Question of the day
Friday, Jan 24, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* KMOX asked Gov. Pat Quinn what he plans to say in next week’s State of the State address…
Though Quinn didn’t spill the beans in an interview Thursday he did say “it’s important that we have a continued building in our state.”
Adding that Illinois should support the “fundamentals” like building and repairing roads, fixing bridges also making sure schools are in good condition.
Political observers say its also a good bet that Quinn will continue his push to increase the state’s minimum wage to $10 an hour, which he recently said should be passed and put into place by the end of this year.
* The Question: Besides a new capital plan and the minimum wage, what do you think the governor will talk about?
- Ghost - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:54 pm:
having fixed the pension like he promised and so its time to fix other stuff kind of thing.
- cod - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:58 pm:
I would like him to talk about his interesting new principle of government finance, which is to promise payment for services, and then after the services are completed, pass a law that shortchanges the provider.
I want to hear if this applies only to educators, or to all people who provide services to the State?
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:58 pm:
Illinois’ record soy harvest. Yeah, Soy Boy!
- dupage dan - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 1:59 pm:
The Mighty Mississippi River. That’ll eat up at least 20 minutes.
- Ghost - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:03 pm:
the state;s new intiative to taste test classic coalcoke and new coalcoke
- DuPage - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:05 pm:
He won’t be talking about what will happen if the court throws out SB1.
- Cincinnatus - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:07 pm:
Whatever topics allow the address to be under 15 minutes in length…
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:08 pm:
“We’re broke and must cut pensions, education, etc.” vs. “We have plenty of money for new capital projects!”
LOL.
Regardless of funding structures, or bond issuances, or specific revenue funds, it ultimately all comes from one place: tax dollars.
Here’s a hint, Governor: You only get so many. How you allocate them is decidedly up to you and our other “leaders”.
- MrJM - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:08 pm:
1) Ensuring a quality education for all of Illinois kids, not just the wealthy and connected,
2) Protecting the health and safety of vulnerable seniors, and
3) Treating the working men and women of Illinois with fairness and respect.
If he passes up these three easy shots at the Baron, I’ll shake my head.
– MrJM
- Henry Clay - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:15 pm:
He will mention that he just bought a Harley and he will be wearing Carhartts when he gives his State of the State talk.
- Demoralized - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:17 pm:
First, people need to realize this is the State of the State address and not the budget speech. So if you are looking for a lot of budget stuff you are going to be disappointed.
The speech will be like any other. A “pat on the back” for all that he’s “done.”
- anonxx - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:22 pm:
If I had to write it, I would focus on the fact that much of the uncertainty and contentiousness of previous years is now resolved and we now offer a more stable environment for economic growth.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:23 pm:
Evelyn Sanguinetti.
Since Bruce Rauner forgot all about her yesterday, even with the “3″ mentioning their LG mates.
- Chi - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:24 pm:
*picturing Quinn in a Carharrt on a Harley…
The theme will be something like “moving forward”: as in, we dealt with pensions, did a lot of hard things, now let’s move forward and create jobs jobs jobs (while pounding his chest Sammy Sosa style)
- Dee Lay - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:27 pm:
Hopefully he will mention his support of the Pullman-area becoming the first urban national park.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:32 pm:
It’s an election year, so Quinn will rush to return to his “populist” roots. As with most politicians, it’s like watching a well-trained circus animal repeat the same trick over and over.
Mr. Quinn will talk about:
- “Putting people back to work” (capital spending)
- “Children” and “families” (mentioned at least 15 times as they relate to education and health care)
- “An honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work” (raising the minimum wage)
- “The people who build our state” (extend some sort of an olive branch or two to unions, despite his terrible treatment of them)
- The importance of “the things we have fought for so hard, and making sure we protect our citizens” (extending the tax hike, but not getting too close to saying he wants to extend it; only close enough to plant the seed those ‘evil Republicans’ want to punish people and take away things from them)
He will also take credit for:
- Same-sex marriage
- Pension reform
- Creating jobs
- More movies and tv shows filming in Illinois
- Health care
- Passing the 2009 earlier capital plan
- At least one company that has moved to Illinois or expanded here
Basically, a glorified campaign speech. Anything he can use to help position his campaign.
