Illinois Pulls $1 Million of Taxpayer Money to Appeal Failed Videogame Violence Legislation

It was discovered recently that Governor Rod Blagojevich of Illinois, in an ongoing mission to ban violent video games, pulled $1 million from different state funds and agencies. The money was used to appeal a measure that would have barred retailers from selling or renting violent or sexually explicit games to minors, with a fine of $1000 for anyone doing so. The federal court ruled the law unconstitutional in 2005, but that apparently didn’t stop the governor, who continued to appeal the ruling:

“The governor raided funds throughout state government to pay for the litigation. Some of the areas money was taken from included the public health department, the state’s welfare agency and even the economic development department.”

Yes, you are reading that right. The governor of Illinois took money out of the budget for welfare, health, and economic development to appeal a law that was deemed unconstitutional and was clearly not going to be passed as it stood anytime soon. Someone needs to get their priorities in order.

To make matters worse, some lawmakers who voted on the law are admitting that they did so merely for political reasons, despite their feelings that the law shouldn’t pass.