Tuesday’s a big day at the State House.

At 7 p.m. Gov. John Baldacci will give his annual State of the State address to senators, representatives and others assembled in the House.

The speech often helps set the tone for the year, and offers a glimpse of any big ideas Maine’s CEO has in mind.

Most of the annual speeches by the sitting governor reflect what has been achieved in the past year. Tuesday’s talk will be no exception.

Baldacci’s theme will be “working together,” said his spokesman Lee Umphrey.

Baldacci will talk about how, by working together, legislators of both parties passed Dirigo health, Maine’s start at building voluntary universal health care, a law that’s scheduled to deliver affordable health insurance by a nonprofit entity starting July 1.

He’ll praise legislators for how last year’s $1.2 billion deficit was balanced without raising taxes.

“He’s going to use the first-year accomplishments as the foundation of what we need to do now, and the fact that everyone worked together last year,” Umphrey said. He’ll make a strong point of that to diffuse polarization that has risen in the last month at the State House as campaigns get going and the two political parties have different outlooks on health care, taxes and budget cuts.

Baldacci will also talk about tax reform and how state and local government costs must be cut to deliver property tax relief that the public needs, and wants.

Baldacci is also expected to talk about how Maine schools have too much administrative overhead, and that schools must consolidate to save property taxpayers money.

There could be some surprise announcements, Umphrey said.

The speech will be covered live on television and radio by Maine Public Broadcasting.

Hawaiians visit

After Cynthia Libby of Dixfield sang the National Anthem Tuesday morning as the House of Representatives began its day, members welcomed students from the Mt. Blue Middle School and their guests, 25 eighth-graders from Hawaii.

Hawaii students visiting Maine in January?

It’s an exchange program the school has, explained principal Gary Oswald.

The Hawaiian students didn’t seem to be bothered by the cold, Oswald said. “When they got off the plane in Portland they stayed outside and played in the snow.” The students were the guests of brother and sister, Rep. Janet Mills, D-Farmington, and Rep. Peter Mills, R-Cornville.

Water world

On that frigid weather theme, the cold caused office flooding for some State House media last week.

About 7 p.m. Tuesday as Mal Leary of Capitol News Service was walking to his office, he saw a stream of water running down the hall and into several offices used by him, the Portland Press Herald, Maine Public Radio and the Sun Journal. Alarmed, Leary alerted security. It took a while for crews to find the leak and stop the water.

By Wednesday morning most offices had dried out and reporters were able to work, but Portland Press Herald was not so lucky. That office was drenched.

Leary and others (Sun Journal workers) found out that it’s a very good practice to store computer hard drives off the floor.

Quote of the week: “Let’s observe the respect of fellow members. Some of these announcements are important.” – House Speaker Patrick Colwell urging members to pay attention.

Bonnie Washuk is the Sun Journal State House reporter.