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* AP…
The home state of former President Barack Obama will commemorate his birthday under a new law.
Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner has signed a plan honoring the 44th President’s birthday on 4 August. It won’t be an official state holiday, rather a day to honor Obama. The law notes Obama’s efforts to protect Americans’ rights and build “bridges across communities.” […]
The measure takes effect next year. It received overwhelming support in the Democrat-led Legislature. The Republican governor signed it Friday.
Interestingly enough, the Senate sent the bill to the governor back in June. Instead of signing it before August 4th, the governor waited until late in the day to approve the legislation. Because he waited, next year will be the first year the state can actually “commemorate” the former president’s birthday.
…Adding… From a commenter who is right, correcting me who is wrong…
Because the bill didn’t have an immediate effective date, it’s not effective until January 1. Even if the governor had signed the bill August 3, Barack Obama Day wouldn’t have started until August 4, 2018.
More coffee, please!
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 10:25 am
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
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Yet another deft touch.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 10:30 am
An empty gesture as meaningful as his Nobel Prize.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 10:31 am
I would seriously ask if other states have done anything like this? Does Texas celebrate the Bush’s birthdays? Arkansas, Clinton? Michigan, Ford? California, Reagan or Nixon? The Armed Forces, Eisenhower, Massachusetts, JFK?
I don’t see any harm in this, but it does seem premature at best, and a little over the top.
Comment by A guy Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 10:32 am
I really like Obama, but I’d trade this bill for SB1.
Comment by Arsenal Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 10:35 am
Guess the symbolism meant more than making Obama wait another year… Not that President Obama really cares I’m sure.
Comment by Perrid Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 10:37 am
From a steel industry perspective, not a very good president.
Comment by Blue dog dem Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 10:38 am
Brave move by Rauner, considering 40%+ of the GOP base still believe Obama was not born in the United States, according to all the polls on the google.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 10:43 am
Why isn’t President Grant in commemorative dates act? He won the Civil War
Comment by Prez Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 10:46 am
Because the bill didn’t have an immediate effective date, it’s not effective until January 1. Even if the governor had signed the bill August 3, Barack Obama Day wouldn’t have started until August 4, 2018.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 10:52 am
A guy, in Illinois, we have Ronald Reagan day.
(5 ILCS 490/2)
Sec. 2. Ronald Reagan Day. February 6th of each year is designated as Ronald Reagan Day, to be observed throughout the State as a day set apart to honor the 40th President of the United States of America who came from humble beginnings in Illinois and worked throughout his life serving the cause of freedom and advancing the public good.
(Source: P.A. 92-584, eff. 6-26-02.)
Comment by Juice Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 10:52 am
Juice,
Thanks for the cite.
Comment by A guy Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 10:57 am
A guy, no problem. I can’t speak for the other states, though I would be surprised if California had a Nixon day.
Comment by Juice Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 11:10 am
Should have just named a toll road after him and called it done.
Comment by Tequila Mockingbird Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 11:13 am
Social media has gone b.s. crazy over this.
Personally, I think they should have followed like ng standing tradition and waited until (a) time for a proper historical perspective and (b) until the person is deceased.
Comment by RNUG Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 11:23 am
@ a guy,
Texas observes LBJ’s birthday: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_Baines_Johnson_Day
Massachusetts has John F. Kennedy Day: https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleII/Chapter6/Section15L
California and Wisconsin also have a Ronald Reagan Day: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan_Day
California has a Gerald Ford Day: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140SCR98
Granted, these were all created after the deaths of the presidents in question.
Comment by JoanP Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 11:23 am
LOL
Better do that now while some people remember him.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 11:28 am
== Should have just named a toll road after him and called it done. ==
Or maybe an obscure road like they did for a certain Springfield politican?
Comment by RNUG Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 11:42 am
Joan,
Interesting stuff there. Thank you. Wisconsin Reagan Day, California Ford Day, wow.
==Granted, these were all created after the deaths of the presidents in question.==
I think this is a key part of all this. Creating “Living Saints” is always a risk.
Comment by A guy Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 11:45 am
Well he is lucky to have a day instead o say a monstrous state glass building. At least the day will last longer. I think Jim Thompson should be allowed to swing the first sledge hammer to take his building down. Out in DuPage we not not have he Henry Hyde justice center but the Pate Philip jail with a statue
Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 11:53 am
I’ll go out on a limb and guess New York does not have a Gerald Ford Day.
Comment by City Zen Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 12:38 pm
Kinda surprised Rauner didn’t AV the bill finding some bailout for Chicago within the language. /s
Comment by Cubs in '16 Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 12:41 pm
@ A guy,
Agreed. I’ve always been of the opinion that nothing should be named after a living person, not roads, schools, government buildings, etc. That should go for commemorations and holidays, too.
Comment by JoanP Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 12:47 pm
Joan P. Wholeheartedly agree. Even think about the post-mortem Confederates that are being reviewed 150 years later. BTW, I’m not opposed to removing any honorary name is these cases.
Comment by A guy Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 2:45 pm
Lest we forget that President Obama was our first African American President….might be worth commemorating?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Aug 7, 17 @ 4:34 pm
Anonymous, It seems we’ve dedicated an entire month of the year to celebrate such occasions.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Aug 8, 17 @ 5:48 am