PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) The regular Session of the 99th 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 Pastor Robert Rasmus, Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Urbana, Illinois. Pastor.
(Prayer by Pastor Robert Rasmus)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Thank you, Pastor. Remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Cunningham.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Cunningham)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of March 2nd, 2016.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Biss.
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 MUÑOZ) Senator Biss moves to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal, pending arrival of the printed transcripts. There being no objection, so ordered. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolutions 1620 through 1622, offered by Senator 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016 Anderson and all Members. Senate Resolutions 1623 and 1624, offered by Senator Haine and all Members. And Senate Resolution 1625, offered by Senator Van Pelt and all Members. They are all death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Mr. Secretary, Resolutions Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator McGuire, Chairperson of the Committee on Higher Education, reports Senate Bills 2174 and 2279 Do Pass; Senate Bills 2155, 2156, 2157, 2158, and 2159 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Cunningham, Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, reports Senate Bill 2410 Do Pass; and Senate Resolution 1462 Be Adopted. Senator Holmes, Chairperson of the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, reports Senate Bill 2241 Do Pass, as Amended.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Mr. Secretary, Introduction of Bills.
Senate Bill 3381, offered by Senator Lightford. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Lisa Yuscius, Bluestream.com {sic} (Blueroomstream.com), requests permission to videotape. Also, David Mitchell, WICS, requests permission to video record and audio record. There being no objection, leave is granted. Ladies and Gentlemen of the 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016 Senate, will all Members please come to the Floor? Please come to the Floor immediately. We will be doing 2nd Readings and we will be doing Floor action. The sooner we can get this -- get the Floor action done, the sooner we can go home. Please come to the Floor. Senator Rezin, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Please proceed on your point.
Thank you, Mr. President. Today, I'm honored to have a group visiting the State Capitol. Over my shoulder here, I have the seventh and eighth graders from Lostant Elementary, touring the State Capitol. They've met with the -- or, toured the Treasurer's Office. They've been on the Senate Floor and just met with the Governor. I'd like a warm Springfield welcome for students from Lostant, Illinois -- Elementary. Go ahead and stand up.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Will our guests in the gallery please rise? Welcome to the Senate. Seth Perlman, Associated Press, seeks leave to take photos. There being no objection, leave is granted. Senator Holmes, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Please proceed.
I would like, Mr. President, to announce on behalf of myself and my Representative Linda Chapa LaVia, the Rosary 2015 State 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016 Championship Swimming Team. They are all here in the President's Gallery. Stand up, girls. We have -- we have Julie and Sammi and Linda and Kathryn and Katie and Emily, Camryn, Sydney, Alexis, Athena, and Georgia. And along, we've also got their Coaches, Bill, Glen, Misty and Carrie. I also want to acknowledge that one of these girls will be on the 2016 Olympic Team. So…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Congratulations and welcome to the Senate. Senator Nybo has some guests he'd like to introduce. Senator Nybo.
Thank you, Mr. President. If I can have the attention of the Body, I'd like to actually do what Senator Holmes just did as well. I think we all agree, this is probably the best part of the job that we have here, is when we get to invite spectacular young people down here. I've got a group that comes from my hometown of Elmhurst. It's the Timothy Christian State Championship Soccer Team. Unlike Senator Holmes, I did not get all their names and it's a big team, so I'm not going to introduce them all individually. But I will talk about them as a team. This is a really spectacular team that won their second 1A State Championship, in the same time with a -- a record number of goals, a record number of assists, and a -- tying the record for -- for most wins. So these are the kinds of kids that make us proud. They also brought us a gift. We've got a soccer ball here. So maybe instead of kicking each other around, we can spend some time kicking this around. But, of course, I had a nice conversation with the boys before they came out here. Their main concern is the Turnabout Dance that's coming up soon. So maybe if you have an opportunity to help them out, they're -- they're looking for 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016 some dates to bring to the Turnaround Dance. And I see the Rosary team is upstairs, gentlemen, so -- you're on your own with respect to that. But if everybody could give them a big round of applause and -- as we introduce their coach, who really did a spectacular job, Steve Fernandes. Congratulations, guys.
