Progress Illinois

Another state bond rating downgrade, another instance of Mark Kirk trying to blame U.S. Senate rival Alexi Giannoulias for the Illinois budget crisis:

"While many are focused on the sovereign debt crisis in Europe, Illinois families are focused on the state debt crisis right here in Illinois. Alexi Giannoulias stood by and watched as our state's debt skyrocketed and our pension liabilities spiraled out of control. [...] [N]ow his failure to do his job as State Treasurer could cost our state even more. The recent downgrading of Illinois' credit rating by Fitch and Moody's should be a major wake-up call to the citizens of Illinois. We need fiscal leadership at the federal and state level to rescue our state and turn this economy around."

Again, as Kirk's own YouTube Channel proves, Giannoulias has not simply "stood by and watched."  He has been a vocal and longstanding supporter of increasing the income tax rate in Illinois (while simultaneously reducing the property tax burden) to generate much-needed revenue and help plug the deficit.  It's unclear what more Kirk would like to see him do in his capacity as state treasurer.  It's also unclear what Kirk supports doing to solve the crisis. 

Taegan Goddard drops this little tease into his latest post on the U.S. Senate contest in Illinois:

A new poll out later today will show there is definitely room for another candidate in the race.

It's a Public Policy Polling survey.  Check back for more details later in the day.

UPDATE: Here it is.

Later this afternoon, UNITE-HERE Local 1 members and labor allies from across Chicago will head down to the Congress Hotel on Michigan Avenue to mark the seventh anniversary of the hotel employees' strike. As we wrote this time last year, a trip to the Congress picket line has unfortunately become an annual summertime rite for the city's progressive community. Today, Illinois' own Rep. Luis Gutierrez is scheduled to address the union workers.  We'll be at the rally, so check back for more coverage tomorrow morning.

In the meantime, you can learn more about this labor dispute -- the longest-running in the country -- by reading our 2008 article "Walk The Line."

With Mayor Richard Daley ready to eclipse his father as the city's longest-serving chief executive later this year and the 2011 municipal elections quickly approaching, big media outlets have started to examine broadly Hizzoner's 20-year record. The New Yorker's Evan Osnos' March profile was colorful but ultimately much too rosy. Today, Crain's Greg Hinz and Steven R. Strahler published a much more critical -- and compelling -- portrait of the Mayor's economic record. It's definitely worth your time.

Reviewing heaps of fiscal data, the pair of reporters came to a conclusion that shouldn't surprise any city residents: While Daley has made considerable investments in the neighborhoods in and around the Loop, few resources have funneled to the city's outlying areas. What's worse, to make those flashy investments, the city has mired itself in immense debt. 

With the municipal elections less than a year away, Hinz and Strahler ask an important question: Is he "the right person to lead the city out of a fiscal morass created in large part by his drive to make Chicago a mecca for wealthy professionals and international corporations"?