SR0747 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0747 LRB093 24087 CSA 54277 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Senate is grateful to those members who have devoted their energy and talent to the betterment of this body and the well being of the people of the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Lawrence M. Walsh of Elwood has been a member of the Illinois Senate since 1997 and has served this body with distinction; and

WHEREAS, Senator Walsh has served as Chairperson of the Agriculture & Conservation Committee and has been a member of the Committees on Local Government, Labor & Commerce, State Government Operations, and Financial Institutions; and

WHEREAS, Senator Walsh's many legislative accomplishments include sponsorship or co-sponsorship of legislation requiring warning labels on retail gas pumps when fuels contain 2% or more of MTBE, suspending the 5% sales tax on gasoline for six months, increasing penalties for sexual predators who solicit children over the Internet, creating a "one call" process to promote easier and safer digging during excavation or demolition, giving property tax relief to homeowners, furthering Alzheimer's research, increasing funding for education, and comprehensively rewriting the Illinois Grain Code; and

WHEREAS, He passed landmark legislation making popcorn the State Snack of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, His soft-spoken demeanor has made him a required study for freshmen Senators honing their oratorical skills; and

WHEREAS, He has served on numerous Blue Ribbon Commissions throughout the State; and

WHEREAS, His early endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for U.S. Senate helped catapult him to national prominence; and

WHEREAS, Senator Walsh has received many awards for his public service; he has served as Jackson Township Supervisor, as a Will County Board member, and as Will County Democratic Chairman; and

WHEREAS, He is known for being a staff-friendly Senator who opens up his home to all and never forgets a name; and

WHEREAS, Senator Walsh will be remembered fondly by those who served with him in the Illinois Senate; he was elected Will County Executive in November and he will ably serve the public in his new position; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Senator Lawrence M. Walsh upon his retirement from the Senate and his assumption of his new duties as Will County Executive, and we offer our best wishes to him and his wife, Irene, their children, Larry, Jr., Frank, Matthew, Sarah, Shawn and Brian; and their ten grandchildren; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Senator Larry Walsh as an expression of our esteem and respect for our colleague and friend.