Joe Walsh Calls Pat Quinn A 'Tool': Tea Party Congressman Slams Illinois Governor

U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh has been a vocal critic of everyone from President Obama to "typical" Republicans, and during a Tea Party meeting in Darien, Ill. last week, he directed his anger toward Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.

“This governor, Gov. Quinn, is a tool,” Walsh said, according to The Doings suburban newspaper. “This state is an embarrassment. People are leaving in droves because of taxes and regulations. One man runs this state, and it’s not Gov. Quinn; it’s (House Speaker) Mike Madigan.”

Walsh isn't the only high-profile Illinoisian to call the state an "embarrassment" in recent weeks. After the state's credit rating was downgraded to the worst in the country, CBOE CEO Bill Brodsky told reporters that he was "embarrassed" to live here. Brodsky, whose company will save an estimated $6 million annually following a tax break approved by Quinn, said the city of Chicago is making economic strides, but the state is floundering.

Quinn, who approved a 66 percent personal income tax hike in Illinois around this time last year, also took heat from state GOP lawmakers last week. On the one-year anniversary of the tax hike, House Minority Leader Tom Cross said the tax increase was passed because lawmakers thought it would balance or drastically improve the state's budget -- which has not happened.

“It needs to be done in a bipartisan way, all of this needs to be done in a bipartisan way. But, at this point, some of these critical [issues] have not been addressed by the Democrat leaders,” Cross said, according to CBS Chicago.

Before Quinn-bashing, Rep. Walsh told Tea Party supporters that they should vote Republican no matter who wins the GOP primary, calling the party "the only game in town."

“I’m one of 22 Republicans who voted no every single time this year,” Walsh said, according to The Doings. “We need to double that number. Our Republican Party lost its way, and we have to get our party back.

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Comments

[James D Covington]

04:49 PM on 02/01/2012

Joe Walsh is an embarrassment to the state of Illinois. Illinois was here way before Joe Walsh arrived on the scene and will continue to be here after Joe Walsh is an * in state history...

[tp1kenobi]

11:22 AM on 01/31/2012

Lets just keep slamming a rep who says no to spending increases and unsound budgets that are attempted to be passed by the nation. People dog him for him not paying child support. He didn't pay, fact. But that issue was and is between him and his ex-wife. Ad hominen attacks are logical fallicies and have zero bearing in this topic. Sad to see how many people won't open their minds. If residents in Illinois actually had a clue on the spending increases and corruption to sustain the entitlement programs, maybe the blue state of Illinois wouldn't be in such a sh*thole. Case and point with the 66% increase in state income tax, 87% increase in state tolls, Iliniois tax payer money subsidizing Sears and CME, the list goes on and on.

[kareemachan]

02:37 PM on 01/19/2012

Paid your child support yet, Joe?

[Ice woman]

01:37 AM on 01/19/2012

I'm still trying to figure out how the kcuf did this twunt get elected!?

[apiazza]

10:32 PM on 01/18/2012

I can't wait until November when I will proudly vote for whoever is running against Joe Walsh.

[planetjeffy]

02:25 PM on 01/18/2012

Deadbeat
Dad

[central66]

01:16 PM on 01/18/2012

Has this fool paid his delinquent child support yet??

[OldSchool4942]

12:42 PM on 01/18/2012

Exactly when is it a good thing that you voted NO for every bill that came up? And you call yourself a representative? I relay don't care what you do in the future, but stay out of politics, you are the embarrassment.

[KadejaLatefah]

10:29 AM on 01/18/2012

Joe Walsh says “This governor, Gov. Quinn, is a tool,” Walsh said, according to The Doings suburban newspaper. “This state is an embarrassment." it is due to him and his lack of leadership and illegal behavior (child support scofflaw)

[gemini68]

09:58 AM on 01/18/2012

It takes a Tool to know a Tool Walsh.

[kathystreblo]

09:08 AM on 01/18/2012

" Oh gosh Martin!"?

[Dustee]

09:05 AM on 01/18/2012

So, how far behind in child support payments are you Joe? And don't try that teabagger support garbage game you're playing, unless you're saying that the whole gang of them are totally knutz!

[elleanor]

09:01 AM on 01/18/2012

Well, of course he did. That's what he does. Heaven forbid he expend energy in a constructive manner.

[kareemachan]

08:58 AM on 01/18/2012

Keeping it as classy as usual, right, Joe?

[mamala4]

08:17 AM on 01/18/2012

Pay your child support yet Joe?