Earlier this week, you may have noticed the latest politically damaging story for Gov. Quinn: The AP reported that, despite the budget crisis, the governor "has given 43 salary increases averaging 11.4 percent to 35 staffers in the past 15 months."  But even if you missed it, your local editorial board probably looped you in.  Below is a list of editorials from the past two days slamming Quinn for the move.  With the latest Rasmussen poll suggesting he might be closing in on challenger Bill Brady, this is not what he needed:

- Chicago Tribune: "Clueless in Illinois"
- Rockford Register-Star: "Illinois continues to make choices it can't afford"
- Peoria Journal-Star: "Raises for governor's staff indefensible in bankrupt state"
- Daily Herald: "More Quinn logic that escapes us"
- Bloomington Pantagraph: "Credibility sunk by big raises for Quinn's staff"
- Decatur Herald-Review: "Quinn's staff need to share sacrifices"
- Belleville News-Democrat: "Sacrifice for someone else"
- SouthtownStar: "Oh, the pain just keeps on coming"

The Sun-Times board hasn't commented on the issue yet.  (They chose to slam him for his sales tax holiday idea instead.)