PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) The regular Session of the 97th 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 Reverend Joseph Eby, Chatham Presbyterian Church, in Chatham, Illinois. Reverend.
(Prayer by the Reverend Joseph Eby)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, Reverend. Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Jacobs, to lead us in the Pledge.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Jacobs)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Madam Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journals of Tuesday, May 31st, and Wednesday, June 15th, 2011.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hunter.
Mr. President, I move to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal just read by the Secretary, pending arrival of the printed transcript.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hunter moves to postpone the reading and 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 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011
Senator Muñoz, Chairman of the Committee on Executive Appointments, reports Appointment Message 127 recommended Do Advise and Consent. Senator Harmon, Chairperson of the Committee on Executive, reports Motion to Concur with House Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 266 recommended Do Adopt.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Madam Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 268, offered by Senator Lauzen and all Members. Senate Resolution 269, offered by Senator Lauzen and all Members. Senate Resolution 270, offered by Senator Harmon and all Members. Senate Resolution 271, offered by Senator Trotter and all Members. Senate Resolution 272, offered by Senator Haine and all Members. Senate Resolution 273, offered by Senator Haine and all Members. Senate Resolution 274, offered by Senator Link and all Members. Senate Resolution 275, offered by Senator Link and all Members. Senate Resolution 276, offered by Senator Luechtefeld and all Members. Senate Resolution 277, offered by Senator Haine and all 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 Members. Senate Resolution 278, offered by Senator Frerichs and all Members. Senate Resolution 279, offered by Senator Frerichs and all Members. Senate Resolution 280, offered by Senator Harmon and all Members. They are death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Resolutions Consent Calendar. Eric Shangraw, WEEK-TV; Tony Yuscius, bluestream.com {sic} (blueroomstream.com); and Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News, all seek -- or, request permission to videotape. Leave is granted. Alex Nowak, with WIFR-TV, requests permission to videotape. Leave is granted. Kevin Dalton, WLS-TV ABC 7, requests permission to videotape. Leave is granted. Senator Muñoz, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR MUÑOZ: Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, just wanted to inform the -- the Senate today that Senator Iris Martinez is not here today for Session. Her dad had passed -- passed away a few days ago, so she’s in Florida attending to her family on her dad’s funeral.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, Senator Muñoz. The record will so reflect. We’ll keep her in our thoughts and prayers. Senator Sandoval, 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point.
I’d like the Members of the Illinois Senate to welcome a -- a couple of young folks from my district. They are interning in my Senate office this summer. I am very proud of what they’ve accomplished in life and what they’re about to do with the rest of the summer for the constituents of the 12th District. With me today in Springfield is a sophomore at the University of Illinois, Kevin Favela, and Sweyzen Sanchez, a sophomore at Northern Illinois University. Let’s give them a round welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Welcome to the Illinois State Senate. We’re -- great to have you here today. Ladies and Gentlemen, will all Members within the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Floor. Will all Members -- will all LAs please ask your Senators to come to the Senate Floor. We’re ready to do some business. Senator Forby, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point.
Thank you. You look good up there today. I just want to announce the Page today I have is Nick Decatoire. He’s a grandson of my secretary, Bobbie Decatoire. He’s here to work 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 today and we need to give him a great big Senate hand.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Welcome to the Illinois State Senate. Great to have you here. Let’s give him a warm round of applause. Thank you. Senator Annazette Collins, for what purpose do you rise?
Hello.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have with me two very special guests. One is my daughter, who was just on the mike saying hello. This is Taylor Langston. And we have with her, her -- my niece, A’jae Miller, visiting with us at the Capitol. Please give them a round of applause.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Welcome to the Illinois State Senate. Great to have you here today. Senator Hunter, for what purpose do you rise?
For a point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point.
I have with me a guest today. He’s doubling as a -- a Page and he’s also my nephew, and he is twelve years old, John Hunter - no, he’s not a Hunter - John Jones Ersery, and he is in eighth grade at the Fort Dearborn Elementary School in Chicago. And his interests are math and technology. So let’s welcome him to the Senate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Welcome to the Illinois State Senate, John. It’s great to 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 have you here. Andrew Hansen, WICS-TV, requests permission to videotape. Leave is granted. Senator Crotty, for what purpose do you rise?
