gentleman’s motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 3 to Senate Bill 49. Signed by Senator Forby.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
Thank you. This bill here is a -- a grant that DCEO had for a long time and it was supposed to go to another project. It didn’t go. It’s almost six hundred and ninety-eight million dollars. And so we’re going to use this grant in the Prairie State here in Springfield and in Williamson County to help generator plants to burn coal clean. There’s no new money here. This money’s already obligated, so all it does is going to plants, make sure we don’t have any -- keep our power on and burn our coal clean. 117 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Any discussion? Senator Lauzen.
Thank you, Mr. President. Questions for the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) He indicates he will yield. Senator Lauzen.
Senator, is it -- Senator -- Senator Forby, is it -- is it true that -- that the funds for this grant program come from the collection of sales tax on the purchase of coal in these plants?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
I don’t know where these funds came from, but it came from a bond years ago. I -- they’re telling me, probably seven or eight years ago, it came from a bond. This money’s been sitting there for seven or eight years. So it’s not doing any good sitting there, so we’re putting it to good use.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Lauzen.
Senator, isn’t it important to know how we’re going to pay back those bonds? And so I ask the question, and maybe you can ask a staff member, is it true that the bonds are paid off of the sales tax on coal purchases?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Lauzen, could you repeat the question, sir? Please.
118 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Yes. I’d be happy to. I have asked the question twice, and that is, a third time, is it true that the payment of these bonds comes from the sales tax collected on coal purchases?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
They’re telling me they’re general obligation bonds for -- strictly just for the coal companies.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Lauzen.
But, Senator, where does the money come from?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
The coal -- the coal bond people receives money from the general obligation bonds. That’s my story.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Lauzen.
Okay, that’s -- did you say, “that’s my story and I’m sticking with it”? Okay. It’s obvious that you don’t have an answer to that question. I think that before putting forward - I think that it’s like thirty-five million dollars of bonds - that we ought to know what the answer to that question is. Isn’t it also true that this coal fund -- the sales tax from the coal fund has been swept for a significant amount of money in the last year and a half?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 119 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Senator Forby.
I am not sure who’s been swept, what’s been swept, but I -- you’re probably right.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Lauzen.
And just the last question: Senator, why don’t the coal companies that are burning this coal -- why is it that they don’t borrow this money? Why is it that the taxpayers in each of our district are being asked to borrow -- to pay tax and borrow this money in general obligation bonds? Why don’t they borrow their own money?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
This money is -- is money so that, you know, we can protect, we burn coal clean, and safety. We’ve had several issues in the State of Illinois where we had issues with mine issues and this money is going to go to that - to the training and helping people so we can mine our coal safe and turn our lights on.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Lauzen, to the bill, sir.
Yes. Thank you very much. I appreciate that. Senator, when you bring a bill forward, I -- I really think that you ought to have these basic -- we’re about to issue thirty-five million dollars of bonds. It is not about training. It is not 120 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 about the clean coal. There are three specific projects. One is a conveyor belt into one of the plants. Another one is a type of combustion system in one of the plants. And then the third is a very specific -- has nothing to do with what you just answered. There are so many of us who very much support the use of Illinois coal, but when you bring legislation before the Senate, I think it’s important that you have fundamental knowledge of what it is you’re proposing to us. We -- it -- we have to be properly led on these things. I know it’s late in the Session, but just based on those answers, this should be a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Haine.
Mr. President, a question for the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) He indicates he will yield for a question. Senator Haine.
Senator Forby, does this bill of yours have any detrimental effect on Mount Vernon?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby, to close.
Yes, it does. It -- it does affect Mount Vernon. It does affect Dave Luechtefeld’s district, and it does affect Bomke’s district. So this bill does affect these guys and -- and like I said, and it only generates 11.5, instead of the number you said, and this is not a general -- a bond that -- it’s money that’s been laying there for eight or ten years. We need to do 121 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 something with it. This way we’ll be able to burn coal clean. Thank you. I’ll ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The gentleman was closing, but Senator John Jones’ district was mentioned. Senator John Jones.
Thank -- thank you, Mr. President. Just a quick question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) To the bill, sir. Senator John Jones. Question of the sponsor. Go ahead. John Jones.
Senator -- Senator Forby, you mentioned a while ago during the debate of another bill that -- several things that you’d brought to Mount Vernon and helped create. Does that mean that you’re going to build a new coal mine in Jefferson County then with this money?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
No, but I’ll tell you what I am going to do. You got a coal gasification plant that’s getting ready to come to Mount Vernon. I’m going to go up there and beat the drums for it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The question is, does the Senate concur in House Amendments No. 1 and No. 3 to Senate Bill 49. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. And 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 51 voting 122 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Aye, 1 voting Nay, 2 voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendments No. 1 and 3 to Senate Bill 49. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. With leave of the Body, we’re going to the regular Calendar, page 28. And I do believe this is the last bill, or close. So please turn to your regular Calendar, page 28. And I appreciate your patience with me today. Senate Bill 3658. 3658. Senator Demuzio. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 3658. Signed by Senator Demuzio.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Demuzio.
Yes, thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 3658 is -- establishes a State sales tax holiday from August the 6th through August the 15th of this year for purchases of school supplies, clothing, sports items, recreational equipment, and school-related computer accessories. During this tax holiday, we would be looking at taking the five percent share of the State sales tax rate off. It would become effective immediately.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing -- Senator Duffy.
