* The outside illuminating lights at the Statehouse were shut off years ago during the impasse. Here’s a photo from last week…
* Last night…
* Brenden’s story…
In perhaps the most visible sign the state has emerged from the darkness of a more than two-year-long budget impasse, the lights illuminating the Illinois State Capitol dome were switched on Tuesday night for the first time since 2015.
Illinois Secretary of State spokesman Henry Haupt confirmed the return of the lights, which were shut off due to the impasse as the state fell as much as $12 million behind on its City Light, Water and Power tab.
The dome lights have been upgraded to LED, which significantly reduces electrical costs. The Secretary of State’s office, which maintains the Capitol Complex, estimates that the cost comes out to about $4.33 per day, or just under $1,600 per year.
- Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 1:51 pm:
You can definitely tell the difference in the types of lights. Wow!
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 1:51 pm:
“I’m frustrated too but taking steps to reform Illinois is more important than a short term budget stalemate”
The Owl.
We’re finally getting the *lights* back on, 3 fiscal years after no budget for 2 years.
Thanks Diana and Bruce (exclamation mark)
- Blue Dog Dem - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 1:53 pm:
Ok. Heres where i go climate sensitive. I walk around my house constantly looking for wasted power. And someone is going to force me to go fossil fuel less. And my state govt. That signed on to the Paris Climate Agreement is fully aglow. Bahumbug
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 1:54 pm:
===And someone is going to force me to go fossil fuel less===
You just make stuff up to be even more of a victim, don’t you?
- Norseman - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 1:59 pm:
Great symbolism for the transition from the darkness of Rauner to the brighter future afterwards.
- Ok - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 2:00 pm:
At least for October can they turn them off for that haunted castle look?
- Unpopular - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 2:05 pm:
I liked it without the lights.
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 2:06 pm:
She sure is a beauty, this Capitol, and the lights coming back on are very symbolic of the end of Rauner’s darkness.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 2:07 pm:
===I liked it without the lights===
But of course you did.
- Blue Dog Dem - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 2:08 pm:
The victim will be our kids.
- NIref - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 2:09 pm:
===And my state govt. That (sic) signed on to the Paris Climate Agreement is fully aglow.===
We dedicate these buildings to the great purposes they are intended to serve, as monuments to democracy. They should be lit as a prominent reminder of the purposes we serve. and for less than $5/day; I’m happy to pitch in for that.
- SpfdNewb - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 2:12 pm:
=At least for October can they turn them off for that haunted castle look?=
Turn the lights off, add hay bales and scary legislators for jump scares, finally charge everyone $5. That’s how we fix our pension hole, lol.
- Donnie Elgin - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 2:14 pm:
The darkness is now on the edge of town
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 2:15 pm:
===The victim will be our kids===
“Won’t someone think about the kids?”
That’s your retort? Make… kids victims… to these specific lights?
And you want to be taken seriously?
- Steve - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 2:15 pm:
Forget the climate change stuff for a moment. Isn’t it safer to have lights on?
- Drake Mallard - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 2:22 pm:
- the victims will be our kids-
What’s next - Soilent Green is right around the corner?
- A Jack - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 2:27 pm:
It is a beautiful building. And I am glad they switched to LEDs, so I suppose that is about the only good thing to come out of the impasse.
But I will be glad when they finally get rid of that rusty train trestle.
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 2:29 pm:
“If JB Pritzker gets in you can turn off the lights”
Governor Bruce Rauner
That quote hasn’t aged too well but his quotes about “culture of corruption” in Springfield politics are looking better and better every day.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 2:34 pm:
That web ad Rauner has where he turns that light bulb on and off comes to mind, ironically.
- Ducky LaMoore - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 2:38 pm:
===The victim will be our kids.===
Mr Burn Coal Forever takes issue with a few lights. Okay then.
- Earnest - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 2:43 pm:
Whose light shined brighter on our Capitol this week: the state’s or the feds?
- twowaystreet - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 2:46 pm:
This is a missed opportunity by the Governor’s office. As symbolic as this event is, and at a low cost to taxpayers, this could have been really good PR. Instead, it is turned on some random October night when Springfield is not in session.
With that said, glad to see the lights back on!
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 2:49 pm:
===a missed opportunity by the Governor’s office==
It’s Jesse’s building.
- LakeCo - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 3:11 pm:
I had initial concerns about the environmental impact, too, but the LED aspect makes me feel better. And you gotta love the symbolism.
- Yossarian - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 3:19 pm:
Do the lights have the capability to be changed to Cardinal Red? Go Cardinals!
- don the legend - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 3:21 pm:
LP still searching looking for a pro Rauner moment.
Maybe Rauner should have been asking Secretary White to turn the lights back on. But he was too busy looking to replace himself on the ballot.
- ClimateChangeisReal - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 3:32 pm:
BlueDog has a point assuming he’s actually concerned about the environment and not just trying to find another reason to criticize J.B. . while the act alone is a drop in the bucket, we should be encouraging people to use less of everything if we want to cut carbon emissions, which includes unnecessary lighting. I would prefer setting an example to pretty lights. I say this as a hypocrite who does not do everything in his personal life to reduce my carbon footprint so take it for what it’s worth.
I withdraw my complaint if the lights are powered by renewable energy.
- A guy - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 3:45 pm:
Don’t know why there is any opposition to this at all. Look at the picture. It’s beautiful.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 4:06 pm:
==The victim will be our kids.==
Lighting up the Capitol got us down the road to our kids being victims how?
- Mr. K. - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 5:13 pm:
Very symbolic.
Where is Rauner? When is he going to break what appears to be his self-imposed silence?
- Huh? - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 5:49 pm:
Like the building better with the lights off. There has been some recent research that nighttime lighting is adversely affecting the nocturnal habits of animals.
- Blue Dog Dem - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 7:30 pm:
Climate change. I am very concerned about the environment. I power a building almost entirely with solar. The problem. It is very, very expensive. 4th year in operation. 2 sets of batteries. $1800 both times. I dont use $30/month from traditional sources. I would assume 95% of south illinois residents could do this. Who is going to invest additional clean energy sources for the poor?
- Former Merit Comp - Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 9:48 pm:
I. Love. This. That is all.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Oct 3, 19 @ 1:48 am:
I drove by around 1:30 am and the lights were off… are they on a schedule? Turn off at a certain time?
- Demoralized - Thursday, Oct 3, 19 @ 9:19 am:
Anon:
They go off at midnight.
- Peanut - Thursday, Oct 3, 19 @ 11:27 am:
I miss the colored lights strung from the top each Christmas Season. As a child I would look out my bedroom window to see them.