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*** UPDATE *** From ABC7’s Twitter page we have some updates on the Quinn presser…
Gov. Quinn says he will return to Chicago this morning and meet this afternoon with all State Constitutional officers.
Gov. Quinn officially signing his first executive order formally establishing the “Illinois Reform Commission”
*** UPDATE 2 *** From the Tribune…
Newly minted Gov. Pat Quinn’s first executive order will be to establish the Illinois Reform Commission as an official state body under the governor’s office, he said this morning.
Quinn set up the commission before former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment and conviction. But he said today that his executive order is intended to send a message to the people of Illinois “that we understand integrity is No. 1 in the Land of Lincoln.”
“Today is a beginning, a start,” he said at a press conference in Springfield. “We are going to fumigate state government from top to bottom to make sure there’s no corruption.”
The commission will have recommendations ready within 100 days, he said.
From WBEZ’s 848 Twitter…
Just called Quinn’s office–they answered “Lieutenant Governor Pat Qu…Governor Quinn’s office! GOVERNOR Quinn!”
It’ll take a while to get used to that, I’m sure.
[ *** End of Updates *** ]
* Gov. Quinn is holding a press conference as I write this. He promised a major announcement today. Details to follow, but he’s been hitting the radio circuit today…
Newly minted Gov. Pat Quinn ducked a question about whether he will run for the office in 2010 but said he will push for a constitutional amendment that would give voters the ability to recall elected officials.
“I believe in recall, have for 33 years,” he told WGN radio host John Williams, noting that former Gov. Rod Blagojevich had opposed the idea. He said he was hopeful of getting a measure on a statewide ballot in the near future.
As for whether he would seek election to the post to which he was elevated Thursday with the impeachment conviction of his predecessor, Quinn said: “I don’t think we need a lot of politics. There’s plenty of time for running for office next year. This has to be a year of reform.”
* From his appearance on Don & Roma…
Quinn said he would be busy on his first full day as governor and that his job is to “mend the flaws” in state government. He pledged to work with lawmakers and other state officials as a team to get the job done.
* The full text of his press conference last night is here…
Q: What about exempt state employees, two or three thousand, do they need to worry now? Will you review everybody?
A: Yeah, I think…if you’re an employee, public or private, you’re always going to be under review. If you’re not doing a good job, then you should be, you know, concerned. But if you are doing a good job, being diligent, that’s what we’re looking for.
Q: Will you review everybody, or are there certain classes of folks that you think will be gone?
A: I haven’t looked at any of that, but I think they’ll be a thorough review over the next month or two to make sure that state government works for the people who pay the taxes. […]
Q: Let’s talk about your frugality. That’s something you’re proud of, isn’t it?
A: Well, I am proud of being frugal, I’m a VIP member at Super 8 (shows card to laughter) and I moved up from Motel 6. I think being frugal is useful, but I am very generous, I think everybody will tell you that I’m generous to a fault. […]
Q: Did you make a mistake by not speaking out in 2006?
A: I was a pretty loud speaker for recall. I was for recall for 33 years. I think this may be the moment for recall.
* Related…
*Blagojevich nightmare over; Quinn upbeat
* Blagojevich ousted as Ill. gov.; Quinn sworn in
* Blagojevich Removed, Quinn Takes Over
* Quinn becomes new Ill. governor
* ‘The ordeal is over’: Pat Quinn starts first full day as governor
* Pat Quinn’s long, surprising rise to governor
* Governor Quinn steps in
* Meet Gov. Pat Quinn
* Quinn promises a new style of leadership
* New Illinois governor is grass-roots crusader
* With populist image, what will Quinn’s term be like?
* Gov. Quinn’s chance to make a mark
* Gov. Quinn gets stimulus control
* Quinn gets down to business as Illinois governor
* Hard work begins for Gov. Quinn
* Gov. Quinn’s priorities
* Quinn expected to reopen parks, address conservation issues
* Gov. Quinn wants to reopen state parks, review Pontiac prison status
* Patrick Quinn asking voters to back him with prayers
* Quinn to face Southland issues
* Quinn ‘no stranger to Peoria’
* Mayors pin hopes on Quinn: Restore pride, govern openly
* Quotables: Central Illinois reacts to Gov. Quinn
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 10:10 am
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I just wanted to post to see how lovely a list of links with the words “Governor Quinn” looks.
Comment by Boone Logan Square Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 10:16 am
I think Pat will stick to his reformer positions. Why shouldn’t he? It’s a little late in life to start changing your spots.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 10:21 am
I said on this blog several times that of all the former Governor’s misdeeds closing the state parks and landmarks was the most egregious.
