Posted on 04/22/2014 9:25:59 AM PDT by OMON
A state that is nearly broke has no business spending $100 million on a potential Barack Obama presidential library.
But this is Illinois, where logic often takes a vacation. Throw in some parliamentary procedure shenanigans and the Obama presidential library is quickly becoming the typical Illinois government story – spend money that isn't there and do it in a sneaky way.
The House executive committee last week approved borrowing $100 million to help finance a library for President Obama. Obama hasn't made a decision where his library will be located – Hawaii and New York are also in the running. Also, recent presidential libraries – Clinton and both Bushes – built their libraries entirely with privately raised funds.
But House Speaker Michael Madigan and Chicago mayor Rahm Emmanuel think that Illinois taxpayers need to kick in some extra to make sure the library is located in Chicago. They figure $100 million is a good start, but said that the taxpayers may need to contribute more at a later date. Madigan added that the $100 million is a small amount when compared to the $1 billion the state will pay in construction this year and he noted that the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum cost the state about $100 million. So there's a precedent.
Perhaps sensing the logic of their arguments was weak, Madigan engaged in a bit of parliamentary mischief. The executive committee was supposed to meet for discussion only and since no votes were planned, Republicans didn't attend the meeting. Madigan then declared a vote could be taken since the last committee hadn't been adjourned, but recessed. So the quorum from a previous meeting was used to push this onto the House floor.
Republicans are upset about the way this was pushed through committee, although it would be solid advice to attend future committee meetings. Madigan's spokesman said the committee vote may have to be taken again, although Democrats certainly hold the power to push this issue through the General Assembly.
But that shouldn't happen. Hopefully, Democrats in the House and Senate will make clear that the state simply doesn't have the funds to spend $100 million for a potential presidential library. It's incomprehensible a state that is behind on its bills, still has a potential pension problem depending on court decisions and is forecasting doom and gloom if the temporary income tax rates aren't made permanent, would commit $100 million to this cause. Well, it's incomprehensible unless you're talking about Illinois.
The state should make clear that it would be proud to host the Obama Library, but that the funds to build and maintain it will have to come from private funds.
Let them pay for Obama’s Mosque
Maybe I read the original article wrong the other day, I thought it was US tax money they voted to throw away not state money?
All they really need for it is a simple stone wall.
And that should not cost anyone anything. Obama would be a perfect addition to that library.
Why in the hell would you put a presidential museum in a place that only represents maybe. 10 years of the guy’s life?
Wouldn’t Hawaii be more appropriate or the village in Kenya where was birth.
This Jackal’s life is a weird menagerie of fabled existence.
BS he’s going to put the library in Hawaii!
I bet there won’t be any documents written in cursive.
I think it will be right next door to Bathhouse Barry's old stomping ground - Man's Country.
The subject was the controversial pipeline and why The Kenyan is dragging out making a decision.
According to Tucker, there are several extremely wealth buddies of The Won who don't want the thing built and from whom he is expecting large contributions to his library.
I can’t wait to visit the Choom Gang Museum to be located next door....
I’ve predicted for years that due to Obama’s massive ego and adulation from wealthy supporters, this will be the first POTUS library with three branches: Hawaii, LA, and Chicago.
Heck they don’t need to build an actual library for the teleprompter reader Resident. Build him a virtual online library, how much more modern could real life get?
That’s cuz yer smawt !
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