Quinn sworn in as Ill. governor amid budget crisis

[January 11, 2011]  SPRINGFIELD (AP) -- Democrat Pat Quinn has been sworn in to a full term as Illinois governor, two years after he got the job when his predecessor was kicked out of office and left behind an immense budget crisis.

Quinn began his inaugural address on Monday by calling for unity. He also offered promises to solve the state's fiscal crisis but no firm details of how it would be done.

Quinn takes the reins as the budget deficit could hit $15 billion. He and other Democratic leaders are trying to pass a major income tax increase that would boost the 3 percent income tax rate to 5.25 percent for four years.

Quinn was lieutenant governor until January 2009 when he took over from then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich (blah-GOY'-uh-vich), who was arrested on federal corruption charges.

[Associated Press; By DEANNA BELLANDI]

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