CHICAGO – After keeping a relatively low public profile before the November election, Gov. Pat Quinn is out again, pushing his agenda for tackling Illinois' most pressing problems in the run up to the Legislature's veto session later this month.

He says he soon will announce details of a planned grass-roots campaign to promote an overhaul of the state's pension system, and he's set a Jan. 9 deadline for achieving reforms. Among the issues likely to arise in the two-week session in Springfield this month is whether lawmakers have enough votes to override his veto of a major gambling expansion bill.

Quinn sat down with The Associated Press this week to discuss his stance on the issues ahead, including his optimism for pension reform, the possibility of an agreement on a new gambling bill and the outlook for gay marriage in Illinois. He also touched on one of his favorite topics, Abraham Lincoln.