Outgoing Gov. Quinn takes looks back, offers hints at future

CHICAGO (AP) -- Gov. Pat Quinn is characterizing his tenure as one of fairness - trying to create jobs by inking a capital construction plan, legalizing same-sex marriage and ending Illinois' death penalty - and hinted Tuesday that he'll stay focused on that principle by returning to his activist roots after leaving office.
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He previewed his future plans for the first time since losing on Nov. 4, saying he'd like to pursue issues like veterans rights and organize petition drives.

It was a glimpse of vintage Quinn, who became a political organizer in the 1970s. He advocated term limits and helped push through a constitutional amendment cutting the number of lawmakers in the legislature before he was elected treasurer and lieutenant governor. He took over as governor in 2009, after now-imprisoned ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich was indicted on corruption charges.

"Illinois was a laughingstock," Quinn said, describing a "crisis of corruption," the recession and fiscal problems. "I inherited all that."