Categories
Historic Preservation Illinois

Celebrate: Illinois Historic Sites Reopening!

by Michael R. Allen

If you ever doubted the power of one person in elected office to mangle sensible public policy, the saga of former Democratic Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was a sobering lesson. A more hopeful lesson comes from current Democratic Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, who has gracefully built consensus to quickly reverse Blagojevich’s cuts to state government agencies.

Great news came yesterday when Quinn announced that Illinois’ 11 shuttered historic sites are reopening. Thirty-three laid-off workers have been recalled to duty on April 22.

According to the Associated Press:

The closures cost the state tourism revenue and Quinn said he’s not going to “squeeze a nickel and lose half dollars.”

Right on! Illinois’ return to sanity in state government is welcome.