You’ll be able to get your fill of corn dogs and lemon shakeups as usual when state fairs get underway next month.
Democratic House Speaker Mike Madigan said that without a budget, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner does not have the power to spend on Illinois’ two state fairs. But both events are moving forward.
Without a state budget, funding has halted for social services and other programs. Rauner’s administration has not made clear how it intends to pay for fair expenses.
Retired U of I political science professor Kent Redfield says that some in the state might question why the fairs are moving ahead while other state services are on hold.
“Lots of people depend on the state fair,” Redfield said. “It has a huge economic impact. But if I’m a social service provider who’s laying off people or going out of business, I’m probably questioning the state’s priorities in terms of what really is or isn’t the primary function of state government.”
Senator John Sullivan, a Democrat from Rushville, says there are several reasons to hold the events, including state law.
“Illinois law, by the statutes that are in place, it says that there shall be a state fair and the Du Quoin fair, for that matter,” Sullivan said. “So, from what I can gather in talking to the folks out at the fairgrounds and the Department of Ag, the intent and the plan is to go ahead with the state fair.”
Rauner’s office did say that some fair vendors may not get paid on time. Both the Illinois State Fair in Springfield and the DuQuoin State Fair in southern Illinois are scheduled to start in August.