Gov. Mark Dayton plans to deliver the annual State of the State speech to the Legislature on Feb. 6 at 7 p.m.
This will be Dayton's third such speech, as he heads into the second half of his four-year term. The governor has been recuperating from back surgery over the holidays at the Governor's Residence, but is expected back at the Capitol in time for the speech.
Last February, in his brief 25-minute State of the State speech, Dayton rankled a few Republicans — who then controlled both houses of the Legislature — by saying:
"Next November, Minnesotans will decide which of our approaches they prefer."
Indeed, they did. Following the election, the DFL now has majorities in the state House and Senate, as well as having DFLer Dayton in the governor's office.
In that speech, Dayton also urged legislators to pass the Vikings stadium bill. That, too, happened.