SE Illinois News

Darren Bailey thinks there should be a price to pay for all the lawmakers who voted in favor of allocating $172 million in taxpayer money for the creation of the Obama Center.

“Everybody that voted in favor of that needs to be politically held responsible,” Bailey told the SE Illinois News. “I don’t believe the majority of the people across the state have ever been in favor of using taxpayer money for projects like this.”

Bailey thinks that resistance only figures to grow amid reports that the project is now pegged to come in south of $200 million, or at roughly $50 million more than what was originally estimated.

Former President Barack Obama

“This whole budget is filled with expenses we shouldn’t be making at a time when the state is so fragile,” said Bailey, running against Democrat Cynthia Given of Olney in the 109th House District. “We need to be finding ways to trim our spending, especially when it comes to things that aren’t even pertinently needed. We’ve done nothing to cut anything.”

Bailey laments that the price-tag of the project isn't the only costs that will be incurred.

“The Jackson Park community will never be the same once this project hits town,” he said. “That’s just the way it is, no ifs, and, or, buts about it.”

The not-for-profit Protect Our Parks has already filed a federal lawsuit opposing the project.

Finally, Bailey argues that the project should be funded by private donors, just as taxpayers were initially told when talk of the construction was first floated around town.

“Lawmakers need to be getting together to prioritize all the things that are needed to get this state back on track and moving toward being the place that we want it to be,” Bailey said. “The only way that starts is by getting our budget and fiscal house in order.”