Should The State Pay For a Blagojevich Portrait?

By Karl Klockars in News on Mar 26, 2010 8:20PM

Throughout the state's history, if you've been a governor, you get to have your portrait hung on the walls of the capital. But should we drop thousands of dollars to have it painted if that governor turned out to be a bust? Representative Bill Black of Danville doesn't believe so, and he's got 84 other compatriates in the Illinois House who agree with him. WBBM reports that Black's legislation to keep the state from having Rod Blagojevich's picture being painted for the Wall of Governors has passed through the House, 85-23 and now moves on to the Senate.

While the State would be freed of their financial responsibilities for the painting, it doesn't stop any other private donor from ponying up the cash. While the House is obviously no big fan of Blago, the East Peoria Times-Courier reported at the end of January that Blago actually has a little support on the Senate side. Senate President John Cullerton "isn't the least bit concerned about hanging Blagojevich's portrait" according to a spokesperson, and our other numerous Governors who have gone on to imprisonment have their portraits hanging in spite of their post-administration convictions. And, yes, Blago hasn't even been tried yet, much less convicted.

Does this remind us a little bit of "un-personing?" Yeah. But if we have to have something on the wall of the state capitol, maybe we can put together a few hundred bucks and just have someone put the famed hairdo on a canvas and call it good enough. If Blago wants his picture on the wall badly enough, he can spring for it with some of that Celebrity Apprentice cash.