(Remarks by Coach Steve Fernandes)
How about a big round of applause? Thank you, guys.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Ladies and Gentlemen, we will now proceed to 2nd Readings, page 2 of the Calendar. Senate Bill 2160. Senator Sullivan. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2160. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2186. Senator Althoff. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2195. Senator Althoff. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2195. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2204. Senator Martinez. Senator 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016 Martinez. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2214. Senator Althoff. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2214. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2216. Senator Link. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2216. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2218. Senator Althoff. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2218. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2219. Senator Luechtefeld. Senator Luechtefeld. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2255. Senator Haine. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2286. Senator Morrison. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016 Senate Bill 2286. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Human Services adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2303. Senator Steans. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2303. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2322. Senator Nybo. Senator Nybo. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2332. Senator Biss. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2332. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2342. Senator Luechtefeld. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2345. Senator Connelly. Indicates he 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016 wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2345. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2346. Senator Connelly. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2357. Senator Syverson. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2368. Senator Connelly. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2368. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2371. Senator Rezin. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2407. Senator Hutchinson. Senator Hutchinson. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2420. Senator Biss. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2420. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2421. Senator Martinez. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2434. Senator Althoff. Indicates she 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016 wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2434. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2437. Senator Sandoval. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2459. Senator Syverson. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2465. Senator Biss. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2465. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2468. Senator Koehler. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2468. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2512. Senator Steans. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2512. 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016 (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2521. Senator Barickman. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2521. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2524. Senator Barickman -- Morrison. My mistake. Senator Morrison. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2524. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Human Services adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2532. Senator Hastings. Senator Hastings? Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill. 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016
Senate Bill 2532. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on State Government and Veterans Affairs adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2533. Senator Cunningham. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2533. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Local Government adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2565. Senator Sullivan. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2565. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2739. Senator Holmes. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill. 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016
Senate Bill 2739. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2741. Senator Haine. Senator Haine. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2741. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. With leave of the Body, we'll be going back to 24 -- 2204. Senator Martinez. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2204. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Senator Sullivan in the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Muñoz, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR MUÑOZ: Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege. 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point, Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I have some friends here with me, up in the gallery to my right - Barry Goldwater, who was a Congressman from '63 to '84 {sic}; Norm Taplin. Barry, currently -- he was a Congressman in California. Now he resides in Arizona. Norm Taplin, another good friend, lives in Florida. If we can welcome them to the Senate, I'd greatly appreciate it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, let's welcome our distinguished guests here to the Illinois Senate. Great to have you here today. Thanks for joining us. Please rise. You bet. Thank you very much. SENATOR MUÑOZ: And you probably know, his dad ran for President of the United States back in the day.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Muñoz in the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) On page 4 of the Calendar is the Order of House Bills 3rd Reading. This is final action. House Bill 1260. Senator Biss. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1260. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Biss. 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 1260 arose out of an effort that we debated at length in this Chamber last spring. You may recall, I had a bill around security of data when it comes to data breaches. We had a very robust debate. Some of you liked the bill. I did too. Some of you really didn't like the bill. It passed. The Governor did not like the bill so much and issued an amendatory veto that pared it back somewhat. What House Bill 1260 does is, actually, it modifies and slightly further pares back the amendatory veto issued by the Governor and it's now an agreed bill that I think, in fact, both sides support. It does remove some of the controversial provisions that I had an attachment to, but it retains important provisions around medical and insurance information, biometric data, and log- in credentials. It also has notice provisions, which I think are important and will empower the Attorney General to work to -- protect consumers. As I said, we now have an agreed bill and I would be appreciative of your support in this measure. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall House Bill 1260 pass. 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 54 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 1260, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 580. Senator Harmon. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill. 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016
House Bill 580. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 580 is a bill familiar to this Chamber. We've debated it or a very similar bill, Senate Bill 1229, twice in the last several months, the initial passage of the bill here and the effort to override the -- the Governor's veto of the bill. It -- it simply provides for an alternative method of dispute resolution should negotiations between the State and the unions representing the workers of the State reach an impasse in their bargaining. The changes from the last bill are really to reflect only timing and no substantive changes. But I'd be happy to try to answer any questions, including those that have been asked before and will be asked again.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill, Senator.