For an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state -- please state your announcement.
The -- the Senate Democrats would request a caucus immediately. It’ll be a thirty-minute caucus in the President’s Office.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you rise?
Purpose of an announcement, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your announcement.
Senate Republicans would similarly request a thirty-minute caucus.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) The Senate Democrats and the Senate Republicans have moved to recess the Senate for the purposes of a thirty-minute caucus. Seeing no objection, the motion to recess is granted. The Senate will stand in recess until 12:50 p.m. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 Senate will come to order. Madam Secretary, Messages from the House.
A Message from the House by Mr. Bolin, Assistant 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 630. 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 Amendment 1 and House Amendment 2. We have received like Messages on Senate Bill 1586, with House Amendments 1, 2 and 3; Senate Bill 1633, with House Amendments 1 and 2; Senate Bill 2414, with House Amendments 1 and 2. They passed the House, as amended, June 22nd, 2011. Bradley S. Bolin, Assistant Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, if I could have your attention. The Senate will stand at ease for a few minutes to allow the Committee on Assignments to meet. Will all members on the Committee on Assignments please come to the Anteroom, President’s Anteroom immediately? All members of the Committee on Assignments please come to the Anteroom immediately. The Senate will stand at ease. (at ease) The Senate will come to order. Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 been assigned: Be Approved for Consideration - Motion to Concur on House -- with House Amendment 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 630, Motion to Concur with House Amendment 1, 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 1586, Motion to Concur with House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 1633, and Motion to Concur with House Amendment 1 and 2 Senate Bill 2414. Signed by Senator James F. Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Madam Secretary, Appointment Messages.
Appointment Message 129 To the Honorable Members of the Senate, Ninety-Seventh General Assembly: I, Pat Quinn, Governor, am nominating and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appointing the following named individual to the office enumerated below. The advice and consent of this Honorable Body is respectfully requested. To be a Member of the Health Facilities and Services Review Board: Robert J. Hilgenbrink Annual Compensation: Expenses Appointment Message 130 To the Honorable Members of the Senate, Ninety-Seventh General Assembly: I, Pat Quinn, Governor, am nominating and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appointing the following named individual to the office enumerated below. The advice and consent of this Honorable Body is respectfully requested. To be a Member of the Health Facilities and Service {sic} 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 (Services) Review Board: Richard H. Sewell Annual Compensation: Expenses Appointment Message 131 To the Honorable Members of the Senate, Ninety-Seventh General Assembly: I, Pat Quinn, Governor, am nominating and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appointing the following named individual to the office enumerated below. The advice and consent of this Honorable Body is respectfully requested. To be a Member of the Health Facilities and Services Review Board: Kathryn J. Olson Annual Compensation: Expenses Appointment Message 132 To the Honorable Members of the Senate, Ninety-Seventh General Assembly: I, Pat Quinn, Governor, am nominating and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appointing the following named individual to the office enumerated below. The advice and consent of this Honorable Body is respectfully requested. To be a Member of the Health Facilities and Services Review Board: James J. Burden, M.D. Annual Compensation: Expenses Appointment Message 133 To the Honorable Members of the Senate, Ninety-Seventh General Assembly: I, Pat Quinn, Governor, am nominating and, by and with the 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 advice and consent of the Senate, appointing the following named individual to the office enumerated below. The advice and consent of this Honorable Body is respectfully requested. To be a Member of the Health Facilities and Services Review Board: David Penn Annual Compensation: Expenses Appointment Message 134 To the Honorable Members of the Senate, Ninety-Seventh General Assembly: I, Pat Quinn, Governor, am nominating and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appointing the following named individual to the office enumerated below. The advice and consent of this Honorable Body is respectfully requested. To be a Member of the Central Illinois Economic Development