SPRINGFIELD – Members of the Illinois Senate on Thursday paid their respects to the esteemed former Senate President Phil Rock, who died Jan. 29 at the age of 78.

The Senate approved a memorial resolution to celebrate Rock’s wisdom and leadership in the Legislature, as well as the lasting impression he left on politics in his district and throughout Illinois.

Rock was an Illinois state senator representing Illinois' 8th District, including Oak Park and parts of Chicago's west side, for 22 years from 1970 until his retirement in 1993. He was president of the Senate for 14 years from 1979 to 1993.

Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) now represents Rock’s former district in the Illinois Senate and sponsored the memorial resolution.

Harmon said that even though most members of the Senate today never had the opportunity to serve with Rock, the former Senate president to this day is remembered for his fairness, his decency and for his fierce advocacy on behalf of his constituents.

“The truth is that for 22 years he prowled this floor with a presence rarely seen, and his accomplishments in this chamber were quite defining,” Harmon said. “Phil Rock served 14 years as Senate president, and I know that when he retired there were many people who wished he would have served longer.”

Senate President John Cullerton is the only current member of the Senate who served with Rock.

“I just wish more of you would have known what a super guy he was,” Cullerton said. “After all these years, I still miss him.”

Rock authored more than 450 laws during his time in the Senate and championed many causes to improve the lives of children, including reforms in special education, child adoption, foster care, domestic violence and child support. He also advanced laws to establish Illinois’ first child abuse and neglect reporting act and mandatory insurance coverage for newborns.

One of his most cherished and signature accomplishments was helping to create the nation’s first public school for individuals who are deaf and blind. That school in Glen Ellyn was renamed the Philip J. Rock Center and School in 1987 in the former senate president’s honor.

Rock is survived by his wife, Sheila; his children, Kathleen Snow, Meghan Simmons, Colleen Mueller and John J. “Jay” Rock; and 12 grandchildren.

Averting the possibility of a strike or lockout of thousands of unionized state employees is in the best interest of Illinois and the economy of the communities where they live, work and pay taxes, Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) said Thursday.

Harmon is the Senate sponsor of House Bill 580, which would allow the use of binding interest arbitration when the State of Illinois and employees can’t come to terms on union contract negotiations.

The Senate passed the legislation by a vote of 38-17 on Thursday. It previously passed in the House and now will go to Gov. Bruce Rauner for consideration.

“I am concerned about the inability of the state and AFSCME to come to terms on a contract and what that could mean for state operations, particularly in light of Gov. Rauner’s past comments that he is willing to shut down the government to make a point with unions,” Harmon said.

“A strike or lockout of thousands of workers throughout Illinois is not good for businesses – from daycare centers and grocery stores to banks and utility companies – nor is it responsible to the taxpayers who expect the state services they pay for.”

The state and employees represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, have been without a contract since it expired June 30, 2015. In addition to AFSCME, the governor’s office has not reached a deal with 80 other state employee unions whose contracts are under negotiation.

Interest arbitration would be an optional tool that could bring moderation to labor talks and offer both sides an incentive to stay at the table, rather than go to a strike or a lockout.

“This legislation does not force any particular outcome to negotiations, nor will it cost the state a dime more to have arbitration available as a tool,” Harmon said. “But, clearly, in these difficult times for state government, it is critical that both sides stay at the table and reach a deal. HB580 would help to ensure that.”

Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) joined members of the Illinois Senate today in voting to override the governor’s veto of legislation that would provide college tuition assistance through the Illinois Monetary Award Program.

“Today, members of the Senate struck a blow for college students all over the state. These students and their families find themselves caught in the middle of a budget stalemate that is causing Illinois’ higher education network to unravel,” Harmon said.

“Our message today is clear: these students have not been forgotten, and they deserve a chance to continue pursuing their education with the state’s help as promised. Overriding the governor’s veto of MAP grant funding was the right thing to do for the state of Illinois, for its people and for its economy.”

More than 130,000 middle- and low-income college students in Illinois benefit from MAP grants, which help to cover the cost of tuition at community colleges and universities statewide.

In Harmon’s district alone, 2,362 students were awarded more than $6.7 million in MAP grants during the 2015 fiscal year.

The Senate voted 37 to 17 to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of Senate Bill 2043, which not only provides money for MAP grants for the 2015-16 academic year, but also includes money for community colleges and career-technical and adult education.

SB2043 passed both chambers in January, and the governor vetoed it in February.

The motion to override now heads to the Illinois House for consideration.

Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) on Friday reacted to news of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of funding for Illinois’ Monetary Award Program, which provides tuition assistance for college low- and middle-income students:

“Today, Gov. Rauner turned his back on thousands of Illinois college students who were counting on him to fulfill the promise he made to them to provide tuition assistance. The governor’s disregard for higher education apparently knows no limits,” Harmon said.

The legislation is Senate Bill 2043.

Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) issued the following statement today in reaction to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s budget address to the General Assembly:

“Last year Gov. Rauner presented the General Assembly with a budget proposal that was $6 billion out of balance. To this day, he has not charted a course for getting us in balance.

“Today, during this year’s budget address, the governor did not present a budget at all. Instead, he laid out stark and unrealistic choices – threats, really – for the General Assembly and for Illinois. His ultimatum is for lawmakers to either enact elements of his extreme agenda or abdicate our legislative responsibility and give him unilateral authority to cut programs and services as he sees fit.

“I find it interesting that Gov. Rauner is asking for a power that the Illinois Constitution already offers every governor – the power to line-item veto budget bills, which he failed to exercise last year.

“The governor is asking for a power already granted to him under the Illinois Constitution – the power to line-item veto – which he failed to use last year, instead issuing total vetoes that halted progress. Today was further evidence of his all-or-nothing demands, rather than a willingness to use tools designed to promote compromise and seek real solutions.

“Gov. Rauner spoke of priorities and coming together to fix the state’s long-term challenges. I believe Democrats in the General Assembly share the governor’s desire to unleash the full economic potential of Illinois. We disagree vigorously on the steps that effort requires.

“For example, rather than drive down wages and benefits for the middle class – which some of Gov. Rauner’s preferred policies would do – I would welcome the governor’s support for implementing a fair tax for all Illinoisans and doing away with the state’s constitutional provision for a flat, regressive tax.

“There are opportunities to collaborate on solutions to Illinois’ problems. If Gov. Rauner is willing to compromise – truly compromise, not just rebrand his extreme anti-middle class initiatives – then we can work together.”