When Gov. Jay Nixon delivers his "State of the State" message, the state Senate's Republican leaders will be listening - along with everyone else - to see if his address meets their criteria.
"We're anxious about hearing the governor's address," Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, told reporters last week.
The speech - set for 7 p.m. Tuesday - is a constitutional requirement, that "the governor shall, at the commencement of each session of the general assembly ... give to the general assembly information as to the state of the government, and shall recommend to its consideration such measures as he shall deem necessary and expedient."
Mayer, House Speaker Steve Tilley, Senate Appropriations Chairman Kurt Schaefer and others all have said Nixon needs to present a "balanced budget" during Tuesday's speech.