State Sen. Matt Murphy, R-Palatine, said he will seek the GOP nomination for Illinois governor in 2010.

He will join a colleague, Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, who ran in 2006 and came in third in a crowded primary. Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, is weighing a run as well.

Joe Birkett, who has run several statewide campaigns and is best known as the DuPage County state’s attorney, is considered a likely GOP gubernatorial hopeful.

On the Democratic side Gov. Pat Quinn has made it clear he would like to be elected. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is said to be weighing her options between a run for the U.S. Senate or for governor.

It will, no doubt, be a lively campaign with no incumbent seeking re-election. That probably will not keep the candidates from running against the legacy of the two most recently disgraced governors — Rod Blagojevich or George Ryan.

The big question is whether the Illinois electorate has learned that attack ads and monetary support should not count for as much as character and political stances?

Dating back to 2004, the Illinois Legislature has found it difficult to impossible to come up with a state spending plan.

The lawmakers then were rebelling against Gov. Rod Blagojevich. He had taken office in early 2003 and got his first budget passed without much problem. But with the 2004 budget, the legislators insisted on fiscal constraint and that wasn’t in Blagojevich’s repertoire.

Blagojevich was ousted early this year, and Gov. Pat Quinn was welcomed as a breath of fresh air. However, the Legislature has been used to battling with the administration, and so Quinn’s honeymoon has been short.

House Democrats did not like Quinn’s idea for a 4.5 percent income tax — up from the current 3 percent tax. That may well be because Speaker Michael Madigan does not want Quinn to get any big victory. Madigan’s daughter, Lisa, is deciding whether to run for governor next year, and her fortunes in the Democratic primary could be bolstered by making Quinn look inadequate.

There are other theories that Democratic incumbents don’t want to vote on a big tax increase before election filings begin late this year. Under that scenario, the lawmakers will sweep into town and shore up the state spending plan during the veto session.

Republicans will have a greater voice in deciding on a budget now that the May 31 deadline has passed. It will take a 60 percent super majority to pass a budget in a special session. That gives GOP members a voice that could have been silenced if Democrats in the House and Senate had been on the same page during the regular session.

All that political inside-baseball should not obscure the fact that many people will be hurt if the current budget goes into effect without changes. By cutting most human services by 50 percent, the budget will cut care for senior citizens, those with mental illnesses, people with disabilities and many other vulnerable people. Many state workers could lose their jobs, and thousands of people contracting with the state have already been put on notice that their jobs will be gone.

Overall, it’s a pretty bleak picture. Everybody loses.

Illinois State Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale is considering a run for governor.

Dillard has long been considered a possible GOP candidate for higher office, but that was before he appeared last year in campaign commercials for President Barack Obama, a Democrat. Dillard, who has served in the Senate for 16 years, spoke highly of Obama’s bipartisan efforts while serving in that chamber.

In addition to his service in the Senate, Dillard was chief of staff for former Gov. Jim Edgar. He has been seen as a moderate Republican, but his support for Obama will almost certainly make him a long shot among conservatives — who show up in force for the GOP primary.

Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, also is seeking support for a gubernatorial campaign.

U.S. Sen. Roland Burris won’t be heard when he tells Illinois voters he did not pay to be named to the Senate by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Burris’ own words will drown out anything he says.

Federal wiretap recordings have Burris talking about the his ability to “write a check” while talking with Blagojevich’s brother. Even though the check was never written the words on that transcript will add to the reasons Burris cannot win election to the seat he got through appointment.

Chris Kennedy, the son of slain presidential candidate Bobbie Kennedy, is considering a run for the Senate seat. So is Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. Both would be on the Democrat side of the ballot.

U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk is the top GOP name so far.

Kennedy has a famous name. Kirk has won five elections to Congress in the Chicago area. Giannoulias has youth and a family in the banking business. But somehow it may still be the Blagojevich name that will motivate many voters.

It should be an interesting primary and general election cycle.