PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) The regular Session of the 99th 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 Pastor Shaun Lewis, Civil Servant Ministries, Springfield, Illinois. Pastor Lewis.
(Prayer by Pastor Shaun Lewis)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Connelly -- Cunningham.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Cunningham)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) My apologies, Senator Cunningham. Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of Wednesday, March 9th, 2016.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Hunter.
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 LIGHTFORD) Thanks, Senator. Senator Hunter moves to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal, pending arrival of the printed transcripts. There being no objection, so ordered. Ed Cross from WAND-TV requests permission to video. Leave is granted. James R. 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 90th Legislative Day 3/10/2016 Carder requests -- from Blueroomstream.com requests permission to videotape. Leave granted. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 1642, offered by Senator Brady and all Members. Senate Resolution 1643, offered by Senator Lightford and all Members. Senate Resolutions 1644 and 1645, offered by Senator Bennett and all Members. And Senate Resolution 1646, offered by Senator Collins and all Members. They're all death resolutions, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Resolutions Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, Introduction of Senate Bills.
Senate Bill 3384, offered by Senator Connelly. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Landek, Chairperson of the Committee on State Government and Veterans Affairs, reports Senate Bills 2897 and 2936 Do Pass. Senator Harmon, Chairperson of the Committee on Executive, reports Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 572 Recommend Do Adopt; and Senate Joint Resolution 32 Be Adopted. Senator Hutchinson, Chairperson of the Committee on Revenue, 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 90th Legislative Day 3/10/2016 reports Senate Bills 2397, 2467, 2517, 2611, 2612, 2746, 2782, 2889, and 2924 Do Pass. Senator Holmes, Chairperson of the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, reports Senate Bill 2827 Do Pass. Senator Koehler, Chairperson of the Committee on Environment and Conservation, reports Senate Bills 2404, 2948, and 2963 Do Pass; and Senate Joint Resolution 38 Be Adopted. And Senator Hunter, Chairperson of the Committee on Energy and Public Utilities, reports Senate Bills 2522, 2813, and 2814 Do Pass.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Ladies and Gentlemen -- Gentlemen of the Senate, if you could please come to the Senate Floor for Floor action. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, if you would please come to the Senate Floor for Floor action. The Senate will stand at ease for a few minutes to allow the Committee on Assignments to meet. The members of the Committee on Assignments, will you please come to the President's Anteroom immediately? Thank you. (at ease) The Senate will come to order. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, report the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to the Human Services Committee - Senate Bill 3168; refer to the Licensed Activities and Pensions Committee - Senate Bill 3082; refer to the Public Health Committee - Senate Resolution 1613; refer to the Transportation Committee - Senate Bill 2570; re-refer from the Human Services Committee to the Executive Committee - Senate Bill 2957; and re-refer from the Executive Committee to Assignments Committee - Senate Bill 2789; and Be Approved for 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 90th Legislative Day 3/10/2016 Consideration - Senate Bills 126, 319, 439, and 2059. Signed by Senator James F. Clayborne, Chairman. Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Be Approved for Consideration - Senate Bill 2789. Signed by Senator James F. Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, please come to the Senate Floor for Floor action. Members of the Senate, please come to the Senate Floor for Floor action. We will be going to 2nd Reading. Please come to the Senate Floor. And we will be taking up a very special resolution. Please come to the Senate Floor. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, please turn your Calendars to page 2. On page 2 of the Calendar is the Order of Senate Bills 2nd Reading. Senate Bill 407 {sic}. Senator Hutchinson. Senate Bill 2407. Senator Hutchinson. Out of the record. Senator -- Senate Bill 2414. Senator Nybo. Senator Nybo. He indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the gentleman's bill.