As the Senator indicated, this is another Groundhog Day bill, just like yesterday out here with the MAP grants. This didn't 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016 pass last time. It's not going to pass again. But it's another opportunity to roil the political waters, beat the chest back home to the -- to your side, so to speak, which isn't really very constructive in getting things resolved - but maybe it makes you feel good, maybe it makes your political allies feel good. One thing that's real clear though with this bill, and you need to understand this, we can't afford the union contract we have now. Rod Blagojevich and Pat Quinn so thoroughly gave away the taxpayers' store to secure their own elections, we cannot afford the deal we have now. We have a seven-billion-dollar deficit already. This bill, pursuant to a fiscal note, over the next three years is going to add three billion dollars more to our spending pressures. That means you either have to tell the people -- like yesterday maybe, how many MAP grants is that going to cost us? We still care about MAP grants today - right? - when we're going to spend three billion more we don't have with this bill. What about your -- your human services? Are we going to be able to pay the human services when you add another three billion dollars on to the tally with this bill for one union? Three billion -- or are we just going to go raise taxes by that much more so that we can turn around and give it to your friends in the green shirts? Are you prepared to go home and tell all those groups that you said you'd secure money for that you just jeopardized your ability to give it to 'em? Are you prepared to go tell the taxpayers that they have to pay more 'cause you want to give your contributors more money? Are you prepared to do that? Couple other things. We have to have this bill. Why do we have to have this bill now? You never asked for this bill before. Cutely, it sunsets about six months after the end of Governor's first -- Governor Rauner's 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016 first term. If this is such great policy, why did nobody ever ask for it before and why does it have to end? The reason - the reason - is because Governor Rauner is actually trying to get a better deal for taxpayers than they have ever gotten before in these negotiations. And your allies desperately want to take the people's negotiator, who they put in that negotiating room, out. You want to legislatively go around the will of the people and remove Governor Rauner, the people's negotiator, from this negotiation, and in the process, cost taxpayers as much as three billion dollars more. This didn't make it last time because it's bad policy. It's not going to make it again, even though it makes it out of this Chamber, because it's bad policy. Let the Governor finish negotiations. There's all this talk. You know, "They're at impasse". Right? They're at impasse. We asked the AFSCME lawyer yesterday in committee. They haven't negotiated in a while. I said, "Well, are you at impasse?" "Ah, well, no." Well, what is impasse if it's no longer negotiated -- if it's not no longer negotiating? They're clearly at impasse. And this is all because the Governor supposedly wants to have a strike - right? - wants to have a strike. Well, if he wanted to have a strike so badly, why did he sign three tolling agreements that everybody acknowledges eliminated the opportunity of a strike for the period that the tolling agreements are in effect? You want to make the Governor out to be a bogeyman here when his actions speak far louder than your words. And you can go back to campaign quotes all you want, and I know I'll hear that one again, but the truth is, since he's been Governor, his actions show he wants to get a deal done. And don't forget, don't forget, the proof is in the pudding with all the other unions he's already negotiated with. This is the only 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016 one that the deal hasn't been done with. Seventeen other union bargaining units said this Governor is somebody we can do a deal with. AFSCME won't and you're trying to backup AFSCME to the detriment of your taxpayers, and it isn't right. Don't do this again. Step away from this political brinksmanship and let's get back to actually trying to put this State back together. I urge a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Harmon.
Senator, I am so disappointed you didn't ask me any questions, but that won't stop me from responding to your hyperbolic rhetoric. I'll just go ahead and answer them as if you had asked me those questions. But where to begin? Let's start with what this bill does not do. This -- this fiscal note you refer to is absolute fiction. It was created by the Governor. If you'd prefer I call him your contributor, I'd be happy to refer to him as that for the remainder of the debate. But it's pure fiction. This bill does not -- force any outcome. It does not cost a dime more. It creates a process for breaking an impasse and achieving a contract without a strike or a lockout and the associated interruption of State government services. This is not the only one union that has not reached an agreement. The Governor seems to misunderstand the difference between locals and unions. But by my count, if there are seventeen that have reached agreement, there are eighty- one that have not. So it is not just one holdout. This is simply an -- a -- a means to reach an agreement without a strike or a lockout. It is used today by other unions at the State and local level. It is rarely invoked because it is a dramatic alternative 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016 to negotiation. To the people's negotiator: There is nothing that stops negotiations from continuing - and I wish that they would. We heard in committee that the -- the union representing the workers is willing to keep negotiating and, in fact, were exchanging proposals when the Governor declared impasse, when he filed an unfair labor practice with the Labor Relations Board saying that an impasse existed. The people's negotiator walked away from the table. The workers did not. Nothing in this bill precludes the parties from returning to the table and negotiating. It simply provides a more moderating outcome resolution in lieu of a strike or a lockout. I don't know what else I wanted to respond to. That was such a -- a robust statement of inaccuracies. But I'll just leave it at that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Biss, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill, Senator.
Thank you. I'll -- I'll try to be brief here, 'cause I think that everything's probably been said two or three or four times. But I -- I did want to respond to amplify on a response that Senator Harmon gave to a comment made by our good friend from Palatine, a comment about one union, about green shirts, and then a comment amplified by the allegation that enacting this bill into law would somehow impair our ability as a state to provide human services. And in fact, not only are there, as Senator Harmon mentioned, eighty-one locals with whom agreements have not been 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016 reached, but they're really, really, really big and significant ones. And I -- I want to speak for a moment about SEIU Healthcare's many tens of thousands of workers who provide child care and home care, core human services, and do it at an extraordinarily low wage. In fact, by the Governor's own numbers, many of these providers are making, after expenses, less than five dollars an hour. And the negotiations have been extremely problematic. The request is not only the much trumpeted wage freeze, but also complete elimination of health benefits and also complete elimination of training - a complete elimination of training. So we're talking now about ability specifically to provide high quality human services to middle-class families who need them. We're also talking about the elimination of a health benefit, which would swell the Medicaid rolls significantly, which is something that I seem to recall that side of the aisle not viewing as a positive outcome for the State of Illinois. And so this is a bill that will allow this very large number of people who provide crucial services at extraordinarily little compensation to move forward, continue to do it, and do it by having a fair, reasonable negotiation. I -- I can't help but, on this point, respond to the last comment. The implication coming from Palatine seemed to be that we're pretending that it's a coincidence that this bill affects the period that it affects. No one's pretending. It's not a coincidence. It's a consequence of a lack of trust - and the lack of trust is earned. The statements during campaigns are, of course, relevant - pretending they're not is a really weird thing to do. But it's not just those statements. It's -- it's submitting an -- an amicus brief for the Friedrichs case. There's a clear indication from the Governor that this collective 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016 bargaining process is simply not something that he believes in. And that's an underlying set of facts that makes it incredibly hard to have the kind of trust that's needed - that's needed to have productive negotiations at the bargaining table, that's need to have productive negotiations in this Chamber, and between the Legislature and the Governor. So what I would say is, we got to fix that. And we need to see signs of good faith. On this issue, we need to see signs from the Governor that there's a belief in the collective bargaining process, as enshrined not only in federal but also in State law. And moving beyond that, we need to see indication of good faith regarding the broad diversity of core beliefs of people in this Chamber, across the building, and across the State of Illinois. Without progress in that respect, our State's going to be in an incredible amount of trouble. For now, I urge a Yes vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Koehler, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill, Senator.
And I certainly agree with what my colleagues on this side have just recently said, but I think it's important to understand that somehow this has been spun to indicate that maybe by passing this bill that we've determined the outcome of these negotiations. Nothing could be further from the truth. Let me explain what interest arbitration is, and I -- I spent twenty-one years before coming to the Senate working as the Director of the Labor 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016 Management Council in my -- my hometown, so I taught labor and management how to negotiate and -- and to use the skills thereof. But interest arbitration is a process that is -- puts at risk both management and labor in equal portions, because what you have to do is you have to create your proposal that you think will be acceptable to the arbitrator or arbitrators, and -- and the arbitrator, in this case, doesn't fashion a compromise between them, they pick one or the other. And it really, by its nature, it forces both sides into the middle. If your interest is in having the collective bargaining process work, this is one of the best ways to do that. Again, the risk is both on management and the risk is on labor. In fact, in most cases, labor would not be very willing participants in interest arbitration because it does force their hand at this thing. So we're not talking about us trying to somehow predict or -- or dictate the outcome of what negotiations are. Alls we're trying to do is provide a logical, reasonable process by which the parties can come to a fair agreement. That's what this is - period.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Oberweis, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman {sic}. To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill, Senator.
