Feb. 16--No, no, no, no.
It's a nice thought, but Illinois should not make President Barack Obama's birthday a legal holiday.
Longtime readers will know this is nothing personal against Obama, whom I've generally supported since he began running for the U.S. Senate in early 2003. Given his history in Chicago and Illinois I think we should ultimately rename an area expressway in his honor and probably a few other things as well.
But we already have enough paid holidays for state workers -- 13 during major election years --and lawmakers ought to reject a Democratic proposal in Springfield (House Bill 4654) to make Aug. 4, Obama's birthday, another one.
Government holidays, when most of the rest of us go about our usual business but public offices and facilities shut down so employees can have the day off, are a pain. And they're costly.
The State Journal-Register reports that it costs Missouri $1.2 million in overtime and compensatory time payments each May 8 in order to formally observe Truman Day in honor of Harry Truman, the only president to hail from the state.
And the only other state to devote a special legal holiday to a favorite son is Texas, which observes Lyndon B. Johnson day every August 27.
An Obama high school, state park, college or government building? Yes, yes, yes and yes.
But a holiday? No, no, no, no.
@EricZorn
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