PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) The 98th Session -- or, the regular Session of the 98th General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desk? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Reverend Kevin {sic} (Ken) Macken, Chatham Presbyterian Church, Chatham, Illinois. Reverend Macken.
(Prayer by the Reverend Ken Macken)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Jacobs.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Jacobs)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journals of Thursday, May 31st, and Tuesday, June 18th, 2013.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Bush.
Thank you. Standing in for Senator Hunter today. Mr. -- Madam - excuse me - 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 LIGHTFORD) Senator Bush moves to approve {sic} the Journals read by the Secretary. There being no objection, so ordered. Tony 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 6/19/2013 Yuscius from the Blueroomstream.com requests permission to videotape. Leave is granted. Nancy Stone, Chicago Tribune, requests permission to shoot still photos. Leave is granted. Mr. Secretary, Communication from the President.
I have a letter dated June 11th, 2013. Dear Mr. Secretary - Pursuant to the provisions of Rule 2- 10, I am scheduling a regular Session of the Senate to convene at 11:30 on Wednesday, June 19th. Sincerely, John J. Cullerton, Senate President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 384, offered by Senator McGuire and all Members. Senate Resolution 385, offered by Senator Althoff and all Members. They are both death resolutions, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Mr. Secretary, Resolution Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, Introduction of Senate Bills.
Senate Bill 2593, offered by Senator Sandoval. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Justin Fowler, State Journal-Register, requests permission to photograph. Leave is granted. Seth Perlman, Associated Press, requests permission to take photos. Leave is granted. 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 6/19/2013 Ed Cross, WAND-TV, requests permission to videotape. Leave is granted. Mary Ann Ahern, NBC 5 Chicago, requests permission to videotape. Leave is granted. Alexandrea Davis, WCIA 3, shoot video on June 19th, requests permission. Leave is also granted. Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. On a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Yes, please state your point.
Thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I have with me today a very special guest. It was somewhat serendipitous. She's actually down here viewing the State Capitol. She is Representative Keisha Sean Waites from Atlanta, Georgia. Thinks that we have a beautiful Capitol. Wanted to make sure she came and said hello to her fellow colleagues and remind all of us that the National Conference of State Legislatures will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, this year, in August, from the 7th to 11th. But, meanwhile, might we acknowledge and welcome a State Representative from Georgia, Keisha Waites, please?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Welcome to Springfield. Senator Silverstein, for what purpose do you rise?
For purpose of an announcement, Mr. {sic} President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please state your announcement, Senator.
3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 6/19/2013 There will be a Democratic Caucus immediately upon recess for one hour.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Silverstein seeks a Democrat Caucus for one hour immediately upon recess. Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, again, Madam President. The Senate Republicans would also like to caucus for an hour in Room 400 immediately upon recess.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Thank you, Senator. Senator Althoff seeks to also have a Republican Caucus for one hour upon recess. Senator Althoff and Senator Silverstein moves that the Senate recess for the purpose of Senate Democrat and Republican Caucus lasting one hour. Seeing no objection, the motion is granted. The Senate now stands in recess to the call of the Chair. After the Senate Democrat and Republican Caucuses, the Senate will reconvene for the purpose of Floor action. The Senate stands in recess to the call of the Chair. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) The Senate will now come to order. Mr. Secretary, Communication from the Secretary of State.
Letter dated June 7th, 2013. Dear Secretary Anderson - Enclosed please find a copy of 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 6/19/2013 Proclamation No. 2013-210, filed in my office on June 6, 2013, by Governor Pat Quinn, calling for a Special Session of the 98th General Assembly, to begin at 1 p.m. on June 19th, 2013. A notice and accompanying Proclamations have been mailed today to each Member's office. Sincerely, Jesse White, Secretary of State.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) The regular Session of the Senate will stand in recess to - - to the call of the Chair. The regular Session of the Senate stands in recess. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) The regular Session of the Senate of the 98th General Assembly will now come to order. Please turn your Calendars to page 6 - on the order of page 6. Senator Harmon, for what purpose do you rise?
A point of personal privilege, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please state your point, Senator.
Thank you, Madam President. It is no surprise when we lose a talented staff person to a -- a bigger and brighter opportunity. It's, in fact, something we -- we all need to encourage. But it's also still bittersweet when -- when part of our Senate family departs for -- for other alternatives. Jill Dykhoff is on our -- our staff. I met her for the first time in 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 6/19/2013 another state when we were working to help a former colleague of ours in his rise to bigger and better things. And I'm very pleased that she was able to join our staff. She quickly distinguished herself as a very talented writer, a very capable member of our staff. She's leaving us shortly to join Senator Durbin's staff. And while we will miss her, I know that she will continue to do wonderful things. And I just wanted to make sure everyone in the Senate had a chance to wish her Godspeed, farewell, good luck, and don't forget about us down the road. Jill, thanks for all you do.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Congratulations, Jill. We will miss you and good luck. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 386, offered by Senator Van Pelt and all Members. It is a death resolution, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Mr. Secretary, Resolution Consent Calendar. Senator Harris, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please state your point, Senator.
Today I have with me my Page for the Day, a young man who has an extreme talent in baseball, a fine, developing young fella, named Napoleon Harris IV. And he says that one day he's going to take my job and be the next Senator of the 15th 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 6/19/2013 District. So, I would like for my colleagues to wish a warm welcome to my Page for the Day, who's my son, Napoleon Harris IV.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) …Napoleon. Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Senator Silverstein, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please state your point, Senator.
