Published: January 13, 2010 11:17 am      

Quinn to deliver State of the State address

SPRINGFIELD (AP) — Gov. Pat Quinn faces a tough job in delivering his first State of the State address.

The Democratic governor is supposed to lay out his vision for the state at noon today in the middle of a budget crisis and an election campaign. But his legislative goals could be at odds with his campaign needs.

For instance, Quinn wants lawmakers to raise taxes later this spring, but making that the centerpiece of a speech just before the primary could be risky.

And talking about the state’s historic budget problems won’t be pleasant either.

Quinn also has to decide whether to address the controversy over the early release of prisoners.

But the speech puts the spotlight on Quinn and gives him a chance to address the public less than three weeks before the primary election.