Ill. Gov. Quinn opens campaign with `jobs’ theme
Quinn
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Gov. Pat Quinn today is opening his 2010 election campaign with a five-point plan for job creation that includes more public works programs, “green” energy development and a renewed emphasis on tourism.
“We’ve got to be welcoming to the world,” Quinn, a Democrat, said a little while ago at the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport lobby during the Springfield stop of his nine-city flyaround today formally announcing the campaign.
As we reported yesterday, Quinn has effectively been running for governor for months, so it’s probably smart that he had something new to offer during the announcement. The five-point plan vows a focus on principles like improving Internet access, “partnering” with business, and bolstering education.
That said, the plan as presented appears to be mostly principle with few details. Quinn, speaking at the airport just now behind a backdrop of green that has become the campaign’s unofficial color, wasn’t more forthcoming about specific initiatives when questioned by reporters.
Also missing from the short speech was any mention of the state income tax hike proposal he continues to champion as a means of erasing the state’s multi-billion-dollar deficit.
Instead, he talked about the “pretty tough time” that Illinois was going through when he was elevated from lieutenant governor to governor with the corruption indictment and impeachment of Democratic ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
“The people of Illinois weathered this crisis,” he said, with mentions of his ethics initiatives. “There’s more to do. . . . I want to work night and day to lead our state out of this economic recession.”
State Comptroller Dan Hynes, who is challenging Quinn for the Democratic nomination on Feb. 2, responded with a statement alleging that Quinn’s focus on jobs and the economy is meant to distract people from the harder issue of the budget crisis. (Hynes has made the budget issue the centerpiece of his campaign, to the point of running a TV commercial that opens with a former schoolteacher of his talking about how good he always was at math. Seriously.)
“I can understand why the Governor would prefer to talk about things everyone supports rather than his unpopular plan to raise taxes by 50 percent on the middle class,” says the statement by Hynes (who is, himself, proposing a tax hike, but one aimed at upper incomes). “ . . . Until you’re serious about addressing our budget mess, you’re not running for Governor of Illinois, you’re running for Governor of `Fantasy Island.’ ”
Rather than a bunch of mumbo jumbo about creating jobs, it would be nice if Quinn had addressed the most pressing issue facing Illinois government: paying its bills. If real people treated their financial affairs the way state government has, utilities would be shut off, cars repossessed, home in foreclosure. The only green that Quinn should be worried about is money.
Just curious as to the other 8 cities in this nine city fly around today. I have a sneaking suspicion that Springfield was the southern most city he stopped at, but then we are used to being snubbed by “our” politicians.
Unless, they get the MAP funding restored for this Spring he wont be getting my vote and probably none of families vote either.
He stopped at St. Louis Downtown Airport in Cahokia and was scheduled to hit Mt. Vernon and Salem as well.
Sorry Illinois neighbors. It’s too bad the Chicago Political Machine runs your state. It is a bad reflection on some really good folks on the South end of the State. Minus East St. Louis of course.
Another politician. Wow. I’m so impressed. To h*ll with every single one of them, whether Democrat or Republican. There isn’t a dime’s worth of difference on either side.
Illinois is a cesspool of waste, overtaxation, fraud, and corruption.
Being the Governor of Illinois is like being the lifeguard of a septic tank.
If you live in Illinois, and are of voting age, and you like the current state of affairs there, go ahead and vote for him.
I sure won’t.
“Green” energy is a code word for huge energy price increases (cap & trade). This a product of the Al Gore scam which makes him tens of millions of dollars each year as the false prophet of global warming hysteria while he lives in a 12,000 square foot mansion and creates a carbon footprint even bigger than his ego while scheming to place draconian measures in place to reduce the quality of life for all not named Gore. Quinn has declared himslef as a disciple of hotel-raised Al….that tells me what I need to know…..vote for his opponent.
It’s time to move the State Capitol back to Springfield.
Vote the bums out. Clean house,senate and governor.
NO INCUMBENTS!
Illinois is umpteen billion dollars in debt just for the current year and this hack Chicago politician can’t wait to spend more money. $200+ million for MAP grants with no income source only pushes the state closer to the edge of bankruptcy. The chickens soon will be coming home to roost. “Public works programs” are not jobs, but welfare. A costly luxury Illinois can ill afford. Until Quinn cuts spending by billions and balances the state budget as required by the state constitution, Illinois will continue to slide towards insolvency.
Running a campaign on the premise of creating jobs is possibly a wise decision on paper, however, since the state is losing companies for people to obtain jobs may not be the smartest move.
We have seen companies shut their doors and move elsewhere. There are no jobs which will pay enough or allow more than part-time hours so a person can support their families. Most of the manufacturing companies which do hire temp workers do so through temp agencies and pay minimum wage. Then lay workers off as soon as the orders are filled. There is no stability.
The jobs this state needs is for people to make a living wage. We have become a service oriented state. People who have college degrees can not find employment.
Our state is so far in the hole, we will never see daylight. The answer is don’t pay the bills til later, furlough masses and release prisoners. Yet we still hear of our politicians getting raises even though they can’t present a balanced budget or work together for the betterment of the state. To all seated politicians I say, “We have lost faith in all of you,”
Now we will see our taxes raised, no matter who is in office. The utility companies will get the hikes they feel they need and the people of Illinois will be left to pay the bill once again.
I always challenged the politicians to live as we do and on what we make then tell us how to take more out of our already tight budgets to pay for their whims. None have done that as far as I can see.