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Quinn the Yankee

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Illinois

(T)he Governor hasn’t been further South than Troy, Illinois in nearly nine months. A city that’s still nearly 50 miles from our region.

The governor’s office responds…

Governor Pat Quinn has traveled all over the state - including to Southern Illinois- numerous times since taking office. He’s made job creation and public infrastructure investment for Southern Illinois a top priority. In fact, Governor Quinn signed into law the largest public works program in state history, which is supporting thousands of jobs across Southern Illinois on highway projects like the widening of Route 13, SIU’s new Transportation Education Center and brand new classrooms for Marion, Mt. Vernon, Pinckneyville, Carterville and Shawnee. The governor has promoted Southern Illinois agriculture around the world and worked tirelessly to open up new markets for Southern Illinois businesses. At Governor Quinn’s direction, the state partnered with Continental Tires to expand their business in Mt. Vernon and create more than 400 jobs. The Governor’s travel schedule varies month to month depending on what work he has to do. When the massive tornado hit Harrisburg last year, Governor Quinn was in Harrisburg within hours. As we are currently in the midst of the legislative session, Governor Quinn has spent a good amount of time in the past several months in Springfield as well as Chicago. His focus is on delivering real results for the people of Southern Illinois. That’s why he is in Springfield tonight working to achieve important goals like balancing the budget, much-needed pension reform and other important policies that will jumpstart the economy. Any implication otherwise is 100% false and absurd.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 9:23 am

Comments

looks like a non-denial denial to me.

Comment by Jim Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 9:30 am
OK, I see the point… whine, whine, whine…

Comment by downstate commissioner Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 9:30 am
Oops, in case it wasn’t clear, I was talking about the TV station. Quinn’s release was just political gobbledy goop…

Comment by downstate commissioner Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 9:33 am
Any governor should be in constant motion around the state, visiting state facilities, nursing homes, schools, colleges — seeing what’s going on everywhere and anywhere state money is being spent and hearing what the folks have to say.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 9:33 am
If it walks like a lame-duck and quacks like a lame duck….then its probably a lame duck!

Comment by Nickypiii Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 9:34 am
Quinn’s people aren’t calling Springfield Southern Illinois, are they?

Comment by votecounter Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 9:35 am
Maybe the Gov’s GPS didn’t have enough hard drive space to download the entire state map. “Recalculating…make a u-turn and continue 256 miles North on I55″.

Comment by Bulbous1 Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 9:38 am
I’m not Quinn’s biggest fan by any stretch. However this is still a non story.

Comment by Mason born Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 9:40 am
But what about Rockford?!?

Comment by Raymond Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 9:44 am
that they have to respond with the bullet points says something.

On the flip side when was the gov last in North WEST Illinois? (I really dont know)

Comment by RonOglesby Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 9:50 am
Speaking of Carterville, I’d highly recommend a visit to Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge.

Beautiful hiking and recreation spot.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 9:51 am
It’s a non story, but speaking for the majority down here nobody cares about his non-presence south anyways! He has not made any real attempts to connect with anyone here and when he does come down it is usually a quick helicopter drop, face the cameras and run. The only people that do care this way are those that can save fuel by avoiding a drive to Chicago or Springfield to picket him!

Comment by Southerner Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 9:52 am
How many people live in Carterville, IL? Doesn’t the Governor have a responsibility to the people of Illinois, not the “regions”? Yes, I am a Cook County resident, along with 40% of the state’s population. Sorry that the Governor didn’t get down to Carterville to listen to people tell him how Chicago is stealing their money. I’m not sure if you saw recently, but there was some serious flooding in northern IL that he had to attend to. Oh, also the legislative session.

Comment by Empty Chair Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 9:53 am
I’m with Mason - this is a non-story. But the tone of the response, “Any implication otherwise is 100% false and absurd”, combined with the run on nature of the paragraph (ever heard of a new paragraph) might lead one to believe that they’re a bit touchy on this point.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 9:57 am
And when he’s down there, they complain he’s wasting state money on a campaign stop.

People who can never be satisfied are best ignored.

Comment by Dan Bureaucrat Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 9:58 am
“including to Southern Illinois- numerous times since taking office.”-this is over 5 years.

Comment by Shore Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 10:27 am
I think if there is to be any proof in the pudding, it will come over the Labor Day weekend. Governors traditionally come to Southern Illinois to attend the Du Quoin State Fair during that time. Its high profile stuff…bill signing, ribbon cuttings, etc. If the governor isn’t in the Deep South during the Labor Day Weekend/Du Quoin State Fair period, this perceived problem may be a real problem.

