PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) The regular Session of the 97th General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desks? Will the guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Pastor Walt DeMoss of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Aurora, Illinois. Pastor. PASTOR WALT DeMOSS: (Prayer by Pastor Walt DeMoss)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Thank you. And will you remain standing? Senator Maloney, the Pledge.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Maloney)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Madam Secretary, Reading the -- and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of Tuesday, May 10th, 2011.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Senator Collins.
Madam President, I move to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal just read by the Secretary, pending approval {sic} of the printed transcript.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Senator Collins moves to postpone the reading and the approval of the Journal, pending arrival of the printed transcripts. There being no objection, so ordered. Madam Secretary, Committee Reports. 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 41st Legislative Day 5/11/2011
Senator Silverstein, Chairperson of the Committee on Environment, reports House Bill 3371 Do Pass; and House Bill 2056 Do Pass, as Amended.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Madam Secretary, House Bills 1st Reading.
House Bill 865, offered by Senator Hutchinson. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2109, offered by Senator Noland. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of these House bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Senator Jones, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. A point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) State your point.
I have two young ladies here today paging for me today, Madalina Overstreet and Caroline Grote. They both attend St. Mary’s Catholic School in Mt. Vernon. They’re both eighth graders. And they was escorted here today by Judge Overstreet from Mt. Vernon. So, if you could welcome the three of them, I’d greatly appreciate it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Welcome to the Senate. Nice to have you. Senator Jones.
Thank you -- thank you, Madam President. I know all of you 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 41st Legislative Day 5/11/2011 are aware of -- of the different stores that’s around over the State of Illinois, the Aaron’s and the -- and the Rent Ones, that -- that are in the business of renting furniture and -- and appliances and the like to citizens all over the State of Illinois and, quite frankly, I’m honored today to have a -- a couple of gentlemen from -- from Mt. Vernon, the owner of Rent One stores throughout the Midwest, not only in Illinois, but Missouri and -- and other states, along with three of his compadres. And I forget two of ‘em’s name, but one of them is David Overstreet {sic} (Keen), who used to be the Mayor of Mt. Vernon, and Larry Carrico, the owner of -- of Rent Ones in -- in -- in Illinois and several other states. So, if you gentlemen could stand up. And we welcome you to the General Assembly.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Will our guests in the galleries please rise? And welcome to the Senate. Senator Brady, for what reason do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. For a point of personal privilege. I’d like…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) State your point.
Thank you. I’d like to introduce two of my finest constituents to the Members of this Body, Lauren and Katie Carley. They are the daughters of Don and Patricia Carley. They are twins and they’re here to help us out today. If the Members of the General Assembly -- Members of the Senate would please recognize them.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 41st Legislative Day 5/11/2011 Will the members {sic} in the gallery please rise? Nice to have you here. They’re probably two of the nicest-looking residents that you have too. Welcome to the Senate. Senator McCarter, for what reason do you rise? SENATOR McCARTER: Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) …your point. SENATOR McCARTER: Ladies and Gentlemen, I have with me my Page for the Day, Adam Runyon. Adam lives in Greenville, home of Senator Frank Watson. And he’s a junior at Mater Dei Catholic High School in Breese, Illinois. He’s seventeen years old. He’s two-year varsity in -- in cross country. He’s currently the co-captain. He’s three -- a three-year varsity letter winner in track and field, as well a winner in the Scholastic Bowl. He’s a bright young man. Has an interest in politics, but wants to be a pediatrician first. So, a smart young man for having a great backup to being a politician. So I just want to welcome him today. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Welcome to the Senate. Nice to have you here today. Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. A point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) State your point.
