* This timeline may be overly ambitious, but it’s good to see he’s setting a deadline for himself…

In office less than a week, Gov. Patrick Quinn is setting April 3 as his goal to enact a long-delayed capital bill to fund Illinois road projects and other improvements.

“It will give us a target to shoot at and keep an urgent approach,” he said after a 50-minute meeting Tuesday in Washington, D.C., with members of Congress from Illinois. […]

The April 3 date marks the start of a two-week Easter recess for the Illinois General Assembly. A capital bill was expected to be a high priority for the new governor, but not as urgent as ethics reform and the state’s $4-billion deficit.

“We will (pass a capital bill),” said Mr. Quinn, adding that after consulting with legislators, he will present details on the bill to the public on March 18 when he unveils next year’s state budget. He declined to say how big the bill would be or whether it would be financed with tax increases, increased borrowing or a combination of the two.

It will be “pretty big,” he said. “The more we can get, the better.”

* Paying for a “pretty big” capital plan will not be easy, however. There’s no question that we need the plan, but funding it will be excruciatingly unpopular with a recesssion-weary populace…

House Speaker Michael Madigan will support a proposal to raise the existing 19-cent-per-gallon motor fuel tax to 27 cents—a boost that could raise $500 million a year to fund bond payments on a $5.9 billion transportation repair plan, a Madigan spokesman said.

Senate President John Cullerton also told the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board that increased motor fuel taxes and higher vehicle fees should be considered “on the table” for what he called an Illinois “stimulus” package that would fund school construction as well as road and transit projects.

A spokesman for Gov. Pat Quinn said the governor is “keeping all options open as he works to get a clear idea of the state’s finances.” […]

Illinois’ current motor fuel tax rate has been unchanged since 1990.

* The Daily Herald, in typical newspaper style, editorializes that leaders need to make tough choices on the budget, but never suggests a single major choice…

Accountability means our legislators will have to make some hard choices about where to cut state spending. And Quinn needs to show the leadership needed to make those hard choices.

Blah, blah, blah. Step up or shut up.

* Meanwhile, Quinn is showing a surprisingly deft touch so far…

As he sat down in Durbin’s leadership office in the Capitol, Quinn gave his cell phone number to members of the [state’s congressional] delegation, saying, “In the past, I know it was hard for you to reach the governor.”

* And some folksy common sense…

In marked contrast to the style of his predecessor, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn took a United Airlines flight to the nation’s capital to discuss the effects of an economic stimulus plan.

Quinn, who took over last week following the impeachment and removal of Rod Blagojevich from office, flew coach rather than take the state plane, which Blagojevich had an affinity for.

* Also, Levi Moore takes a look at how Quinn might change Illinois government….

Quinn’s challenge is actually an opportunity for the Chicago Tech Community to help itself. Quinn created the Illinois Reform Commission. The commission is asking the public for suggestions as to how to clean-up Illinois government. Suggestions I have heard, include:

* Invalidating existing IT service and other technology-related Master Contracts;
* Pre-qualifying IT companies from a technical capability perspective;
* Creating an easily monitored web-site to preview procurement opportunities and review projects that are being implemented; and
* Overhauling the entire Illinois procurement system.

* And Democratic legislative leaders try to get out in front of the ethics issue…

Leaders in the General Assembly are forming a committee to consider tighter ethics laws.

Senate President John Cullerton and House Speaker Michael Madigan say they’re filing a resolution to create a 16-member commission. […]

But the pair did not endorse more stringent rules on current practices, such as limits on campaign contributions, perhaps the top priority for government-reform groups. Illinois has no limit on the amount of money someone may donate to a politician. […]

The two leaders also directed their lawyers to meet with Gov. Pat Quinn’s new ethics commission to discuss legislation that could require disclosure of investigative reports of government corruption. They also would consider stronger lobbyist “revolving-door” laws and greater protection for whistleblowers.

* Related…

* Top Illinois lawmakers to push ethics reform

* Good-government reformers aim to seize the moment with campaign finance proposal

* Iowa seeks citizen input on state budget

* Go get the Medicaid money: a message to Gov. Quinn

* Update on State Budget Gaps: FY 2009 & FY 2010

* 4-H program faces budget problems

* DNR director hears cries of cronyism

* Attendance down 13 percent at Ill. historic sites

* New governor to take a methodical approach

* Quinn flies ‘economy class’ for trip to D.C.

* State’s new top dog has a watchdog history

* Gov. Quinn meets with Obama, lawmakers in D.C.

* Quinn meets with Obama at White House

* Rockford hopes Alpine patch job will hold

* Officials: Write Quinn letters to help save Pontiac prison

* Letter-writing effort planned to keep prison open