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* Gov. Quinn confirms the obvious…
“I have no reason not to run,” Quinn told me when I asked him about the 2010 election.
“I think I am doing a good job today. I anticipate I will continue to do that. Stabilizing the ship of Illinois is vitally necessary. I think even in the first three-and-a-half weeks we’ve done a decent job of turning a page in an unhappy chapter in the state’s history,” Quinn said.
* His charm is still his personal thriftiness, and he’ll be pushing that angle with reporters as long as he can…
He sipped a cup of tea while we chatted at a hotel restaurant and insisted on handing me $3 for it, turning down my offer to pay. Blagojevich rarely attended NGA meetings, and when he did, he arrived on a state plane. Quinn flew United, coach. He refuses to get new business cards; he just scratches out the word “lieutenant” on his old cards.
That thriftiness will help counter what will likely be claimed is his love for more taxes and bigger government.
* But he’ll have to be careful how he spends money on this never-ending state tour…
[Quinn wants to] Travel around Illinois, visiting different cities and suburbs each week.
* Among his plans for his first 100 days in office…
Consider creating a separate department to regulate the insurance industry.
That should send some ripples through the Statehouse, where the insurance committees are usually populated with friendly (to the insurance industry) faces.
…Adding… Quinn has long favored a Citizens Utility Board style consumer group for the insurance industry. Haven’t heard that explicitly mentioned lately, but could that be part of what he’s talking about here?
Thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 8:36 am
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Previous Post: Morning Shorts
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There really wasn’t one piece of new news in this column from Sweet. Even the insurance department item he has talked about before.
Comment by Niles Township Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 8:51 am
I have yet to get the impression that Quinn gets the enormity of the situation he’s facing.
Comment by Scooby Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 8:56 am
There’s no reason for him to be coy. Actually, along with the small-bore frugality, I think a lot of voters will appreciate the candor in light of the fact he’s going to have to push some very unpopular measures this spring.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 9:02 am
So Quinn wants to divide the Dept. of Financial & Professional Regulation back to the way it was before Blago combined the agencies.
Comment by Segatari Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 9:05 am
The former Department of Insurance was merged, along with the Office of Banks and Real Estate and the Department of Professional Regulation, into the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation by Blago executive order in 2004. These now exist as separate “divisions” within DFPR. Why not just make Insurance a stand-alone department again?
Comment by Secret Square Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 9:05 am
I love “thrifty” - they call us “tightwads”, “penny pinchers”, “Scrooges”, etc.
But they don’t ever call us broke.
Also, small point for the Gov: “I have no reason not to run”…..better put: “I have good reasons to run”.
Comment by You Go Boy Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 9:06 am
Right now he will be a contender.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 9:07 am
Look- in this economy (and it won’t get any better before the primary in 2010), Quinn may have a good shot at winning? He may come across to the voters ala Glenn (I slept in my Congressional office) Poshard, but this time the voters may actually fall in love with him! Think about it, do you think even the craziest Dem loves the idea of Daddy and Daughter running 2 of the three powerhouses in IL? All I’m sayin is that IF Quinn can stay connected to the DEM voters, remember all he has to do is win the Primary (the GOP has not hope–Brady? Please? Danny R? nope) because he can rumble past any REPUB in the general.
Comment by oddsmaker Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 9:20 am
Quinn is in the right place, with the right tone, at the right time.
A couple of months ago, I reviewed leaders whom I considered the “anti-Blagojevich”, and the qualities they need to display to voters. Quinn has all these qualities, except for gender and party.
He now has the additional benefit of incumbancy, and the benefit of a voter base tired of political chaos. Illinoians don’t want to get rid of another governor unless they have a much better choice, or unless Quinn flops in a big way.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 9:36 am
The Dept of Insurance plan should be done. It should have never have been separated. Insurance is different than banks, credit unions and the licensing of other professionals.
He’ll make a great Governor. Just the guy we need in the era we now live.
No to the Double M’s.
Comment by Deep South Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 9:43 am
I can’t help it — I love the guy.
Comment by soccermom Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 9:46 am
Quinn still was Blago’s Lt Guv for two terms and spoke of him glowingly until it became politically wise for him not to do so. Blago and Quinn, forever linked at the hip. Blago & Quinn go together like paper and pen.
Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 10:01 am
Regulating the insurance companies is a great idea as long as it is done properly and does not hamstring the business. Quinn must not forget what a huge employer they are in this State and that they are one of the few businesses that are not laying off.
Having said that, I could go on all day about a need for better oversight. One of the main problems with the industry is the way they have implemented credit scores to determine insurance premiums. Their policies are unfair to many, especially small business owners and contractors.
The grades often fluctuate weekly but they do not update their credit grades so if you sign up when your grade is low-your stuck unless you make them redo it.
As the economy crashes, people are forced to pay more for their insurance because they lost their jobs-nice.
A little common sense insurance policies could go a long way toward making the industry more fair.
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 10:03 am
Quinn needs to make a concerted effort to purge the vestiges of the corrupt Blagojevich cronies who still permeate state government. Until and unless he does that, I’ll have a hard time believing that Quinn does anything more than talk a good game.
Comment by Cynic Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 10:24 am
Quinn strikes me as more than a contender in the February 2010 primary. My guess is that he is the favorite. Bill “I wasn’t likely to run anyway” Daley ain’t gonna run and it seems that Alexi G is focusing on the Senate.
That leaves Madigan V Quinn. I don’t know how to forecast that one. MJM better really channel Machiavelli to plan that battle. If MJM gets the major pols to back Lisa that just makes Quinn look independent.
Plus let’s say Alexi runs for the Senate. Perhaps he would be interested in the Governor’s office in 2014. Who would Alexi, and by extension Obama, rather see elected in 2010? Quinn who might retire in 2014 or Lisa Madigan who would likely be looking for another term?
Comment by IrishPirate Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 10:35 am
IrishPirate, I think your right about Alexi. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Alexi, Quinn and a prominant black candidate as Lt Gov form a mini-ticket to offset the Speakers power as State chair.
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 11:02 am
I agree with Cynic…there are still far too many of Blago’s incompetent cheerleaders in high places in a number of state agencies. Unless Gov. Quinn can weed them out, and soon, dysfunction and retaliation will continue to reign.
Comment by former state employee Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 11:41 am
But the big question is what are the plans for Blago’s old business cards? They should sell them on Ebay to help with the deficit.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 12:07 pm
Alexi for Senate
Quinn for Governor
Clayborne for Lt. Gov
Comment by Deep South Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 12:31 pm
Until Quinn fumigates the current agency directors along with their administrative staff, I don’t think he has much of a chance of winning. Agencies still smell foul of Blago.
Comment by Can't Say My Nickname Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 12:45 pm
I would have preferred that Quinn just concentrate on the two years with all his energy, because now everything he does or wants to do gets parsed first thru the “is this a campaign move” filter. I think that’sjust going to sloe down the repair job. OTOH, there are folks in the capitol who would be suspicious of a “lame duck” governor and treat him differently if he wasn’t going to possibly still be around another 4 years. So its a tough call. If I was an angel on Quinn’s shoulder, I’d say be happy to be governor for 2 years and just be the very best you can at that, and let re-election or any future career path take care of itself.
Me, I see Quinn in the US senate later, if he does a good job cleaning up Illinois now.
Comment by Gregor Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 12:51 pm
Quinn v. Madigan in the primary means a weakened winner and, if the economy/ state budget is not fixed by then, a solid chance for a quaified repub to take the office back.
Comment by page from blago's playbook Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 12:54 pm
Gregor I agree. Quinn needs to concentrate on the present and work toward getting us back on track. He needs to start weeding out the Blago Boneheads and their admin staff from all the agencies soon or risk losing the people’s confidence. I think if they don’t start acting soon on our fiscal mess, the next governor could very well be a republican. Yes, it just might be an interesting primary!
Comment by Justice Tuesday, Feb 24, 09 @ 6:14 pm
Wumpus wrote: ===Quinn still was Blago’s Lt Guv for two terms and spoke of him glowingly until it became politically wise for him not to do so. Blago and Quinn, forever linked at the hip. Blago & Quinn go together like paper and pen.===
Guilt by association, ala Obama/Ayers, is a quick and dirty substitute for genuine thinking. Didn’t work for John McCain, won’t work for Andy McKenna in 2010 (not exactly the quickest learner) either.
On the other hand, considering the brain power of the average voter, it might succeed. “Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is the probable reason so few engage in it.” -Henry Ford.
Comment by Mighty M. Mouse Wednesday, Feb 25, 09 @ 1:37 am