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* Today is a milestone day…
If nothing else, Pat Quinn’s first 100 days as governor of Illinois have shown him the highs and lows that come with being in the hot seat.
* The GOP ain’t impressed…
“Blagojevich Democrats continue to show they cannot bring change to Illinois,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna. “These same Democrats who endorsed and enabled Rod Blagojevich for six years are still fighting to keep the Blagojevich era of higher taxes, no reform, and arrogant power plays alive in Illinois.”
* A couple of other items…
* AP Illinois Multimedia Advisory: Quinn-100 Days
* Key dates in Quinn’s 100 days as governor
* The Question: What do you think of Gov. Quinn’s first 100 days? Explain fully, please.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 8, 09 @ 11:25 am
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Hey Rich, completely off topic… I just looked at your quick links. You still have “Governnor Blagojevich,” “Lt. Gov. Quinn,” and “Senator Obama”. Just FYI.
Comment by UISer Friday, May 8, 09 @ 11:36 am
lol. Thanks.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 8, 09 @ 11:37 am
Looking at his first 100 days in office it seems that he is trying to get things done but he can’t. He couldn’t get Burris to resign. The Madigan Machine is telling him he is moving to slowly on things.
Comment by Boscobud Friday, May 8, 09 @ 11:39 am
Fixed. To the question, please…
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 8, 09 @ 11:44 am
Hey, he produced an honest budget and a reform bill that would make things significantly better (gerrymandering alone should be considered a capital offense against the voters in a democracy: in an up/down vote this one aspect would trump all else, in a separate vote, the voters should throw anyone who opposes an Iowa-like system out of office).
Those achievements are so immense, they dwarf any complaints I have about Quinn. We have a pretty clear choice: a flawed but honest budget and government or more of what the Combine shovels onto our plates.
Comment by lake county democrat Friday, May 8, 09 @ 11:46 am
Not much. Honesty and some ideas isn’t enough. Keeping many of the former gov’s appointees at 100 days doesn’t say much for house cleaning either.
Comment by sal-says Friday, May 8, 09 @ 11:49 am
There have been some disappointments, but at least the new Governor isn’t out twisting arms for his campaign fund. I have hopes that he will remain to what he has stood for, but time will tell.
The state needs to cut every non- essential spending item from its budget. They can start with pulling the plug on the Will County Peotone boondoggle.
The reality is that it is the legislature who ultimately plans how to spend the public’s money and as we can see by the flashing ads on the right side of the page (7 out of 7), the lobbying of special interest groups is ramping up.
Imagine how it is in the offices of the legislators.
Comment by Plutocrat03 Friday, May 8, 09 @ 11:52 am
He’s done a very good job of re-establishing trust in the Governor’s office to the electorate and the general assembly.
He did a very good job in setting up the Collins Commission to begin the process of reforming Illinois Government.
I don’t think he could have done a worse job of “fumigating” Blago’s appointments.
His budget proposal is far too ambitious for a non-elected Governor and he should have presented a temporary income tax increase to pay the bills and fill the deficit until a duly elected Governor with actual time to study the budget could present a permanant plan.
He’s done a great job re-opening State Parks and historic sites.
I think he is doing the best he can but it’s such a big job in the best of times-and these ain’t them.
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Friday, May 8, 09 @ 11:54 am
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
I think Quinn is personally honest. I think he is genuinely trying to do the right thing. That in itself is rather unique in our government.
That being said good intentions aren’t enough. He seems to lack management skills and his appointment of a 29 year old as head of the State Police was silly, silly, silly. He needs to transition from Pat the populist to Pat the GOVERNor. With emphasis on the GOVERN.
I’m willing to give him more than a fair chance, but he needs to realize that so far his administration is “B” for ideas and “C-” for implementation.
Then after he improves on the implementation he needs to get ready for the gunfight he likely faces next February from MJM and his daughter. Quinn might get lucky and President Obama might endorse him, but I wouldn’t count on it.
Comment by IrishPirate Friday, May 8, 09 @ 11:56 am
I thought PJW summed it up nicely.
I’ll add, I thought the first 30 days were a magnificent breath of fresh air. But now it’s time to govern, and I’m not sure Pat is really a chief executive. He needs to focus, focus, focus, and not get off on tangents. And managing the government? I’m not confident that plays to his strengths.
He’d make a great U.S. Senator, though, in all seriousness.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, May 8, 09 @ 12:00 pm
There have been a few reformations, but he had to know that his day was coming and been more prepared with staff changes and workable ideas. For all his “outsider” trappings, he is still part of a good old boy political network. Being “not Blagojevich” is not being an awful lot, but his ascension via “an extraordinary act of the legislature” does change the tune the state will be dancing to.
Comment by Captain Flume Friday, May 8, 09 @ 12:03 pm
If execution is the chariot of genius, we’re still cruising on skateboards. Quinn needs to take a more pro active role in managing the 56,000 state employee enterprise. Lavin’s preoccupied with the federal stimulus package and not spending enough time on operations.