I, too, have a guest with me today. His name is Logan 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 41st Legislative Day 5/11/2011 Rosenmayer. His father is also here, but he’s as interested in politics as we are here in this Chamber, so he’s actually sitting through other committee meetings on the House side. But he left Logan in my great care. Logan is fourteen years of age. He attends Bernotas School in Crystal Lake and he is unbelievably well experienced, as well as informed, about exactly what’s going on here in the great State of Illinois. So he did come to the Senate side, because when he was in the House, they only let him Page. So he’s here today to really learn about what goes on in government. Can we give him a nice warm welcome, please?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Welcome, Logan. Nice to have you in the Senate. Senator Jones, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) State your point.
First off, I want to say that we’re only as good as the staff we have around here. And so when I rose up a while ago and -- and introduced Judge David Overstreet, then I also introduced some people in the gallery and -- and I said one of the gentlemen up there was David Overstreet also, my secretary immediately called me on my cell phone and said, “David Keen, not Overstreet.” So, I want to make that apology to -- to former Mayor David Keen. Welcome. And there’s two managers from -- from several of the stores in -- in Centralia and Lawrenceville and -- and Marion. In fact, Marion is in Senator 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 41st Legislative Day 5/11/2011 Forby’s district, but they manage those stores -- oversee those stores in -- in that area for -- for Rent One. So, sorry about that. Former Mayor and Councilman of Mt. Vernon, David Keen.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Welcome, Mr. Keen. I thought maybe the Judge ran up there to be recognized again. Nice to have you. Senator Kotowski, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) State your point.
Thank you. It’s a pleasure seeing you today. Thank you very much. Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. It’s my pleasure today, I’m joined by Alexis and Will Jakubowski. They’re from my district. They’re my Pages for the Day. They are fourteen. They are twins. They go to Lincoln Middle School. They are both involved. Alexis is involved in cross country and track and Will plays basketball and volleyball. They are planning on going to St. Ignatius College Prep, where my father taught in 1968, once upon a time. So they’re going to go to a good Jesuit school. I asked them what they wanted to do in their future and they said, they don’t know, that’s what high school’s for. So I thought that was an appropriate answer. So if you could please join me in giving Alexis and Will Jakubowski -- and their last name is Jakubowski. They are Polish. I think it’s important that we diversify the General Assembly here. So, please give them a great Springfield welcome, to Alexis and Will Jakubowski. 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 41st Legislative Day 5/11/2011
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Welcome to the Senate, Alexis and Will. Enjoy your day. Senator Cultra, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) State your point.
I have two gentlemen with me today, Clint and David Baker {sic} (Barker) from El Paso, city council members from my district. And you guys want to stand up? We’d just give ‘em a warm Springfield welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Welcome, councilmen to the Senate Floor. The Senate will stand in recess to the call of the Chair. The Senate stands in recess. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) The Senate will come to order. Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Noland, Chairperson of the Committee on Criminal Law, reports House Bills 180, 263, 277, 1241, 1253, 1271, 1748, 2089, 2193, 2595, 2935, 3005, 3283, 3300, 3365, 3431 Do Pass; and House Bills 233, 1069, 1689, 1908, 3033, 3042 and 3285 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Raoul, Chairperson of the Committee on Pensions and 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 41st Legislative Day 5/11/2011 Investments, reports House Bills 1471 and 1872 Do Pass. Senator Forby, Chairperson of the Committee on Labor, reports House Bills 3237 and 3428 Do Pass; and House Bills 297 and 2927 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Harmon, Chairperson of the Committee on Executive, reports House Bills 195, 1091, 1193, 1293, 1353, 1375, 1610, 1670, 1717, 1825, 1857, 1960, 2259, 3131, 3342 and 3343 Do Pass; and Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 675 recommended Do Adopt. Senator Hutchinson, Chairperson of the Committee on Revenue, reports House Bills 212, 1215, 1866, 1883, 1926, 2313, 2955 and 2991 Do Pass; House Bill 1518 Do Pass, as Amended; Senate Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 2170 and Senate Amendment 1 to House Bill 363 recommended Do Adopt.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 10:30 a.m. on the 12th day of May, 2011. The Senate stands adjourned. 8