SPRINGFIELD - If Gov. Rod Blagojevich quits or is impeached, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn said Thursday the first thing he would do upon replacing him is open the state parks and historic sites closed by Blagojevich.
The state is currently anticipating a $2 billion budget shortfall this year.
When pressed Thursday, Quinn said he did not know where the state would find the money to keep the parks open and his remarks were quickly criticized as political pandering.
"Yeah, and I'd like to give every citizen of Illinois a gold bar. Where are we going to find the money?" said state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline. "I don't want those parks to be closed. But the state is broke -- we have to cut someplace."
During a Springfield news conference, Quinn said this of the park and historic site closures: "Don't worry, that will get quick attention. I never believed they should be closed, what a terrible thing. It was awful. I think that was one of the worst decisions the governor ever made. I think they should be reopened promptly, right now, today."
State Rep. Careen Gordon, D-Morris, agreed. "In the small towns, parks give a true sense of community. People come and talk to each other, talk to neighbors," she said. "I can't stress how important these parks are to the community. Learning to fish, hiking with kids, biking with grandkids on weekends ... all these things are important to maintaining a sense of family."
These historic sites were closed down Dec. 1: Dana Thomas House, Springfield; Hauberg Indian Museum at Blackhawk State Historic Site, Rock Island; Lincoln Log Cabin, Charleston; Lerna David Davis Mansion, Bloomington; Fort de Chartres, Randolph County; Vandalia Statehouse, Vandalia; Bishop Hill, Henry County; Carl Sandburg, Galesburg; Cahokia Courthouse, Cahokia; Bryant Cottage, Bement; Jubilee College, Peoria County; Apple River Fort, Elizabeth; Fort Kaskaskia, Randolph County; Pierre Menard Home, Randolph County.
These state parks were shut down Dec. 1: Castle Rock State Park, Oregon; Lowden State Park, Oregon; Illini State Park, Marseilles; Rice Lake Conservation Area, Canton; Hidden Springs State Forrest, Strasburg; Moraine View State Park, LeRoy; Weldon Springs State Park, Clinton.