Illinois GOP Rips Quinn On First Day As Governor

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - New Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is already getting heat from the GOP.

The Illinois Republican Party says Quinn's first act as governor should have been apologizing to the people of Illinois. The party says Quinn stood by while Blagojevich committed the actions that led to his impeachment.

Party chairman Andy McKenna calls Quinn "a political opportunist."

He says Quinn failed to root out corruption for six years as lieutenant governor under Blagojevich. He contends those years led to higher taxes, fewer jobs and more corruption.

McKenna also notes Quinn once called Blagojevich a man of honesty and integrity.

Quinn assumed the governor's title yesterday when the Senate voted 59-0 to boot the impeached Blagojevich out of office.

The new Democratic governor says he doesn't expect Republicans to give him a grace period but wants all hands on deck to fix the state's problems.