From the Tribune

Quinn criticizes governor, pushes for recall measure
Lieutenant governor critical of Blagojevich
By David Mendell | Tribune reporter
April 15, 2008
When his own re-election was on the line 18 months ago, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn steadfastly defended Gov. Rod Blagojevich even as a federal investigation swirled around the governor's administration.
These days, Quinn has reversed course dramatically, heaping criticism on Blagojevich to help spearhead an effort to give voters the option of recalling a governor from office.
But Quinn, a longtime self-styled government watchdog, also refuses to say if he thinks voters should relieve Blagojevich of his duties or pick Quinn to replace him.
The difference between fall 2006 and today?
Quinn said that recent developments in the federal investigation of the Blagojevich administration have altered his thinking.
"I am disappointed in him over the past year," Quinn said. "After some of the things we are hearing at the trial from Mr. [Stuart] Levine, I don't think he should have ever, ever been appointed to anything. And I think the governor owes the people an apology for that."
Levine, an admitted drug abuser who has pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges, has been the key witness in the trial of Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a former top Blagojevich fundraiser accused of using his political clout to solicit bribes.
But much of what Quinn said he is finding out from the trial first surfaced in October 2006 when prosecutors indicted Rezko—less than a month before Blagojevich and Quinn ran as a team for re-election.
Back then, Quinn told reporters he trusted Blagojevich had done nothing wrong.
"That's what he said, and I believe him," Quinn said during the re-election campaign.
Quinn said that he's pushed for recall legislation for 30 years. In 2000 he led the "Recall Ryan" effort aimed at then-Gov. George Ryan, a Republican.
Much like Blagojevich today, Ryan had not been charged with any wrongdoing but was hampered by a federal probe into his administration.
Quinn, who lost a secretary of state election to Ryan in 1994, was quicker to criticize a Republican than his own running mate.
In typical fashion for Quinn when he wants to drive an issue, he's held two Sunday news conferences the last two weekends.
At both, he's lambasted Blagojevich to try to keep the recall initiative in the news.
With the continuing rancor between Blagojevich and House lawmakers, he said Blagojevich has become ineffective as the top state executive.
"In particular, I think the last year has really shown a disintegration of comity in Springfield where people get along to solve problems," Quinn said.
A Blagojevich spokeswoman noted that Quinn and Blagojevich have not always seen eye to eye. They've disagreed, for example, on tax policy and the governor's massive health-care expansion.
"It's natural in a democracy for two people to take two different positions," Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff said.