* One of Gov. Pat Quinn’s next decisions involves his official portrait…

Governor Quinn still has time to decide if he’ll have his portrait hanging in the Capitol building.

It’s around this time governors leaving office will usually start planning to leave their mark, which is a portrait in the Capitol building. But, it comes at a hefty price.

Officials tell us the paintings cost around $20,000.

The paintings of Illinois’ former leaders hang on the second floor of the building, in “The Hall of Governors.”

* But…

In 1994, when Quinn was state treasurer, he held a press conference to mock then-Senate President James “Pate” Philip for commissioning an $8,676 portrait that now hangs in the Senate chambers.

Philip, who left state government in 2003, ignored Quinn’s call to reimburse the state for the painting and his portrait remains in its place in the President’s Gallery overlooking the room where senators cast their votes.

If he does sit for the portrait, I’m assuming it won’t be state financed. Right, governor?

*** UPDATE *** The governor’s press secretary just told me that Quinn will use “private funds” for the portrait.