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? And will the guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Chance Newingham from Athens Christian Church from Athens, Illinois.
(Prayer by Pastor Chance Newingham)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Sullivan.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Sullivan)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journals of November 14th, 21st and 27th, 2012.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Senator Maloney.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that the Journals just read by the Secretary be approved, unless some Senators have additions or corrections to offer.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Senator Maloney moves to approve the Journals just read by the Secretary. There being no objections, so ordered. Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of Thursday, January 3rd, 2013. 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 137th Legislative Day 1/8/2013
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Senator Maloney.
Madam 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 CROTTY) Senator Maloney moves to postpone the reading and the approval of the Journal, pending arrival of the printed transcripts. There being no objection, so ordered. Casey Lund from WAND-TV requests permission to record audio and video. There being no objection, it's approved. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 1062, offered by Senator Kotowski and all Members. Senate Resolution 1063, offered by Senator Radogno and all Members. Senate Resolution 1064, offered by Senator Mulroe and all Members. Senate Resolution 1065, offered by Senator McCarter and all Members. Senate Resolution 1066, offered by Senator Dillard and all Members. Senate Resolution 1067, offered by Senator Radogno, Cullerton and all Members. Senate Resolution 1068, offered by Senator Radogno, Cullerton and all Members. Senate Resolution 1069, offered by Senator Radogno, 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 137th Legislative Day 1/8/2013 Cullerton {sic} (Cullerton, Radogno) and all Members. Senate Resolution 1070, offered by Senator -- President Cullerton, Senator Radogno and all Members. Senate Resolution 1071, offered by President Cullerton, Senator Radogno and all Members.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Resolutions Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, Communications from the Secretary of State.
I have a letter dated January 8th, 2013, from the Secretary of State to Tim Anderson, Secretary of the Senate. Dear Mr. Anderson - This office is forwarding herewith a copy of a Notice of Vacancy from the Legislative Committee of the Democratic Party for the 9th Legislative District, declaring the existence of a vacancy in the Office of State Senator in the 97th General Assembly for the 9th Legislative District, as a result of the resignation of Senator Jeffrey M. Schoenberg. Also enclosed is the copy of the Legislative Committee's Certificate of Appointment for Daniel Biss, 3255 Central Street, Evanston, Illinois, who was appointed to fill the vacancy in the Office of State Senator in the 9th Legislative District for the 97th General Assembly. Yours truly, Jesse White, Secretary of State.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Senator Maloney, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. For a point of personal privilege, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 137th Legislative Day 1/8/2013 State your point.
Many of us are leaving the Senate today and among us is one of our most prestigious Members and I would like to take this opportunity to introduce Senator Crotty's family, who is on the Floor over here. So if Senator Crotty's family could please rise. We have her sons, Kevin, Keith and Mark; their wives, Cricket, Lauren and Angela; and Senator Crotty's beautiful grandchildren, Leah, Aubrey, Emily, Payton, Alexis, Landon and Andrew. So, if the Senate could please welcome Senator Crotty's family to the Floor today. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Thank you, Senator Maloney. The regular Session of the Senate will stand at recess till the call of the Chair. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) The regular Session of the Senate will come to order. Senator Murphy, for -- for what purpose do you rise?
Point -- point of personal privilege, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) State your point.
Thank you. I'd just like to ask the Senate to give a warm welcome to Selwyn and Sheila Schwartz, and also up in the gallery, my parents, Kevin and Marge Murphy.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 137th Legislative Day 1/8/2013 Welcome to the Senate, Mr. and Mrs. Murphy. Senator Bomke, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) State your point.
Thank you. As we're about to sine die the -- the Session, unfortunately my daughter couldn't be with us today. She's a anchor in Houston. But my son is here, a local police officer. He was able to get here before we did sine die, and I just simply wanted to recognize him. As you all know, this is my last day after eighteen years. So, my son, Wulfgar Bomke, is with us today.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Well, welcome to the Senate. Thank you for your service. And we're going to miss your dad. Senator Millner, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. A point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) State your point.
Just a simple "thank you" to each and every one of you in the Chamber. This is my last day. I truly appreciate all of you, every one of you. You're there for me. We'll be able to work with each other. You're all making a difference. You're making a difference at home. You go -- you're unappreciated many times - and this goes, too, for our staff, who is 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 137th Legislative Day 1/8/2013 diligently working, both sides of the aisle, each and every day, for us to be able to serve our constituents. You know, and I really want to say that -- what a great Body, what a great group of people. Thank you. Thank you all very much. And I want to thank our families as well. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Thank you, Senator Millner. We will now proceed to the Order of Resolutions Consent Calendar. With leave of the Body, all those resolutions read today will be added to the Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, have there been any objections filed to any resolution on the Consent Calendar?
No objections filed, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Is there any discussion? There being no discussion, shall the resolutions on the Consent Calendar be adopted. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the motion carries. And the resolutions are adopted. Senator Trotter moves to suspend the rules for the purpose of the immediate consideration of adoption of Senate Resolution 1072. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the rules are suspended. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 1072, offered by Senator Trotter. (Secretary reads SR No. 1072)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Senator Trotter moves for the adoption of Senate Resolution 1072. All those in favor will vote Aye. Those opposed, Nay. 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 137th Legislative Day 1/8/2013 The Ayes have it. And the resolution is adopted. Senator Sandack, for what purpose do you rise?
Point to personal privilege, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) State your point.
Thank you. Before we finish off, I just wanted to introduce a colleague, friend, neighbor and a constituent, Bill Bila. Bill's here from Downers Grove, of course the best community in the State. He picked a fine day to come see the Senate work. I'm hoping we'll give him a nice, warm welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Welcome, Bill, to the Senate Floor. We'd like to -- we'd like to all welcome the new Senator Biss to the Senate Floor. Nice to see you here and we'll be seeing a lot more of you here. President Cullerton, for what purpose do you rise?
Yes, thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. I'd like to thank all of you for being here today. I know that the other day when we adjourned, I said that there was the possibility of coming back into Session. We were awaiting action from the House. It turns out that the House was not able to act on some of the major issues that we thought they were hopefully going to address. And so, as a result, we do not have anymore work today. But, for many of us, we are back here tomorrow at -- at noon to start a new Session of the General Assembly. I want to thank all of our staffs who have worked both side of the aisles for the last couple years. You've done 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 137th Legislative Day 1/8/2013 a tremendous job. Some people have moved on or will move on to better jobs and they'll always have the experience that they had working on our staffs. I really am looking forward to meeting all the new Senators tomorrow, but also will definitely miss those of you who I have served with and we've all served with for the last couple of years. And I want to thank everybody for their hard work and we have to start work immediately on the tough issues of the day starting tomorrow. So, once again, thank you very much, and I would move that the Senate adjourn sine die.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CROTTY) Senator Cullerton moves that the Senate adjourn sine die. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. And the Senate stands adjourned sine die. 8