HR0627LRB100 14849 MST 29707 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, President Barack Obama concluded his second and 
3final term as President of the
United States of America on 
4January 20, 2017, and has announced plans  to build a

5presidential library and museum in Chicago; and
  
 
  
6    WHEREAS, A recent legislative initiative proposes to 
7allocate $100 million from Illinois capital
spending funds for 
8the construction of President Obama's Presidential Library and 
9Museum; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, This proposal comes at a time when the State's 
11budget condition continues to
worsen and economic growth 
12continues to lag
behind national recovery trends; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has a $15 billion backlog of 
14unpaid bills; over the last five years, the State has been

15unable to adequately fund budget priorities, such as education, 
16human services, and public
safety programs and services; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, The last two Presidents of the United States have 
18used private donations to build
their libraries; and
 
19    WHEREAS, No presidential libraries overseen by the 
20National Archives and Records
Administration have received 
 
 
HR0627- 2 -LRB100 14849 MST 29707 r

1direct funding from either the federal government or their

2respective states; therefore, be it
  
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
4HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
5state the belief that, despite our utmost respect for the 
6office of the President of the United States of America and the 
7historical and academic importance of presidential libraries, 
8the State of Illinois cannot afford to spend $100 million from 
9taxpayer funds on this project; and be it further
  
 
10    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
11delivered to the Governor of the State of
Illinois, the 
12President and Minority Leader of the Illinois Senate, and the 
13Speaker and Minority Leader of the Illinois House of 
14Representatives.