Gov. Blagojevich sworn in for second term at Inauguration Ceremony in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Rod R. Blagojevich, Illinois' 40^th Governor, took his Oath of Office today during a ceremony at the Prairie Capitol Convention Center in Springfield.  The Governor was joined at the ceremony by his wife Patricia and his two daughters, Amy and Annie.  During his inaugural address, Gov. Blagojevich pledged to continue the work he began four years ago - changing the priorities of state government so it works for people.

 

"I stand before you as your Governor, once again, humbled by your trust and committed to meet the challenges ahead.  There are no words that can properly express my gratitude for the great honor you have given me. I will do my best and work as hard as I can to keep my faith with you. As I look to the future, I find myself thinking of our past.  Four years ago, standing before you, I looked back and also saw a government that was failing our people. I think back to the veterans who served our nation abroad, and sacrificed their lives to protect our homes and way of life; and to those today still on the frontline - and to the families, some who are here with us today, who have lost loved ones.  Our prayers are with you," said Governor Blagojevich.

 

"I think back to the workers who built our nation's industrial might, I think back to so many from whom we inherited so much.  And for me personally, on days like this, I can't help but always think back to my mother and father. Loving parents who started with so little but gave me and my brother so much," the Governor continued.  "Four years ago, standing before you, I also looked back, and I saw a government that was failing our people. A bloated bureaucracy, costing taxpayers millions, for no purpose, no results.  A pension system built on a foundation of false promises.  And an education system - under funded and our children under challenged. Debt and deficit and the promise of higher taxes.  It was hard to understand how a state with such a proud past and such promise had been so betrayed.  But that's how it was, and we were determined to change things.  So we took on a $5 billion budget deficit with a new energy, a new idealism, and new ideas.  And we got things done."

 

During his first term, Gov. Blagojevich strove to change Illinois' government so that it worked for the people.  He started out by balancing the budget. Without raising taxes, Gov. Blagojevich was able to balance the budget and put a record $13 million into our state pension fund by consolidating a bloated bureaucracy, closing corporate loopholes and saying "no" to special interests. With the budget back on track, Gov. Blagojevich raised the minimum wage not once, but twice so that starting in July, minimum wage workers will make $7.50 an hour.  The minimum wage will continue to increase for three years: to $7.75 in July 2008, $8.00 in July 2009, and $8.25 in 2010.  These increases will benefit 647,000 Illinois workers and their families. 

 

Under the Governor's direction, Illinois became the first state to make health care for every child not a privilege but a right. All Kids health insurance plan has been successful in providing health insurance for children from working and middle class families.  These families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to purchase health insurance in the private market. In December, the Governor announced the 300,000^th enrollment in All Kids.

 

And in his continued effort to improve life for Illinois working families, the Governor has made great strides. 150,000 new jobs have been created over the past three years, giving Illinois the best record in the Midwest and the lowest unemployment rate in state history.  500,000 more men, women and children now have health care, the best record in the country.  Six and a half million fewer hours are wasted in traffic each year because of Open Road Tolling. And 600,000 high school students are achieving higher scores in math, science, and reading.

 

The Governor told the audience that the he would expand upon those accomplishments during his second term. He highlighted the two key focal points for his second term: a government focused on the people and affordable healthcare available to all. 

 

During his address, the Governor spoke about a letter he received from 13-year-old Katelyn Reynolds of Shannon, wanting to know when he would do something for middle class.  In the letter she wrote for a school assignment, Katelyn, a guest of the Governor's at the swearing in ceremony, asked a question the Governor said symbolized his administration's goals.  

 

"For the people who work hard and play by the rules, for the families without lobbyists, inside deals, stock options and hedge funds.  For the vast majority of people in Illinois—they live in every part of our state, in every neighborhood, on every block," said Gov. Blagojevich. "They quietly go about their business. They work and pay their taxes. They raise their kids and look after their elderly parents. They meet their responsibilities. They work in our factories, and on our farms. They are small business owners. They are shopkeepers and nurses and coal miners. They teach in our schools. They are firefighters. Police officers. Truck drivers and computer analysts. They clean our offices and work in our restaurants. They are the soldiers who keep us free. They are good and decent people. They ask for little from government but too often government asks too much of them. They are forgotten and taken for granted. They are the backbone of our state. They are the families that Katelyn Reynolds asked me about in her letter. And when it comes to health care, they are worried. They need our help. They are our cause. And they are the people we will deliver for."

 

In the coming months, the Governor will detail the next phase of his health care reform plan.  He will work to improve the quality of care.  For the 1.4 million adults still uninsured in Illinois, he will also work to ensure that not only children, but that each of their family members also has access to affordable, quality health care.

 

The Governor also pledged to reform the tax system that favors corporate loopholes, bring equity and improvement to schools across the state, work with small business owners to create new jobs especially as part of the ethanol expansion, make state government more efficient and provide health care security to every family.

 

And to help the Governor celebrate the accomplishments of the past and his goals for the future, many individuals from throughout Illinois had special roles in the Ceremony.