* A new CNN/Opinion Research national poll taken Aug. 6-10 shows strong support for the federal state aid law…

Do you favor or oppose a bill in which the federal government would provide 26 billion dollars to
state governments to pay for Medicaid benefits and the salaries of public school teachers or other government workers?

Favor 60%
Oppose 38%
No opinion 2%

I’m assuming, since this state is more liberal and more pro-Obama than average and since our budget situation is so bad, that the number is even higher here. Some are calling this a sop to the unions, but most people obviously see it for what it is: A relatively modest attempt to keep states and school districts from meltdowns.

* Bill Brady, however, thinks the bill was a mistake…

Republican candidate for governor Bill Brady said Thursday that Congress was wrong to pass an aid package that will give Illinois nearly $1 billion for teachers and health care.

Brady said the $26 billion legislation will increase the federal deficit and leave Illinois with a bigger budget hole to fill next year.

“These are just typical Washington games, digging a deeper hole,” Brady told reporters as he prepared to march in the Illinois State Fair Twilight Parade. “I don’t know where they’re going to get the money.”

But Brady also said the state should take the money to get its fair share.

…Adding… I forgot to post this story…

Gov. Pat Quinn tamped down speculation Thursday that lawmakers would have to return to the state Capitol this summer to deal with a new influx of federal funds.

Speaking to reporters at the launch of the Illinois State Fair parade, Quinn said he doubted a special legislative session would have to be called for the state to spend more than $400 million for education.

“I don’t think there’s a need for that,” Quinn said.

I followed up with the governor’s office this morning to ask how they would appropriate the money without a special session and received this e-mail…

We are reviewing the legislation to determine our options. We hope to make a final determination shortly.

OK, so the guv says no need for a special, but his office says it hasn’t been determined yet. Great.

* Mark Kirk voted against the state aid bill because he said it added to the deficit. He has also repeatedly attacked his US Senate opponent Alexi Giannoulias for opposing an extension of the Bush-era tax cuts. But the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation has just released a new report showing that extending the cuts would add $36 billion to the deficit next year alone…

A Republican plan to extend tax cuts for the rich would add more than $36 billion to the federal deficit next year — and transfer the bulk of that cash into the pockets of the nation’s millionaires, according to a congressional analysis released Wednesday.

New data from the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation show that households earning more than $1 million a year would reap nearly $31 billion in tax breaks under the GOP plan in 2011, for an average tax cut per household of about $100,000.

$36 billion added to the deficit in one year for the tax cut extension that Kirk supports, compared to $5 billion or so over ten years for a bill he opposed.

WBEZ asked Kirk about his support for extending those tax cuts, which greatly benefit the wealthy. Kirk gave a short answer about trying to avoid “class warfare.” Here’s a handy graphic which shows the difference between the plan Kirk supports and the president’s proposal. A larger version is here…

Asked by WBEZ where he’d cut the budget to pay for those tax breaks, Kirk refused to be pinned down.

* Other campaign stuff…

* ADDED: Breaking News: Auchi attorneys go after Illinois Review

* ADDED: Brady Can’t Tell Us Where He’ll Cut The Budget. But That’s Quinn’s Fault

* Dan Seals’ first TV ad

* RNC passes resolution calling for repeal of Obamacare

* Adam Kinzinger Among GOP Young Guns Taking Aim at Democratic Seats

* New scramble afoot for temporary Joyce seat

* 10 Ways Anyone of Hispanic Heritage Could Be a Republican

* Political fund-raising down to an art form