Governor Pat Quinn believes Illinois has turned the corner, but warns more tough decisions are coming.

Speaking during his State of the State today, the governor wants the pension program to be constitutional and fair to all employees. He’s proposed a pension working group to come up with a solution this year.

Quinn highlighted successes, including expanded workforces at automobile plants upstate, and the Illinois Jobs Now! capitol plan working on roads statewide. Moving forward, the Governor proposed a six million dollar statewide competition to build ultra-high speed broadband across the state, the abolition of the natural gas utility tax, a Child Tax Credit, the Illinois Foreclosure Prevention Network to aid struggling homeowners, and a Hiring Veterans Tax Credit to put those returning from overseas to work. Citing a crumbling infrastructure, Quinn announced a plan to put thousands to work repairing broken water mains, building treatment plants, upgrading sewers and cleaning up environmental threats. As expected, he called for the high school dropout age to be raised to eighteen and called for investment in early childhood education. No word on funding for the program. The Governor will address the legislature again later this month for his 2012 Budget Address where he is expected to spell out details for funding, pension and Medicaid reform and more.