Dayton Plans February 6th State of State Address

ST. PAUL (AP) - Gov. Mark Dayton is planning to deliver his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature on Feb. 6.

Dayton requested the date from legislative leaders on Wednesday. The Democratic governor plans a 7 p.m. speech, the second straight year he has done an evening speech rather than the more common practice in recent years of a daytime address.

Dayton is joined by Democratic majorities in both chambers to give the party full control of state government for the first time in a generation.

The governor is due to present a proposed budget Jan. 22, which will serve as a starting point for legislators to solve the major issue of the session, an estimated $1.1 billion deficit.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved)