Issue date: 10/23/09 Section: News

Governor Pat Quinn stands in front of television cameras announcing his candidacy for governor in 2010 late Thursday evening at the Holiday Inn in Mattoon, Ill. Quinn embarked on a nine city tour Thursday, starting with Chicago and ending with Tuscola, to announce his candidacy. (Karolina Strack/The Daily Eastern News)

Gov. Pat Quinn wants Illinois residents to forget the days of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, even when it comes to higher education.

Quinn, who replaced Blagojevich Jan. 28, following Blagojevich's impeachment, visited Mattoon Thursday night as part of his nine-city tour to officially announce his candidacy for governor under the Democratic ticket.

On issues of higher education, Quinn said he intends to earmark MAP grant funding in the future to prevent a repetition of history.

The General Assembly authorized funding for MAP grants, need-based grants for college students, during the recent veto session. Quinn signed the measure Sunday.

The authorization was passed after funding for the program was cut in half and only provided enough funds for the fall semester. The authorization covers the spring semester; however, lawmakers in Springfield still have to decide what funds will supply the authorization.

"I want to make sure, if I'm elected governor, that we earmark money for these (grants) in the future," Quinn said.

Quinn signified a change from Blagojevich, who oversaw cuts and stagnate appropriations to higher education since 2003.

He also spoke about the need for job creation, health care reform and FutureGen.

Quinn said quality jobs starts with quality education. He said he recommended a $40 million increase to higher education for the year, adding the General Assembly ultimately cut the total.

"If we are going to get out of this economic recession, it is led by smart people, who create new jobs, start new businesses and invent new products," Quinn said. "To me, to cut education is really a false economy."

Quinn said Eastern has excelled at water conservation and energy efficiency, and the Renewable Energy Center, once built, will save taxpaying dollars. He said the Illinois economy needs to emulate what the university has done and provide green jobs for the future.

"We have to make the investments now," Quinn said.

He said he was able to spearhead the passage of the $31 billion capital projects bill that would create 4,000 jobs. The bill is intended to update infrastructure needs of the states, such as roads and bridges.

Quinn said he wants to open the Illinois economy to the world and expand exports, such as the state's soybean industry.

"That's how you create jobs," he said.

He said health care reform would dictate the temperament of the primary season. Quinn said reform is needed to provide affordable health care for the uninsured.

"We all believe in the principle of the 'Good Samaritan,' to help your neighbor," he said. "Who is your neighbor? The person who lost their job or their health insurance. That's what I believe in."

Quinn said he would also work with Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., to ensure that the FutureGen project comes to Mattoon.

He said President Barack Obama is committed to the clean-coal project and will not dabble in the politics the Bush administration played.

"Mattoon is the best location in the U.S. of A. for FutureGen," Quinn said. "And we want to keep it that way."

With his announcement, Quinn officially joins Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes and Oak Park attorney Ed Scanlon in the race for the Democratic primary.

Hynes, 41, is serving his third term as comptroller and is Quinn's toughest foe for the primary.

One of the three men could face a bevy of GOP choices after the primary is decided. Illinois Sens. Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard have declared their candidacy for the Republican nomination along with former Illinois GOP chairman Andy McKenna, DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom, public relations consultant Dan Profit and businessman Adam Andrzejewski.

Former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan, who ran unsuccessfully against Blagojevich in 2002, is considering a run for the Republican nomination as well.

At Mattoon, Quinn said Illinois needs a governor that differs from Blagojevich and former Gov. George Ryan, who currently is in prison for the license for bribes scandal.

"They wanted to tell people what they thought the people wanted to hear," Quinn said. "I'm a governor who wants to tell people what they need to know in order to make our state strong."

Stephen Di Benedetto can be reached at 581-7942 or at sdibenedetto@eiu.edu.

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