Quinn: Time to 'fumigate state government'
SPRINGFIELD - Gov. Pat Quinn pledged Friday to make ethics reform the top priority of his new administration.
"We need to fumigate state government from top to bottom," Quinn said on his first full day in office.
Quinn then signed his first executive order, establishing the Illinois Reform Commission. The commission will report back in 100 days with recommendations for changes in Illinois government. Patrick Collins, the former federal prosecutor who sent former Gov. George Ryan to prison, will chair the commission.
"We understand integrity is No. 1 when it comes to government in the Land of Lincoln," Quinn said. He held up a bow tie once owned by the late Sen. Paul Simon and said Simon's legacy of honesty and integrity would guide his actions in office.
Quinn became governor Thursday after the state Senate voted unanimously to remove Rod Blagojevich from office. The House of Representatives impeached Blagojevich earlier this month for abuse of power.
"I don't think in any way I have a style that is similar to my predecessor," Quinn said, differentiating himself from his former two-term running mate. In December, Quinn said he had not spoken to Blagojevich since 2007.
In addition to ethics reform, Quinn said resolving the state's budget deficit would take up most of his time. Quinn will ask the General Assembly for permission to delay the governor's budget address until March 18.
"We will have a rescue plan, a blueprint, to pay our bills," Quinn said.
The governor declared Illinois' economic situation to be "the greatest economic crisis the state has ever had," and said he would do everything he could to find jobs for Illinois workers. Quinn promised to work with the other elected state officials to solve the state's problems, including Illinois' 7.6 percent unemployment rate.
"If you're able-bodied and breathing we want you working," Quinn said.
Quinn dodged the question of whether the state would need to raise taxes to fill its estimated $2 billion budget hole, saying only that he understands the importance of holding down taxes.
Quinn, 60, a Democrat from Chicago, arrived at the Capitol before Blagojevich was removed on Thursday and slept at the Governor's Mansion in Springfield Thursday night. Unlike Blagojevich who opted to live at his home in Chicago and work out of the James R. Thompson Center, Quinn plans to live in the mansion.
After speaking to reporters outside the second-floor governor's office in the Capitol Friday morning, Quinn flew to Chicago to speak to Illinois park district leaders. And for one other thing.
"I've got to bring more clothes," Quinn said. "I couldn't bring that much on the plane yesterday."
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