HJ0048LRB098 13897 GRL 48431 r

1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, In 2009, Governor Pat Quinn signed into law a
36-year, $31 billion construction program that invests in
4Illinois' infrastructure; the program provides for the
5building and repairing of roads and bridges, education and
6higher education facilities, and economic development; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Included in the program was $50 million to
8renovate the west wing of the State Capitol Building; the
9renovation prioritized steps to make the building compliant
10with health/life safety and Americans with Disabilities Act
11rules and regulations, as well as asbestos removal and upgrades
12to HVAC systems and structural elements to ensure the integrity
13of the historic building is not compromised; and
 
14    WHEREAS, There is no doubt that the Capitol Building, as a
15National Historic Landmark, should be preserved for future
16generations; however, unnecessary expensive renovations that
17go beyond upgrading the building's infrastructure have been
18revealed; and
 
19    WHEREAS, The most outrageous expenditure is the
20replacement of the west outside entrance glass doors to the
21Capitol, which have been replaced by large wooden doors coated
22with copper to match historical references to the original

 

 

HJ0048- 2 -LRB098 13897 GRL 48431 r

1doors of the Capitol at a cost of nearly $670,000; and
 
2    WHEREAS, The State simply cannot afford to be spending
3money on costly ornamental features in the Capitol Building,
4especially with $5 billion in unpaid bills at the Comptroller's
5Office and a public pension system with nearly $100 billion in
6unfunded liabilities; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Our spending priorities must be placed on
8restoring economic prosperity to the State of Illinois by
9creating jobs and investing in our public education system;
10therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
12NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
13SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the Architect of the
14Capitol to remove the new copper doors from the Capitol
15Building's west side entrance and to auction them off or sell
16them to the highest bidder; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That we urge the Architect of the Capitol to
18direct the revenue from the sale of the copper doors towards
19Illinois' public education system or to pay down unpaid bills;
20and be it further
 
21    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be

 

 

HJ0048- 3 -LRB098 13897 GRL 48431 r

1presented to members of the General Assembly, Governor Pat
2Quinn, and the Architect of the Capitol.