* Gov. Pat Quinn talked to reporters after this morning’s prayer breakfast. He was asked what he’d done since the House and Senate adjourned on Friday, but dodged the question.

Quinn said he didn’t foresee giving up any of the emergency powers granted to him in a bill passed by the Senate, but which is still sitting idle in the House. He also hinted at special sessions: “When the legislature wants to drift off and not focus on doing important things for the people, the governor has to call them back and make sure they do their duty… That’s what I plan to do every day this month until we get a good budget.”

Gov. Quinn also spoke about his veto of the legislative scholarship program: “The government is not about politicians, it’s about the people.”

Borrowing: “Every state in the union does this… [Sen. Brady] doesn’t have a plan at all… Sen. Brady runs around and tries to foment as much discord as he can. That’s going back to the past. That’s going back to George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich… We’re not going to have a lot of fakery before the election, where people run around and say they have a secret plan to cut the budget [and] they never give you any details.”

Quinn must’ve said “We’re not going back to the days of Ryan and Blagojevich” or a version of that a half dozen times, ironically echoing his opponent Bill Brady.

Watch…

* Old news…

The state’s budget meltdown did not prevent the wives of two Democratic lawmakers from landing six-figure state paychecks thanks to Gov. Quinn and the Illinois Senate.

The spouse of Rep. Michael Zalewski (D-Chicago) nearly doubled her state salary when Quinn named her to a $117,043-a-year spot on the Illinois Pollution Control Board.

The governor also appointed the wife of state Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston) to another term as chairwoman of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, a position that will pay her $104,358 annually.

“Carrie Zalewski and Lynne Sered are qualified individuals whose experience and professionalism made them the best candidates available,” Quinn spokeswoman Annie Thompson said.

This actually first surfaced in February, when Sen. Dan Duffy (R-Lake Barrington) first rose to criticize their appointments. We even had a Question of the Day on the issue back then.

Duffy used the issue to raise money in a March 26th fundraising letter (complete with the State Seal) and he was called on it the other day, so the Sun-Times used it as an excuse to dredge this issue up all over again.

* Related and a roundup…

* Is Illinois’ Medicaid System Really “One Of The Worst”?

* Frankfort couple learn hard, cold ways of Springfield

* Brady pays ‘courtesy call’ to Daley about budget issues

* Non-profits push for tax increases

* Nonprofit agencies concerned about state budget cuts

* Quinn Prepared to Make Cuts, Still Pushing Tax Hike

* What’s next in state budget crisis?

* To Mike Madigan: What the heck?

* House Majority Leader Blames Republicans for Lack of Budget

* Pass the real bill

* Gov wants to ax — not reform — legislative scholarships

* Quinn vetoes legislative scholarship bill

* Quinn: End scholarship awards from legislators

* State must track Howe Center closure closely

* Downstate Lawmaker Pleads Guilty To DUI