State Journal Register: Rutherford: All should pay to enter fair

[Tweed]

http://www.sj-r.com/Sections/News/Stories/49351.asp

"State Sen. Dan Rutherford wants to reduce the number of people who get in the Illinois State Fair for free - including children, seniors and veterans.

"I'm talking about everything," the Pontiac Republican said Wednesday. "Minnesota did this in the 1930s. Everyone pays. It's up to the Ag Department to determine how much, if they want to charge 25 or 50 cents for kids.

"The state fair is losing money, premiums have been cut back dramatically. It seems better public policy to have everyone pay to get in the fair."

In 2003, of the estimated 725,000 people who attended the state fair, only one-third paid for their tickets, according to a report by the Illinois auditor general. In 2002, just 20 percent of attendees paid, and in 2001, only 23 percent of people who entered the fairgrounds paid gate admission, the report said."

[fit4life]

1. That makes sense.

Go figure. Instead of looking at ways to increase attendance and make the fair more appealing, republicans just want to stick it to people a little harder.

If they think attendance is down now, wait until they increase ticket prices.