Lawmakers in Illinois recently declined to declare an official Obama Day. The bill, which came up six votes short of passing the state House, would have made the former president’s birthday a holiday in Illinois.


Lawmakers in Illinois recently declined to declare an official Obama Day. 
The bill, which came up six votes short of passing the state House, would have made the former president’s birthday a holiday in Illinois, reports the Chicago Tribune. 
Ultimately, many members decided that closing state buildings every August 4 would incur too great a cost. 
Some further noted that other presidents and high-profile political figures with ties to the state, including Ronald Reagan, don’t have holidays of their own, reports WMAQ.
Though establishing Obama’s birthday as a state holiday was unsuccessful this time around, it could still happen. 
The bill is eligible to be presented again, and its sponsor, Rep. Sonya Harper, says she may give it another try if she can build more support, perhaps among House members who did not vote this time. 
Said Harper, “President Barack Obama, he did great work for the state of Illinois and our country, and I believe we need to do our part in preserving that history."