❌ HB53
Designate John Rankin Day
Current Status: In House Committee (Government Oversight)
Summary
This bill designates February 4th as John Rankin Day in honor of the abolitionist John Rankin and mandates the erection of a statue in his memory on the statehouse grounds, with site preparation funded by public funds and the memorial's design and construction funded by private contributions.
Rationale
The bill involves government action to commemorate an individual, which may conflict with the Libertarian principles of limited government intervention and fiscal responsibility, as it utilizes public funds for site preparation.
Risks and Concerns
- Potential misuse of public funds
- Encouragement of government involvement in memorialization
- Diverting attention from more pressing state issues