Look, Ladies and Gentlemen, let's get real. Let's make sure there's no jokes, no -- make sure everybody understands. This is about how this gets resolved. I've negotiated contracts on behalf of Oberweis Dairy with the Teamsters Union. I've negotiated 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016 contracts on behalf of Colborne Foodbotics with the Aerospace Union. This is about how this contract gets resolved. It should be resolved in negotiations. It should not be resolved by putting it off into another committee. And if that bill would become law, clearly there would -- lose the incentive to solve this, to resolve it to finish it, and it would end up going to the Labor Committee {sic}, which is probably what the union wants. It's probably why some of our Democrat colleagues are supporting that. I would strongly urge a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Harmon, to close.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. The last speaker did a nice job of setting up my closing, and I appreciate that. This is an important bill because it provides for a -- a means to resolve a contract if there's an impasse, but the ideal is to stay at the table and to negotiate, as many of you have said. Under the current law, when the outcome is resolved by a strike or a lockout and the unilateral imposition of one side's terms, it does not create the moderating influence and the incentive to stay at the bargaining table. In my view, and I believe a majority of this Chamber's view, this bill would do that. It would create the incentive to stay at the table and to negotiate a fair deal between the parties. So we may disagree on the bill and its methods, but our intent is the same - that the parties stay at table and negotiate a bill {sic}. The first speaker also raised a point that I'd like to close with. The Senator said it was Groundhog's Day and that this bill, no matter what we do today, will have an -- an uncertain future when it reaches the Governor's 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016 desk. I would point out that in the run-up to the last passage of the bill, Senate Bill 1229, the Governor did reach agreement with the Teamsters Union. So that was a good thing. I've been told that just on the eve of passage of this bill, there may be an agreement with the nurses. So perhaps if we simply pass this bill eighty-one more times, we will reach labor peace across the State and all the bargaining units will sign their contracts. So it is worth the effort to force the moderation and try to reach an outcome that is satisfactory to the Governor and to the union representing the workers, but most importantly to everyone in this State who relies on the continuation of uninterrupted government services. I ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) The question is, shall House Bill 580 pass. 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 38 Ayes, 17 Nays, 0 voting Present. House Bill 580, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. On top of page 5 of the Calendar, we'll be going to House Bill 3748. Senator Clayborne seeks leave of the Body to return House Bill 3748 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Leave is granted. On the Order of 2nd Reading is House Bill 3748. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Clayborne.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Clayborne.
24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016 Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Amendment -- I mean Floor Amendment No. 2 cleans language up to allow Department -- Illinois Department of Transportation to continue its highway program using federal standards. It's a technical amendment. Also extends the -- of -- sunset date of the business enterprise program from June 20th {sic} (30th), 2016, to June 30th, 2020.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 3748. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Clayborne.
Thank -- thank you. This is just a cleanup bill from Senate Bill 1334 that we passed last Session, signed into law, Public Act 99-462. Allows the Illinois Department of Transportation to continue its highway program using federal standards and also extends the sunset date of the business enterprise program from June -- June 30th, 2016, to June 30th, 2020. I would ask for your favorable vote. 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall House Bill 3748 pass. 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 53 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 3748, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Now proceed to Resolution. Senate Resolution 1537. Senator Biss. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 1537, offered by Senator Biss.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Biss.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members. Senate Resolution 1537 designates the month of March 2016 as Social Work Month in the State of Illinois. I think that this is a population that is enormously helpful to vulnerable people in all of our districts and who are operating today under extraordinary unprecedented strain. I certainly would appreciate your support on this small measure of appreciation for the great work they do on behalf of all our constituents.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) There any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall Senate Resolution 1537 pass. All those in favor will vote {sic} Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. We will now proceed to the Order of Resolutions Consent Calendar. With leave of the Body, all those resolutions read in 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016 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, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 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. The Ayes have it, and the motion carries. And the resolutions are adopted. Mr. Secretary, Messages from the House.
A Message from the House by Mr. Mapes, 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 134. Offered by Senator Clayborne. (Secretary reads HJR No. 134) Adopted by the House, March 1st, 2016. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) On the Order of Resolutions is House Joint Resolution 134. Mr. Secretary, read the resolution.
House Joint Resolution 134, offered by Senator Clayborne.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Clayborne moves to suspend the rules for the purpose 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 86th Legislative Day 3/3/2016 of immediate consideration and adoption of House Joint Resolution 134. Those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the rules are suspended. Senator Clayborne moves the adoption of House Joint Resolution 134. All in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. There being no further business to come before the Senate, pursuant to the House Joint Resolution 134, the Senate stands adjourned until 12 noon on the 8th day of March 2016. The Senate stands adjourned. 28