The first graders at Jane Addams Elementary were excited. Quinn had chosen their school as the place to repeat his concern for the future of public education in illinois.
"We who are adults and parents have a duty to these children," Quinn said. "It's important that we invest our money, our tax money in their education."
Quinn called the election year budget lawmakers passed in Springfield last week "incomplete" because it did not extend Illinois' higher income tax rates, leaving a 1.8 billion shortfall in year-to-year revenue.
Moody's investors services agreed: "Illinois could face a structural deficit that leads the lowest rated U.S. state to rely on credit negative practices such an increasing an already large backlog of unpaid bills."
"There's other parts of the budget that definitely need help this fiscal year. But in future fiscal years, everything is in jeopardy," Quinn said.
Outside, the clown called "Quinnocio" demonstrated on behalf of Republican candidate for governor Bruce Rauner. Businessman Rauner has claimed - without specifics - that the state budget could be balanced with education prioritized, without the higher tax rate.
A spokesman wrote, "the bottom line is Pat Quinn spent five years preserving a broken system and the result is another phony budget." But Quinn again noted that Rauner still has not produced a budget plan of his own.
"I'm the only one running for governor who has a plan to invest in education. The other people have nothing. It's a sham. And I think it's time that we call those folks out," Quinn said.