August 13, 2013

To the Honorable Members of the Illinois House of Representatives,

98^th General Assembly:

House Bill 1200 decreases the number of days that an aquarium or museum must be open free of cost to Illinois residents in half—from 52 to 26. Throughout my term as Governor, I have worked hard to ensure that residents of this great State, from all walks of life, are afforded equal access to a quality education and culture. 

While our museums are internationally renowned, they are not just for tourists visiting on the weekends. They serve as an invaluable resource for Illinois families, in particular our children, who visit these landmark institutions to learn about the wonders of the natural environment that surrounds us, to unlock the mysteries of our vast universe, to glimpse the rich diversity of human civilization and to learn about our history. These institutions teach and inspire the next generation, and the more exposure our children have to the fruits of our great culture, the more promising our collective future. Many Illinois families can only visit these museums on the 52 days that they are currently open to residents free of charge. Limiting the number of days our aquariums and museums are available free of cost would disproportionately limit access to our lower income families. I cannot support any legislation that seeks to reduce exposure to the vast educational resources on display at our museums, particularly for those in our State that are most vulnerable.   

Therefore, pursuant to Article IV, Section 9(b) of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I return House Bill 1200, entitled “AN ACT concerning local government.”, with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

Sincerely,

PAT QUINN
Governor