Authority: Rachel Joy Annual Compensation: Expenses Appointment Message 135 To the Honorable Members of the Senate, Ninety-Seventh General Assembly: I, Pat Quinn, Governor, am nominating and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appointing the following named individual to the office enumerated below. The advice and consent of this Honorable Body is respectfully requested. To be a Member of the Central Illinois Economic Development Board -- excuse me, Central Illinois Economic Development Authority: Everett Allen Lash 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 Annual Compensation: Expenses Appointment Message 136 To the Honorable Members of the Senate, Ninety-Seventh General Assembly: I, Pat Quinn, Governor, am nominating and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appointing the following named individual to the office enumerated below. The advice and consent of this Honorable Body is respectfully requested. To be a Member of the Central Illinois Economic Development Authority: Edward Heck Annual Compensation: Expenses Appointment Message 137 To the Honorable Members of the Senate, Ninety-Seventh General Assembly: I, Pat Quinn, Governor, am nominating and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appointing the following named individual to the office enumerated below. The advice and consent of this Honorable Body is respectfully requested. To be Director of the Illinois Department of Central Management Services: Malcolm Weems Annual Compensation: $142,339
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, if you will turn to Supplemental Calendar No. 1, it has been distributed. It is on your desks. Secretary’s Desk, Concurrences on Senate Bills. Number two on the item is -- on the list is Senate Bill 630. Senator Hunter. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Madam Secretary, please read 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 630. Filed by Senator Hunter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hunter.
Thank you, Mr. President. House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 630 is a trailer bill to Senate Bill 620, which passed the Senate on Concurrence on May 31st. And basically, Senate Bill 620 {sic} implements the findings of the Chicago Educational Facilities Task Force. And it also contains technical corrections, as well as the substantive changes that would allow Chicago public schools to more easily implement the requirements of Senate Bill 620.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 630. 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? Madam Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 51 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 630, and the bill is declared passed. Next up on the Calendar is Senate Bill 1586. Senator Harmon. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Madam Secretary, please read the motion. 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1, 2 and 3 to -- to Senate Bill 1586. Filed by Senator Harmon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. The House has amended Senate Bill 1586…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Harmon, excuse me just a minute. Ladies and Gentlemen, could we hold the visiting down a little bit, please? Please hold the visiting down. Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President. The House has amended Senate Bill 1586 to the election omnibus bill. It covers a lot of ground, including many elements advanced by, I believe, Members of all four caucuses. The highlights of the bill are, I would say, threefold. First, at the request of the State Board of Elections, we have refined the procedures for military personnel ballots, ensuring that service men and women are able to vote. We have extended to the General Assembly the caps on petition signatures that are currently applicable to statewide officeholders, albeit at a proportionate level. And we have changed the requirement for signatures to put a question of public policy on the ballot from eleven percent of total ballots cast in a prior election to eight percent of the total ballots cast for Governor. I’m not aware of any opposition and I would ask for your Aye votes. 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion? Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield briefly, please?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield. Senator Righter.
Thank you. Senator, it’s my understanding with regards to the provision that caps the number of petition signatures that can be filed - I think at three thousand in the Senate and fifteen hundred for the House - that there’s no -- there’s no ramification for the person who’s filing more than those amounts, in terms of ballot access. It’s my understanding the courts have ruled that someone can’t be taken off the ballot for exceeding that threshold. It’s simply going to be a situation where the State Board of Elections is going to be empowered now by State statute to stop counting at those thresholds. Is that -- is that true?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Harmon.
