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.