Illinois Governor Pat Quinn's fifth State of the State address focuses on his successes on job creation, spending cuts and help for veterans.
Prepared remarks from Wednesday's speech made only scattered references to the state's massive deficit in funding its public pension system. But a need for solving the $96 billion problem ran as an undercurrent throughout the speech.
Quinn announced he has signed an executive order promoting veteran hiring in Illinois. The Democrat's annual State of the State address is also calling for a tough new law banning lawmakers' votes on issues where they have a conflict of interest.
Quinn is also renewing a plea for a ban on sales of military-style assault weapons and wants county officials to better report mental health records of potential gun owners.
The Governor says he will seek a 20% increase in the minimum-wage from $8.25 to $10.00 an hour. The federal rate has been $7.25 an hour since 2007. The current Illinois rate took effect in July 2010, when it increased by a quarter. The U.S. Department of Labor says only two other states, Washington and Oregon, have a minimum wage higher than Illinois.
During the first part of his address Governor Quinn proposed the so-called Illinois Manufacturing Lab. He says the lab will be established through a partnership between the University of Illinois' National Center for Supercomputing Applications and private companies. The lab would let manufacturers simulate supply chains, train workers and use new technology, among other things. It will be started with $5 million from the state and $5 million raised from private businesses. Quinn says the idea will help close the make Illinois manufacturers more competitive.
You can read a transcript of Quinn's speech here, or watch it here.
