* Good news…

Gov. Pat Quinn plans to sign legislation Wednesday to push Illinois’ primary election back to March. The 2 p.m. signing in the governor’s Capitol office ends the state’s experiment with a February primary after just two elections.

* Old news…

Gov. Quinn is remaining hush-hush about his choice for lieutenant governor this time — now that veterans chief/close friend Tammy Duckworth turned him down.

• Tipsville: But Sneed hears rumbles White House pressure is being put on Quinn, who favors a female sidekick, to select populist/Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool for the job.

• The mix: “Pat and Claypool have been joined at the hip for 30 years; Forrest was Quinn’s deputy when he was state treasurer,” said a top Dem source.

• The hitch: Would powerful state Dem party chief Mike Madigan want Claypool for the job?

* Madigan news…

Gov. Pat Quinn’s suggestion that lawmakers should vote on his proposed income tax increase before taking any breaks, including a two-week holiday this month, is “under review” by legislative leaders, House Speaker Michael Madigan said today.

“Our thought was that maybe Governor Quinn could use a nice break,” Madigan said after his proposed constitutional amendment requiring Illinois judges to be licensed attorneys for specified periods cleared its first step today. […]

But when asked how many lawmakers would have the same courage and vote in favor of the one percentage-point increase, Madigan only replied “We’ll find out.”

Yes, we will.

* Quote of the day goes to Gov. Quinn, talking about his proposed tax hike…

“For those who say we’re bluffing, where’s the billion dollars coming from? It’s not gonna come from heaven. We’ve got to find ways to replace that revenue,” said Quinn.

* And the SJ-R appeared to walk back an editorial from earlier this week blasting CMS for approving the Dept. of Aging’s expensive office consolidation. Here’s what they said Sunday…

So forgive us if we don’t take CMS at its word that spending $532,000 a year rather than staying at a state-owned building will be better for taxpayers. All we see is money being spent in a year when thousands of teachers may get pink slips because of state budget troubles. It’s going to be a while before we can treat the word “efficiency” as something other than a euphemism.

Today…

…we urge restraint for those inclined to get political mileage out of this incident. Taken to its extreme, the DOA lease deal is made-to-order ammunition for those who believe Illinois can climb out of its fiscal hole without any more money coming in. Thus far, Sen. Bill Brady, the Republican candidate for governor, is using this extreme as the foundation of his campaign.

To that camp, we offer this math lesson: Illinois needs to find $13 billion. There are 1,000 millions in a billion. Therefore, it will take roughly 24,000 Department on Aging lease deals to close the gap.

* Related and a roundup…

* Goldman pleased tuition waiver cuts dead

* Governor can balance budget in three years, conservative panel says: And the group proposed abolishing the Illinois Arts Alliance — headed by Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan’s wife, Shirley. That would save $7.6 million.

* Think tank proposes no-tax increase budget: “If (DCEO) was good at creating jobs, this state wouldn’t rank 48th out of 50 states in creating jobs over the last 10 years,” he said at a Statehouse press conference. “So it’s failing, and on that measure alone we think it should be eliminated.”

* Ag Supporters: Don’t Cut Funding: “The budget is six-tenths of one percent that goes to ag spending and ag programs. When they talk about across-the-board cuts, we’ve already (given) our share,” he said.

* Mental health service providers on Quinn’s chopping block

* Jeffrey Gomer: Illinois’ tax burden not that bad

* Unexpected vote leads to massive pay cut in East St. Louis

* Local leaders warn of more cuts if state fails in its funding obligations

* Elgin, Kane Co. towns bracing for even more cuts in state funding

* Officials: Quinn’s plan would bring property tax to Carol Stream

* ICC supports tuition hike

* Thomson prison sale inches forward: Documents released Tuesday show the administration wants to award a $30,000, no-bid contract to a Carroll County appraisal service as part of the price-setting process for the mostly dormant facility….In addition to ordering the appraisal, the Quinn administration earlier sent a letter to the 80 workers who oversee inmates at a minimum-security work camp at the prison. That letter shows that the state plans to close the facility by April 30.

* State Capitol Q&A: A look at lobbyist registration fees

* Voice of The Southern: Transparency, accountability goals of ‘Sunshine Week’

* There are ways to get answers from public officials

* ACLU, state settlement hailed by advocates for mentally ill

* Proposed bill would restrict sex offenders

* Sex Offender Bills Pile Up; Illinois Senate Votes to Prohibit Sex Offenders form Public Parks

* Lawmakers look to close loophole in predator law

* Dillard bill targets public aid fraud

* Raoul Picks Up Bill to Fuse Governor-Lt. Governor Campaigns

* Bill to increase Ill. speed limit to 70 mph heads to full Senate

* GOP: IDOC execs are scapegoats