The Democratic race to the Illinois Governor’s mansion is getting heated. State Comptroller Dan Hynes officially announced his candidacy Wednesday. And that’s put incumbent Pat Quinn on the attack.

Comptroller Hynes came out swinging. He’s proposing an ambitious plan to balance the state’s budget. It includes a combination of luxury taxes, cost-cutting, and—most notably—replacing Illinois’ FLAT income tax with a progressive one. Quinn says he’s supported that idea for years, but he says Hynes “went fishing” when the budget fight got tough.

QUINN: From day one, he didn’t want to cooperate. He just wanted to play politics. And I’m disappointed in him. I thought he wouldn’t be so much of a professional naysayer.

Quinn says Hynes’ proposal would require a constitutional amendment, and that couldn’t happen until November 2010. Meantime, the governor is standing by his call for a legislative income tax hike. He says that would raise money much faster.