Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, the Speaker of Illinois House of Representatives, talked with The 21st in the hour before Governor JB Pritzker's 2022 State of the State and budget address. He addressed everything from taxes to fighting crime.

Governor J.B. Pritzker is delivering his first stand-alone State of the State address.

On the 21st: How would changes to the Affordable Care Act affect the million people in Illinois who receive coverage? We talk with health experts to get the latest. Plus, we discuss issues Illinois is facing heading into Gov. Rauner's "State of the State" address on Wednesday.

Gov. Bruce Rauner says he is "deeply optimistic'' about the future of Illinois despite the state's problems, and praised State Senate efforts to reach agreement on a new state budget. Rauner addressed a joint session of the General Assembly on Wednesday with his third State of the State address. 

Gov. Bruce Rauner will strike an optimistic tone in his State of the State address, while acknowledging Illinois faces ``significant challenges.''

The Republican's Wednesday speech comes as he gears up for a 2018 re-election bid. 

WILL AM 580 and WILL-TV will carry live coverage of the governor’s speech, beginning at 12 PM Central Time. WILL AM 580 streams at www.will.illinois.edu.