WASHINGTON--At the State of the Union next week, Illinois senators Mark Kirk, a Republican, and Dick Durbin, the Democrat who is the number two leader in the Senate, plan to sit together. The attempt to bridge the partisan divide is a reaction to the Tucson shootings; the tragedy prompted calls to try to cool heated political rhetoric. One way to do that--end the tradition of having Democrats and Republicans sit on separate sides of the House chamber during the State of the Union, a seating arrangement that makes it easier to hoot and cheer and make the event seem more political than substantive.

Watch for Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) also look for a Democrat to partner with at the Jan. 25 speech.