Quinn releases tax returns, says Brady should also

Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn released his 2009 income tax returns on Tuesday, arguing that the failure of his Republican electoral opponent to do the same raises questions about possible conflicts of interest.

"Illinois doesn't need a shady governor," Quinn said at a news conference before aides handed out copies of his returns. "Sunshine is the best way to protect the public interest."

According to Quinn's 2009 returns, the Chicago Democrat boosted his earnings by about $35,000 by moving from the lieutenant governor's job to the governor's office after legislators forced Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office early last year amid corruption allegations.

Quinn earned $155,486 in salary in 2009, which compares to $120,227 in wages he claimed on his 2008 returns. For 2009, he paid $27,547 in federal and $4,468 in state income taxes, his returns show. His property tax bill on his west side Chicago home was $3,211.

He hammered at Republican foe Bill Brady's refusal to disclose his tax documents, citing the Bloomington senator's comments last week that there was "nothing to be gained" from letting voters see his returns.

"What's to be gained? What's to be gained is the trust of the people," Quinn said.

The governor said Brady was bucking a tradition of candidates from both parties choosing to release their returns, adding that anyone running for office who chooses not to "really should rethink their candidacy."

Quinn did not offer any specifics on how Brady's dealings as a businessman might conflict with his duties as an elected official, saying only that the Republican's failure to open his returns to scrutiny raises the possibility he had something to hide.

A spokeswoman for Brady did not immediately return a message seeking comment Tuesday.

Brady said last week that making the documents public when he ran for governor four years ago hurt his business interests, which include real estate and construction. He said voters can learn about his financial ties by looking at a disclosure form he files with the state.

"I don't feel there's any reason to do it. There's nothing gained by releasing that, and I'm not going to do it this time," Brady had said Thursday at a news conference he called to criticize Quinn's proposal to raise Illinois income taxes by one-third.

The statement filed with the state shows Brady's links to a range of businesses but says nothing about how much money he is making or losing.