* Bernie Schoenburg: Governor changes flight habits after bad publicity

The way he’s been acting lately – slashing health care funding along with what he calls “pork” from the state budget, and suing a leader of his own party — it almost seems as if Gov. Rod Blagojevich likes bad publicity. But it does appear that he’s changed his flying habits a bit in response to bad press.

* Jake Parrillo blog: ‘IL 2010 for Gov’ web operation playbook (H/T: IlliniPundit)

* Sneed: Blago, Lauzen

* Jennifer Hunter: Despite union declines, Dems still court labor votes

“The political reach and institutional capability of the labor movement far outreaches its membership numbers,” she says. And unions put a lot of their resources into political efforts, both on the local and national level.

Labor is one of the few organized groups that can walk precincts and mobilize workers. “Their resources remain considerable,” Milkman said.

And, most important for Democrats, union membership is highest in states politically crucial to the party during a general election.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly half of the 15.4 million union members live in six states: California, New York, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

And those who study labor, such as Cornfield, believe the movement will only get stronger because of the vast immigration to the United States — a replay of the trend in the early 20th century that led immigrants to form the modern labor movement. If experts like Cornfield are right, it is a fortuitous development for the Democrats, one that should allow them to really celebrate this Labor Day.

* New law prevents sex offenders from voting at schools

* Governor partially veto’s bill requiring eye exams

* Blagojevich appealing dismissal of fighter-wing lawsuit

* Daley: Hike gas tax 5 cents

* Russ Stewart: Gene Moore rejects ‘Michael Vick’ Syndrome