Comment by Deep South Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 10:32 am
All the better that Quinn hasn’t been to my area of East Central Illinois. Keep him the h**l out of here!

Comment by East Central Illinois Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 10:36 am
Several comments.

As was covered a while back by Rich. When Big Jim visited a part of Illinois it really seemed that he was glad to be there. Not so much with PQ.

Every stop with PQ seems to be a campaign stop.

Yeah, the legislative session would be an excuse but is he even involved? Don’t think so. Other than an occasional campaign stop to spew the cliche’s.

And finally, I am happy he hasn’t visited my area much. He’s kinda like the odd cousin. He’s there, you have to acknowledge him, but you hope he doesn’t come to visit you.

Comment by Irish Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 10:38 am
Although not exactly a “wild-fire” story, still I think the Governor doth protest too much. Okay..the Press Office…

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 10:38 am
Is anyone *sure* that either PQ or his press team actually know where Troy is?

Comment by Chris Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 10:45 am
- Every stop with PQ seems to be a campaign stop. -

Yeah, that trip to Meredosia to make sure they were getting the flood assistance they needed is going to be huge in the election.

People that don’t like the Governor are going to find stuff to whine about, this is no different.

My main concern is why the Gov’s response has no indentation. Not sure who was responsible, but a little editing is in order.

Comment by Small Town Liberal Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 11:01 am
Quinn didn’t attend the DQ State Fair last year. He certainly won’t this year. He was supposed to speak near a farm in Waltonville one time and then had to run from the press to another location.

Comment by South of64 Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 12:52 pm
If liked good BBQ, he would be down there at least once a month…17th Street, Triple E, the list goes on and includes several Memphis in May winners. Plus, there is the wine trail, the Shawnee National Forest, the Cache River & Crab Orchard Wildlife refuges, Giant City & Ferne Cliff SPs, Garden of the Gods.

The Gov could go down there and be lost for weeks!

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 12:54 pm
Last fall Gov Quinn planned a trip to the grand opening of the new SIU Aviation Center near Carbondale in Jackson County, where he has closed 3 state facilities, with one more to go (the State Crime Lab in Carbondale is slated to close in May 2014). At the last minute his plans chanced and he did not make the trip, which many suspect was because he caught wind that he was going to get a reception similar to one he received at the DuQuoin State Fair a few months back. If he can’t take the heat, he should get out of the oven (or the office, in this case).

Comment by rusty618 Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 12:57 pm
==Is anyone *sure* that either PQ or his press team actually know where Troy is?==
Yes….it’s where his Lt. Governor grew up and he’s been there a few times to honor her father.

Comment by Vote Quimby! Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 1:43 pm
“Yes….it’s where his Lt. Governor grew up and he’s been there a few times to honor her father. ”

Okay, you accounted for PQ. Now, about his press team…

Comment by Chris Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 2:40 pm
PQ does get up and about (unlike his predecessor) but he does frequent the areas where the population (voters) are. And he knows he didn’t carry the state south of I-80 in 2010, and wound up winning.

Comment by Darienite Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 3:00 pm
Perhaps PQ fears that “Squeezy” will end up in some of that great SO IL ‘cue.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 3:10 pm
I do not fault this governor or any governor for having difficulty in visiting all of Illinois. Illinois is a vast state with diverse needs. This being said, the governor is elected to represent both Carterville and Chicago equally even as Chicago has more people; Carterville’s citizen are no less Illinoisans.

Comment by Downstater Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 3:55 pm
==Now, about his press team… ==
They are probably to young to remember Paul Simon, so it’s anybody’s guess!

Comment by Vote Quimby! Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 5:15 pm
Quinn seems to bring a lot of this criticism on himself. Yes, people would complain no matter what he does, but some of his actions make it easier to critique him. This is a good case in point. All he would have to do is put forth the extra effort and schedule 1 or 2 events a month south of I-64, or spend the majority of the legislative session in Springfield working directly with legislators or having a comprehensive strategic plan for prison and development closures, etc.

I may not be remembering all the details correctly since it was when I was a kid, but I remember Governor Edgar promising to visit all 102 counties and it took him until the end of his second term, but he accomplished it. An attitude like that from a governor would be a refreshing change of pace over what we’ve had the last 10 years.

Comment by MyTwoCents Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 6:12 pm
Much ado about nothing.

“Because Governor Quinn hasnt been here in X months, Bad Thing Y happened.” Then you have a story.

Comment by Censustaker Tuesday, May 14, 13 @ 9:06 pm