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"I stand before you as your governor, once again, humbled by your
trust and committed to meet the challenges ahead," Blagojevich said.
"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 front line -- and to the families, some who
are here with us today, who have lost loved ones. Our prayers are
with you.
"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 underfunded 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."
[Complete text of inaugural address]
During his first term, Blagojevich strove to change Illinois'
government so that it worked for the people. He started out by
balancing the budget. Without raising taxes, he was able to balance
the budget and put a record $13 million into the state pension fund
by consolidating a bloated bureaucracy, closing corporate loopholes
and saying no to special interests.
With the budget back on track, he 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 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. The
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 300,000th enrollment in All
Kids.
And in his continued effort to improve life for Illinois working
families, the governor has made great strides. Over the past three
years, 150,000 new jobs have been created, giving Illinois the best
record in the Midwest and the lowest unemployment rate in state
history. Now 500,000 more men, women and children have health care,
the best record in the country. Because of Open Road Tolling, 6.5
million fewer hours are wasted in traffic each year. And 600,000
high school students are achieving higher scores in math, science
and reading.
The governor told the audience that 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 health care 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 the 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,"
Blagojevich said. "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.
[to top of second column] |
 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.
The festivities began with a musical prelude from the 566th Air
Force Band, the Air National Guard Band of the Midwest and the 144th
Army Band. The 566th is one of only 11 Air National Guard bands in
the United States and is stationed at the 182nd Airlift Wing in
Peoria. The band has given innumerable performances for audiences
that have included presidents, foreign dignitaries, veterans and
troops returning from overseas. The men and women playing in the Air
National Guard Band of the Midwest are slated for deployment to
Southwest Asia in the coming summer. The members of the 144th Army
Band come from all walks of life but share a common love for the
performance of music. Many of the members are current or former high
school band directors, college music majors and professional
musicians.
The musical selection led into the introduction of state
dignitaries and the constitutional officers who also took the oath
of office. Blagojevich then took the stage and was joined by his
wife and daughters. The first family, constitutional officers,
dignitaries and attendees were welcomed by Springfield Mayor Tim
Davlin.
The Illinois Army National Guard Honor Guard, a ceremonial unit
that supports the entire spectrum of American military and patriotic
ceremonies, presented the colors in preparation for the singing of
the national anthem. "The Star-Spangled Banner" was sung by former
congressman David Phelps. Phelps was elected as state representative
in the 118th District in 1984, where he served through 1998. In 1998
he was elected as a U.S. congressman in the 19th District, where he
served two terms. And in 2003, Blagojevich appointed Phelps as
assistant secretary for the Illinois Department of Transportation,
where he continues to serve Illinois citizens. He is also lead
singer for the Phelps Brothers Quartet, a gospel group that includes
his three bothers.
Following the national anthem, Sgt. Dusty Hill led those present
in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Hill is a 22-year-old National
Guard soldier from Galva who survived a suicide bomber in Iraq.
The Rev. Walter Turner of New Spiritual Light Baptist Church in
Chicago delivered the inaugural invocation. During Blagojevich's
first term in office, he appointed Turner to serve as coordinator
for clergy outreach throughout Illinois. Turner has teamed up with
various state agencies and state officials in his advocacy and
outreach work.
The Bright Star Church of God in Christ Mass Choir, under the
direction of Pastor Chris Harris Sr., performed the uplifting song
"Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing." Under Harris' leadership, membership at
Bright Star has increased from 65 to 600. He is also the founder and
chief executive officer of God Is Productions, a gospel music
production company.
Father Ezequiel Sanchez followed the choir's enthusiastic lead-in
with a prayer for unity, befitting the day's tone. Sanchez is a
Chicago native whose parents are from Durango, Mexico. He is the
pastor of Mary Queen of Heaven Church in Cicero and a dedicated
community servant. He serves on the boards of the Cabrini Green
Legal Aid Clinic, Casa Jesus and the Interfaith Leadership Project
in Cicero.
After the prayer, Blagojevich took the oath of office, delivered
by Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke. Burke previously
worked with mentally disabled children as a physical education
teacher with the Chicago Park District, and she founded the Chicago
Special Olympics in 1968. She later served as director as the
organization grew to become the International Special Olympics, now
represented in more than 160 countries. Burke also delivered the
oath of office at the governor's 2003 inauguration.
Following the governor's address, in which he promised to
continue to build a state government focused on the people, Pastor
Tom Cross led the prayer for peace. Cross has served United
Methodist churches in northern Illinois for over 40 years.
After the constitutional officers took their oaths of office,
Rabbi Michelle Greenberg of the Temple Jeremiah in Northfield gave
the benediction. Greenberg has created innovative music programs
that have brought together mariachi and klezmer musicians, designed
teen Talmud study programs, and coordinated a nationally acclaimed
HIV/AIDS prevention program.
The choir from the Bright Star Church of God followed up the
benediction with the fitting song "We Made It." Then the honor guard
retired the colors as the Air National Guard of the Midwest played a
postlude, closing the ceremony.
Later in the day, the governor and his wife hosted the
"Celebrate! Illinois 2007" ball at the Exposition Building on the
Illinois State Fairgrounds. The ball, an inaugural tradition,
highlighted the people, communities, traditions, inventions and
resources that make Illinois so unique.
[News release from the governor's office] |
