The Lion Meat Act is back

In addition to having the highest jobless rate in the Midwest and the third-highest in the nation, Illinois’ jobless rate has gone up more in the last five years than any other state in the nation. Furthermore, the unfunded liability for Illinois’ five state-run pension systems has officially passed the $100 billion mark. With problems like...

In addition to having the highest jobless rate in the Midwest and the third-highest in the nation, Illinois’ jobless rate has gone up more in the last five years than any other state in the nation.

Furthermore, the unfunded liability for Illinois’ five state-run pension systems has officially passed the $100 billion mark.

With problems like these, it’s shocking that state politicians can spend time proposing legislation on anything other than this gargantuan problem.

But state Rep. Luis Arroyo, D-Chicago, has re-introduced the Lion Meat Act, a bill that he shepherded (unsuccessfully) last spring. Essentially, the bill makes it illegal to commercialize lion meat.

Last year, Arroyo’s legislation earned notoriety across the state and in several national news outlets, including Fox, CNN and NPR. One can only hope that Arroyo has chosen to re-introduce this bill as some sort of resurrected publicity stunt. Because if he genuinely believes that this is a priority for Illinois, then perhaps our state should be more concerned with its leadership deficit than its fiscal shortfalls.