The fact that one of Governor Quinn’s first priorities is to reopen them speaks volumes. I am already impressed.
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 10:27 am
Hope he doesn’t listen to Ricky Hendon who told CBS2 last night the Quinn needs to drop the reformer position and remember the the way to get things done in Springfield is to “grease the wheels”.
Comment by Bluefish Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 10:31 am
Bluefish, I didn’t see the interview. Are you sure he said “wheels” and not “palms”?
Best of luck to Gov. Quinn.
Nice to be able to use caps for Gov. again.
Comment by Cranky Old Man Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 10:34 am
Perhaps Mr. Hendon needs to join Former gov. Blago in the unemployment line. That’s exactly the state of mind that needs to be flushed out of Springfield. Hopefully in my lifetime!!
TimB
Comment by TimB Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 10:38 am
Any suggestions for a place to find where he stands on common issues?
Comment by Ken in Aurora Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 10:38 am
It’s fine to reopen the state parks and landmarks, but does that mean that the money was there all along? And if so, how can we believe our state officials when they say there is no money for this or no money for that.
I agree that our new governor has to seize the moment and try to get as many reform initiative through as possible. This is Illinois, after all,
and the zeal for reform is unlikely to last all that long. Recall, reform commissions, whatever. But do it fast.
More ominous are his reported statements that we have to make sacrifices and that taxes are the price of living in a Dem society. When pols talk about sacrifices they usually are not talking about sacrifices by pols or state bureaucrats. They are talking about sacrifices by taxpayers…middle class taxpayers. And a good place to start, in the eyes of ever-avaricious Dems, is likely our Obama individual tax cut. They could wipe that out fast with a tax increase. The tax cut is likely a one-time thing, but tax increases are forever.
Comment by Cassandra Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 10:39 am
So, we now have dueling ethics agencies? What about the statutorily created Illinois Executive Ethics Commission? Anyone hear anything from Scott Turow?
http://www.eec.illinois.gov/default.htm
Comment by Downtrodden Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 10:44 am
===When pols talk about sacrifices they usually are not talking about sacrifices by pols or state bureaucrats.
State workers have been beat up on for the last six years. Do you think we can drop that canard and throw it out the window with Blagojevich?
Comment by ArchPundit Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 10:45 am
Hendon is part of the problem, he needs to go as well, sadly it probably won’t happen. Anyone see him on MSNBC last night? What a joke.
Comment by fresh start Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 10:58 am
oh fresh start…did Hendon admit to being the Gov’s enabler (along with Emil of course) the last six years? Didn’t think so…I can only hope that the house cleaning has only begun in the State Capitol…Hendon is the epitome of self serving along with the former Gov.
Comment by Anonymous45 Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 11:13 am
DCFS really needs some help. Many employees were laid off there in November. Their caseload continues to grow and their ranks have been diminished. I hope the new governor can improve morale there and get those employees back to work.
Comment by State Fair Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 11:27 am
Thanks for this post. My comment in the previous thread probably sounded awful sharp. I want to indulge in more schadenfreud over Blagojevich too, but I’m also ready to think about where we’re headed, in terms beyond “who will be in the ‘10 primary and will it be moved to help Quinn.” This starts to set forth some of the issues and the lines of engagement.
Comment by earnest Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 11:30 am
Just out of curiosity…how did frugal Quinn get to Chicago?
Comment by Just Curious Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 11:44 am
Also…can we use the money we save on the state plane (now that Blago is gone, it will be getting much less use, so we should be able to cut the budget for it) to keep the state parks open?
Comment by Just Curious Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 11:45 am
I suspect DCFS needs more than help. It needs subtantive management changes and a sense of urgency.
In today’s Trib there is a report about DCFS’ handling of a tragic case in which an infant was found dead in a squalid North side home this week. DCFS had two previous reports on the family, one pending, yet had failed to provide services to rectify the situation.
This case mirrors a case earlier this month in which police found several infants living in a squalid West side home. Fortunately, none of them died. DCFS acknowledged having a pending report on
this extremely distressed household as well.
There has been a long string of similar disasters during the Blago reform administration.
Maybe the Pat Quinn DCFS needs a new mission statement that says its mission has changed from Blago/Emil pork farm to kids first.
Comment by Cassandra Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 11:46 am
How would you contrast the styles of Speaker Madigan and Quinn? Here’s my answer, which is somewhat cynical about both of them:
Madigan: pass one tiny little bill related to each constituency group. This keeps them beholden and gives you something to put on your direct mail -”I defended kids” means I made some new weird change in sentencing laws so that people who commit the same crime in one place get a lighter sentence because the house where it happened was a little further than 750 feet from a school.
