* 10:19 am - Comptroller Dan Hynes has just called for a “progressive” income tax, a dollar increase in the cigarette tax, two to three additional casinos, luxury services and other revenue ideas and budget cuts. You can watch it live by clicking here.

“I think it’s wrong to tax families during a recession,” said the Democratic gubernatorial candidate.

Hynes called for a “Fair and progressive tax system that will not raise taxes for 97 percent of our citizens… It will increase taxes only on those making over $200,000 per year…. Even then, the incremental increases will be staggered.” Top rate of 7.5 percent at $1 million a year.

The constitution would have to be amended to pass this proposal, of course.

* Gov. Pat Quinn, by the way, initially had no events on his schedule today. He then added two events, including one at 10:30 (just 8 minutes from now), where he will answer questions. [Update: The afternoon event is no longer on the schedule.]

* Hynes: “Our budget deficit is the product of our leadership deficit.”

* Hynes has ended his speech and is now taking questions from reporters.

Hynes said he wants the General Assembly to pass a resolution to put the constitutional amendment question before voters next year.

“Pat Quinn’s plan is regressive and unfair… Now he might have changed it, probably did.” Ouch.

“The hard, cold fact is this: We can’t cut our way out of this.”

No increase in corporate income tax.

Pushing, again, to merge comptroller and treasurer’s office.

* Hynes wants to cut back government operation lines to 2005 levels,

* 10:35 am - End of presser. I’ll be posting some docs in a few. Patterson has more.

* From the Hynes campaign…

“The general idea…is straightforward: before turning to taxes, we have to cut unnecessary government spending. If we don’t, we’ll place an unfair tax burden on people… We won’t have addressed the problem in the same common sense way that they would. A budget, whether at home or in Springfield, should require budgeting.”

To reduce the 2010 Budget shortfall, Hynes proposed taking immediate action to:

o Cut unnecessary government spending with a strategic process;
o Fire half of the Blagojevich political appointees making $70,000 a year or more;
o Reduce exorbitant state contracts by 20 percent;
o Bring state government operations back to 2005 levels, using best practices and directing agencies to work with front-line workers to identify cost-saving measures and efficiencies (Through a similar process, Hynes’ Comptroller’s Office is operating at 2001 levels.);
o End unfair tax exemptions, loopholes and discounts.

“The goal of this plan is simply to make our state better,” Hynes concluded. “But to do that we have to lead with clarity and consistency.”

Read the full press release by clicking here.

* Lede look…

* AP: Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes has formally announced his campaign for governor by introducing his plan to solve the state’s budget crisis.

* NBC5: Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes formally entered the Illinois governor’s race this morning, and during his announcement he laid out a reform agenda aimed directly at the establishment.

CBS2 and ABC7 are both using AP stories at the moment.

* Sun-Times: Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes formally announced his candidacy for governor today, proposing to change the state’s income tax from a flat 3 percent tax to a “progressive” tax that would top out at 7.5 percent for millionaires.

* Tribune: State Comptroller Dan Hynes today said he could dig the state out of its budget hole if he were governor–outlining more than half a dozen initiatives ranging from a graduated income tax and new casinos to cutting state workers and reducing state contracts.

* Daily Herald: Illinois voters would decide whether those making more than $200,000 a year would have their taxes raised at the same time pick a governor next year, under the plan put forward by Democratic hopeful Dan Hynes.

* 11:44 am - Illinois Federation of Teachers…

“We want to take a closer look at it before commenting further