* Erickson…

In one of his final acts as governor, Democrat Pat Quinn could make one last push to raise Illinois’ minimum wage.

Although his aides remain tight-lipped about the prospect Monday, the outgoing governor could use his waning authority to call on lawmakers to act on the minimum wage when members of the House and Senate return Thursday for a special legislative session.

That doesn’t mean lawmakers actually will listen to Quinn, who leaves office Monday morning.

That wouldn’t surprise me at all. He’s trying hard to seal his legacy.

For instance…

Outgoing Gov. Pat Quinn has issued two executive orders he says are aimed at making the state more welcoming to immigrants.

Quinn on Monday ordered the Governor’s Office on New Americans to appoint a liaison in each state agency to help immigrants benefit from President Barack Obama’s recent executive action. The action curbs deportation and gives work permits to some immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally.

Quinn also says Illinois’ 10 existing Welcoming Centers should assist people applying for the federal action, and state agencies must provide information on how to obtain necessary records.

* The governor also sat down with the Tribune for an exit briefing…

The populist Democrat, who hands the reins of power to Republican Bruce Rauner on Monday, listed no regrets.

“I think you put your whole body and soul into every issue,” Quinn said when asked if he’d have done anything differently. “Some you win. Some you don’t win. Life goes on.” […]

Quinn said his biggest accomplishment as governor was guiding Illinois through the “dire straits” he inherited when he moved up from lieutenant governor six years ago. He took over after former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was impeached and removed, with Illinois a late-night TV punch line. The state’s economy reeled from the Great Recession. […]

“I know, as long as I have breath to breathe, I’ll be organizing some cause,” Quinn said. “I was disappointed that the progressive approach to government, for a while, won’t be in Springfield in the governor’s office.

“The progressive approach means you’ve got to tell people the unvarnished truth, even if it’s hard,” said Quinn, barely masking his criticism of Rauner, whose plans for state government so far have been short on specifics. “It’s better to tell people what they need to know, not what politicians want them to hear.

* And check out this Quinn press release from this morning…

As 2015 gets started, Governor Pat Quinn today highlighted Illinois’ strong economic recovery. In 2014, the state’s economy significantly improved, with unemployment down and job creation up across Illinois.

“When I took office on January 29, 2009, the Illinois economy was in a deep recession. Today, our economy is significantly stronger,” Governor Quinn said. “Our work to make the tough decisions, invest in a 21st century transportation infrastructure and responsibly cut the cost of doing business in our state is getting the job done. This past year saw historic drops in our unemployment rate as more men and women are getting back to work across the state.”

Today the Illinois unemployment rate stands at 6.4 percent - its lowest level since June 2008. In November 2014, unemployment rates fell in every region of Illinois for the eighth consecutive month to a six or seven year low. Illinois has led the nation for five straight months with the sharpest over-the-year drop in the unemployment rate.

Since the start of 2014, 166,000 more people across Illinois are back on the job. Employers have added 298,700 private sector jobs since February 2010.

When Governor Quinn took office, he inherited a financial crisis and the worst recession since the Great Depression. Since then, he has driven economic growth by putting the state on more solid financial footing, cutting state spending by billions of dollars and achieving historic reforms to pensions and Medicaid. These tough actions have won praise from all three credit agencies and helped stabilize the state’s finances.

It goes on like that for several more paragraphs.

* I’m assuming he’ll make some sort of announcement at his City Club address today…

Outgoing Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is set to give one of his final public speeches as governor when he addresses business and civic leaders during an afternoon luncheon. The Democrat is scheduled to speak Tuesday at the City Club of Chicago.

Quinn has previously used the venue to float new ideas tied to the state budget or pension crisis.