* 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…
