* Rasmussen polled Gov. Quinn’s favorables this week. Brackets show favorables from polls taken April 28 and March 8…

How would you rate the job Pat Quinn has been doing as Governor… do you strongly approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove, or strongly disapprove of the job he’s been doing?

8% Strongly approve [7, 10]
34% Somewhat approve [34, 33]
23% Somewhat disapprove [30, 28]
34% Strongly disapprove [28, 27]
1% Not sure [2, 2]

Check that “strongly disapprove” trend. Numbers are hardening a bit against him.

* The governor will be cutting a big ribbon today during Rod Blagojevich’s trial…

Gov. Mitch Daniels will join Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn today to commemorate their states’ approval of bills authorizing the Illiana Expressway.

The governors are expected to get together at 12:30 p.m. at the municipal airport in Lansing. The Illiana Expressway, as proposed, would connect Interstate 65 in Indiana with I-57 or I-55 in Illinois.

Projects like that are one reason why he got the AFL-CIO’s endorsement yesterday, despite grumbling by teachers and AFSCME…

Though the AFL-CIO has long backed Democrats, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Illinois Federation of Teachers aren’t happy with some moves Quinn has made as governor.

Henry Bayer, executive director of AFSCME Council 31, said the union did not support making an endorsement for governor because its own endorsement session isn’t until September.

“There’s a lot of issues our members aren’t happy about,” Bayer said, noting Quinn’s signature on a measure that offers lower pension benefits to future state employees and the governor’s attempts to make retired public workers pay more for their health insurance coverage.

David Comerford, a spokesman for the Illinois Federation of Teachers, said the union decided not to vote on an endorsement, a move it has rarely taken at the AFL-CIO. Comerford said the union has concerns about how Quinn has dealt with his union, as well as disagreement over the pension changes. The union’s political arm, which also represents the Chicago Teachers Union, is scheduled to meet in mid-July to determine if it will make its own endorsement for governor.

* Quinn is also working with Attorney General Lisa Madigan to persuade Navistar to change its mind…

State officials said Tuesday they have stepped up their efforts to persuade Navistar International Corp. to renew its plans to open a new corporate headquarters in west suburban Lisle, in an effort to prevent thousands of jobs and millions of dollars from leaving Illinois.

On Tuesday, aides to Gov. Pat Quinn met with Lisle Mayor Joseph Broda and labor representatives “to reiterate the governor’s strong commitment to ensuring the jobs and investment that Navistar wants to bring to Illinois become a reality,” said Quinn spokeswoman Ashley Cross.

“The group discussed the concerns of the local community, as well as potential ways to resolve them,” Cross said. “Gov. Quinn will continue working with Navistar and the local community to resolve these outstanding issues so that we can bring these critical jobs and investment to Illinois.”

The talks came days after Quinn signed legislation that would expand a corporate tax credit to include Navistar, potentially saving the engine manufacturer $60 million over 10 years, his aides said.

More…

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is offering to negotiate between Navistar and the Lisle residents angered over the handling of the company’s planned relocation of its headquarters to the community.

In a letter to local residents, Madigan said her office had already been contacted by Navistar and now wants to hear their side.

“While my office does not represent any party in this matter, Navistar has already contacted us about its own concerns, and we would like to hear from you as well. We believe differences can be bridged if we have an opportunity to meet with you and seek a reasonable approach,” Madigan said in the letter dated June 7 that was mailed to community members. Madigan goes on to say public health and safety are top priorities for her office along with job creation and that they “are not mutually exclusive goals.”

Despite the efforts, though, Navistar is saying nothing has really changed. It wants out.

* Quinn continued his attacks on Bill Brady yesterday as well…

Gov. Pat Quinn charged Tuesday that Bill Brady, the Republican nominee for governor, should forgo his state paycheck for any days where he missed a vote in his role as Bloomington’s state senator.

“Most citizens, if they weren’t showing up for work, wouldn’t get paid, and I think that’s something we should always take into consideration,” Quinn told reporters.

But when the tables were turned, Quinn said he wouldn’t give up any of the nearly $150,000 he’s collecting as governor for days he was off seeking endorsements or raising money for his campaign.

“If I get a call in the middle of the night, there’s no time off. I have to act in the middle of the night,” said Quinn, adding that Brady has failed at his only job - making votes.

Response…

“Given the condition of the state, I don’t think Gov. Quinn wants to launch a debate on who deserves a paycheck from taxpayers,” responded Brady spokeswoman Patty Schuh.

Schuh also said there’s more to being a senator than voting on the Senate floor, including helping constituents “get paid by a government that’s been a deadbeat.”

“There has been a focus on a very small period of time,” she said of the missed votes. “We acknowledged that he missed votes, but he also made many, many votes.”

* And the two candidates went back and forth on the Blagojevich legacy…

During the 2006 campaign, then-Lt. Gov. Quinn defended Blagojevich, who already was beset by corruption investigations into his administration. “In all my interactions with him, I’ve found him to be an honest person,” Quinn said at the time.

[Yesterday], Quinn said he later challenged Blagojevich on his proposals, such as a proposed major tax on businesses, and noted Blagojevich contended he did not consider Quinn to be part of the administration.

Quinn cited a variety of other reforms put into law since then, ranging from changes in purchasing procedures to campaign finance to a referendum on recall this November. […]

“The beginning of disgraced Governor Rod Blagojevich’s criminal trial is a stark reminder to voters that too many Illinois politicians have long placed their own interests before the people’s interests. Enough is enough,” said Brady in a campaign statement issued today.

* Related and a roundup…

* What biz needs to ask Brady and Quinn

* Chicago Group Wants Intransigent Lawmakers To Pay “Political Price”

* Quinn will consider STAR bonds

* Quinn still ‘working on’ getting pension plan backing

* Quinn OKs letting universities borrow up to 9%

* Under new law, state universities can borrow to cover costs

* Poshard: ‘We’re not out of woods’

* New Law Allows State Universities to Borrow

* Without state funding, borrowing is best of bad options for colleges

* New bill would push harsher penalties for consumer fraud

* Herald & Review: Sales tax holiday could be a boost

* State law would overturn local rules on political signs