Yes, Senator. You -- that is correct. That’s the way it works at the statewide offices. It’s the way it works in some local offices that have caps. The State Board simply stops counting when they get to the maximum number. Thank you for the question, Senator.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 Thank you. Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Senator Harmon? Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments 1, 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 1586. 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? On that question -- Madam Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 53 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments 1, 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 1586, and the bill is declared passed. Continuing on Supplemental Calendar No. 1 is Senate Bill 1633. Senator Schoenberg. Madam Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 1633. Filed by Senator Schoenberg.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Schoenberg.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I move that the Senate concur on House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 1633. You may recall that -- several weeks ago we passed House Bill 2934, the Medicaid Maximization Act, in the waning hours of the last time we were here. There was an inadvertent consequence that dramatically changed the period of time in which we repaid ourselves, essentially, in order to capture the additional federal Medicaid money. So this corrects that measure. It specifically has the repayment to be no later 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 than July 15, 2011. And the second change allows for a three- hundred-and-sixty-five-million-dollar transfer from the General Revenue Fund to the Healthcare Provider Relief Fund. By doing this, we will be able to get between ninety and a hundred million dollars in new federal Medicaid money. And -- and I know of no opposition to this. This is something we’ve all been very supportive of in the past. And I’d urge your favorable consideration.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you rise?
Question of the sponsor, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield. Senator Murphy.
Senator, with this bill, the other proposals that were out there, previously passed, to allow the Governor to short-term borrow will be obviated and there will be no ability for him to exercise those plans. This will be the only legislation under which he will have that authority. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Schoenberg.
This is very similar to what we’ve done in the past in order to trigger the hospital assessment plan, which has brought in -- about nine hundred million dollars every year. What we’re doing here is not going to the capital markets. You are correct. We are instead using our own revenues in order to take 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 advantage of the fifty-seven percent federal reimbursement rate that exists as the federal stimulus program is winding down for Medicaid.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Murphy.
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Murphy.
I want to commend the sponsor for, frankly, putting together, with the help of Comptroller Topinka, a better proposal than we had even before. I also want to thank the sponsor for addressing a breach of trust that was included in the BIMP bill. This bill addresses that and is extremely reassuring for us going forward that we can actually have deals that will be honored when we put votes on things. I think one last point, though, and we would be remiss if we did not highlight this: Back in February, Governor Quinn told the whole State of Illinois that we essentially needed to borrow 8.75 billion dollars, paid back over fourteen years, so that we could get a federal match, borrowing that would cost billions of taxpayer dollars in interest. We needed to do all of this for the federal match. What you, Senator Schoenberg, have established here is that, in fact, we did not need to do any of that to get the federal match. And, in fact, what you have produced here is an even better product than the last bill. For three hundred and sixty-five million dollars of appropriately used GRF and just fifteen days’ worth of responsible budget 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 changes, we have the ability to get the full federal match without the taxpayers being on the hook for billions of dollars in more debt and billions in dollars of more interest payments. I think this serves as vindication for those of us back in February who said No to the borrowing. I also think it speaks to your willingness to stay on task and come up with a product that is in the best interest of the whole State. I commend you for that and encourage an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Further discussion? Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, Senator Schoenberg, do you wish to close? Senator Schoenberg.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I am overwhelmed by the effusive praise of the previous speaker. I know that all of us, Democrat and Republican, liberal and conservative, and everyone in between, wishes to squeeze every last available new dollar in federal funds from Washington in order to meet our health care needs. I’m glad we have a strong bipartisan consensus around this. And I’d urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 1633. 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? Madam Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 53 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 the Senate does concur in House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 1633, and the bill is declared passed. Gordon Graham, WAND-TV; Seth Perlman, the Associated Press; and -- Josie Mone {sic} (José Moré) with the Chicago News Cooperative seeks -- requests -- requests permission to videotape and/or take still photos. Leave is granted. Ladies and Gentlemen, on Supplemental Calendar No. 1, Concurrences on Senate Bills, the first item on the Calendar is Senate Bill 266. Senator Kotowski. Madam Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 266. Filed by Senator Kotowski.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Thank you, Mr. President. I was just glad that wasn’t a Polish name you were butchering. It’s great to see you today. I -- I move to concur on House Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 266. This bill does three main things. It freezes the salaries of all Members of the General Assembly, State’s attorneys, elected executive branch constitutional officers, persons appointed to certain offices of State government, which would be agency directors and members of boards and commissions. It also reflects -- addresses agency per diems. It reduces the amount received for per diems and for transportation reimbursement. Plus, it imposes furlough days on Senators and Representatives to make sure that we -- that we save money for taxpayers and that we live within our means. I’d be more than happy to answer 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Senator Tom Johnson, for what purpose do you rise?
