Burr Ridge, IL…House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) today is raising fiscal concerns over Democrat intentions to spend $100 million of taxpayer money to locate the future Obama presidential library in Chicago.

“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,” said Durkin. “Where is this money going to come from?”

“Illinois owes $7.2 billion in unpaid bills and has a $100 billion unfunded pension liability. Our schools are desperate for funding and our prisons are overcrowded. And while there may be some merit to locating the facility in Chicago. At this point in time, Democrats should be rounding up private financial support for the project – not promising public funds we can’t afford,” said Durkin.

Despite not having a quorum at a House Executive Committee meeting last week, Democrats voted to allow the state to borrow $100 million to help fund the project.

“What they did last week was under-handed and sneaky, and offers further proof that they no longer can be trusted with taxpayer money,” Durkin concluded.