WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama is formally launching the era of divided government Tuesday night with his State of the Union speech to Congress.

With Republicans running the House and clamoring for spending cuts, the president will agree it's time for tough fiscal choices -- but warn these can't prevent investments in helping companies create jobs. He's also likely to seek some common ground with the GOP.

Chief Justice John Roberts will lead a contingent of six Supreme Court justices at the speech, quieting speculation that only Democratic appointees to the court would attend.

Roberts had objected to the partisan atmosphere at last year's address, particularly after Obama offered rare criticism of the court during his speech.

Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg confirmed that six justices would be present at Tuesday's speech, although she would not say which ones.

But as three justices previously all but ruled themselves out, it seemed a safe assumption that Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy would join their four colleagues who were appointed by Democratic presidents.

Also during the speech, a man who helped save the life of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords will be honored.

Intern Daniel Hernandez will be seated with first lady Michelle Obama. The 20-year-old University of Arizona student rushed to Giffords' side after the shooting, and put pressure on her wounds until medical personnel arrived.

The congresswoman's office said her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, doesn't plan to attend the speech, but that three surgeons and a nurse who were involved in her care are planning to be there.

The president's poll numbers are up modestly in recent weeks, as he struck bargains with the GOP in the lame-duck Congress and following his Tucson shooting memorial speech.

As Obama made clear in a message to backers, it's a real balancing act which he hopes will be helped by the post-Tucson-shooting spirit of toned-down rhetoric. Some Democrats and Republicans in Congress plan to sit together for Tuesday night’s address.

The president will hold a "social media” state of the union Q&A on Thursday. To learn more about how you can participate in that click here.

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