U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk is denying a report that he has decided not to run for the Senate in part to avoid a primary with the Illinois Republican Party Chairman.
The Washington Post's Chris Cilliza reported Friday afternoon that Kirk would not make a Senate bid, despite signaling to party leaders just days ago that he was planning to run.
The North Shore Republican appeared set to enter the race after Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced she would not run. A potential sticking point for Kirk, Cilliza reported, is his vote for the administration's climate change bill and a potential primary with state GOP chairman Andy McKenna:
[Kirk's decision] followed a meeting of the Illinois Republican congressional delegation on Thursday in which his colleagues refused to back Kirk in a primary against Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna due, in large part, to his vote in favor of President Barack Obama's climate change bill.
This is the idiot guy that told the Chinese not to believe the US Budget
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Quinn Shelving Tax Increase Push Until Fall
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is putting aside his call for an income tax increase until November.
In an interview Friday with The Associated Press, Quinn said he now wants to pass a state budget with significant spending cuts. Then in November, he would ask lawmakers to choose between balancing the budget by cutting even further or by raising taxes.
Quinn said delaying the decision for five months would provide time to study Medicaid spending, pension reforms and other cost-cutting measures.
Then officials would be in a better position to decide the best way to finish erasing a roughly $11.6 billion budget deficit.
The Democratic governor says he'll ask lawmakers to consider the idea when they return to Springfield next week.
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Giannoulias takes lead in fund-raising for a Senate bid
Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias has raised $1.8 million for his Senate bid, while his likely Democratic rivals have zero dollars in their war chests.
Giannoulias has been fund-raising since March. Federal fund-raising reports, public next week, will show that Giannoulias raised about $670,000 in the second quarter of 2009.
Giannoulias is also in a position to pour some of his own money into his campaign; his federal financial disclosure statement will show that he is worth between $13 million and $62 million, I'm told.
Lisa Madigan is running again as State's Attorney but will Have Joe Birkett, from DuPage County as her opponent again. My opinion...Birkett doesn't have a chance!
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