Lawmakers open fall session with questions on Lincoln museum

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – An Illinois House tourism committee will open the General Assembly’s fall session with questions about the future of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum .

The committee on Tuesday will question officials with the museum. Its fundraising foundation wants state tourism money to help pay off $9 million owed on a decade-old loan used to buy Lincoln artifacts. But questions about the authenticity of a stovepipe hat purportedly belonging to Lincoln have created negative publicity .

The fall session scheduled to consider legislation vetoed by the governor runs through Thursday and Nov. 27-29. Lawmakers might take up vetoes of legislation setting the minimum public-school teacher’s salary at $40,000 , barring tobacco sales to those under 21 , and raising the limit on awards from the Court of Claims from $100,000 to $2 million.