Senate Bill 2414. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Financial Institutions adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 90th Legislative Day 3/10/2016 3rd Reading. Senator Haine, on Senate Bill 2415. Senator Haine. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2421. Senator Martinez. Senator Martinez. Out of the record. On the top of page 3… With leave of the Body, we will return to 2469, Senate Bill 2469. Senator Hunter, on Senate Bill 2601. Senator Hunter. Out of the record. Senator Trotter, on Senate Bill 2604. 2604. Out of the record. Senator Harmon, on Senate Bill 2743. He indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the gentleman's bill.
Senate Bill 2743. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2778. Senator Raoul. He indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the gentleman's bill.
Senate Bill 2778. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 3rd Reading. Senator Link, on Senate Bill 2783. Senator Link. The gentleman indicates he wish to proceed. Please read 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 90th Legislative Day 3/10/2016 the bill.
Senate Bill 2783. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 3rd Reading. Senator Koehler, on Senate Bill 2823. The gentleman indicates he wishes to have his bill read. Please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2823. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Education adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 3rd Reading. Senator Link, on Senate Bill 2825. Senator Link. Please read the gentleman's bill.
Senate Bill 2825. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 90th Legislative Day 3/10/2016 3rd Reading. Senator Collins, on Senate Bill 2864. Senator Collins, on -- please read the lady's bill.
Senate Bill 2864. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 3rd Reading. Senator Mulroe, on Senate Bill 2872. The gentleman indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2872. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 3rd Reading. Senator Nybo, on Senate Bill 2875. Senator Nybo. Out of the record. Senator Nybo, on Senate Bill 2876. He indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the gentleman's bill.
Senate Bill 2876. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 3rd Reading. Senator Connelly. Senator Connelly, on Senate Bill 2880. Out of the record. Senator Stadelman, on Senate Bill 2907. The gentleman indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the bill. 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 90th Legislative Day 3/10/2016
Senate Bill 2907. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 3rd Reading. Senator Manar, for what purpose do you rise?
For a point of personal privilege, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please state your point, Senator.
If I could have my colleagues' attention. And she's hidden in the back of the -- the Chamber, but I want to rise and wish - there she is - wish Lisa Groesch a happy birthday. When I was a young staffer, an intern actually, I used to sleep on Lisa's couch when I was working late nights on the budget staff. And I've gotten to know her over the years, as -- as many of us have. And she is just a remarkable person - polite, kind. Has seen probably her fair share of activities on the Senate Floor, more so than most, over the course of many years. And she keeps us fed, which is a good thing. So please join me in wishing Lisa Groesch a happy seventieth birthday.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Happy birthday, Miss Lisa. Happy birthday. You're such a pleasant, beautiful person. I hope you enjoy your day. Lee Milner from the Illinois Times requests permission to photo. Leave is granted. Ladies and Gentlemen, we will be returning to the top of page 2, to the top of page 2, on the Order of Senate Bills 2nd 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 90th Legislative Day 3/10/2016 Reading. The top of page 2. Senator Stadelman, on Senate Bill 436. Out of the record. Senator Cunningham, on Senate Bill 2157. Out of the record. Senator Cunningham, on Senate Bill 2158. Out of the record. Senator Cunningham, on 2174. Out of the record. Senator Althoff, on Senate Bill 2186. Out of the record. Senator Steans, on Senate Bill 2228. Senator Steans. She indicates she wish to proceed. Please read the lady's bill.
Senate Bill 2228. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 3rd Reading. Senator Harris, on Senate Bill 2279. Senator Harris. Out of the record. Senator Haine, on Senate Bill 2354. Senator Haine. Out of the record. Senator Rezin, on Senate Bill 2371. Senator Rezin, on Senate Bill 2371. The lady indicates she wish to proceed. Please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2371. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Human Services adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 90th Legislative Day 3/10/2016 3rd Reading. President Cullerton, for what purpose do you rise?
Yes, for the purposes of an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please state your announcement, sir.
We will be able to, next week, consolidate our committee schedule such that we will be able to cancel Friday, March 18th. So we'll be in Session on the 16th and the 17th.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Thank you, Mr. President. We will be canceling next Friday. Thank you. On the Order of Resolutions, Mr. Secretary, please read Senate Resolution 1647 - Senate Resolution 1647.
