STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 275th Legislative Day 5/29/2008 Speaker Lyons, J.: "Good morning, Illinois. The Illinois House of Representatives will come to order. Members are asked to be please be at their desks. And today, we're asking staff to please retire to the rear of the floor. We'll be led in prayer by Assistant Doorkeeper Wayne Padget. Members and guests are asked to refrain from starting their laptops or cell phones, and please rise for the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. Wayne Padget." Padget: "Let us pray. Dear Lord, we come before You today in sound body and mind, praying that on this day You grant us wisdom and guidance. During these times of negotiations, we pray that everyone can come together on one common ground and resolve the issues for the people of Illinois. We pray for the men and women in our Armed Services, both here and abroad. Provide them with Your protection and give them the strength to make it through these tough times. And let us also pray for the men, women and their families who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our country. These things we ask in Your Son's name, Amen." Speaker Lyons, J.: "Be led in the Pledge of Allegiance today by Representative Ron Stephens." Stephens - et al: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Speaker Lyons, J.: "Roll Call for Attendance. Representative Lang, Democrats." Lang: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Representative Will Davis and Representative Harry Osterman are excused today." 09500275.doc 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 275th Legislative Day 5/29/2008 Speaker Lyons, J.: "Representative Bost on Republicans." Bost: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let the record reflect that our own Marine Jimmy Watson is the only one excused on the Republican side of the aisle." Speaker Lyons, J.: "Thank you, Representative. Mr. Clerk, take the roll. 114 Members are answering the Roll Call, we have a quorum. Representative Lang." Lang: "Never mind, Mr. Speaker." Speaker Lyons, J.: "Ladies and Gentlemen, it's my privilege and my honor to once again be in the Chair to preside over the memorial service for those men and women who have paid the ultimate price and passed away in defense of our country. And we will ask Members to please take their seats. We'll start with the ceremony and we'll be honored today with the Chair… chamber Major General William Enyart, Adjutant General of the National Guard, State of Illinois and Illinois Army National Guard." Harrison (Color Guard): "Soldiers post. Colors forward" Speaker Lyons, J.: "Mr. Clerk, read the Resolution." Clerk Bolin: "House Resolution 1325. WHEREAS, In accordance with House Resolution 510, offered by Representative Ron Stephens during the 94th General Assembly, it has been fitting that each year in observance of Memorial Day that the Illinois House of Representatives has continued the established memorial tradition of honoring our fallen brethren by reading an annual list of all of the names of those American soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines from the State of Illinois that have 09500275.doc 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 275th Legislative Day 5/29/2008 given the ultimate sacrifice in the preceding year since the previous tribute; therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that on May 29th 2008, the Illinois House of Representatives shall read the names of all of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines from each of the branches of the Unites States and Illinois military reserve and guard units, who have been killed in the line of duty during the year since the last tribute; and be it further RESOLVED, That the list of fallen heroes is to be obtained by the Clerk of the House of Representatives no later than May 23rd, 2008, and that the clerk may enlist the help of the United States Department of Defense or the Illinois Department of Military Affairs so that the most accurate account of fallen soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines may be honored by the Illinois House of Representatives as well as the State of Illinois; and be it further RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House shall, as has become tradition, preface the tributary reading of names of those fallen heroes with the reciting of a quote from President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address: "The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full 09500275.doc 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 275th Legislative Day 5/29/2008 measure of devotion, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution and a copy of the ceremonial honor roll and program of the May 29, 2008 reading of names be presented to the families of those fallen heroes; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be presented to each of the state legislatures throughout the United States and its territories to encourage their annual participation in this tribute to those Americans who have made the ultimate sacrifice to guarantee our freedom." Speaker Lyons, J.: "The Chair recognizes Representative Ron Stephens on the Resolution." Stephens: "Well, Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a wonderful tradition that we have. And I would first ask that all Members be added as cosponsors. I would remind the Body that we have begun this tradition to honor our fallen soldiers and we're asking every other State Legislature to assume this same responsibility. The idea is that we have a perpetual list. And I don't know about you, but sometimes it's hard to get my mind around all this, there are so many. But maybe like me, if you can just grasp one soldier or marine or sailor or airman's name, and remember that soldier, then you have done all who have fallen a great service. Because everyone who has ever worn our uniform has only asked one thing in return, please don't 09500275.doc 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 275th Legislative Day 5/29/2008 forget me. So I salute each of my fellow Legislators here and all who have served and are serving today, because we will strive to remember. And with that, Mr. Speaker, and asking that all Members be added, I would ask the Clerk to begin the roll." Speaker Lyons, J.: "Mr. Clerk, all Members will be added to the Resolution. The Gentleman moves for the adoption of House Resolution 1325. All those in favor signify by saying 'aye'; those opposed say 'nay'. In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the Resolution is adopted." Harrison (Color Guard): "Memorial forward." Speaker Lyons, J.: "We'll now begin with the Roll Call honors. Members, you have the names and the list in front of you. We’ll be reading their names. Representative Rich Brauer." Brauer: "Specialist Francis M. Trussel, Jr., United States Army, Lincoln. Killed in action May 26, 2007." Speaker Lyons, J.: "Representative Wyvetter Younge." Younge: "Sergeant Nicholas R. Walsh, United States Marine Corps, Millstadt. Killed in action May 26, 2007." Speaker Lyons, J.: "Representative Naomi Jakobsson." Jakobsson: "Private First Class Robert A. Liggett, United States Army, Urbana. Killed in action May 29, 2007." Speaker Lyons, J.: "Specialist Jeremiah D. Costello, United States Army, Carlinville. Killed in action June 2, 2007. Representative Renée Kosel." Kosel: "Specialist Jacob M. Lowell, United States Army, New Lenox. Killed in action June 2, 2007." Speaker Lyons, J.: "Representative Dennis Reboletti." 09500275.doc 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 275th Legislative Day 5/29/2008 Reboletti: "Private Timothy W. Crislip, United States Army, Elmhurst. Died June 15, 2007." Speaker Lyons, J.: "Representative Pat Verschoore." Verschoore: "Private First Class Michael P. Pittman, United States Army, Rock Island. Killed in action June 15, 2007." Speaker Lyons, J.: "Representative Rich Myers." Myers: "Captain Joshua E. Steele, United States Army, North Henderson. Killed in action June 17, 2007." Speaker Lyons, J.: "Representative Roger Eddy." Eddy: "Private First Class Jacob T. Tracy, United States Army, Palestine. Killed in action June 18, 2007." Speaker Lyons, J.: "Representative Bob Flider." Flider: "Specialist Karen N. Clifton, United States Army, Mt. Zion. Killed in action June 21, 2007." Speaker Lyons, J.: "Sergeant Eric A. Lill, United States Army, Chicago. Killed in action July 6, 2007. Representative Raymond Poe." Poe: "Sergeant William R. Howdeshell, United States Army, Springfield. Killed in action July 26, 2007." Speaker Lyons, J.: "Representative Jim Sacia." Sacia: "Sergeant Andrew 'Andy' Lancaster, United States Army, Stockton, Illinois. Killed in action August 11, 2007." Speaker Lyons, J.: "Representative Chapin Rose." Rose: "Specialist Justin Penrod, United States Army, Mahomet.