@Oswego Willy could probably drum up a pretty good scorecard for the drinking game.
- enoughalready - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:36 pm:
A la Charlie Sheen, he’ll introduce a new catchphrase and campaign slogan…”Quinning”
- Wensicia - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:38 pm:
He’ll be talking about his great accomplishments to date (which will take up 75% of the speech), then he’ll promise to work night and day to move the state forward to even greater accomplishments because he was put on earth for this reason.
Sorry, MrJM, like the Republican candidates, he won’t be taking any of the easy shots at Rauner. Not yet.
- RNUG - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:41 pm:
Quinn will talk about all the hard work he did last year, talk about how Illinos needs to go forward with improved educaiton, need to create more jobs, and lay out infrastructure needs (capitol building project).
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:47 pm:
“State of the State Bingo”…? Hmmm.
To the “Question”
Squeezy choosing to retire in Illinois…
I do expect “working together” to be spoken, and reading name upon name of those who made something “possible”.
Might go “ADM” staying without incentives. A jab, sure, but “leadership without caving”
- Commonsense in Illinois - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:48 pm:
who cares? It’s lunch time…
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:52 pm:
–Hopefully he will mention his support of the Pullman-area becoming the first urban national park.–
I don’t understand this celebration of the company town. The Pullman workers certainly didn’t celebrate it.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 2:59 pm:
“Please remember; any game created for the speech would be just an exhibition. It would not be a competition. Please, no wagering. Also, ‘water’ is just a suggested beverage, the Home/Office version may alter that nuance.”
“Question”
Innovation as a buzz word(?) Could be a theme.
- Will - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 3:01 pm:
Say: ‘Let the will of the people be the law of the land’ while wearing a purple tie.
- Anyone Remember - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 3:02 pm:
The slaying of Squeezy.
- Kerfuffle - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 3:06 pm:
How he is working 24/7 on the issues for the people of the State of Illinois
- Empty Suit - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 3:11 pm:
Land of Lincoln, investing in education, children, technology (which is also code for more spending) new programs, blue ribbon panels committees etc, and principles as old as the Bible. Oh yeah and his new Super 8 card.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 3:22 pm:
@OswegoWilly - lol. You have quite the way with words, sir.
- The Colossus of Roads - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 3:24 pm:
1) Reviving the fumigation bill
2) State employment for people with criminal records
3) White Sox drop Southpaw and adopt Squeezy the Pension Python as team mascot
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 3:31 pm:
I liberally borrowed “some” from Letterman’s Pet Tricks open, but I thank you!
- Ruby - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 3:37 pm:
The governor will explain why increased access to early childhood education for disadvantaged children is a good investment for Illinois which will pay for itself many times over.
- OLD BRASS - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 3:37 pm:
I hear through the grapevine that “Squeezy the Python” was recently donated to the Henson-Robinson Zoo in Springfield.
Unfortunately, he/she will not be on display to the public due to insufficient funds.
- walker - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 3:42 pm:
Formerly Known As
Nailed it.
- 4 percent - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 4:01 pm:
I’m hearing that he plans to propose doubling the EITC.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 4:02 pm:
- FKA - is driving the bus on this, a pretty good Post covering alot of ground.
Well done.
- Arthur Andersen - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 4:05 pm:
Naming AA as the Official State Curmudgeon.
- Jerome Horwitz - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 4:09 pm:
I hope that he mentions how he plans to pay the back log of unpaid bills and how he plans to stay current in paying bills.
- Just The Way It Is One - Friday, Jan 24, 14 @ 4:19 pm:
Formerly Known As @2:38 pm provided a nice summation. He might also want to herald passage of the Medical Marijuana bill, ethics reform and greater transparency, and reference his ongoing commitment to Illinois’ Military members, assistance to their families, and Veterans, relief provided for the thousands of victims of massive flooding and tornadoes, and making low-cost Health Care insurance available now to all Illinoisans, working in conjunction with the Federal Government (i.e. Obamacare) and his continuing dedication to High-Speed Railroads and pressing for the Illiana Corridor to reduce traffic congestion…