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State Holiday Honoring Obama Put On Hold

President Obama speaks from the Oval Office in the White House.
Associated Press
President Obama speaks from the Oval Office in the White House.

A would-be state holiday passed last week without notice in Illinois. But supporters are hoping it will be recognized in the future.

President Obama speaks from the Oval Office in the White House.
Credit Associated Press
President Obama speaks from the Oval Office in the White House.

Beyonce, George Lucas, and Magic Johnson were among the stars on the guest list for President Barack Obama's White House55thbirthday party (Obama's former chief of staff, Chicago MayorRahmEmanuel, scored an invite too).

But back in his adopted home state, the day came and went with little recognition, to the disappointment of State Rep. André Thapedi, a Chicago Democrat. He's proposed making Aug. 4 a state holiday.

"Texas recognizes the birthday of LBJ. Missouri celebrates the birthday of Harry S. Truman. Alabama pauses to celebrate the birthday of Thomas Jefferson. California even recognizes Ronald Reagan's birthday, and they did so before his death," Thapedi said.

Thapedi says that, as the nation's first black president and a Nobel Laureate, Obama also is deserving.

"In my view and a lot of my colleagues' view, those distinctions in and of themselves are more than enough reasons to honor him in Illinois," Thapedi said.

But an estimate by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's budget office says it'd cost Illinois $3.2 million to give state workers the day off, and the government would lose $16 million in their lost productivity.

Thapedi's suspects those numbers are inflated, but he says he laid off on the plan, given the state's pressing budget issues.

Thapedi says once the state's fiscal house is in order, he'll try again.

Copyright 2016 WNIJ Northern Public Radio

Amanda Vinicky
Amanda Vinicky moved to Chicago Tonight on WTTW-TV PBS in 2017.