A press release from State Rep. Allen Skillicorn:
Skillicorn Urges Privatization of State Fair
SPRINGFIELD – On the eve of Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair, State Representative Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) says given the state’s perpetual financial problems, Illinois should stop subsidizing events like the fair and let the free market do its job.
“I’m going to the fair to remind fellow elected officials that taxpayers should no longer subsidize events like this,” said Skillicorn.
“Despite the state finally having a budget, which is a terribly unbalanced budget, Illinois is still running months behind on payments due to our massive debt and backlog of unpaid bills.
“So instead of spending taxpayer money on a fair like this, we should let the free market do what it does best and not put taxpayers on the hook anymore.”
The state spends roughly $6 million annually on the state fair, money Skillicorn noted could be going to pay down the state’s backlog of unpaid bills.
According to research by the Illinois Policy Institute, between 2001 and 2009 the state lost nearly $42 million on the Illinois State Fair and DuQuoin State Fair.
Given this history of losing money, despite state statute that says expenditures are not supposed to exceed revenue from the previous year’s fair, Skillicorn says it is time for a change of direction.
Skillicorn said that with the state’s long standing financial problems, every effort should be made to reduce spending and he is again doing his part by turning down per diem and mileage reimbursement for the latest session called by Speaker Madigan.
Sounds like a solid common sense idea.
With that in mind, I sure it won’t be adopted.
DuQuoin State Fair WAS private sector until the state took it over in the 1980s.
Proving once again that leftists never met a money-losing endeavor they didn’t think they should rob John Q. Public to bail out.
Want to see how bad government in the State of Illinois has become?
Go the “State Fair”.
Just like the “State” highways you will travel on the way there, many areas have landscapes that require heavy maintenance and if you ride the useless (very expensive) “tram” you will soon realize how the walkways at the Fair compare to the ‘bummppy’ ride on the highways.
Some buildings have gaping holes in the roof and collapsing walls.
Just walk through the ‘tunnels’ under the track and you will get a real “feel” for the condition of this State.
Privatizing the Fair would be a good idea but first we need to put an end to the “overly generous” taxpayer supported public sector pensions;
and end Prevailing Wage;
and eliminate all Public Sector Unions including the Teacher, Police and Firemen Associations;
and maybe most importantly! End ESL! 🙂