RT @mlevenson: Patrick plan: income tax up to 6.25%, sales tax cut to 4.5%, all sales tax revenue to infrastructure. Plan nets $1.9b ann ...

Gov Patrick set to deliver State of the Commonwealth in 50 mins. Expect Income tax up, sales tax down. Details: http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2013/01/16/governor-patrick-expected-call-for-new-taxes-seventh-state-the-commonwealth-speech-tonight/dwclRWV8G8K1WWlOww15JP/story.html #mapoli

NEW: Patrick confirms tax hike: "I would not ask if I did not believe in my heart that investing..will improve our economic future." #mapoli

Patrick statement: "..propose that we double the personal exemptions for every taxpayer & eliminate a number of itemized deductions" #mapoli

MassFiscalAlliance's Paul Craney mystified by gov's reliance on income tax, says it's "not a fair tax." Targets working people. #mapoli

Deval Patrick's State of the Commonwealth begins in a few minutes. Follow @mlevenson & @StephanieEbbert. We'll be live Tweeting. #mapoli

Patrick opens with moment of silence for service members, and those killed at Newtown and gun violence in MA. #masotc #mapoli

Comparing the Milton Academy experience to that of the average high school kid is an odd choice, yet Patrick makes it sound relatable.

Gov. opens with moment of silence for "necessary sacrifice" of military and "unnecessary sacrifice" of kids and teachers in Newtown #SOTC

"We invest in education because well-prepared young minds and mid-career talent is our global calling card and our economic edge." #mapoli

Patrick unspools familiar litany of accomplishments: Turnpike Authority abolished, muni health, pensions... says $11b saved.

Gov says state's "systematically combing through state regulations, discarding what we can and should and modernizing what remains.#mapoli

Not $10,000? RT @mdion2: @MiltonValencia @StephanieEbbert $10 says it won't be like fireworks.

Patrick: "No administration has ever delivered more sweeping reform of state govt than ours has." Seems to cry out for a fact check...

Gov gets applause for calling for high quality early ed for all children. "Pays huge dividends," he says. What's rate? #mapoli #SOTC

"Imagine if you could depend on a bus or a subway that came on time," Gov says. Good thing he's not running for reelex.Good ad #mapoli #SOTC

"Our citizens do not want less transportation. They want more," Gov Patrick says. I'd take signage that makes sense. #mapoli #SOTC

"There is no good time to raise taxes," Gov says then adds that he knew silence would follow. Then nervous laughter. #mapoli #SOTC

Gov sounds really feisty saying we can't make South Coast or Western Mass "wait to share in the state’s prosperity." #mapoli #SOTC

Patrick proposing a $1.9b tax hike. #masotc #mapoli

Acknowledges he may need to gird for a fight: "There will be debate.I encourage it." Yet gets them laughing again. #mapoli

Gov calls for a serious, respectful and fact-based debate on tax investments and growth. That's not what I'm expecting. #mapoli #SOTC

Much shorter speech than past years. 25 minutes, if that. But he packed a lot in there.

Whatever your opinion of Patrick, that speech was a good reminder that he is a very strong speaker. #mapoli

In case you missed it, here was Globe coverage the gov's plan on education spending: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/01/16/patrick-pitches-huge-increase-education-spending/9y3Auq7shMtsBHdKEg92MP/story.html

And in case you can't sleep, here's the link to state gov't transportation plan. http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/The%20Way%20Forward%20FINAL.pdf #mapoli #SOTC

But the 6-year-old Transportation Finance Commission report actually was good reading, if depressing. http://www.eot.state.ma.us/downloads/tfc/TFC_Recommendations.pdf. #mapoli #SOTC

Thanks,pal! Glad you're tuned in RT @EvanKenney:@StephanieEbbert's tweets about the Governor have made my night #mapoli #WhichPocketAgain???