As I’ve commented in the past, a prayer by an invited “person of faith” always is the first order of business as we begin session. I cherish this tradition. Many of their words are very inspirational.

Often the prayer is traditional. You can always recognize when great effort has gone into finding the right words in planning the prayer. Occasionally the prayer is very different. On May 8, 2013 Pastor Stephen Swanson of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Villa Park, Illinois, the guest of a bright young legislator, Representative Deborah Conroy (D-Downers Grove), delivered the following message:

It was a warm spring day, we lowered the top on our old convertible for a drive on the hilly roads that follow the Ohio River from Cairo to Metropolis. We came down a steep decline to a narrow bridge that crossed a small river and had to stop. On the bridge was a skunk that had gotten its head stuck in a chocolate syrup can and was now running back and forth from one side of the bridge to the other.

What to do. We could turn around and drive back the way we came, accelerate and hope not to hit the skunk as we crossed the bridge or get out of the car, walk up to the skunk and remove the chocolate syrup can…at the risk of being misunderstood.

You have been elected to a holy calling, to write laws that resist evil and provide order for the common good of all people of Illinois.

Let us pray. O God, bless each of these legislators with wisdom and courage to fulfill their call, a call to write laws that “recover sight to the blind, bring liberty to the oppressed and good news to the poor”…even at the risk of being misunderstood. Amen

I’ve saved excerpts of prayers delivered that I’ve found memorable. Who delivered them? lost in the fog of time. One brief excerpt that has stayed with me is “you can deliver a better sermon with your life than with you lips”.

The following is attributed to being found in the pocket of a dead confederate soldier at Gettysburg:  “I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things, I was given infirmity, that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy. I was given poverty, that I might be wise. I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men, I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life, I was given life, that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing I asked for, but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am among all men, most richly blessed.”

I will go to my grave giving thanks for the privilege of serving as an Illinois State Representative. When my day comes to leave this hallowed chamber, as much as the people, I will miss the prayer.

How did the state pension problem get as bad as it is? That question is commented on regularly but not always factually.

Teachers and state workers regularly contact me with comments such as – I dutifully fulfilled my payment obligations throughout my career, you (the state) have not and that is the problem. Unquestionably that person has in fact paid their fair share. That person deserves the retirement they were promised.

In my eleven years in Springfield the state borrowed money on two occasions to make the payment (each time about $5 billion) and once the payment was not made at all. Proudly I always voted no on those issues.

In fairness three other issues come into play: 1. A downturn in the market severely crippled investments. 2. Perks were given to state workers and teachers approaching retirement to incentivize that retirement. This was in exchange for the unions representing the teachers and state workers to not object to the state not making that pension payment and to allow the borrowing. Many teachers and state workers say their unions didn’t do that. I was here folks, they did. Those bills never would have passed without the unions going neutral. 3. Illinois has been a very welcoming state giving away far more than perhaps we should have. (This explanation came from Speaker Madigan as he presented House Amendment 1 to the Senate Bill 1, the recently passed pension bill.) I didn’t fully get my arms around that one either.

I voted against the pension bill. My biggest motivation for doing so was the Judges Retirement System was not included. The reasons for that, according to the Speaker, were the judges will be determining the constitutionality of the bill and it would be a conflict to have them participate. In no way can I accept that. It’s a far over used phrase but “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander”. The bill has numerous other issues but space will not allow me to address them all.

That bill passed the House with the slimmest of margins. In my opinion it will not be called in the Senate because of its many problems. Senate President Cullerton is presenting a new bill (yet to be seen at this writing) which will apparently get the unions on board and will stand a constitutional challenge. We shall see. These are fascinating times in Illinois Government.

“Fracking.” What is it and what is its importance to Illinois? Experts have known for years that natural gas and oil deposits exist in deep shale formations, but until recently the natural gas and oil in these formations were believed to be “non recoverable.” Fracking is the process of releasing the oil and gas from these formations and recovering them on the surface.

In Illinois, especially the southern part, the opportunity to recover significant oil and natural gas is amazing.

Simply put “fracking” injects fluid into underground rock fissures at high pressure in order to release the natural gas and oil. Whenever you talk injecting fluids deep underground under significant pressure, bells and whistles alert many well intentioned persons and organizations to demand a slowdown to insure that every “t” is crossed and every “i” is dotted to insure complete safety. It shouldn’t be any other way.

The good news is fracking has been used by the oil and gas industries since the 1940’s and has become an element of natural gas and oil development worldwide. In the more recent past, learning to use horizontal drilling in combination with vertical wells has given the industry the opportunity to recover far more than was ever thought possible. Obviously it’s a huge boon for Illinois. HB 2615 establishes the perimeter for fracking in Illinois. The concerns, creating the need for a bill, center over the potential exposure of natural water sources to contamination. Opponents of fracking contend that fracking fluids can cause ground water contamination. The bill creates the Illinois Hydraulics Fracturing regulator act.