Will the sponsor yield to a couple questions?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield. Senator Johnson.
Senator, this freezes pay for a number of different people, and then, for the General Assembly, throws in twelve furlough days, correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Yes, sir.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Johnson.
Over the last couple of years now, what will be the total reduction in the General Assembly’s pay?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
I believe it’s about six hundred thousand.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Johnson.
I don’t presume that you would agree with my sense here 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 that this is somewhat pandering to an electorate, to say we are self-righteous enough to cut, when we haven’t been able to cut the overall budget - in fact, increased it now by a billion dollars over last year’s spending. And I guess what I’m saying here is, are we going to cut this low enough to make sure that nobody wants to run for these seats in the General Assembly anymore, or at least until after the filing date’s over? And is there a plan to get this back up after we’re all back in here again?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
There were so many questions there, Senator, so many. I -- I just have -- I have -- I don’t know if it’s -- are you going to be running in the future?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski, there was a question asked and you would need to answer that question before you ask a question back. Senator Kotowski.
Well, it was part of my answer. If he’s running in the future, we have to do whatever we can to make sure that we provide the incentive for him to come back. I do not believe that this -- I -- I believe that this -- we’ve been addressing spending reform here in the -- in the General Assembly. The overall cut to the agency budget is going to be -- based on the budget we sent to the Governor’s Desk, is a 2.7-billion-dollar cut to the State budget. That’s rather significant. It’s a significant cut over last year’s budget. I believe the message 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 that this sends today is that we’re willing to sacrifice. We’re willing to -- just the way people are at home and in their business, we’re willing to sacrifice for the second year in a row, to have furlough days imposed upon ourselves which reduces our salaries. So I think it’s an important message that we send to the electorate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Johnson.
I’ll wrap this up. He did ask a question and I -- I will say this: I took quite a pay cut to come back into this august Chamber. And for your information, I will run again only when you finally take this down to zero, so it will continue to be public service. And if you take it to zero, I guarantee you I will run. I just think that this is getting a little ridiculous. And I think that the electorate, I think the press and everybody else knows exactly what we’re doing when we do this sort of thing. And I don’t think it means anything except it diminishes the work of everybody in this Chamber and probably discourages a lot of good people from being able to make the races to come in here. So, with that, I’m sure I will probably be the only No vote, but I felt this needed to be said. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, Senator. Further discussion? Senator Annazette Collins, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 To the bill, Senator Collins.
I am also in agreement with my colleague here who just spoke. This place, as he said, is a place where a lot of people would love to come, not just for the rich. This place should be a balanced place that everyone in this State should be able to be represented here. So what happens -- what winds up happening is that you take our salaries down every year, year after year after year - six hundred thousand dollars, you claimed you -- you saved the State money - but as legislators, as we go out and shop and send our children to school and buy clothing, no one says, “Oh, you’re going to get a cheaper price because you’re a legislator or you’re an elected official”. We pay the same amount of money. So what winds up happening is that only the rich can be represented here in this Body. But this world is not made of just rich people. There are poor people in this community. There are people who have this as their everyday job and that they work very hard. This isn’t a part-time job, as most people say. We work every day, day after day. People call us twenty-four hours a day. And we should be respected for our jobs. But, yet, we want to pretend that we’re doing a favor to the public. And the public don’t expect us to pay less -- to get paid less money for a job that we do. What they expect us to do is to do the very best job that we can do and not say that we should do it free. It’s just not a free job. We spend a lot of time away from our families. When I’m not home my daughter cries everyday, “Mommy, come home. Come home. Come home.” But I tell her, “We’re doing very important work for the people that we serve.” And so, to me, this is a mockery that every time 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 it’s time for us to get paid that we say, “Oh, we’re getting paid.” Sixty-five thousand dollars is not a lot to get paid to do a job - not saying that we don’t love this job, ‘cause I love representing my community, the poor people who cannot be here to be represented, people who work, average daily people who come from communities that are not rich, who parents were not rich, that cannot afford to not get paid to come down here to represent. And had we not been here, the minorities of this Chamber, this year - our Human Services’ budget already looked ridiculous - it would look even more ridiculous than it does right now. So, no, you will not be the only one voting No on this budget. I will never vote to cut my salary, because our people, our constituents, don’t expect us to do that. We do this because some of us want to run on that, but what we should be running on is that we’ve done a great job and we work very hard for the people of the State of Illinois. And we don’t want to do it for free, because all of us cannot -- I could do it for free if I was rich, but I’m not. I have mouths to feed. I have myself to take care of, and so I’m not going to pretend that I am rich and that I can do it for free.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, Senator. Further discussion? Senator Dillard, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you. Would the sponsor yield for a question?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield. Senator Dillard.
