Lynn Sweet: Springfield Bill Would Make It Harder To Sue To Block Obama Library, Lucas Museum
From the Chicago Sun-Times
Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants lawmakers in Springfield to approve legislation to make it harder to successfully sue to prevent building on city parkland the Obama Presidential Library complex and the museum for Star Wars creator George Lucas.
The attempted end run around lawsuits came in a measure drafted by the city and sponsored by state Sen. Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago. He introduced the legislation on Wednesday, and in a matter of hours it sprinted through a committee vote.
Raoul told the Sun-Times there were no objections to his amendment and he expected a Senate vote on Thursday in Springfield.
I reported on April 14 that the decision was made to locate the Obama library, museum and presidential center in Chicago - with a determination to be made later this year whether the facility would be in Jackson Park or Washington Park. Raoul represents these South Side communities.
But before the Chicago-based Barack Obama Foundation makes the announcement - not expected for several weeks - the foundation and the city wanted to minimize threats from any potential lawsuit. A foundation spokesman told the Sun-Times the city consulted with the foundation about the legislation.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Chicago Sun-Times
Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants lawmakers in Springfield to approve legislation to make it harder to successfully sue to prevent building on city parkland the Obama Presidential Library complex and the museum for Star Wars creator George Lucas.
The attempted end run around lawsuits came in a measure drafted by the city and sponsored by state Sen. Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago. He introduced the legislation on Wednesday, and in a matter of hours it sprinted through a committee vote.
Raoul told the Sun-Times there were no objections to his amendment and he expected a Senate vote on Thursday in Springfield.
I reported on April 14 that the decision was made to locate the Obama library, museum and presidential center in Chicago - with a determination to be made later this year whether the facility would be in Jackson Park or Washington Park. Raoul represents these South Side communities.
But before the Chicago-based Barack Obama Foundation makes the announcement - not expected for several weeks - the foundation and the city wanted to minimize threats from any potential lawsuit. A foundation spokesman told the Sun-Times the city consulted with the foundation about the legislation.
Read more in our daily News Update...