Senate Resolution 1647, offered by President Cullerton, Senator Harmon, and all Members.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Will the Members please be in their seats? Will staff please retire to the galleries? Will the doormen please secure the doors? President Cullerton moves to suspend the rules for the immediate consideration and adoption of Senate Resolution 1647. 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 1647. (Secretary reads SR No. 1647)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Leader Radogno, for what purpose do you rise? 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 90th Legislative Day 3/10/2016
Thank you, Madam President. To the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Sorry, Leader. I should have gone to the President first since it's his resolution. My apologies. I'll be right back with you.
Okay. No problem.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) President Cullerton, to the resolution.
Yes, thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. So I attended the funeral of Senator Rock in February and, think about this, he's a former President of the Senate and I was attending the funeral of a former President of the Senate, and when you're the current President of the Senate, you start to think about future funerals of former Presidents of the Senate. So it gets - - it gets a little emotional. And the thing that was so striking, for those -- if anybody was there, there were a lot of people there. I was thinking to myself, there's no way I'm going to draw this kind of a crowd when that inevitability happens. I mean, it was packed, and he was the President of the Senate twenty-three years ago. It was so overwhelming - it really, really was. So, I'm the only one, I believe, that served with Senator Rock. Senator Trotter and I were talking last night that perhaps he may have come a few days before Senator Rock left. But he just -- I just can't tell you what -- what a great guy he was. And for me - if I can kind of set the stage to -- to let you know how much I appreciated him - I had been serving in the House for twelve years 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 90th Legislative Day 3/10/2016 and I was the Floor Leader in the House for Speaker Madigan. And back then, in 2001, a lot of the Senators over here thought that Speaker Madigan had too much power and he was kind of dictatorial and he was kind of running the place, the General Assembly, and he didn't really cooperate with the Democratic Senators. Thank God those days are over! So when I come over here, I'm Madigan's guy and the rest of the caucus was not very accepting, even my seatmates were suspicious of me. But Senator Rock was the guy who took me under his wing. He was fantastic. He gave the greatest speeches, without -- the best order I've ever served with, with - - with never -- seemingly never any preparation. He told me he learned it when he was in the seminary. So -- and then I would highly recommend you read his book. Usually the best part of a book is not the title, but in his case, it might be the case: Nobody Calls to {sic} Just (to) Say Hello. That's -- it was a great book. There was even another -- when he served here, he did not really have a lot of extra votes, he would say. Okay? He -- he -- he said he never had thirty votes, he had thirty bodies, and -- 'cause there was just a lot of -- of different factions within the caucus. And in the book, he says, every morning he would get up and he'd -- he'd get -- grab his razor and he didn't know whether he should shave or slit his throat. That's in the book as well. So, he has a -- a great family. We, of course, saw them and visited with them at the -- at the funeral. And he was just such a -- a -- a standout guy. His picture's right up there. And I just wish more of you would have known what a -- what a super guy he was. And I -- I got to just tell you for -- after all these years, I still miss him. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 90th Legislative Day 3/10/2016 Leader Radogno, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. To the resolution. I, as the Senate President pointed out, did not have the opportunity to serve with President Rock, as most people in this Chamber did not. But I had met him on a few occasions and he was certainly always very engaging and friendly and bright, so I wish I had had that opportunity. But I certainly knew him by reputation. When I got here, which is -- he wasn't quite as far removed as he is now from his service. I also did have the opportunity to read his book, which I -- is great for everyone to read now because there's a lot of folks who are still around who are in that book, so it's kind of interesting to read it. But the thing that I did hear a lot about him is what a terrific leader he was, that he had great respect for the institution, that he was a terrific orator, as Senator Cullerton pointed out, and that he was a fierce advocate for the people that he represented. The other thing we always hear about with Senator -- President Phil Rock is that he was very much a -- a compromiser, someone that could bring people together. That's certainly a good lesson for all of us right now, an example that we can try to follow. I'm quite certain, though, as things happen, that he -- every day in the Senate back then was not a picnic, but, still, that he's remembered for bringing people together is something that we should all aspire to. And I think, again, that's a particularly timely message with the difficulties that we're facing. I can only hope that people will remember me as someone who tried to bring people together. I think that's the best legacy that someone could possibly have. So I just want to say on behalf of the Senate Republican Caucus, past and present, 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 90th Legislative Day 3/10/2016 that we deeply appreciate him for his service, for his example, and deepest condolences to his family and friends who will miss him. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Thank you. Leader Harmon.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. There are so many things I would like to say about -- about Phil Rock, a -- a remarkable man. At the funeral -- well, I -- I hope that his family, who could not be here, may be listening to us discuss this resolution. At the funeral, his son, Jay Rock, did a remarkable job of talking about all the wonderful things Phil Rock was besides a Senator, and that was wholly appropriate and just a -- a -- a -- a remarkable speech, where we laughed while we tried not to cry. But the truth is that for twenty-two years, he prowled this Floor with a presence rarely seen and his accomplishments in this Chamber were quite defining. And -- and I know that only -- only one or two of us in this room served in the Senate with him, but his shadow still casts an awful long path over this Body. When I first arrived from Oak Park, I -- I was amazed at how many people pulled me aside, grabbed me by the arm, and in quiet and reverential tone said, "I worked for Senator Rock." And it was this wonderful warm embrace, but many times, I felt like an imposter, like there would only be one Senator from Oak Park and it was not me. But that -- that support and quiet encouragement I got from so many folks who he had touched, who had worked for him or with him, was remarkable and that continues to this day. You know, much is made of the "Madigan minions", that network of people who work for the Speaker; I would say that the 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 90th Legislative Day 3/10/2016 "children of Phil" have had even a -- a more profound impact, 'cause in my experience, they have consistently chosen some of the lower profile but more meaningful roles to make sure that government continues to function in a -- in a responsible manner, and those choices were often less lucrative than others available to them. But I am so impressed with the dedication of the people who served in State government under Phil Rock and have continued to this day to help those wheels turn. After he passed, the one thing I heard most consistently was just how decent and fair he was. I saw President Emil Jones after he passed and he said, "Phil Rock was the most fair legislator with whom I ever served." And I know that Emil is quite a judge of fairness. And -- and that kind of legacy is one that I think is remarkable. You know, we talk from time to time about term limits for leaders. There are only two people to my research who have served more than ten years as the Presiding Officer of a Chamber. One is still in office. But Phil Rock served fourteen years as President, and I know that when he retired, there were many people who wished he could have served longer. I -- I've told this story many times, but it certainly fits this occasion. When I was deciding after college to go to law school, it came as a great disappointment to my mother, who did not think too much of lawyers apparently, and she tried to discourage me from doing that. But I proceeded through law school and started to practice law, and when I told her I was getting into politics, she suddenly thought that practicing law was a very noble profession and perhaps I should just keep doing that. When she realized that -- that there was no turning me back, she grabbed me and said, "Well, if you're going to be a politician, at least be one like Phil Rock." And I don't think that better 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 90th Legislative Day 3/10/2016 advice could be given to any of us here in this Chamber than to be politicians like Phil Rock. So, Godspeed, my friend, so say I, so say we all. Thank you, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) President Cullerton moves for the adoption of Senate Resolution 1647. Those in favor will please rise. The resolution is adopted. You may be seated. Thank you. An announcement: The Appropriations II Committee will reconvene immediately upon adjournment in Room 212. Appropriations II will reconvene immediately upon adjournment in Room 212. 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 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 resolutions 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. There being no further business to come before the Senate, pursuant to House Joint Resolution 134, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 12 noon on the 16th day of March, or until the call of the President. The Senate stands adjourned. 16