Senator Kotowski, with respect to dropping our mileage to 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 thirty-nine cents, many of the Chicago Democrats, I know, fly down here; they don’t drive like you and myself. What does it do and do we reduce the reimbursement for those who fly to Springfield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Thank you, Senator Dillard. I appreciate your question. I just wanted to get some clarification. I believe you don’t get a mileage reimbursement for flying.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Dillard, do you have a follow-up? Senator Dillard.
Well, I -- I assume, Senator Kotowski, those of us who are going to get reimbursed thirty-nine cents a mile are subsidizing the State. I mean, that’s clearly -- the Internal Revenue Service thinks it costs a lot more than thirty-nine cents per mile to operate a car. I was just wondering whether we were going to ask those who fly on State aircraft, who are Members of the Legislature, if they would write a check and help subsidize the State of Illinois as well. I’m just looking out for we suburbanites and downstaters who don’t fly down here.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski, did you want to comment on that? Is there any further discussion? Seeing no further discussion, Senator Kotowski, you wish to close? Yeah. Senator Kotowski.
Thank you very much. I appreciate the comments I’ve received from both sides of the aisle. It’s great to see 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 everybody here today. I know this is challenging. I know this is difficult, but people at home and in their business have had to make very difficult decisions. And I know this is public service and I know there’s sacrifice involved in it. And I know that one of the things that we’ve been looking throughout the year is where we could make necessary cuts in order to save money, in order to balance the budget, and we have made some tough decisions. The fact is, it’s very difficult, I think, to go back and look at somebody who’s not going to get a Monetary Award Program grant in order to go to school or a -- a child who suffers from abuse and neglect or a homebound senior who is not going to get -- not going to get the guardianship and visitation or the home-delivered meal that they need, that we’re not making the sacrifice that we should be making at this time. Yeah, it’s a tough decision, but it’s an important one. We need to sacrifice, we need to live within our means, and we need to make the necessary cuts. And one of those cuts that we’re making is putting that responsibility on ourselves and cutting our own salaries. I would ask for an Aye vote. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, Senator. Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 266. 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? Madam Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 48 voting Aye, 4 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 266, and the bill is declared 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 passed. Senator Crotty, for what purpose do you rise?
On Senate Bill 266, as I looked at the board, I realized that my button did not go on, so I’d like to be recorded as a Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Crotty, the record will so indicate your intentions. Ladies and Gentlemen, on the Calendar, Supplemental Calendar No. 1, is Senate Bill 2414. President Cullerton. Madam Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2414. Filed by President Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) President Cullerton.
