Quinn for Illinois

CHICAGO -- Quinn for Illinois is very proud to announce that Crain's Chicago Business has endorsed Governor Pat Quinn in the Democratic primary election on Feb. 2. 

In announcing the endorsement, Crain's -- Chicago's leading business publication and a highly influential voice in Illinois' business community -- stated: "Mr. Quinn has operated outside the Democratic machine for his entire career, and his policy positions show that he’s willing to take on the political power structure on behalf of the people of Illinois."

By contrast, the endorsement noted that "His opponent, state Comptroller Dan Hynes, is an able manager who seems to run his office on the square. But he’s a product of Chicago’s 19th Ward organization and has shown no eagerness to break with party bosses on the fundamental issues Illinois must resolve."

"I am deeply encouraged by this vote of confidence from the leading voice in Chicago business," Governor Quinn said. "It is good to know that Illinois business understands the need for an honest, independent governor who will make decisions based on what's best for the people, not the political insiders."

Here follows the endorsement in its entirety:

Jan. 22, 2010

(Crain’s) —To redeem itself from the disgraces of the Blagojevich era, the Illinois Democratic Party needs a gubernatorial nominee who is independent of the political machine that spawned the abuses our state has suffered for too long.

By that standard, Gov. Pat Quinn is the better choice, and he gets Crain’s endorsement in the Democratic primary Feb. 2.

His opponent, state Comptroller Dan Hynes, is an able manager who seems to run his office on the square. But he’s a product of Chicago’s 19th Ward organization and has shown no eagerness to break with party bosses on the fundamental issues Illinois must resolve.

Mr. Quinn has operated outside the Democratic machine for his entire career, and his policy positions show that he’s willing to take on the political power structure on behalf of the people of Illinois.

His early tenure has been marred by the kind of missteps to be expected from a rookie thrust into the governor’s chair without a transition period after federal agents arrested Mr. Blagojevich. There are legitimate questions about his toughness in dealing with House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Mr. Quinn needs to address those concerns, and his first chance will come with his budget proposal in coming months. He’d better offer more than a plan to close the state’s deficit with a huge tax increase. Significant spending cuts must be part of any plan to balance the budget and should come before any consideration of tax hikes.

Mr. Quinn is right when he says cuts shouldn’t go so deep they deprive people of needed services. But there’s big money to be saved by making Medicaid and other state operations more efficient.

His pension reform proposals go further than his opponent’s, but not far enough. Billions could be saved by shifting new state employees to a defined-contribution plan for at least part of their pensions, a move Mr. Quinn won’t support.

Similarly, he needs to do more in the area of political reform. He deserves credit for pushing through the first campaign contribution limits in state history, but he should work to eliminate a loophole that exempts party bosses like Mr. Madigan from the restrictions.

The governor also succeeded in passing the state’s first capital-spending program in a decade. But his willingness to fund it by legalizing video gambling smacked of political expedience.

Still, Mr. Quinn’s instincts are right. And he’s more likely than his opponent to fight for the kind of change Illinois needs.