Most people have no concept of how much fracking is already going on throughout the United States. State regulations are typically two to four pages. Illinois’ regulations are one hundred four pages and if it puts your mind at ease, the Illinois EPA is on board as is the Sierra Club, arguably the strongest environmental group.

The injected fluid is 90% water and 9.5% sand. The balancing .5% is sodium chloride – used in table salt; Ethylene glycol – used in household cleaners; borate salts – used in cosmetics; sodium/potassium carbonate – used in ice cream; and isopropanol – used in deodorant.

Many of us have wanted this bill to move due to the thousands of jobs at stake. The Speaker has had no such motivation. Rich Miller, publisher and author of Capitol Fax, sees it this way, “One other reason for Madigan’s delaying of the fracking bill may have been to get Republicans in line on the budget and pension reform this month. There’s no sense in rewarding their districts with lots of new jobs if they won’t participate in the rest of the process, goes the reasoning. So fracking and a whole lot of other issues have been put on the back burner for now.”

Ah, the power of one man in a democracy.

The inquiries never stop, “where does concealed carry stand now?” Everyone in Illinois is aware that the 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that by June 9, 2013 we must have passed a concealed carry bill.

We all take it very seriously except Anita Alvarez, the State’s Attorney for Cook County (Chicago). In committee, her lobbyist stated that it is “advisory only”. He then stated that after that date they will continue to charge the unlawful use of weapons statute (UUW) in the same manner if the bill hasn’t passed.

Setting aside what I believe would be a flagrant disobedience of a higher court – concealed carry will pass before we adjourn on May 31, 2013.

Some very interesting dynamics have occurred in the recent past. HB997, Amendment 9 was called in the House for a vote. This is the NRA sanctioned bill and it fell short of the super majority required so that it can circumvent home rule communities. It is on delayed consideration with more “tweaking” to be done.

A Senate Bill being drafted by our Senator Tim Bivins, the retired Sheriff of Lee County, and Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) is ready to go in their chamber dealing with concealed carry. The senator’s bill is similar to HB997 but exempts Cook County. That means that Cook County can continue to have its “over the top” restrictions but the rest of Illinois will be allowed to carry. If you are traveling through Cook County, say en route to Indiana, you will be legal. If you go shopping there carrying a weapon, you will be subject to arrest.

The NRA is adamantly opposed to this legislation arguing it’s all or nothing. Here’s the interesting twist – I’ve shared this many times in my articles and in personal conversations with you – over the years many of you have said to me, why don’t we make Chicago its own state. Why must they continue to affect the rest of us? I used an analogy on the House Floor saying basically the same thing. Chicago has a problem therefore all of Illinois must be in lock step with Chicago. The rest of Illinois has had its fill and concealed carry has brought the age old struggle to the surface.

Since my comments on the House Floor in early March, I have received hundreds of emails thanking me. Many from Chicago citizens who want concealed carry as much as the rest of us. This one will go right to the wire and one must ask, “Will Chicago win again or will Illinois prevail”.

As the hundreds of bills roll through the system, I often marvel at the far reaching effects many have directly on you, the citizens of this great state. After eleven years I have a pretty good handle on the types and complexities of bills representatives sponsor. I’m thankful for my computer, great staff and lobbyists, as each entity helps in a specific and unique way.

My friend and predecessor Ron Lawfer once told me, in fact, he gave me a plaque that is stowed somewhere reading, “No citizen is safe when the Illinois General Assembly is in Session”. It’s humorous but you the citizen must rely on your elected representative and senator to be there on your behalf.

A bill HB2649, sponsored by my good friend, Luis Arroyo (D-Chicago), which I was not familiar with popped up on the voting board yesterday on third reading.

The first thing I do when a bill appears on the board is to scroll down on my computer to see who supports it and who is opposed. In a fast moving bill that can speak volumes. If business groups or agriculture oppose the bill, that sets off numerous bells and whistles for me.

I rapidly read the analysis of the bill which, again thanks to a great staff, can speak directly to the issue. HB2649 paragraph three reads, “Allows for individual liability, in addition to employer liability for any officer of a corporation or agent of an employer who knowingly permits the employer to violate the provisions of this act. The individual will be held liable for all violations and penalties.” Now paragraph four is a one sentence paragraph that states, “An initiative of the Department of Labor.” Paragraph five reads, “Illinois Chamber of Commerce, National Federation of Independent Business, Associated Builders and Contractors, and the Home Builders Association are opposed. Labor Supports.”

I immediately hit my speak light and I and many others debated the bill for nearly an hour. Unfortunately it did pass, but just barely. Now it’s up to the Senate.

Here is why the bill is so invasive and why one party rule in any system of government is so scary. This bill “pierces the veil of corporation protection.”  A corporation is created to protect the individual. As the owner of a corporation, that is exactly why one is created. Perish the thought of any lawsuit ever. However, this bill leaves the individuals completely liable. Welcome to business friendly Illinois.