Quinn: pass a coupon-clipper law, that provides significant help to a small pool of people related to a major issue, while leaving the core economics of the issue untouched (like the first-time home-buyer stuff that was never available to most home-buyers in the state).
Madigan: keep most financial decisions away from most legislators; save major financial decisions for the end of session when there’s little time to explain the implications of things.
Quinn: uncertain; as treasurer, I didn’t notice he had any major impact, but then, I wasn’t watching that closely. However, does tend to organize wider groups around issues including financial issues, yielding broader knowledge and expectations of participation in decisions.
Madigan: Issues mostly looked at from the point of view of what is good for the party, meaning what will be popular to swing voters, especially those in white working class suburbs like Oak Lawn, but also with an eye to his target districts and their needs as his aides perceive them. Key aides are probably more trusted than most legislators, and their is a stereotype that fits the key Madigan aide.
Quinn: Attempts to look at issues from a perspective of “people who work paycheck to paycheck.” Filtered through people who might be on such commissions as his proposed Reform Commission. Trusted people will be people like Quentin Young, people from CUB and from various organizing efforts he has been involved with. Broader group, but also more mixed in effectiveness; more mixed even in terms of seeing effectiveness as a goal (the ability to organize people in activist constituencies is more important than the actual impact a policy may have on those people).
Not saying this is gospel. Just my take. I thought the contrasts might be an interesting way to get at key themes. What would other people say? How would you contrast Cullerton from Quinn and Madigan? How did we wind up with three white Irishmen in their 60’s as the state’s leaders? (I shouldn’t be surprised, but …) Does this make Roland invulnerable?
Comment by earnest Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 11:49 am
Just curious - I believe that Lt. Gov Quinn flew down to SPI with Anne Burke and Giannoulis. I’m not sure if that was a “special” plane or the regular state plane run. I do not know how Governor Quinn got back to Chicago, I would imagine the plane though
Comment by Former State Employee 2 Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 11:53 am
Park the plane, reopen the Dana Thomas House..
Comment by Anon Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 11:59 am
Why is a meeting of the Illinois State Constitutional officers being held in the State of Chicago instead of Springfild,the capital city of Illinois? Very disappointing decision.
Comment by Chanson Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 12:09 pm
lol
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 12:10 pm
I LIKE this guy! I think I’ll mail a list of ‘Quinn’s Things to Do’ to Blago, with the note, “Now THIS is what’s meant by ‘working’ for the people!” (Keyword ‘working.’)
Comment by Birdwatcher Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 12:15 pm
So, want to see a dramatization of the word “awkward”? Try the ceremony when they hang the oil painting of Blago in the capitol’s Hall Of Governors. I think you have to hang it, and appropriately, it will hang next to George Ryan’s. But who wants to be at THAT ceremony?
I hope the artist used is the same one that painted “warden” Patrick McGoohan in the movie “Escape from Alcatraz” He can get the crazy eyes just right:-)
Comment by Gregor Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 12:43 pm
“Rod Blagojevich has always been a person who’s honest and one of integrity…I have confidence the governor does the right thing all the time.”
- Pat Quinn _
(Chicago Daily Herald,
October 20, 2006)
Comment by Huntingwithaswitch Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 12:57 pm
I consider integrity to be a quality with many components. One component is to not be a deadbeat, and to pay one’s bills on time. And to pay a dollar for a dollar’s fair work, not underpaying human services providers.
Recall is on our new governor’s mind. Happily, I do not “recall” him making the nonsensical “no tax increase” pledge.
Figure out what state government should be doing in terms of programs and services, and adjust the revenue base to what is needed. That is public service integrity.
Comment by Capitol View Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 1:18 pm
It’s good to see the focus move from whatsisname to Governor Quinn. Put it in the rearview mirror.
Comment by Ahem Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 1:43 pm
===State workers have been beat up on for the last six years. Do you think we can drop that canard and throw it out the window with Blagojevich?===
Not unless Rich bans Cassandra:-)
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 3:11 pm
The title of this thread made me think of it…
Everybody’s celebrating the big impeachment trial,
Some are tearing down tollway signs,
Others, looking through files,
Everybody was in despair,
Every girl and boy
But when Quinn theGovernor got here,
Everybody’s had to jump for joy.
Come all without, come all within,
You’ll not see nothing like the mighty Quinn.
I like to do just like the rest, I like my government clean,
But shaking down and taking bribes,
It ain’t my cup of meat.
Everybody was on their knees,
Praying the Senate to convict
But now that Quinn the Governor is here,
All the people gonna run to him.
Come all without, come all within,
You’ll not see nothing like the mighty Quinn.
Comment by Fan of the Game Friday, Jan 30, 09 @ 3:55 pm