Hynes, Quinn campaigns spar over comments

There's a flap in the Democratic race for governor over support for a progressive state income tax that would increase the burden on the rich.

Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes' campaign demanded Thursday that Gov. Pat Quinn explain or apologize for saying Hynes had previously opposed a progressive income tax.

Quinn's campaign shot back with a 2003 newspaper story that said Hynes opposed a proposed state constitutional amendment to tax the rich more that Quinn, then lieutenant governor, was behind.

Hynes was running for the Senate then and the Kane County Chronicle quoted Hynes as saying he "wouldn't advocate a tax increase."

Hynes formally entered the governor's race Wednesday by proposing a progressive income tax.

Hynes campaign spokesman Matt McGrath had called it "patently false" for Quinn to suggest that Hynes had changed his position.