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Bureaucrats hide true price of Obama Presidential Center as taxpayers hit with infrastructure bill
Fox News ^ | 2/21/26 | Michael Dorgan

Posted on 02/21/2026 4:36:02 AM PST by Libloather

FIRST ON FOX: Former President Barack Obama once declared that his presidential center would be a "gift" to Chicago, but taxpayers are on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars in hidden costs related to the beleaguered project.

A Fox News Digital investigation shows taxpayers are now stuck footing the bill for surging public infrastructure costs required to support the project — and no government agency can provide an accounting of the total public cost, despite months of queries and FOIA requests.

"Illinois Republicans saw this coming a mile away. Now, right on cue, Illinois Democrats are leaving taxpayers high and dry and putting them on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars to support the ugliest building in Chicago," Illinois GOP Chair Kathy Salvi told Fox News Digital. "Illinois’ culture of corruption is humming along with pay-to-play deals to their allies and friends while lying to Illinois voters."

When the project was approved in 2018, Obama pledged to privately fund construction of the expansive 19.3-acre campus in historic Jackson Park through donations to the Obama Foundation – a commitment that remains in place as the center’s construction continues to be privately financed.

But the extensive infrastructure required to make the campus operationally viable — including redesigned roads, stormwater systems, and relocated utilities — is publicly financed, and without those changes, the center could not function.

At the time, projections placed public infrastructure costs at roughly $350 million, split between the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; History; Local News
KEYWORDS: bill; chicago; demagogicparty; grifter; hussein; illinois; infrastructure; infrastructurecosts; jacksonpark; michaeldorgan; obamafoundation; paytoplay; taxpayers; youdidntbuildthat

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I believe there's still a racial discrimination lawsuit on the improperly spaced rebar. Cutting corners could lead to a disaster.
1 posted on 02/21/2026 4:36:02 AM PST by Libloather
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To: Libloather

Collect all the broken down late model cars that you see in yards all through democratland and create a homeless city for his constituency, now that would befit his legacy and would not require waste that which has already been wasted.


2 posted on 02/21/2026 4:44:16 AM PST by Recompennation ( Deeeeeeeeezout)
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To: Libloather

Yeah, but Trump is building a much needed ballroom at no expense to the public — that’s the real outrage! [/s]


3 posted on 02/21/2026 4:46:28 AM PST by ClearCase_guy (Law and Order -- only one of our political parties believes in it.)
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To: Libloather

This place is just like it’s namesake - a sham and a fraud.


4 posted on 02/21/2026 4:58:55 AM PST by grobdriver (The CDC can KMA!)
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To: Libloather

A good commie never spends their own money.


5 posted on 02/21/2026 5:01:29 AM PST by Organic Panic ('Was I molested. I think so' - Ashley Biden in response to her father joining her in the shower)
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To: Libloather

“When the project was approved in 2018, Obama pledged to privately fund construction of the expansive 19.3-acre campus in historic Jackson Park through donations to the Obama Foundation – a commitment that remains in place as the center’s construction continues to be privately financed.” I sure would like to visit so I can take a giant dump in front of the magic one’s portrait.


6 posted on 02/21/2026 5:32:16 AM PST by kawhill (Dywedwch Wrthym + Add translation Welsh-English dictionary 'Tell Us')
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To: Libloather

Makes perfect sense for the obama Liebary.


7 posted on 02/21/2026 6:17:58 AM PST by subterfuge (I'm a pure-blood!)
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To: Libloather

Chicago bent over and received the Obama Presidential Center ,LOL


8 posted on 02/21/2026 6:19:08 AM PST by butlerweave (Fateh)
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To: Organic Panic
Fugly is as Fugly does

Looks like a Nazi Flack Tower


9 posted on 02/21/2026 6:23:30 AM PST by spokeshave ( Angry Dads. Grumpy Grandads, Curmudgeons & old Geezers)
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To: spokeshave
Or the Borg cube


10 posted on 02/21/2026 6:27:28 AM PST by spokeshave ( Angry Dads. Grumpy Grandads, Curmudgeons & old Geezers)
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To: kawhill

https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/the-barack-obama-foundation

There were 6 awards in 2024. Who received these awards, and where are they located?


11 posted on 02/21/2026 6:29:03 AM PST by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued, but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere)
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To: Libloather

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/obama-center-deposits-just-1m-into-470m-reserve-fund-aimed-to-protect-taxpayers-fueling-new-criticism?msockid=2bd326cf25af62120026321724db63af

Obama Presidential Center deposits just $1M into $470M reserve fund aimed to protect taxpayers


12 posted on 02/21/2026 6:30:09 AM PST by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued, but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere)
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To: Libloather

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/obama-center-deposits-just-1m-into-470m-reserve-fund-aimed-to-protect-taxpayers-fueling-new-criticism?msockid=2bd326cf25af62120026321724db63af

Obama Presidential Center deposits just $1M into $470M reserve fund aimed to protect taxpayers


13 posted on 02/21/2026 6:31:53 AM PST by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued, but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere)
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To: spokeshave
Nazi Flack Tower


14 posted on 02/21/2026 6:35:34 AM PST by spokeshave ( Angry Dads. Grumpy Grandads, Curmudgeons & old Geezers)
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To: PeterPrinciple

While the foundation’s agreement with the city required it to create an endowment, it did not specify an amount. The $470 million figure was being reported on as the city council deliberated on the deal, and the foundation committed to that sum in its 2020 annual report.


lots of info in the above


15 posted on 02/21/2026 6:35:36 AM PST by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued, but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere)
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To: kawhill

I use to live on Oahu. That purple lipped homo was the only person on the island that got approval to remodel “The Robin’s Nest” I rented a place in Lani Kai and anyone who wanted to do construction would be forced to pay to have the break wall moved out. Even something like installing out door lights drew the ire of Oahu. And these were very wealthy celebrities who couldn’t even get approval. But, the purple lipped thin man shows up and the state moved mountains for him. Heck, that stupid federal building is still under construction nearly 15 years after his disastrous “rebuilding America act.”


16 posted on 02/21/2026 6:36:22 AM PST by Organic Panic ('Was I molested. I think so' - Ashley Biden in response to her father joining her in the shower)
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To: spokeshave

I’d rather visit an actual Nazi flak tower than a monument worshiping Bath House Barry.


17 posted on 02/21/2026 6:41:20 AM PST by Fresh Wind (I voted for Trump the Fighter, not a wussified wimp!)
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To: Libloather

“Bureaucrats hide true price of Obama Presidential Center as taxpayers hit with infrastructure bill”

Bureaucrats hide true price of Obama’S TEMPLE as taxpayers hit with infrastructure bill

There, fixed it


18 posted on 02/21/2026 6:44:31 AM PST by antidemoncrat
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To: spokeshave
Separated at birth:

19 posted on 02/21/2026 6:45:11 AM PST by rlmorel (Factio Communistica Sinensis Delenda Est)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; BraveMan; cardinal4; ...
...the center's construction continues to be privately financed. But the extensive infrastructure required to make the campus operationally viable -- including redesigned roads, stormwater systems, and relocated utilities -- is publicly financed... split between the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago.
Obama didn't build that.

20 posted on 02/21/2026 6:46:44 AM PST by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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