Food fans will love what the Illinois House cooked up last week. Pumpkin pie was voted as the state’s official pie.
Even though Illinois’ finances are in perilous shape, and budgets are being sliced right and left, perhaps we shouldn’t begrudge lawmakers a short break from the serious problems at hand. A lawmaker from Morton, Republican state Rep. Keith Sommer, put the legislation on the House’s menu. He represents a large pumpkin-growing region, and touted the fact that Illinois produces about 85 percent of pumpkin consumed in the nation.
House members apparently swallowed his argument; the vote was 108 in favor, 3 opposed.
So, why not name a state pie? We have a state fruit (Gold Rush apple) and state snack food (popcorn), not to mention about 20 other officially designated state somethings-or-other. Of course, Chicago area lawmakers might protest that Chicago-style pizza "pie" ought not to be discounted. Indeed, all three "no" votes came from Chicagoland lawmakers.
The state’s apple and peach growers might also feel left out, as the fruits they produce make excellent pie fillings. The Senate has yet to weigh in on the official state pie bill. Time remains for fanciers of apple, peach, cherry, blueberry, rhubarb, strawberry, and other pies to press their cases. We hope bipartisan support for the state pie bill leaves such a good taste in the mouths of lawmakers that they agree to cooperate on larger measures. And cooperate they must. The upcoming state budget for fiscal year 2016 is expected to have a $6 billion hole that must be filled somehow – and not by pumpkins. Solving the state’s problems shouldn’t be considered pie in the sky. Illinoisans made the mess, and they must fix the mess. If lawmakers fail, we don’t believe they’ll deserve a slice of the new official state pie. Let them eat humble pie instead.
