Gov. Rod Blagojevich delivered a basket full of promises in his State of the State speech, but just as significantly, he threw down the gauntlet to Republicans who oppose his agenda for 2006.

The Democratic governor was short on how he would pay for an expanding list of priorities, including a $1,000-per-child tax credit for parents with freshmen and sophomores in state colleges and universities. But he took Republicans to task in this election year, challenging them to deliver on his $3.2 billion road-and-schools public works project and health care for veterans or face the wrath of voters in November.

The campaign-style speech set the stage for a shaky legislative session that could jeopardize $500 million in school construction projects, many in Southern Illinois. The make-or-break part of Blagojevich's fourth year as governor will be his road-and-school bond program. He says it will create 230,000 jobs.

"Many of the skeptics here in Illinois may disagree with our priorities," he said. "But ask them this: What child's education would they cut? What working family would they raise taxes on? What child do they say should go without health care?"

Republicans, whose votes are needed to reach the three-fifths majority to issue bonds, are skeptical of how the governor wants to pay for it. And some legislators say they want to know in writing if their local projects will be funded.

"This is pre-election pandering, nothing more," Illinois Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, also a Republican candidate for governor, said. "I can't go into the basement and print money for him."

Much to Southern Illinoisans' dismay, the $500 million school-construction component is in some limbo. The governor wants to retire the school-construction portion of the bonds by authorizing keno in state bars and restaurants. The state could clear $40 million to $80 million on keno per year, according to the governor's estimates.

Southern Illinois has a long list of communities waiting for schools to be built, including Benton, Carterville, Du Quoin, Johnston City and Marion. State schools superintendent Randy Dunn was in Du Quoin on Friday, pushing for bonds to fund school construction.

Unfortunately, the state funding mechanism continues to be debatable, keno or no keno. The governor did not mention keno in his speech but would like to start the game this summer. Blagojevich has said he does not consider keno to be an extension of gambling, indicating he could institute the game himself through the state lottery and without the legislature.

Even members of his own party have doubts.

"Many local projects, including school construction plans, have been on hold for years, so I'm glad to see that we are moving forward on this and that Southern Illinois is included in the plan," Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, said. "While it's important that the state fund these projects, I have concerns about how such initiatives will be paid for."

Meanwhile, paying for higher education remains a prime focus in Southern Illinois. With SIUC and four quality community colleges in our backyard, John A. Logan, Rend Lake, Southeastern and Shawnee, the cost of education is a major issue every year. The tuition tax credit proposed by the governor would help parents balance costs, but it would cost the state an estimated $90 million a year in revenue.

"For many families, this is a tax credit that can help make the dream of college affordable and the dream of college a reality," Blagojevich said.

SIU president Glenn Poshard agreed, but the former U.S. representative said financial aid packages should be an equal priority.

"If we can see the tuition tax credit and the broadening of financial aid, then we would see the best of both worlds," Poshard said. "They both are necessary."

The governor seemingly was as obsessed with Washington as Illinois in his speech. He mentioned Washington and sideswiped the Bush administration more than 20 times.

"There is perhaps no starker difference in our values and those of the current administration in Washington than when it comes to making health care accessible and affordable to working people," said Blagojevich, adding later, "This administration in Washington has been equally hostile when it comes to women's health care and their reproductive rights."

Voters can indulge the governor for his political rhetoric because the State of the State was, in essence, the kickoff of his re-election bid.

What we'd like to see is more emphasis in the next 30 days on how he intends to fund the capital bill and where the money will go.

The eyes of Southern Illinois will be on the governor Feb. 15, when he delivers his budget speech.

Frankly, we're waiting to see how he's going to deliver the school construction, the tax cut and health care with controversial funding sources and without causing the state long-term harm.