Should There Be A Library Named After Obama?

Illinois Democrats are backing off a plan to give $100 million toward landing President Obama’s presidential library and museum -- following accusations of voting “shenanigans” and nasty Chicago-style politics, not to mention the state’s dire financial situation.

A Democrat-led House committee approved the money last week at an out-of-town hearing in Chicago with no Republicans in attendance. They instead relied on a procedural move that allowed them to use votes from a previous meeting.

“It’s ironic that Democrats, who have been threatening drastic cuts in education and other state services if the ‘temporary’ income tax is allowed to expire, now want to spend $100 million in public funds on the Obama presidential library. Where is this money going to come from?” Minority Leader Jim Durkin said in a statement. “At this point in time, Democrats should be rounding up private financial support for the project – not promising public funds we can’t afford.”

An editorial in the Chicago Tribune blasted the proposal this week, calling it an exercise in “doubling down on things it can't afford.”

State money for the Obama library would be unprecedented because presidential libraries are always endowed by private fundraising efforts, says Curt Smith, a former speechwriter for President George H.W. Bush and author of “Windows on the White House: The Story of Presidential Libraries.” Besides, Mr. Smith says, Obama likely doesn’t need the help.