Dear Friend,
It's hard to believe it's been almost three years since I was sworn in as Lt. Governor on January 13, 2003. As always, I am grateful for your loyal and generous support over the years.
In the past three years, we've won important victories for Illinois consumers and taxpayers, and we've helped our soldiers and veterans and their families. But we have many more causes to fight for and win.
Together, we can make the will of the people the law of the land in Illinois. Thanks for your help.
Sincerely,
Lt. Governor Pat Quinn
About Pat Quinn
Pat Quinn has served the people of Illinois – both as an active citizen and as a public official – for more than a quarter century. Since 1975, he has organized grassroots petition drives that have garnered more than 4 million signatures for consumer protection, tax reform, and giving citizens a stronger voice in government. He was elected Lt. Governor of Illinois in November 2002.
As Lt. Governor, Pat Quinn serves as a consumer and taxpayer advocate. In addition, his office administers several programs that foster a cleaner environment and support economic development in historic business districts and rural communities across the state.
Lt. Governor Quinn has several defined duties, including serving as chairman of the Illinois River Coordinating Council, Illinois Delegation to the Great Lakes Commission, Governor’s Rural Affairs Council, Illinois Main Street Advisory Council, Illinois Green Government Coordinating Council and the Broadband Deployment Council.
In 2003, Quinn spearheaded the successful citizen movement to establish the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund which lends a helping to the families of citizen soldiers called to active duty. Quinn also maintains www.OperationHomeFront.org, one of the country’s most informative websites on supporting our troops
Quinn served as Illinois State Treasurer from 1991 until 1995. His Linked Deposit Program helped more than 25,000 Illinois families and businesses get $2 billion in loans from banks for affordable housing, small business expansion and agriculture.
Quinn won passage of the state Whistleblower Law which empowers taxpayers to file lawsuits to root out fraud and waste, and the Inspector Misconduct Act which prohibits shakedowns by state employees of the regulated businesses they inspect.
A longtime consumer advocate, Quinn spearheaded the 1983 drive to create the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), a statewide membership organization that has supported safe, reliable and affordable utility service.
Quinn also led the largest petition drive in state history in 1976 which stopped a century-old practice of allowing Illinois legislators to collect their entire salary on their first day in office. In 1980, he organized the Cutback Amendment to reduce the size of the Illinois General Assembly – the first and only constitutional amendment ever adopted by citizen initiative.
Born in 1948, Quinn graduated from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and Northwestern University School of Law. He was elected Commissioner of Cook County Board of Tax Appeals in 1982, served as Chicago Revenue Director, and was a member of his local school council. He is the author of How to Appeal Your Property Taxes…Without a Lawyer.
Lt. Governor Quinn is the father of two sons and maintains residences in Chicago and Springfield.
Fighting For You
In the past three decades, Pat Quinn has battled special interests to win victory after victory for Illinois taxpayers and consumers. Since his election as Lt. Governor in 2002, Quinn has continued his fight for pro-consumer, pro-family policies. The following is short summary of how Lt. Governor Pat Quinn is Fighting For Us. Honoring Our Soldiers
Every day, Lt. Governor Quinn is honoring our soldiers and advocating for policies and programs that help them and their families. Quinn is the author of the state�s landmark Illinois Military Family Relief Fund which has provided needed financial assistance to more than 3,000 families of National Guard and Reserve troops called to active duty. This bill has now been enacted by more than 20 other states. Lt. Governor Quinn was also instrumental in getting the Veterans Health Initiative passed that raises funds to provide quality health care for all veterans.
Quinn�s office maintains OperationHomeFront.org, one of the nation�s most informative websites for military families. Visit it today for information on how you can help military families. Protecting Our Environment
All too often citizens don�t know of the environmental hazards that lurk in their own backgrounds. Lt. Governor Quinn and citizen activities got the Toxic Chemical Disclosure Act to ensure that the Illinois EPA notifies all Illinois citizens of dangerous conditions in their communities.
Quinn serves as chairman of the Illinois Green Government Coordinating Council which is working with state agencies to help them reduce waste and promote a healthful environment. He also serves as chairman of the Illinois River Coordinating Council and the Illinois Delegation to the Great Lakes Commission which protect our state�s most important waterways. Bridging the Digital Divide
As chairman of the Broadband Deployment Council, Lt. Governor Quinn is helping ensure that no Illinois citizen is left on the wrong side of the digital divide. His office has championed innovative projects that have brought wireless internet to communities across Illinois.
As a champion of e-democracy, Lt. Governor Quinn maintains several websites that help citizens access the services of resources of their state government. Tens of millions of citizens have accessed these sites. Strengthening Local Economies
Lt. Governor Quinn runs the Illinois Main Street program which promotes historic preservation and economic development of the state�s traditional business districts. Under Quinn�s leadership, the program has greatly expanded to more than 80 communities stretching from Rockford on the Rock River to Golconda on the Ohio River. Illinois Main Street has helped communities establish farmers markets, set up wireless networks and rebuild hurricane devastated Utica.
Quinn also serves as chairman of the Rural Affairs Council which has brought new housing and transportation serves to rural counties. Promoting Healthy Communities
In 2001, Pat Quinn walked from Rock Island on the Mississippi River to Chicago on Lake Michigan to promote decent health care for everyone. In 2005, he started the Walk Across Illinois which has registered thousands of Illinois residents to walk at least 167 miles, the equivalent of walking across Illinois, during the next 12 months.
Dental disease is one of the top causes of school absences. To encourage the development of quality dental care services statewide, Quinn authored legislation requiring that all elementary students receive dental examinations. He also has supported several dental service programs that help low-income families. Celebrating Diverse Communities
As an honor to the large Mexican-American community in Illinois, Quinn started the Mexican Skyline Initiative in which 10 of the most prominent Chicago buildings displayed the Mexican colors-red, green and white- on Mexican Independence Day.
Quinn runs the Illinois Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning that each year engages thousands of students in academic and community service projects that teach the importance of service to others.
Quinn also helped create the Juneteenth Emancipation Garden which celebrates the end of slavery. Advocating for Taxpayers and Consumers
In recent years predatory payday lenders have entrapped many people into a never-ending cycle of debt. Lt. Governor Quinn and community groups helped get Illinois� first comprehensive and strict regulations of payday lenders passed.
Quinn has worked with citizen groups to open credit unions in some of the state�s poorest communities.
The Rural Affairs Council and Lt. Governor Quinn fund free tax preparation centers that help Illinois citizens apply for the Earned Income Tax Credit, one of the nation�s best pro-family, pro-job tools.