Staff Reports
The state of Illinois went all out to show off at this year’s Rose Parade in California, and it cost taxpayers a whopping $560,000! That’s an absurd amount of money to spend on a float, especially when there are countless other pressing needs in the state.
The Enjoy Illinois float, standing at a staggering 24 feet tall, was a spectacle decked out with 30,000 flowers. It took a ridiculous three months to build and required about 22,000 volunteer hours. Not to mention, the state even hired a vocal group, Straight No Chaser, to ride and sing on the float. It’s like they were trying to outdo a Vegas show rather than participate in a parade!
Illinois pays hefty sum to participate in Rose Parade https://t.co/R5iKF9qUGL via @thecentersquare
— Bishop On Air (@BishopOnAir) January 18, 2024
The theme of the float, “Illinois: The Middle of Beats and Blues,” was a shameless plug for the state’s tourism campaign, “Middle of Everything.” It’s like they were using the parade as a billboard to advertise the state. And to top it off, the float didn’t even win any of the 24 trophies up for grabs. What a waste of taxpayer dollars!
This isn’t the first time Illinois has gone overboard with its parade spending. It’s the second year in a row that the state has entered a float in the Rose Parade. One can only imagine how much money has been squandered on these unnecessary displays of extravagance.
But here’s the real kicker: despite all this excessive spending, there’s no guarantee that the float will have any impact on tourism in the state. The officials from Enjoy Illinois and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity didn’t even bother to comment on the matter. It’s as if they’re trying to sweep this lavish expenditure under the rug!
To add insult to injury, while Illinois is frivolously throwing money at parades, there are more vital issues that need attention. The state’s budget should be focused on improving infrastructure, education, and public safety, not on frivolous parades. It’s time for Illinois to get its priorities straight and stop wasting taxpayers’ hard-earned money on unnecessary extravagance.
