Obama's birthday won't be a holiday in Illinois

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'Barack Obama Day' voted down by Illinois lawmakers

Barack Obama's name is revered in his home state. But the Illinois House has rejected making his birthday a state holiday.

Legislation to make the 44th president's Aug. 4th birthday a state holiday fell six votes short Tuesday. Chicago Democratic Rep. Sonya Harper says it would honor a man who adopted Chicago as his home and served in the Illinois State Senate.

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But Rep. Steven Andersson of Geneva suggested it be honorary. The Republican floor leader says even Obama wouldn't want the cash-strapped state to give state workers another paid day off.

He noted that Tampico (TAM'-pih-koh) native and 40th president Ronald Reagan's Feb. 6th birthday isn't a holiday.

The vote was 54-57. Harper used a procedure allowing another vote later.