Comment by Harry Hopkins Friday, May 8, 09 @ 12:08 pm
With the exception of proposed tax hikes, I think Quinn had done a good job. He has been active in actual governing of the state. I don’t always like his ideas, but I like the fact that he truly seems to care. As a Republican, I fear that now there is a democrat I can tolerate, he is going to get the shaft by his party. I hope not.
Comment by Heartless Libertarian Friday, May 8, 09 @ 12:09 pm
Mark me down as disappointed as well. IMHO the only reason he ran for LG was to ride up the ladder, and aside from a few bright spots he has not shown how he can be an effective governor. Appointing people just because you know them (Lavin, Monken, etc.) isn’t the way to lead, and hanging on to Filan et al was not a smooth move. Being a fan of Pat Quinn, my expectations were too high in the post-Blago euphoria. The reality is the state has been run into the ground financially and ethically, and now Quinn will fill out the remainder of Blago’s term and probably lose in the primary. As the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for you just might get it.
Comment by Vote Quimby! Friday, May 8, 09 @ 12:16 pm
I give him a B. Excellent marks on most things. Hiring an outsider was wise for the state police, just not a 29 year old without law enforcement experience. That to me sums up Pat’s problems. His intentions are golden A+, better than we have had in decades. However, he needs time to grow into the execution piece. I’d rather an honest man, and that’s what we have now. If Madigan lets anything of Quinn’s ideas pass we will be better off, but I don’t see it happening.
Comment by Niles Township Friday, May 8, 09 @ 12:20 pm
But, personally the Governor is much more a human being, and I think has removed some the aura of heartlessness that enveloped the administration of his predecessor. His concern for veterans certainly seems genuine enough. If he has some gut-felt reforms or initiatives that he really wants to see move forward, he also has to hold fast to the conviction that his Governor because he was re-elected twice as Lt. Gov. And that election process was not a gift from the legislature.
Comment by Captain Flume Friday, May 8, 09 @ 12:24 pm
quinn has been a breathe of fresh air. sure, politics in illinois are pretty institutionalized, and a reform governor probably can’t have any effect on the madigan-cross feud, or do much with an $11B budget deficit, etc. and all chief executives find that their power to change things is more limited than they expected. but quinn has taken steps to heal the wounds left by blago and to end the embarrassment of these last 6-7 years. so i can say i’m proud of gov. quinn, even if i am disappointed in what he’s achieved so far…
Comment by bored now Friday, May 8, 09 @ 12:32 pm
Adopting PJW and Words comments, I would add that he needs to back away from two practices.
First, he needs to stop developing policy on a knee jerk basis during press nterviews. I am glad he is talking ot the press, but the constant expression of a policy and then the backing away make him look ineffective and dis-jointed. Develop the policy, perhaps even meet with cullerton and madigan as a courtesy, then express it.
Second, he needs to stop pushing the reforms which have strong benefits for him, such as public financing of campaigns, when he effectively has no money; and pushing to change the primary date, so he can fix the first issue. There is a very strong appearance of a conflict of interest and use of goverment authority for personal gain. he should recognize the appearance of the conflict and remian silent or neutral on such reform issues. The majority ot ethics issues flow from not only actual conflicts of interest, but the appearance o such conflicts. As a reformer Quinn should be senitive to such appearances and pick the issues he wants to vocally support to avoid such appearances.
Comment by Ghost Friday, May 8, 09 @ 12:34 pm
Have always liked Pat. I think he’s done about as well as anybody could so far under these conditions. The legislature is like an oil tanker, hard to turn it on a dime. And it runs on loyalty and trading favors, currency Pat did not have a lot of time to build up as Lt. Gov before he needed to start spending it.
I think the single thing that’s made Pat’s job tougher was not declaring he was not a candidate for re-election. Had he said that, taken himself out of the race, he would no longer be a threat to the Madigans and he could do one of the things he does best: be a loose cannon and truth teller. He also would not have to have his every decision parsed in terms of election strategy. Like former senator Fitzgerald; with nothing to lose, he could vote his conscience and make the hard calls without worry about how this would affect his re-election chances. The temporary benevolent dictator, if you will, that could slice a bunch of Gordian knots and set things right for whoever comes into power next.
I think Pat must believe he carries more weight with Mike and he rest if he remains a potential electoral threat, to be appeased and dealt with rather than ignored until the Primary. Hard call as to which way will turn out best. But I respect the man and so far support him, whatever he decides.
Comment by Gregor Friday, May 8, 09 @ 12:54 pm
Hey, Rich; some of the most thoughtful remarks I’ve ever seen on any blog. Good job!
