Quinn to seek federal dollars in Washington
WASHINGTON -- Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is on a fence-mending trip to Washington now that his disgraced predecessor is out of office.
Quinn met with members of the state's congressional delegation and administration officials on Tuesday, hoping to ensure Illinois gets its share of the economic stimulus package moving through Congress.
He also looked to smooth over tensions created during former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's time in office.
In his first full week as governor, Quinn planned to discuss the economic package with Sens. Dick Durbin and Roland Burris and other Illinois lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He also has a scheduled meeting with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and a planned sit-down at the White House with David Axelrod, a senior adviser to President Barack Obama.
An $819 billion version of the economic stimulus plan passed the House last week, and the Senate is debating legislation.
Durbin's office estimates that the Senate version could save or create over 200,000 jobs across Illinois by the end of 2010 and could bring $25 billion in federal funding.
Quinn's visit to the nation's capital comes after the state Senate voted Thursday to impeach and remove Blagojevich from office.
Blagojevich was arrested Dec. 9 by the FBI and accused of using his office to demand campaign donations, including allegations he tried to sell an appointment to the Senate seat vacated by Obama.
Blagojevich has denied any wrongdoing.
Lawmakers in Washington still sought to block Blagojevich from exercising any control over the money due to the state from the economic stimulus measure. The provision in the House bill would have given control to the legislature instead. The idea was to make sure Blagojevich couldn't use the money to enrich himself or his associates.
But with Blagojevich ousted, Quinn can determine what to do with the money.
Quinn also has said he hopes to repair relationships with national leaders that were soured during Blagojevich's tenure.
Blagojevich shocked Senate Democrats in Washington by appointing Burris to fill Obama's seat. The former governor defied warnings that a taint of corruption would strip credibility from anyone he named to the vacancy. Democratic leaders, including Durbin, initially resisted the appointment.
While Quinn has said Burris' qualifications weren't at issue, he called Blagojevich's decision to appoint Burris an "insult to the people of Illinois."
Top Democrats on Capitol Hill eventually backed down and seated Burris.