Illinois Lawmakers Vote Against A Barack Obama State Holiday

By Emma G. Gallegos in News on Mar 22, 2017 5:35PM

The plan to make Barack Obama's birthday a legal holiday in Illinois has stalled out in the legislature.

Yesterday the House voted 54-57 against a proposal that would have made Aug. 4 a state holiday, according to the Chicago Tribune. A dozen members didn't vote.

The sticking point over the bill seemed to be what exactly the day entailed. Some Republican members said they might vote to make the day commemorative, but weren't happy with the prospect of giving state workers (and school children) a day off. Gov. Bruce Rauner's office estimates the state holiday would cost $3.2 million in personnel expenses, and another $16 million in lost productivity—numbers supporters of a holiday say are inflated. Some Republicans are also a little miffed at giving Obama a day when the Illinois-born Ronald Reagan doesn't have one.

Rep. Steven Andersson of Geneva says he believes Obama wouldn’t want to give state workers a day off, given the state of Illinois' budget, according to the Associated Press. (You may not be shocked to know that Obama hasn't commented on this pressing issue.)

The Obama Day effort isn't dead in the water, though. The bill sponsored by Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago could get another vote.