Yes, thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Move that we would concur with the Senate -- House Amendment No. 2 to 2414. This is the reappropriation for the capital bill, as well as new appropriations for the annual pay-as-you-go capital projects. This includes some cost-neutral changes to existing projects. And also the House chose to add a cost-neutral transfer among personal services and operation lines for the State Police Merit Board. So we’re very proud of the fact that we were able to pass a capital bill a number of years ago in -- in the light of tough economic times. Very few states passed anything. We passed the largest one in the nation. Every year we have to reappropriate the projects. Last year we had the 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 largest road-building projects in the State of Illinois’ history. Hopefully, we can - with this bill - appropriate even more for this year. There is some litigation over our capital bill, which we hope will be resolved by the time we come back in the Veto Session. We have already authorized an extra five billion dollars’ worth of bonding authority, which we hope to implement once that litigation is over with. But, in the meantime, we would be - with this bill - appropriating money for not only roads, but also a number of other projects - schools, hospitals, and the like. So, for that reason, I would ask everyone to vote Aye. Be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, Mr. President. Is there any discussion? Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill, Mr. President. I just…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Murphy.
I’d like to commend the sponsor for receding from the previous amendment and standing down from the increase in spending, joining Senate Republicans, the House Republicans, the House Democrats, and a bipartisan coalition, recognizing that we don’t have an additional four hundred and thirty million dollars to spend. So I applaud that effort. I appreciate, and I’m sure the people who will continue to work on construction projects this year as a result of your effort today appreciate, the fact that you were willing to do this. I strongly encourage an Aye vote throughout the entire Chamber. 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, President Cullerton, do you wish to close? Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2414. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Madam Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 52 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2414, and the bill is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, on the bottom of Supplemental Calendar No. 1 is Executive Appointments, Appointment Messages. To fulfill our responsibilities under Article V, Section 9 of the Constitution, we will now proceed to the Order of Advise and Consent. 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 Appointment Message 127.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Muñoz moves that the Senate resolve itself into Executive Session for the purpose of acting on the appointment set forth in Appointment Message 127. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the motion carries. The Senate is resolved into Executive Session. Madam Secretary, Executive Appointments - Messages. 127.
Mr. President, the Committee on Executive Appointments 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 recommends that the Senate do advise and consent to the following salaried appointment: To be the Director of the Department of Employment Security, for a term commencing June 6, 2011, and ending January 21st, 2013: Jay Rowell.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, 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 SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, does the Senate advise and consent to the appointment from the Appointment Message just read. 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? Madam Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 42 voting Aye, 9 voting Nay, 0 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 SULLIVAN) Senator Muñoz moves that the Senate arise from Executive Session. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the motion carries. The Senate has risen from 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 Executive Session. Ladies and Gentlemen, if I could have your attention, the Senate will stand at ease for a few minutes to allow the Committee on Assignments to meet. Will all members of the Committee on Assignments please come to the President’s Anteroom immediately? Once again, the Committee on Assignments will meet immediately. The Senate will stand at ease. (at ease) The Senate will come to order. Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to the Executive Appointments Committee - Appointment Messages 129 through 137. Signed by Senator James F. Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) We will now proceed -- proceed to the Order of Resolutions Consent Calendar. With leave of the Body, all those resolutions read in today will be added to the Consent Calendar. Madam Secretary, have there been any objections filed to any resolution on the Consent Calendar?
No objections have been filed, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall the resolutions on the Consent Calendar be adopted. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. And the Ayes have it. The motion carries, and the resolutions are adopted. Madam Secretary, Messages from the House.
31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 A Message from the House by Mr. Bolin, Assistant 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: House Joint Resolution 40. Offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads HJR No. 40) It was adopted by the House, June 22nd, 2011. Bradley S. Bolin, Assistant Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) President Cullerton, for what purpose do you rise?
Yes, thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted to introduce a constituent of mine who’s here visiting us in Springfield. She is an intern with the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation. Her name is Patricia Martinez. I’d like to welcome her to the Senate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Welcome to the Illinois State Senate. Glad to have you here. Ladies and Gentlemen, on the Order of Resolutions is House Joint Resolution 40. Senator Harmon moves to suspend the rules for the purpose of the immediate consideration and adoption of House Joint Resolution 40. Those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the rules are suspended. Senator Harmon moves for the adoption of House Joint Resolution 40. All -- all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Pursuant to the -- the adjournment resolution, the Senate now 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 60th Legislative Day 6/22/2011 stands adjourned to the call of the President. The Senate stands adjourned. 33