Illinois General Assembly Floor TranscriptsBrowseSenate99th GA

Illinois Senate Floor Debate — June 9, 2015

99th General Assembly (2015-2016) · Legislative day 55 · Regular Session
Chamber
Senate
General Assembly
99th (2015-2016)
Date
June 9, 2015
Legislative day
55
Session
Regular Session
Speaker turns
33
Original
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Antonio Muñoz (D)

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) …(microphone disengaged)…the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Pastor Larry Luster, Sr., Second Timothy Baptist Church, Springfield, Illinois. Pastor. PASTOR LARRY LUSTER, SR.: (Prayer by Pastor Larry Luster, Sr.)

Antonio Muñoz (D)

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Pledge of Allegiance. Please stand for Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Cunningham.

Bill Cunningham (D)

(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Cunningham)

Antonio Muñoz (D)

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.

Neil Anderson (R)

Senate Journals of Sunday, May 31st, and Friday, June 5th, 2015.

Antonio Muñoz (D)

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Hunter.

Mattie Hunter (D)

Mr. President, I move to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal just read by the Secretary, pending arrival of the printed transcript.

Antonio Muñoz (D)

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Hunter moves to postpone the reading and the approval of the Journal, pending arrival of the printed transcripts. There being no objection, so ordered. Senator Hunter.

Mattie Hunter (D)

Mr. President, I call for a Democratic Caucus upon recess, in the President's Office for a half an hour. 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 55th Legislative Day 6/9/2015

Antonio Muñoz (D)

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Hunter has called for a Democratic Caucus in the President's Office immediately upon recess for approximately thirty minutes. Senator McCarter, for what purpose do you seek recognition? SENATOR McCARTER: The Republicans would like to caucus for thirty minutes as well.

Antonio Muñoz (D)

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator McCarter also requesting -- so both Senator Hunter and Senator McCarter move that the Senate recess for the purpose of Senate and -- Senate Democratic and Republican caucuses lasting thirty minutes. Seeing no objection, the motion is granted. The Senate now stands in recess to the call of the Chair. After the Democratic and Republican caucuses, the Senate will reconvene for Floor action, including the Committee of the Whole. The Senate stands in recess to the call of the Chair. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)

Thomas Cullerton (D)

The Senate will come to order. I would ask that the Members please be at their desks. For the Membership and their guests, I would outline the procedures we will be operating under during this Committee of the Whole. After testimony from each panel of witnesses, Members of the Committee of the Whole may seek further information through questions within the time limits deemed necessary by the Chair. The provisions of our rules governing access to the Floor will apply, except that witnesses who will be 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 55th Legislative Day 6/9/2015 providing oral testimony will be allowed on the Floor. Senator Harmon, for what purpose do you rise?

Don Harmon (D)

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Senate resolve itself into the Committee of the Whole solely to allow all the Members to receive testimony or written submissions from witnesses, or both, regarding the topic of Freezing Property Taxes in Illinois and inquire of those witnesses under the procedures outlined by the President.

Thomas Cullerton (D)

Senator Harmon moves that the Senate resolve itself into the Committee of the Whole for the purpose of testimony from witnesses regarding the topic of Freezing Property Taxes in Illinois. Is - - is there any discussion? All those in favor, say Aye. All opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the motion carries. The Senate is resolved into the Committee of the Whole. (COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE) (Contact Senate Transcribing for Audio)

Thomas Cullerton (D)

The Senate has arisen from the Committee on {sic} (of) the Whole. Yes, Senator Oberweis, for what purpose do you seek recognition?

Jim Oberweis (R)

Thank you, Mr. President. I have an announcement.

Thomas Cullerton (D)

State your point.

Jim Oberweis (R)

3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 55th Legislative Day 6/9/2015 I'm -- I'm wearing a tie that says liberty and ice cream for all. I hope this Chamber will help provide liberty. I, on the other hand, will provide ice cream for all today. We have two new flavors that we're testing, a cherry pie ice cream and an apple pie ice cream. So if anybody would like to sample it, help us, come on back here, we've got it. Thank you.

