(MCT) — Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn began the two-year campaign fundraising push toward re-election with more than $1 million in cash available, including raising sizable amounts from private-sector unions at the same time he was seeking changes in retirement benefits for public employee union workers.

Campaign finance reports filed with the state this week showed Quinn raised nearly $300,000 during the last three months of 2012, including $50,000 donations in December from the pipe trades and the Teamsters. He also got $25,000 contributions from the United Auto Workers and the plumbers.