The State Journal-Register came out in favor of a temporary income tax hike yesterday, writing that the GOP stance of "[c]ut first, reform the budget process, then 'discuss' new revenues" is "unreasonable." Meanwhile, the Daily Herald reported that Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lamont) "did concede Friday that cutting the state budget alone will not come up with the cash needed to make ends meet."

SEIU Local 73 held its first meeting since Mayor Daley announced that he intends to send out 1,500 pink slips to city workers this week.  About 300 of the crossing guards, detention aides and traffic control aides represented by the union could lose their jobs (and be replaced by Chicago police officers) as a result.  CBS 2 reported this quote from an unnamed member: "Every time you look around, [Daley is] selling Chicago. He's not giving nothing in return, but layoffs. But we ain't takin' it no more."

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow went after GOP Rep. Mark Kirk for recently bragging that he told Chinese officials not to believe the Obama adminstration's budget numbers.  Watch it (H/T Ellen of the Tenth):

Tomorrow marks the sixth anniversary of the Congress Hotel strike.  (Read our article on the fifth anniversary here.)  As Newstips notes, Gov. Quinn is scheduled to join the picket line to show support for the hotel workers.