Thomas Cullerton (D)

Anyone interested in being part of the test is welcome. Senator Bivins, for what purpose do you rise?

Tim Bivins (R)

Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.

Thomas Cullerton (D)

State your point.

Tim Bivins (R)

I'd like to wish our last speaker a happy birthday tomorrow, Senator Oberweis.

Thomas Cullerton (D)

Senator Koehler, for what purpose do you rise?

David Koehler (D)

Thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege.

Thomas Cullerton (D)

State your -- state your point.

David Koehler (D)

With me today are my two neighbors, live right next door, Dave and Susie Keene. They are retired teachers from District 150. And I think it was very appropriate that they came down to hear the discussion today because it's something that they're very interested in. But I'd like to have the Senate give 'em a warm welcome. 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 55th Legislative Day 6/9/2015

Thomas Cullerton (D)

Welcome to Springfield. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.

Neil Anderson (R)

Senate Resolution 639, offered by Senator McCarter and all Members. Senate -- Senate Resolutions 640 through 642, offered by Senator Haine and all Members. Senate Resolution 643, offered by Senator Stadelman and all Members. Senate Resolutions 644 through 649, offered by Senator Althoff and all Members. And Senate Resolution 650, offered by Senator Koehler and all Members. They are all death resolutions.

Thomas Cullerton (D)

Mr. -- Mr. Secretary, Appointment Messages, please. Appointment Messages. Sorry. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions Consent Calendar. Now, Mr. Secretary, Appointment Messages.

Neil Anderson (R)

Appointment Message 990229 Executive Ethics Commission salaried appointment Benault Bagby Title of Office: Chief -- Chief Procurement Officer for procurements made by a public institution of higher education Appointment Message 990230 Executive Ethics Commission salaried appointment Ellen Holzman Daley Chief Procurement Officer for matters other than construction Appointment Message 990231 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 55th Legislative Day 6/9/2015 Executive Ethics Commission salaried appointment Lorri Lawton Chief Procurement Officer for procurements committed by law to the jurisdiction or responsibility of the Capital Development Board Appointment Message 990232 Governor's salaried appointment Steve Kim Member, Human Rights Commission Appointment Message 990233 Governor's salaried appointment Jerry White Member, Property Tax Appeal Board Appointment Message 990234 Governor's salaried appointment Robert Schillerstrom Chairman, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Appointment Message 990235 Governor's non-salaried appointment Jean Alison Bussone Member, Employment Security Authority {sic} (Advisory) Board Appointment Message 990236 Governor's non-salaried appointment John Easton Member, Employment Security Advisory Board Appointment Message 990237 Governor's -- Governor's non-salaried appointment Sharon Thomas Parrott Member, Employment Security Advisory Board 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 55th Legislative Day 6/9/2015 Appointment Message 990238 Governor's non-salaried appointment Timothy Rand Member, Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Appointment Message 990239 Governor's non-salaried appointment Ezequiel Flores Member, State Board of Investment Appointment Message 990240 Governor's non-salaried appointment Michael Conley Member, Workforce Investment Board Appointment Message 990241 Governor's non-salaried appointment Michael Uremovich Member, Workforce Investment Board Appointment Message 990242 Governor's non-salaried appointment Roy Gibson Public Administrator and Public Guardian of Cumberland County And Appointment Message 990243 Governor's non-salaried appointment Elizabeth Nohren Public Administrator and Public Guardian of Shelby County

Thomas Cullerton (D)

We will now 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. Mr. Secretary, have there been any objections filed to any resolution on the Consent 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 55th Legislative Day 6/9/2015 Calendar?

Neil Anderson (R)

No objections filed, Mr. President.

Thomas Cullerton (D)

Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall the resolutions on the Consent Calendar be adopted. All those in favor, say Aye. All opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The motion carries, and the resolutions are adopted. Being no further business to come before the Senate, pursuant to the House Joint Resolution 85, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 12 o'clock noon on the 16th day of June 2015, or until the call of the President. The Senate stands adjourned. 8