SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — With Illinois facing the worst pension problem in the nation and its top leaders making little progress toward a solution, expectations are high for Gov. Pat Quinn's annual State of the State address Wednesday before lawmakers.

The noon speech allows the Chicago Democrat to set the tone ahead of his budget address, which will delve into the details of the state's shaky finances and outline priorities for the year. But this address will be under even more scrutiny than usual as Quinn has little to show for progress on his top priority of pensions and Republicans and fellow Democrats are eyeing his seat in the 2014 governor's race.

Quinn has said he will touch on the state's financial problems in the speech and also hinted he will take the chance to remind the public of anti-corruption efforts in his four years in office. Both of Quinn's predecessors — George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich — went to prison on corruption convictions.