Kirk takes jab at Giannoulias, Brady

Republican Senate candidate Mark Kirk says people paid a salary funded by taxpayers ought to pay taxes.

It's a swipe at his Democratic opponent Alexi Giannoulias, the Illinois state treasurer, who wound up not paying any taxes for last year because of losses related to his family's now failed bank.

The two are locked in a tight race for President Barack Obama's old U.S. Senate seat.

But Kirk's comments Tuesday also were a jab at the Republican running for Illinois governor.

State Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington paid no federal income taxes for 2008 and 2009 because of business losses.

Kirk called the wealthy Giannoulias not paying taxes "distasteful."

A Giannoulias aide says he has previously paid significant amounts of money in taxes.