Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell will give her annual State of the State Address tomorrow, Wednesday January 7th, at noon in the House chamber of the State Capitol.  The speech is the official kickoff to the 2009 Legislative Session and the newly-elected State Legislature.

The Governor and her fellow elected officials in the State House and Senate face a difficult budget battle in the weeks and months ahead, as some estimates put the biennial deficit at roughly $6 billion – out of an $18 billion budget.  The Governor has vowed to dramatically reduce spending and not raise taxes on Connecticut’s families and businesses. 

The now-dominant radical wing of the Democratic Party - led by new Speaker Chris Donovan and boring old Senator Don Williams – have never met a tax they didn’t want to hike.  Tightening the belt of State government is a foreign concept to them, and thus, the battle lines are set.

Republican Leaders Cafero and McKinney led their teams ably in the 2007-2008 budget battles and are well prepared for another strong session in 2009.  With the radicals in charge of both chambers, the GOP team will overwhelmingly represent the voices of common sense in State Government. 

The new Session will bring new faces to the Capitol on the Republican side, and they will be sworn in along with their colleagues tomorrow prior to the Governor’s speech.  The Senate caucus will include four new Senators: Sen. Kevin Witkos, Sen. Mike McLachlan, Sen. Toni Boucher, and Sen. Scott Frantz, while the House GOP will welcome six new members: Tony Hwang, Christopher Coutu, Fred Camillo, Tim LeGeyt, Terrie Wood, and John Rigby.