Obama Illinois Presidential Library

http://www.suntimes.com/news/sweet/26980757-452/controversy-erupts-over-100-mil-for-obama-library.html#.U3itw8q2Wis

WASHINGTON — A move by Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to muscle through a measure to appropriate $100 million from the cash-strapped state to help finance the construction of President Barack Obama’s presidential library and museum in Chicago is erupting into a controversy.

The backlash is strong enough that a committee vote Madigan engineered last Thursday in Chicago to advance the $100 million plan to the House floor now will be retaken in Springfield on April 30.

Last Thursday in Chicago, Madigan orchestrated a hearing before the state House Executive Committee, made up of four Republicans and six Democrats. None of the Republicans showed up — this will teach them — while three Democrats on the panel were there, state Reps. Robert Rita, Edward Acevedo and Luis Arroyo.

(Arroyo’s contribution was to throw a hissy-fit at the hearing that Obama, a former state senator, was not returning to the Illinois General Assembly to deal with this bit of legislation. )

The short hearing featured only players who spoke out in support of landing the library in Chicago, including Mayor Rahm Emanuel and representatives of the rivals preparing bids, the University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago and Chicago State University.

To make a long story short, Madigan invoked a parliamentary technique to use a roll call from the previous day to push the measure through the committee.

In his defense, state Rep. Ed Sullivan, R-Mundelein, the top Republican on the panel, told me there was not supposed to be a vote at the Thursday hearing; Madigan bringing in “big players” to testify last Thursday was a surprise, and Madigan calling a vote “broke several rules.”

That no Republicans showed up — if nothing else, just to complain — well, the House is on spring break.

Madigan can get anything he wants passed....he does not need tricks.....pay attention, or do not comment about things you know absolutely nothing about.

To make a long story short, Madigan invoked a parliamentary technique to use a roll call from the previous day to push the measure through the committee.

In his defense, state Rep. Ed Sullivan, R-Mundelein, the top Republican on the panel, told me there was not supposed to be a vote at the Thursday hearing; Madigan bringing in “big players” to testify last Thursday was a surprise, and Madigan calling a vote “broke several rules.”


explain how this is legal?

The ends justify any means. This guy just cemented his status among the elite enlightened. A man above minion.

It should be in Kenya, not Illinois.

This is simply more propaganda for the ignorant. It consistently works. Madigan only has to worry about pleasing Democrats as he enjoys a majority in both the house, and senate. He can pass the library, next week, yesterday, or next year and there are insufficient votes to stop the same. Of course this becomes a story as if Madigan has to use some tricks to pass legislation in Illinois..........geez.....you cannot handicap stupidity.....It would be like the Chicago Bears playing Navarre High School, and an article comes out that the defensive end was off sides. An article is written about the same as if that is the focus where the person actually believed but for that penalty, there would be a football game......ignorance can be cured.....stupidity is a permanent condition, and the propagandist count on stupid. Please begin reading and understanding the world around you independent of the manipulation.

Don't be jealous... you contribute to the cause too comrade. Albeit in a much smaller and minionesque way.

The good news is that your not a useless idiot... so you have that going for you. Congratulations.

Don't be jealous... you contribute to the cause too comrade. Albeit in a much smaller and minionesque way.

The good news is that your not a useless idiot... so you have that going for you. Congratulations.


I understand math. I understand the present number of votes in the house and senate. I can add. I also understand percentages. Like a big thread about the Yen. Like the percentage change is significant. It is not. However two years ago it was. The entire thread is irrelevant, but then again ignorance abounds, and sometimes it is not even fun anymore pointing out the same.....it is simply sad, because people honestly do not know the difference.