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Mr. Kirk Goes (Back) To Washington

By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 30, 2010 3:00PM

Mark Kirk was sworn in as Illinois' junior senator yesterday, calling his swearing in the end to "a sad chapter in Illinois history" and pledging a bipartisan, centrist approach while taking a shot at Democrats he said had squandered the public's goodwill. "Our state's leaders tried to sell this seat, then blocked an election to fill it," Kirk said at a reception following his swearing in. "But the courts, the law and the people spoke."

Kirk outlined his approach to governing to a crowd that included some prominent lobbyists and supporters who flew in for the swearing in ceremony:

"I will serve as a fiscal conservative, a social moderate and national security hawk," Kirk said. "I will reach out to all 99 other senators to help balance the budget, defend America and grow our economy."