Comment by steve schnorf Friday, May 8, 09 @ 1:02 pm
I am surprised at how ill-prepared he was to assume the office. First, he has been the guy on the side-lines who lobbed in his opinion on how things should be run for so long, I assumed he had a game plan. Second, it appeared that Rod was moving in a direction that impeachment was possible and when he was criminally charged, imminent. And he had the time leading up to the impeachment conviction and removal that I again assumed he would be ready to lead from day one. Now 100 days in and he is a rudderless ship.
He is truly like the dog that chases the car. Now that he caught it, he doesn’t know what to do with the bumper.
Comment by Joe in the Know Friday, May 8, 09 @ 1:05 pm
I give him a C minus:
Proposing highly regressive middle class income tax increase. Wants to save the rich from undue distress, I guess.
Too scared to fire anybody so Madigan had to do it for him. Separation of powers….not.
Can’t recruit competent staff so must rely on Blago hires in important jobs like budet and planning. Now, that’s scary.
Wants to raid the pension fund again..big time. This is a new day?
Can’t seem to clearly spell out what cuts he is making. Are they really cuts. Where? How much? Or is he just incoherent in public. Maybe he really is going to cut something. But this is Illinois. We’d like to see some proof.
Maybe a D
Comment by Cassandra Friday, May 8, 09 @ 1:35 pm
I very disappointed with Quinn.
First as a framework, he wasn’t suddenly thrust into the Governorship. Everyone knew it was a matter of time before he would become Governor.
But there is no indication that he built a kitchen cabinet, a cadre of leaders or developed an agenda. He was not a leader.
One exception was the Reform Commission. This commission was made up almost entirely of good people who had no real government experience. If I’m sick I go to a doctor, I don’t go to a nice person who was a good patient. As a result, an opportunity to truly reform government was weakened with impractical ideas like centralized procurement.
This lack of respect for experience and knowledge was seen again by Quinn’s appointment of Monken as head of the state police. Honest good government is more than just not taking kickbacks. It also means putting the public first in the selection of staff. Quinn has failed here.
His discussion of “fumigating” government is inflammatory and irresponsible. A true leader would have handled this transition in a better manner.
I will Quinn a slight break due to the budget crisis and difficult situation that he inherited. But that is even more reason we need better leadership than what we have seen to date.
Comment by Objective Dem Friday, May 8, 09 @ 1:38 pm
Created a budget with a tax increase that even the unions cannot support, agrees with Madigan that he has been inept in cleanning up govt, signs a bill that carries out personal vendettas, and finally keeps the cancer of the past administration as part of the inner circle JOHN FILAN, he’s been great!
Comment by Obamas' Puppy Friday, May 8, 09 @ 1:50 pm
He has been a decent “care taker” and hopefully he can maintain that until we elect a Governor.
Comment by Dan S, a Voter and Cubs Fan Friday, May 8, 09 @ 2:14 pm
I give him an A+++ for the way he handled himself and provided leadership from the day Blago was arrested though the impeachment. I give him a C for his actual job governing. As I’ve said before, his tendancies toward micro-managing are not helping the state.
Comment by Cosmic Charlie Friday, May 8, 09 @ 2:52 pm
C+. Nice man, honest, well intentioned, but not much in the way of results. Has yet to distinguish himself as a leader.
Comment by One of the 35 Friday, May 8, 09 @ 4:33 pm
Illinois has enormous resources and a great location in the county…not to mention for the most part, hard working honest citizens. We want someone to represent us who is equal to the quality of our citizens and of our state. Quinn is bumbling around and is not running the state, the XBlago appointees are running it, while he wonders around trying to look gubenatorial. He has no more leadership or executive capabilities than blago…only difference is, he seems to be a less corrupt. We need a smart, well rounded, liberal, focused on real valuable change type governor….i think he just became president…but Lisa Madigan is the only thing close to what we need and what we deserve. Maybe she will step up but it will need to be with integrity and with a very big picture focus on the future of Illinois. Her father will have to step back and let her develop her own voice…we want the chance to hear it without background noise.
Comment by disgusted Friday, May 8, 09 @ 9:09 pm
We watched as Blagojevich slowly stewed. So it should not have been a surprise for Quinn to end up with the job. Sadly, he wasn’t ready and if couldn’t have been ready watching Blagojevich implode, what does that say about him?
He has numerous blind spots that we discovered with his Collins Commission. He fell for the obvious trap that as governor, he could magically make things happen. How could anyone think that browbeating the General Assembly would make them accept this report? Quinn handled this in a shocking and naive manner, resulting in a huge blowback from Madigan. It didn’t have to happen if Quinn knew what he was doing.
Quinn hasn’t cleaned up the Blagojevich personnel diaster, leaving him open to the Madigan attack. Quinn didn’t have to sit on his hands or play surgeon. The Governor needed to axe Blagojevich’s selections yesterday, but didn’t.
Quinn gets a C-. He should have been the guy who needed no time to get the Mansion in order. After thirty years in public office, Quinn looks like a - lt. governor who accidentially became governor.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, May 11, 09 @ 9:20 am