Gov. Quinn threatened to withhold monthly payments to Chicago and other cities and towns in Illinois if legislators do not allow him to borrow billions for the state. The Chicago Tribune got ahold of a confidential memo from the governor's office that outlined a proposal the governor hopes would put pressure on lawmakers via town mayors. The monthly payments are cities' share of state income taxes, which add up to more than $1 billion a year. Chicago gets about $220 million. more ›

In an about-face from his recent calls for Senator Burris to resign and for a special election to be held to fill the U.S. Senate seat, Governor Quinn today backed off of Burris and said the focus of Illinois should instead be on things like the economy. Said Quinn: more ›