Below are our daily picks from the Illinois blogosphere and media at large:

What I Learned
Rep. Phil Hare ruminates on what he learned during his first term in Washington. 

How Does Illinois Spell Relief? F-M-A-P
The Shriver Center's Andrea Kovach argues that a temporary increase in the federal Medicaid contribution rate would greatly help Illinois weather this economic storm.

The Labor Agenda
The New York Times editorial board endorses the Employee Free Choice Act and calls on Barack Obama to assert a forceful labor agenda early during his presidency. 

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