So perhaps it shouldn't be surprising that Kentucky is ahead of Illinois and Indiana - the other two states that lay claim to Lincoln - in funding and in planning for events surrounding Lincoln's 200th birthday in 2009.
The Kentucky General Assembly already has approved $6 million for that state's Lincoln bicentennial festivities, and planners will ask for another $4 million for 2008 and 2009.
The Indiana Lincoln Bicentennial Commission received word just this past week that the state legislature approved $1.4 million over two years for its Lincoln commemorations.
Meanwhile, Illinois has allocated merely $500,000 so far. Gov. Rod Blagojevich has proposed another $500,000 for fiscal 2008.
I was told by the National Park Service rangers at the Lincoln birthplace site in Kentucky that the bicentennial celebration kick off on February 8, 2008. Illinois has some catching up to do.
Hat tip to Rich Miller at Capitol Fax.
Related posts:
Lincoln Bicentennial Commission playing with Lincoln Logs
Thirty hours in Lincoln's Springfield, Illinois
I found this bit of history in downtown Chicago today
"My earliest recollection is of the Knob Creek place"
Abraham Lincoln birthplace site's log cabin
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