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| Park Funding In, Historic Sites Funding Out, Thanks to Governor |
Governor Rod Blagojevich apparently waited until the Illinois House and Senate were both out of session before delivering what could be considered a blow akin to a sucker-punch to places like the Carl Sandburg Birthplace in Galesburg, and the Bishop Hill State Historic Site.
Governor Rod Blagojevich signed into a law a spending bill that restores funding cuts made to the Department of Children and Family Services, and provides funding to drug and alcohol treatment centers along with the state's parks, but vetoed the part that, among other things, would have restored funding to state historic sites.
In an event before the announcement Thursday promoting a bill that could allow state historic sites to be turned over to any of a number of types of agencies, Bishop Hill business owner Sherry Linscott said she doesn’t think the Governor gets what’s at stake for the historic sites. "If we, Henry County, with three small historic sites, and one park, in a village of 125 people, bringing in a million and a half people every year can generate that income, how can you say you can cut the budget $2.8 million, when we've already given you the money?" Linscott asked. Linscott is referring to an estimated $3 million Henry County collects in tourism dollars annually.
In a veto letter, Blagojevich said some of the money that would have paid for the historic sites was protected under federal rules, and couldn't be used for the purposes lawmakers intended.
When contacted for comment Thursday night, Gilson State Representative Don Moffitt said he needed more time to read up on what the governor did before he could be comment. |
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| 11 20 08 by Newsroom |
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