I just want to echo what Senator Harmon said about Jill, who's leaving today. I've been working with Jill for several years. She's highly competent, creative, keeps me on my toes. I'm going to miss her dearly. She's a great loss to staff and we wish her well. And I will truly miss her as she moves on to better -- bigger and better things.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Again, congratulations, Jill. You will be missed. Senator Muñoz, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR MUÑOZ: Point of personal privilege, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please state your point, Senator. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Madam President, I have three visitors that came from Chicago. James Xue is a professor, a successful businessman. I had the pleasure of meeting him over the summer in my new district in Chinatown. He's also a close friend of Senator 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 6/19/2013 Frerichs. And he has two students from China, northern - Beijing, Daxing: Daniel Zhang and Tina. And they're here interning for the next six months. If we can welcome them, I'd appreciate it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please welcome Senator Muñoz's guests to the Illinois Senate. Senator Dillard, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. As long as we're on friends and family day, and children are on summer vacation, up here in the gallery behind me, I'd like to introduce my youngest daughter Ava. My lovely wife, Stephanie, is up here. And then hiding in my office, because it's her twelfth birthday and she doesn't think being in Springfield's very cool on her twelfth birthday, I'd like to wish happy birthday to my daughter Emma. And, Emma, you ought to come up here and join mom and dad and your sister up on the Senate Floor. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please welcome Senator Dillard's family to the Illinois Senate and wish his daughter a happy birthday. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, please direct your attention to page 6, on the order of Senate Bill 1, Concurrences. Senator Cullerton, do you wish to proceed? He indicates he does. Mr. Secretary, please read the gentleman's motion.
I move to nonconcur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 3 to Senate Bill 1. Signed by President Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 6/19/2013 Senator Cullerton.
Yes, thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. I move to nonconcur with these two amendments that were put on Senate Bill 1 over in the House. By nonconcurring, we will send this bill back to the House. I've already spoken to the Speaker, who's the sponsor of the bill. Once we nonconcur, he will refuse to recede and ask for a conference committee to be appointed. With a conference committee being -- being appointed, we will then -- four Leaders will appoint our Members and the conference committee will immediately proceed to taking testimony on dealing with pension reform. So I think it would be a very good step towards reaching a compromise on this very contentious issue. As a result, I would ask folks, if there's a roll call on this bill, to vote Yes to move to nonconcur.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you rise?
For the purpose of requesting a roll call on the motion and just to advise, those who were in favor of Senate Bill 1 originally, if you voted for Senate Bill 1 originally, you would want to vote No on the motion to concur. So I'd request a roll call vote -- motion to nonconcur.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. I simply rise to second the gentleman's motion. For -- I'm sorry, the request for a roll 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 6/19/2013 call, excuse me.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) A roll call has been requested. That -- that is in order, Senator. Senator Biss, for what purpose do you rise?
To the motion.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) To the motion, Senator.
Thank you, Madam President. I think most people in this Body know where I stand on this issue. We had a concurrence motion on these two amendments on May 30th and I -- I voted Yes. And here's what happened: I lost that vote badly. That motion had sixteen Yes votes. It failed badly and this -- this bill, Senate Bill 1 as amended in the House, is dead and it's gone. But here we are, almost three weeks later, and what isn't gone is the tremendous fiscal problems facing the State. And therefore, what's necessary is for us to all get together and work to craft a compromise that addresses the problem and can meet the approval of this Chamber and the other Chamber -- of the Governor. And so, though I voted Yes to concur and -- on May 30th, I'm also going to vote Yes enthusiastically to nonconcur today. It's a step to create a conference committee to engage in compromise. I want to thank the President for his willingness to compromise. I want to thank the other legislative Leaders for their participation in this process and I hope we can all embark on it with the conviction and commitment to get this done and the optimism that it's a doable task. Thank you very much. I urge an Aye vote. 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 6/19/2013
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, Senator Cullerton, to close.
Yes, I would simply ask that we vote Aye and start the process of trying to compromise to reach an agreement on a pension bill. Please vote Aye.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) The question is, shall the Senate nonconcur in House Amendments No. 1 and 3 to Senate Bill 1. 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 45 voting Yea, 11 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1, having received the required majority, the Senate does not concur in House Amendment No. 1 and 3 to Senate Bill 1. The Secretary will so inform the House. We will now proceed to the Order of Resolutions Consent Calendar. Will the -- 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 filed, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall the resolution on the Consent Calendar be adopted. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The motion carries, and the resolutions are adopted. Stephen Bourque, WICS-TV, seeks permission to record video. Leave is granted. 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 64th Legislative Day 6/19/2013 Chris Brooks, WICS-TV, requests permission to videotape. Leave is granted. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, the Senate will stand at ease as we await papers from the House. The Senate stand at ease. (at ease) The regular Session of the Senate of the 98th General Assembly will now come to order. Mr. Secretary, Messages from the House.
Message from the House by Mr. Mapes, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has refused to recede from their Amendments Nos. 1 and 3 to a bill of the following title, to wit: Senate Bill 1. I am further directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives requests a First Committee of Conference to consist of five Members from each House to consider the differences of the two Houses in regard to the amendments to the bill. Action taken by the House, June 19th, 2013. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Without objection, the Senate accedes to the request of the House for a conference committee on Senate Bill 1. There being no further business to come before the regular Session, pursuant to House Joint Resolution 45, the regular Session of the Senate stands adjourned. The Senate stands adjourned. 12