By Ashley Badgley     Illinois Statehouse News

SPRINGFIELD – In the Illinois Capitol, portraits of former governors line the walls and are paid for by taxpayers through the general revenue fund. But Illinois House lawmakers on Friday passed legislation preventing  residents from having to fund a portrait of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville, sponsored the proposal prohibiting the use of state funds for official portraits of former governors who have been removed from office by impeachment and conviction. His bill passed on an 85-23 vote.

Black said oil painting portraits can cost up to $25,000 — without a frame —  and he doesn’t think tax dollars should go toward financing Blagojevich’s portrait. Lawmakers threw Blagojevich out of office more than a year ago on the heels of federal corruption charges. Blagojevich faces a federal trial this summer.

“I have no desire nor intent to revise history,” Black said. “I have no desire nor intent to see to it that someone who is impeached or convicted of impeachable offenses gets into the taxpayers’ purse for anything.”

Black said he is not opposed to having the portrait in the Capitol, but wants it paid for by private funds. Lawmakers can use campaign funds or individuals can make donations toward the painting, he said, but Illinois residents should not be on the hook for the bill.

Rep. Jerry Mitchell, R-Rock Falls, said he supported Black’s bill, but suggested it be expanded to all governors. He said former governors have the funds to pay for their own portraits, instead of using general revenue funds.

“Why [does] the state of Illinois pay for any governor’s portrait?” Mitchell asked. “They leave office, even the good ones, with plenty of money in their campaign accounts. Why don’t we amend the bill to say the state of Illinois won’t pay for any portraits? They can finance it and the taxpayer’s dime shouldn’t be used.”

While the bill did pass, there was some opposition to Black’s legislation.

Rep. Mike Boland, D-East Moline, said Blagojevich’s portrait should be hung just like the rest of Illinois’ former governors because he is part of the state’s history.

Boland, who used to be a history teacher, said he’s not fond of Blagojevich, but Illinois residents should know their history.

“This isn’t a matter of how we personally feel,” Boland said. “This is really a matter of our history.”

State Rep. Monique Davis, D-Chicago, also did not support Black’s bill and said Blagojevich’s reputation has nothing to do with his picture being hung in the statehouse.

Past governors have their portraits in the Capitol and Blagojevich deserves the same, she said.

“They’re not hung to say you’re getting an honor here or you’re being elected as the best governor,” Davis said. “Those portraits are hung to show who was the governor of the state of Illinois and I don’t think we can erase that history by removing a picture.”

Currently, there are portraits of 39 former governors in the Capitol. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.