* The State of the State address begins at noon today. I’ll be appearing on Public Television before the address to offer up whatever analysis crosses my mind. Check your local listings for channel numbers and rerun times. You can click here to watch Gov. Pat Quinn’s address online if, like me, you don’t have a TV in your office.
* You might also want to play the Illinois Policy Institute’s State of the State Bingo game. First commenter who says “Bingo!” and can prove it will win a free beverage of choice.
* Here’s a roundup of State of the State preview stories…
* Marin: Quinn has a Rahm problem: On the other hand, if Quinn doesn’t begin to play ball with Emanuel better than he has, the legislative initiatives Quinn hopes to pass this session are on life support.
* Jobs, tax relief on Pat Quinn’s mind: Jobs and economic growth, including tax relief for some Illinoisans, will be a main focus of the State of the State address, Gov. Pat Quinn said Tuesday, but details of potentially painful spending cuts will wait until he presents his budget in late February… “You can’t just cut your way to a better budget. We have to make cuts, there’s no doubt about it,” [Quinn] said. “We also have to build and grow our economy.” … Cullerton was skeptical about offering any tax relief when money is so tight. “We would be most interested in hearing how that could be paid for, given our current fiscal condition,” [a Cullerton spokesperson] said.
* Quinn to deliver State of the State; more tax breaks, too?: A person familiar with the governor’s plans says he wants to let businesses take up to $5,000 off their income taxes if they hire an unemployed veteran.
* Quinn To Focus On Jobs In State Of The State Address: He will also call on a new council of business leaders to come up with a plan to double Illinois exports over the next two years.
* Gov. Quinn: Boost low-income college grants by tens of millions: Spending on state grants for low-income college students would jump by “tens of millions of dollars” under a push Gov. Pat Quinn will make in his State of the State address Wednesday.
* Quinn to talk economy in State of the State: “When I became governor, we had one shift at Ford Motor Company on the South Side of Chicago. Now we’re on the verge of three shifts,” said Quinn. “And then we’ll be talking later this week about Chrysler. There’s something really special coming to Chrysler right here in Illinois.”
* ADDED: Illinois Historic Sites Could Face Deep Cuts
* IL lawmakers want more than job talk from Gov. Quinn: Todd Maisch, vice president for government relations at the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, which promotes the interests of businesses in the state, agreed. “We have to give the governor credit. He is willing to engage CEO’s. But we want to see him get outside of his comfort zone and engage employers on many levels,” Maisch said. Maisch said he too wants to hear “concrete plans” from Quinn.
* Educators say funding key to reducing dropouts - Quinn wants law to require kids to stay in school until they’re 18
* Local reps want specifics from governor in State of State
* Editorial: Ground fleet
to air out state
budget tactics
* IL Legislature back in session
* Governor Quinn Prepares “State of the State” Address
* Editorial: Quinn’s State of the State comes as fiscal crisis looms
* New funding sources emerge for Chicago-area tech startups
* Video: Dave Syverson on state of the state
* Video: Jerry Costello on jobs
* On to the ScribbleLive coverage. Blackberry users click here, everybody else can just watch the day go by…
- soccermom - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 9:53 am:
Would someone kindly tell the folks at the Illinois “Policy” Institute that the whole “your kids will pay” thing is ridiculous. When it comes to state taxation, the concern is not that your kids will pay, but that they will move out of state. That’s also a concern — a big one — but it doesn’t sound nearly as dramatic in a news release.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 10:48 am:
Brizard is an idiot.
Too many kids drop out of school just because the state says its okay and school districts make it easy for them.
Yes, encouraging kids to stay in school and encouraging those who drop out to come back, earn their high school degrees, and go even further is an important goal.
It is one I hope makes the list of the state’s priorities.
But I also hope that instead of just complaining about needing more money, Supt. Brizard will stress to his Mayor the importance of his leadership in answering the question “How will we pay for it?”
Raising the dropout age is an important first step, and we shouldn’t shy away from it just because we haven’t figured out how to pay for the next steps yet.
- soccermom - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 10:57 am:
YDD — absolutely right. At the age of 16, a kid can’t take out a loan, enter into a contract, or drive a car full of passengers. Yet we consider a 16-year-old mature enough to make a decision that will have a horrible detrimental effect on his/her entire life?
