Another Quinn Flip

Illinois GOP:

Update: Day 10 - Quinn Caves to Madigan and Cullerton

Today’s flip by Governor Quinn on a special election is nothing new. A week ago he demanded a special election saying “it can't go on for weeks”, but on Friday he gave Burris a two week extension, and today, 10 days after he promised to fight for a special elction, he has decided to abandon his promise and cave to Speaker Madigan and Senate President Cullerton.

“This is the second time Governor Quinn caved to Speaker Madigan and Democrats in the Senate on a vote of the people,” said Illinois Republican Party spokesman Lance Trover. “Blagojevich Democrats continue to mislead the people of this state and should be embarrassed about their appalling lack of leadership.”

Almost everyone has called on Sen. Burris to resign, including Governor Quinn, Senator Durbin, and major newspapers around the state. Prominent Democrats like Durbin, Giannoulias and Schakowsky have urged Democrats to conduct a vote of the people to move beyond this embarrassment.

Attorney General Madigan already said that the General Assembly could call a special election, but Speaker Madigan and Senate President Cullerton refuse to act. Now, Governor Quinn is going back on his word for a second time, 10 days after his promise:

“I hope that he steps aside and resigns next week,” Quinn said “I would hope that he would do that, it can’t go on for weeks.”

Quinn said that if Burris resigns he’d favor a special election proposal currently making its way through the Illinois legislature. (Politico, 2/21/09)

Let’s be clear on this point: Attorney General Madigan just ruled that Roland Burris does not need to resign for the General Assembly to pass a special election bill. Yet, Blagojevich Democrats like Speaker Madigan, President Cullerton and Governor Quinn all refuse to act.

Shortly after Governor Quinn was sworn in he told the people of Illinois “we need to learn from history [and] not repeat mistakes" (Associated Press, 1/30/09)

Blagojevich Democrats refused to act in December and their mistake led to the embarrassing appointment of Roland Burris. The firestorm surrounding Sen. Burris’ impeachment testimony revelations gave Democrats a chance to correct their mistake. Today, however, Governor Quinn, Speaker Madigan and President Cullerton have chosen to make the same mistake again.

Saying one thing and doing another is exactly the type of thing Blagojevich was known to do and just confirms what we’ve said all along: while Blagojevich is gone, the Blagojevich Democrats remain to live out his legacy.

But we have some questions for Governor Quinn about this sudden change of heart:

* Did you talk to Giannoulias, Durbin, Reid or any other Senate candidates before you made your decision to cave to Speaker Madigan and President Cullerton?

* What did Speaker Madigan or President Cullerton say to convince you to abandon your promise for a special election?

* You say you want to move on to economic concerns, what do you think the embarrassment of the last 100 days has cost Illinois taxpayers?

* Were you offered a deal to go back on your word?

* This is the 4th time you changed your position in the last 100 days, what does that say about your leadership ability?

* Why don’t you want a vote of the people after supporting referendum over 22 times?

* Attorney General Madigan says you can call a special election now, why won’t you explore every option available to get rid of Roland Burris? Don’t you still want a special election for any vacancies?

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