Share your thoughts: What should Gov. Paterson talk about in State of State speech?

Anti-poverty protestors rallied outside the State Capitol on Thursday, demanding that lawmakers raise taxes for New York's wealthiest residents when the state legislative session begins.

The protestors, part of the state's Hunger Action Network, contend it is wrong to spare the rich while cutting SSI benefits for the blind, disabled, and elderly poor.

They chanted, "Tax the wealthy. It's economically healthy."

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, who opposes the so-called "millionaire's tax," told CBS 6 that spending cuts alone will not eliminate the state's growing deficit. Revenue-raisers, though risky, may be necessary, he said.

Governor Paterson has proposed instituting taxes on everything from iTunes downloads to non-diet sodas.

"I don't think anybody perceives that, at any level, we're going to get out of this problem -- whether it's with our personal budgets at home or with the state budget -- without some pain and difficulty," DiNapoli said.

DiNapoli also cautioned against assuming financial help from Washington, where Paterson has been lobbying in recent weeks.

History has a way of repeating itself in Albany. Some of the criticisms DiNapoli offered when reviewing Paterson's 2009 budget proposal mirror those DiNapoli made of then-Governor Eliot Spitzer's budget plan in 2007.

DiNapoli said the Paterson plan, like the Spitzer plan, does not align spending with revenue, does not address the state's indebtedness, and fails to squirrel away enough reserve money. 

Paterson is expected to defend his budget proposal when he delivers his State of the State Address on Wednesday at 1 p.m. CBS 6 will stream the address live at CBS6Albany.com, and will provide full TV coverage beginning at 5 p.m.

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It's been a rough year for New York state: a governor's prostitute scandal, abrupt changes in state leadership (while political gridlock continued), the budget crisis, the Wall Street meltdown, plunging consumer confidence.

So how exactly will Governor Paterson address these and any new challenges in 2009? What do you want to hear the Governor address and what issues do you want him to explore when he gives his first State of the State speech tomorrow?

Share your thoughts below!