- TCB - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 11:17 am:
IPI bingo gave me quite a chuckle….They’ve got most of Quinn’s catch phrases in there. Hell, we might have a winner in the 1st minute.
Only problem I saw was that one space was called “Mr. Soybean” but I think PQ usually calls himself “Soy Boy.’
- Ahoy - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 11:29 am:
“Last year Senate Republicans outlined plan to fix budget. If Governor now prepared for a “Reality Check” we have one.”
If press conferences constituted a budget fix our State would swimming in money from budget surpluses.
- Highland, IL - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 11:56 am:
Tired of hearing about Senate Republicans website “Reality Check”. In reality they should write a bill…
- Eric Zorn - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 12:24 pm:
Nice idea, IPI! I had it first, however
http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2012/02/stuff-pat-quinn-says.html
- JustaJoe - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 12:34 pm:
I love the perversion of language….when the pols say “invest”, they really mean SPEND. So when Quinn says invest or investments, substitute “spend” or “spending” and see how it sounds.
- He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 12:36 pm:
I like how he wants to spend all this money….oh wait we have none to spend!
- HartVoter - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 12:39 pm:
Only got 4 of 5 on card 3
- Shock & Awww(e) - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 12:41 pm:
PQ’s speech reminds me of Newt Gingrich’s speech last night in Florida: neither are rooted in reality.
- Dirty Red - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 12:47 pm:
If this was that battle between Pat Quinn and the Civic Federation for the spotlight, I think the governor took a whooping. Kudos to the Guv’s staff for keeping him away from some of his cliches though.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 1:02 pm:
1) Quinn “welcomed” all the Statewides, the legislative leader … and forgot Sheila Simon … … … Checked it twice.
2) This pension reforn thing … will probably turn out to be a “pension kick the can” thing, unless Madigan can find a way to make it work for his new majority with the New Map.
3) Hear alotta spendin’ … not alotta cuttin’. Just sayin’.
4) I want to take this opportunity to thank LG Simon, and I was glad she was there.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 1:08 pm:
If the state if Illinois was on “Wheel of Fortune”, the state couldn’t afford to buy a vowel.
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 1:08 pm:
If the children of Illinois haven’t figured out how to kick the can a little further down the road when they’re the adults, then yeah, it’ll be their problem.
- CircularFiringSquad - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 1:32 pm:
Let’s offer a shiny new quarter to the first GOPie to offer a real idea for cutting Medicaid..remember you knocking grammie and grampie off the rolls to make any real dents
- Jade_rabbit - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 1:33 pm:
Few things from the speech.
-Why compare college loan debt to credit cards?
-Does anyone hear the word “spend” when Gov. Quinn says “invest?”
-When he said “find the funds..” does he expect the lawmakers to sacrifice local interests for the govenors vision?
-Shouldn’t pension reform been a bigger issue? It’s recieved so much media attention, It’s not a white elephant.
- Coach - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 2:06 pm:
Well, Rich, it appears your dream was actually a premonition. Too bad the speech you predicted is likewise removed from reality.
- formerpolitico - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 2:07 pm:
Sen Cullerton: Just what “accomplishments” over the last few years are you referring to? Where have you been working and living?
- Dirty Red - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 2:16 pm:
I just got the first email from Quinn for Illinois since the campaign asking for small donations. More and more every day it looks like he’s running again.
- Cheryl44 - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 2:28 pm:
I just got that one too, Dirty.
- soccermom - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 2:42 pm:
Dirty and Cheryl — Yeah, I got it, too. Looks like the Governor finally has someone competent over at the campaign office.
- Rudy - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 5:26 pm:
You can require kids to stay in school, but how do you keep them from walking out of the building in the middle of the day?
How do you get them into the building every day in the first place?
You can lock the building preventing those in attendance from leaving, but how do you get them to pay attention and not be disruptive to others who are locked in?
When they’re age 16, they may not be old enough to make thoughtful decisions regarding their future, but they and they alone will decide whether or not they’re going to play ball within the framework of your rules.
- quincy - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 6:05 pm:
How ABout Men & Women who are not Vets lets give them JOBS to. Lets Hire 50% vets and 50% none vets like at the state Highway Department. Nothing against Vets But none Vets should get jobs to. State highway is 100% vets only and thats wrong. or hire 2 Vets And 1 None Vet None Vet need Job to.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Feb 1, 12 @ 6:19 pm:
How about perhaps learning to spell before applying for a job? Just sayin…