Gov skips Gitmo panel to honor firefighters, vets

Gov. Pat Quinn says he decided to spend his day remembering fallen Chicago firefighters and honoring veterans rather than listen to public testimony about a plan to bring terrorism suspects to an Illinois prison.

Quinn says his top staff is at Tuesday's hearing before the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability in Sterling.

The governor says the Corrections Department director and the head of the Illinois State Police will be at the hearing to answer questions about plans to sell Thomson prison to the federal government. And Quinn says he'll receive a full report.

Quinn spent Tuesday morning at an event to remember Chicago firefighters who died in the line of duty 99 years ago. He later spoke to reporters at an event at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.