City Room™ - Politics - Pat Quinn Takes On Illinois Business Officials

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Pat Quinn Takes On Illinois Business Officials
Produced by Tony Arnold on Tuesday, July 15, 2008

IL Lt. Governor Pat Quinn (AP Photo/Seth Perlman/File)

Some business leaders from Illinois have begun their push against a constitutional convention. But today the state's lieutenant governor is pushing back.

Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn has already been pretty outspoken about supporting a constitutional convention. He says it gives voters the opportunity to change language in the state's constitution. This time around, Quinn says that could include a new clause to recall elected officials.

QUINN: People are sick and tired of the political feuds, they don't like an unfair tax system and corruption that exists for far too long in Illinois and this is our chance to send a message to Springfield that it's time to reform and the people are gonna get the job done.

Quinn says a constitutional convention would cost about $13 million.

Meantime, a group of Illinois business leaders have banded together to oppose the idea. A spokesperson for the group says state politicians could just as easily adopt amendments to the constitution, rather than revisit the entire document.