Chief of staff, Roxane White, wanted to make sure adequate time was left before the speech for the governor to rehearse. Budget director Henry Sobanet, a Republican, who, it seemed, could recall every nickel of the nearly $20 billion state budget, was especially helpful when it came to questions of phrasing such as, "Can we say every state agency or almost every state agency?" Both White and Sobanet ensured the governor stayed away from jokes that might offend Republicans.