Illinois Taxpayers to Give $100 Million for Obama Library

Illinois Taxpayers to Give $100 Million for Obama Library

by Mike Flynn 18 Apr 2014, 7:10 AM PDT

http://cdn.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/04/18/Illinois-Taxpayers-to-Give-100-Million-for-Obama-Library

On Thursday, a committee in the Illinois Legislature approved a plan to spend $100 million in taxpayer funds to help build a presidential library for Barack Obama. While libraries for Bill Clinton and George W Bush were entirely funded by private donations, the Illinois proposal would, perhaps fittingly, build the Obama library on a foundation of public funds.

The proposal for the appropriation of $100 million in public funds is backed by House Speaker Mike Madigan, which almost ensures its passage. Madigan is not only the powerful Speaker of the House, he is chair of the state Democrat Party as well. His daughter is the Attorney General of the state.

"The state of Illinois will spend over $1 billion in construction this year alone, so $100 million is not out of line,” Madigan said after the House Executive Committee approved the funding plan in a unanimous vote. “It's clearly a good investment for the future.”

Illinois currently has the lowest bond rating of any state. Its unfunded pension liabilities are over $100 billion and it has over $6 billion in unpaid bills. While the legislature considers spending $100 million for an Obama library, it is also considering a measure to permanently increase income taxes. Madigan also backed a ballot initiative to institute a "millionaire tax," although that proposal was ultimately withdrawn.

Madigan did not rule out appropriating additional public funds to support the Obama library. He said he would use "skills that I've developed in the legislature to persuade people to do things they don't want to do."

Michael J. Madigan

Michael J. Madigan is the speaker for the Illinois House of Representatives, the chairman for the Illinois Democratic Party, Lisa Madigan’s father, and married to Shirley R. Madigan.

Note: Lisa Madigan is Michael J. Madigan’s daughter, and the attorney general for the Illinois state government.

Shirley R. Madigan is married to Michael J. Madigan, and a trustee at the Erikson Institute.

Joy Foundation was a funder for the Erikson Institute, and the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

James S. Crown is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Lester Crown was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), is Sara Crown Star’s father, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Sara Crown Star is Lester Crown’s daughter, and a trustee at the Erikson Institute.

Virginia Bobins is a trustee at the Erikson Institute, and married to Norman R. Bobins.

Norman R. Bobins is married to Virginia Bobins, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Barbara T. Bowman is a co-founder of the Erikson Institute, and Valerie B. Jarrett’s mother.

Valerie B. Jarrett is Barbara T. Bowman’s daughter, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and the senior adviser for the Barack Obama administration.

Penny S. Pritzker is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce for the Barack Obama administration, was the national finance chair, fundraiser for the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign, a co-chair for the 2009 Barack Obama inaugural committee, a fundraiser, national co-chair for the 2012 Barack Obama presidential campaign, a contributor for the 2013 Barack Obama inaugural committee, the host for the Barack Obama fund-raising dinner, 7/2/2008, the chairman for the Pritzker Realty Group, and Craig M. Robinson’s basketball coach for the children's team.

Martin Nesbitt was a VP for the Pritzker Realty Group, is a friend of Craig M. Robinson, a friend of Barack Obama, married to Anita Blanchard, and heading the fundraising effort for the Barack Obama Presidential Library.

Michelle Obama is Craig M. Robinson’s sister, Malia Obama & Sasha Obama’s mother, married to Barack Obama, and was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Anita Blanchard was the obstetrician who delivered Malia Obama & Sasha Obama, and is married to Martin Nesbitt.

R. Eden Martin is counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, and the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Newton N. Minow is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP, is married to Michelle Obama, Malia Obama & Sasha Obama’s father, the honoree for the Barack Obama Presidential Library, and the president of the Barack Obama administration.

Anita B. Dunn is the head of the media for the Barack Obama Presidential Library, married to Robert F. Bauer, was the communications director for the Barack Obama administration, and Tom Daschle’s senior political adviser.

Robert F. Bauer is married to Anita B. Dunn, a partner at Perkins Coie, was counsel for the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign, general counsel for the 2012 Barack Obama presidential campaign, the White House counsel for the Barack Obama administration, and Barack Obama’s personal counsel.

Mark A. Patterson is a partner at Perkins Coie, and was Tom Daschle’s policy director.

Tom Daschle’s policy director was Mark A. Patterson, Anita B. Dunn was his senior political adviser, Julianna Smoot finance director, the nominee for health and human services secretary for the Barack Obama administration, is the chairman for the Center for American Progress, and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).

Julianna Smoot was Tom Daschle’s finance director, a fundraiser for the 2004 Tom Daschle Senate campaign, the finance director for the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign, a co-chair for the 2009 Barack Obama inaugural committee, a chair, inaugural balls & receptions for the 2013 Barack Obama inaugural committee, the White House social secretary for the Barack Obama administration, and is working on fundraising effort for the Barack Obama Presidential Library.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Center for American Progress, and the Aspen Institute (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, and a supporter for the Center for American Progress.

James S. Crown is a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Lester Crown was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), is Sara Crown Star’s father, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Sara Crown Star is Lester Crown’s daughter, and a trustee at the Erikson Institute.

Shirley R. Madigan is a trustee at the Erikson Institute, and married to Michael J. Madigan.

Michael J. Madigan is married to Shirley R. Madigan, the speaker for the Illinois House of Representatives, the chairman for the Illinois Democratic Party, and Lisa Madigan’s father.