When Gov. Bruce Rauner says the inside of the Executive Mansion reminds him of his college frat house of the 1970’s, he is not far off.
Jeff Evans, a retired architect who is donating his services to the Illinois Executive Mansion Association, says there are sections of it that are bad. Not all of it, though. He said the public portion and the historical section are in pretty good shape.
Pretty good shape, considering only emergency maintenance has been done since 1970.
The multi-million dollar project, reported earlier as about $8 million worth but which Evans, serving as “owner’s representative” or project manager, would not confirm, is privately funded. Evans helped the Rauner administration and the IMEA show off the new roof that’s just been completed.
Evans says Gov. and Mrs. Rauner have been living in the mansion even through the construction – so far. There is much more to go; years more, he says.
In other State news, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) hopes Gov. Bruce Rauner will change his position on Syrian refugees if he meets them face to face.
In a letter to Rauner, Durbin asks him to personally meet some of the hundreds of Syrian refugees who have already resettled in Illinois. Durbin feels if Rauner hears their stories for himself, he may break away from the dozens of governors saying refugees aren’t welcome in their states.
After the November 13 attacks on Paris, Rauner was among many governors to say their states would suspend efforts on resettling refugees from Syria. The Refugee Act of 1980 doesn’t mention anything about governors being able to block refugees from coming into their states.
Durbin is also asking for Rauner to put his support behind other efforts Durbin believes will address more pressing gaps in national security, such as the Visa Waiver Program, and the ability for suspected terrorists to obtain firearms.
Rauner’s office didn’t directly address Durbin’s letter, but says it’s pressed White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough for more information about the vetting process for refugees.