To the bill, Mr. President. This is a -- a gimmick. So, while it’s sounds like -- while this sounds like a good idea, this is not how you operate a State and this is not how you 123 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 operate a business. So I encourage a No vote on all gimmicks. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Lauzen.
A question for the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Indicates she will yield for a few questions, Senator Lauzen. I -- I’m…
Senator…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Lauzen.
…I have enormous respect for you, but what -- we don’t have money to pay our bills, much less fulfill our obligations to schools and social agencies. Why are you giving away more money? We can’t afford this. Why are you doing it?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Demuzio.
Thank you, Senator, for that wonderful question. But you know, in order to make money, you have to spend money. So, what we’re looking at is that from all of the reports and all of the statistics that we’ve seen, that while that shopper is out there, they may be taking -- it’s only up to a hundred dollars on their -- on their break. Okay? And then while they’re out there, they’ll be spending other money. They have to buy gas. They’ll have dinner. We -- they’ll make other items. So -- 124 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 they’ll make other purchases. So, we’re looking at the statistics. There are numerous other states out here that have done this. And from their reports and from what we’re looking at, they have -- they have been able to recoup that -- that cost.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Lauzen.
First of all, two quick questions. One, how much is this going to cost? And then, in those other states, do they not pay their bills on time - not -- not even within six months to their schools and social service agencies? So, number one, how much are people going to vote to give away that we don’t have? And then, number two, these other states that you use as examples, do they have such a terrible financial situation as Illinois has?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Demuzio.
…you. Thank you, Senator. Actually, there’s about a dozen other states. The one that we’re looking at, we’re looking at Florida, for instance. We’re looking at all of their statistics. We’ve looked at Missouri. We’ve looked at surrounding states that -- that have this particular sales tax holiday. And that in return I would say that most of them, if not -- I -- I cannot tell you exactly what their financial status is, but as we’ve looked across the nation, we know that we’re not the only one. And I think that there’s many states out here, probably are in the same, if not close to the same, 125 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 shape we’re in.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Last speaker. Senator Hutchinson.
Thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted to put out a couple -- just two quick points. One is, you know, I’m a mother of three children in public school. And when it comes time to get ready to buy school supplies and clothes and shoes for three kids at one time, it is very difficult in that one month - very difficult. And I understand that the State’s fiscal situation is in a mess, but people’s houses, their homes, our home pocketbooks, they’re all in a mess. And parents need a break. It’s temporary. Sales tax is one of the most regressive taxes we have. It hits people who have less money harder than anybody else. And there are people across this State who are trying to do right by their children, who just need a break. It’s time to go -- but when it’s time to go back to school, this is expensive. So I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The question is, does the Senate concur in House Amendments No. 1 and No. 2 to Senate Bill 3658. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote 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 42 voting Aye, 8 voting Nay, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendments No. 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 3658. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Mr. Secretary, Messages.
126 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 A Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has concurred with the Senate in the passage of the -- a bill of the following title, to wit: Senate Bill 333. Together with the following amendment which is attached, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 333. Passed the House, as amended, May 27th, 2010. We’ve received like Messages on Senate Bill 3710, with House Amendments 1 and 2. Passed the House, as amended, May 26, 2010. Mark Mahoney, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Mr. Secretary, Introduction of Bills.
Senate Bill 3941, offered by Senator Collins. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3942, offered by Senator Jacobs. (Secretary reads title of bill) And Senate Bill 3943, offered by Senator Link. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 865, offered by Senator Garrett and all Members. 127 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 Senate Resolution 866, offered by Senator Koehler and all Members. They are death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Consent Calendar. Resolutions Consent Calendar. Senator Meeks, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Yes, Mr. President, I request a Democratic Caucus.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) That is rejected. Go preach someplace. Okay, we’re going to go to -- leave of the Body, we’re going to go to Senate Bill 3690 for the purpose of an amendment. Leave of the Body to go to Senate Bill 3690 for the purposes of amendment. Senator Harmon. 3690, Mr. Secretary. Senator… Senator Harmon seeks leave of the Body… This is a House bill, Senator Harmon. Page 23 of your regular Calendar is House Bill 3690. Senator Harmon seeks leave of the Body to return House Bill 3690 to the Order of 2nd Reading for purpose of amendment. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is House Bill 3690. Mr. Secretary, have there been any amendments approved for consideration?
Yes, Mr. President. Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Harmon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President. The amendment becomes the bill. I move for its adoption. I plan to hold the bill on 3rd Reading 128 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 and not advance it today.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Have there been any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) And it’s -- 3rd Reading. Resolutions Consent Calendar. With leave of the Body, all those resolutions read in today will be added to the Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, have there been any objections filed to any resolutions on the Consent Calendar?
No objections have been filed, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) There any discussion? If not, the question is, shall the resolutions on the Consent Calendar be adopted. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it. The motion carries and the resolutions are adopted. On the Order of Resolutions is House Joint Resolutions 123. Mr. Secretary, read the resolution. Mr. Secretary, read the Message.
A Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has adopted the following joint resolution, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: 129 STATE OF ILLINOIS 96th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 125th Legislative Day 5/27/2010 House Joint Resolution 123 (Secretary reads HJR No. 123) Adopted by the House, May 27th, 2010. Mark Mahoney, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Clayborne moves to suspend the rules for the purpose of immediate consideration and adoption of House Joint Resolution 123. Those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the rules are suspended. Senator Clayborne moves the adoption of House Joint Resolution 123. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. There -- there being no further business, the Senate stands adjourned to the call of the President. The Senate stands adjourned. Enjoy your holiday. 130