Gov. Pat Quinn’s trip to Spain was not merely a chance for the leader of a deadbeat state to commiserate with leaders of a debt-ridden European nation. New Spanish business investment in Illinois might result.

As Gov. Pat Quinn surveyed Madrid during his recent 4-day trip to Spain, at least he had the satisfaction of knowing Illinois’ financial status was better than that of his hosts.

Spain’s finances are rocky, indeed. The country is in the midst of negotiating a 100 billion euro bank bailout plan with the European Union to prop up its troubled banks.