Friday, Jan 25, 2019 </b>

* The governor’s people say Gov. Pritzker will combine his State of the State address with his budget address. This is a fairly common practice. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve cringed when people who should know better say they wanted to hear more about the budget during the SOTS. They are two separate speeches, unless they’re combined. And considering the budget issues we have, it’s probably best to combine them.

State of the State messages are required by the Constitution, but they don’t have to be given as speeches…

SECTION 13. GOVERNOR – LEGISLATIVE MESSAGES The Governor, at the beginning of each annual session of the General Assembly and at the close of his term of office, shall report to the General Assembly on the condition of the State and recommend such measures as he deems desirable.

Same goes for budgets…

SECTION 2. STATE FINANCE (a) The Governor shall prepare and submit to the General Assembly, at a time prescribed by law, a State budget for the ensuing fiscal year.

Wednesday, February 20th at noon is the date set by the General Assembly.

Thoughts?