Quinn’s honeymoon could be short
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| Illinois GOP Chairman Andy McKenna addresses the crowd Aug. 16, 2007, during the Republican Rally at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. (AP file photo) |
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SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Pat Quinn might not get much of a honeymoon.
Republican Party officials peppered Quinn with criticisms the moment he was sworn in, and they promised to keep up the pressure as the 2010 election approaches.
The state’s top Republican, Andy McKenna, demanded immediately after Quinn took the oath of office that the new governor apologize for his relationship with scandal-plagued Gov. Rod Blagojevich. McKenna’s office also published a booklet detailing alleged hypocrisy in the Democratic party.
Quinn’s critics insisted that Blagojevich’s departure wouldn’t change the direction of Illinois politics unless they pressured his replacement.
“Just because we put a new horse in the race doesn’t mean, to me, that we’ve got a new jockey,” said Richard Stubblefield, Jefferson County Republican Chairman.
However, Republicans working under the Capitol dome were more conciliatory.
They need to keep the Democratic majority from steamrolling them on key issues such as how to bail the state out of a $9 billion budget hole, find funding for a massive construction plan and clean up the state’s tarred political reputation. They also said the public wanted more bipartisanship.
“I don’t think Republicans should be going into this legislative session with their Republican hats on,” said House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, who hosted Quinn at one of his usually private caucus meetings.
Quinn, formerly the lieutenant governor, took over the top job Jan. 29 after the General Assembly booted Blagojevich from office on allegations of corruption and unconstitutional abuse of power. According to a federal criminal complaint, Blagojevich routinely tried to squeeze campaign contributors in exchange for state services.
“I don’t expect a honeymoon. I just expect everybody to work for the best interest of Illinois,” Quinn said. “I think whatever party you belong to, we all understand that we’ve suffered a grievous blow.”
Republican lawmakers said that rather than assigning blame as the state wallows in billions of dollars of debt, they should cooperative with Democrats.
Not only did Quinn replace the take-it-or-leave-it Blagojevich, but Democrats elected new Senate President John Cullerton, who said he would work more closely with members across the aisle. Republicans also chose the new, and more moderate, Senate Leader Christine Radogno.
After sitting down with Quinn on Wednesday, House and Senate leaders from both parties said they were committed to playing nice while trying to solve the state’s many problems.
The truth is, Democrats don’t need Republicans to pass most legislation. Democrats have a majority in both chambers and the governor’s mansion.
McKenna, the Republican Party chairman, has not hesitated to criticize Quinn. The day Quinn was sworn in as governor, McKenna called him “a political opportunist” who looked the other way during the 2006 election when Blagojevich was knee-deep in a federal corruption investigation.
“Quinn and all Blagojevich Democrats who are leading the state in the wrong direction owe an apology to the people of Illinois,” McKenna said.
Highlighting the political opportunity that Republicans see in the Blagojevich scandal, McKenna said “a new generation” of GOP leaders would reach out to people of both parties who don’t like the direction Illinois is headed.
The Illinois GOP wants voters to hold the Democratic party, not just Blagojevich, accountable for the failures of the ousted governor’s six years in office.
Also, party leaders pointed out that their duties differ from lawmakers’.
“We have an entirely different role to play in the political process, and that is to not roll over and say this is the best thing since sliced bread,” said Stubblefield, the chairman in southern Illinois’ Jefferson County.
Antonietta Simonian, executive director of the Lake County Republican Federation, agreed.
“I don’t care how or what Pat Quinn says; he ran with this man not once but twice,” she said.
Republicans know all too well how damaging a political scandal can be. Former GOP Gov. George Ryan left office in disgrace and later went to prison for corruption. Voter disgust helped Blagojevich win office. Republicans no longer hold even a single statewide office and their numbers in the Legislature have dwindled.
McKenna’s state Republican office drew up a 49-page online packet, called the “Friends of Blagojevich Desk Reference,” pulling out quotes from prominent Democrats, including Quinn, defending Blagojevich.
Republicans hoped the guide would boost the party profile among voters angry with the Blagojevich scandal.
“If he [McKenna] sees the people of Illinois are getting the short end of the stick, of course he’s going to speak out on that,” said GOP party spokesman Lance Trover.
