Gov. Pat Quinn: "The ordeal is over".
One of the most frustrating things about Blagojevich's tenure as governor was just how little got done in Springfield. You'd think with Democratic majorities in the legislature and a Democratic governor, we'd be able to advance a progressive agenda a bit further. Instead what we got was constant bickering and stalemate.
That's why the best news about Blagojevich's departure is that it gives us a second chance to get things right. State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias said it best:
"Today marks a new beginning. For the first time in six years, we will have a governor who values collaboration over combativeness and public service over lip service."
These are not favorable circumstances but they're an opportunity to move finally in a positive direction.
