Brady Picks Up Illinois Chamber Endorsement

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce has pledged $100,000 and has promised to raise more money to help Republican Bill Brady get elected governor.

The state senator from Bloomington got the business group's endorsement on Wednesday. The 3,500-member group has never endorsed a Democrat for governor.

Brady is up against Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and the Green Party's Rich Whitney for the job.

Chamber president Doug Whitley says the chamber's board had lost confidence in the current administration.

"It is obviously not in the Democrats' DNA to be able to control spending," Whitley said. "It should be obvious to everyone in this state that now is the time for change."

Illinois is struggling with a $13 billion budget deficit and high unemployment.

Quinn has pushed for an income tax increase to help address the state's budget problems, something Brady opposes.

A Quinn campaign spokeswoman says Whitley has previously praised Quinn.