at your fingertips. you can also stay current with the latest episodes of washington journal and life schedule information for c-span tv networks and c-span radio plus a variety of podcasts. c-span now is available at the apple store and google play. scan the qr code to download it for free or visit our website c- span.org/c-span now. your front row seat to washington anytime anywhere. >> republican mike parson has been governor of missouri since 2018. back in january he gave his final state address before a joint session at the legislator and every sin city. the governor in the final year of his last term highlighted his policy achievements and shared his vision. he touched on several issues including workforce development education, infrastructure investment and the fentanyl crisis.

[ applause ] [applause]

[applause] if. >> governor, welcome. ladies >> governor, welcome. ladies and gentlemen, help me welcome the 57th governor to the state of missouri michael parson. >> i thought

>> m okay. all right. first of all, thank you lieutenant governor, mr. speaker, statewide officials, members of the general assembly , esteemed guests. it is my honor to welcome, for the first time in our state's history, judges of the first ever female majority supreme court of missouri. [ applause ] >> there is -- first i want to recognize -- i'm going to do it very quickly. it is a gentleman that has been

doing this job for 20 years making sure these teleprompters work correctly. todd mayfield is doing his 20th session here. thank you. well, to say the least, it's an honor to be joined by >> well, to say the least it is an honor to be joined by the first lady as i welcome for the final time as the 57th governor of the great state of missouri, during our time as governor we have accomplished more than any of us probably thought was ever possible. i wouldn't be standing here today, without my support system, my family. that's where i want to start. first and foremost, the first lady. teresa has been by my side

every step of the way and after 38 years of marriage i went the husband, father, gramps or governor i am today without her. thank you for serving in a role you never asked for but doing it each and every day with grace, passion and commitment to best serve the people of missouri. ladies and gentlemen, the first lady of the state of missouri. [ applause ] there's another a group of people >> there is another group of people with me today. my family. i am one of the most blessed people in the world to have the family i had and for all of them to be here.

it really started with my son and daughter years ago. it really made me a better person. those two are here today with us. naturally they are the ones that had all my grandkids and i just can't say enough to how much my children meant to me in my life and my grandkids. most are here today i have one i want to give a shout out to. it is his first public event at the right age of six months. he's with us here today for the first time and then also i have another great grandchild on the way this year. my brothers are here. i have nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers, all my family from here. i tell you, there's two things i know in life that are important. that's god almighty and my family. i love all you guys that are here today. would you please recognize my family and show them your

appreciation? please rise. [ applause ] like the legislators in this >> like the legislators in this room and syrians across the state, my faith, family and next generations are the driving force behind the change we have made in azeri. last year, when i stood before you i highlighted many historic achievements we accomplished together. as we laid out proposals i declared that this governor and this dad, this gramps is not done yet. i tell you, we are not done yet.

while that is still true, i'm here to tell you we are getting close. after serving six sessions in the house, six sessions in the senate, to sessions as lieutenant governor and now my sixth and final session as your 57th governor i am expected to say this is a bittersweet moment. while the view facing all of you is a fine sight to see, but it is no comparison to the view of that county farm behind the windshield of my john deere tractor. [ applause ] >> i promise i will think of all of you occasionally. but in all seriousness, i will

be leaving here with my head held high. like many of you who came here for the right reasons we never wavered from those wise word on our capital and inscribed in our state seal. let the good of the people be the supreme law. in every decision we make, we must look to the effects on the next generations and the ability for them to achieve their american dream. every decision, we must put people first. easy said but hard to do. it is a simple idea that has been our guiding principle since the beginning. that is our final commitment to you. until our final day, we will continue to put people first. [

applause ] >> when i became governor, missouri was tired of the turmoil. political infighting and self- involved personalities. they were tired of quitters and when i first stepped into the governor's office amidst the thousands of camera clips, hundreds of shouting questions and countless states, local and national media, we closed the chapter on scandal and began a new direction because there was no turning back. we declared a fresh start and return of stability. we committed to ensuring the next generations have their opportunity to do the american dream. we promised the return of integrity to state government and above all we promised to

return people first mentality. today, i firmly believe we have done just that. [ applause ] >> every year we have approved conservative and balanced budgets. we have maintained our aaa credit rating and we have always left funds on the bottom line. actually, with the budget we outline today we will leave office with over $1.5 billion on the bottom line which has never been done before in our state's history. [ applause ] >> we are also pleased to report we have paid down missouri's

debt by over $600 million leaving the state with 53% less debt than when we started. that is quite the contrast compared to what we are seeing happening in washington, d.c. and missouri we don't leave future generations to pay the tab, we pay our bills and put people first. [ applause ] >> working with all of you, balance and conservative budgets have always been the norm and never the exception. we have always been more interested in giving back missourians hard earned dollars rather than spending them. in turn, that creates jobs, business growth and increased revenues to the state. in fact, state revenues have

increased 40% since 2018 with a significant growth coming from sales revenue. not income tax, corporate tax or fuel taxes but from revenue created by missourians spending their own money , not government programs. [ applause ] >> one of the huge factors is the three separate tax cuts we approved including the largest in our state's history. we have decreased missourians tax burdens by over 20% unleashing a economic powerhouse in the state of missouri. [ applause ] >> when i became governor, we were ranked 42nd for gdp growth and last among our midwest

neighbors. today, we are ranked 23rd in the nation and top five in the midwest for gdp growth. that is a real reckoning here. that is not all talk and all hot air. that is a true reckoning of growth, opportunity that missourians have come to expect from this administration and state government. [ applause ] >> that is our leadership creating a formula for success and that is something all of us should celebrate in this chamber. overall, missouri now has the 13th lowest tax burden of any state in the nation and under our administration, our unemployment rate fell to 2.1%, the lowest rate ever recorded in our state's history.

actually, it has been so low that our problem is not creating jobs but filling jobs. since becoming governor, we have added more than 110,000 jobs to our economy and close out the year ranked 15th nationally for job creations. today, as i stand before you for the final time as missouri's 57th governor i declare that the state of our state is stronger than it has ever been. [ applause ] >> we have done 'vit all by putting people first and that started with state government. nothing we do in this room is possible without the dedicated public servants across the

state to implement these ideas. when i became governor, state government was quickly becoming underappreciated, understaffed and underpaid. that's why we approved three historic pay increases to recruit and retain quality talent across state government. raising team member pay by only -- over 20% by 2018 and the investment in our state employees have been worth every penny. [ applause ] and that's why this year we >> that's why this year we are proposing additional 3.2% cost- of-living increase for all of

our state employees. [ applause ] and represent >> representing our more than 47,000 team members here today is my cabinet. through every crisis i turned to my cabinet and their teams. not the federal government. i have always maintained that the answers to our problems are in this state and among our people. if we allow ourselves to put egos and self-importance to the side and just listen, while they may have already been recognized, i want to ask my cabinet to stand with me for one last time. i always say

that being a good leader is not about being the best, but it is making those around you better. today, i think you and your team for proving that to be true. [ applause ] >> putting ppeople first is something we implemented across state government because we set the example

during covid-19, we had 600 more regulations. we made these changes permanent. we approved a regulatory environment with missouri. to be honest with you, many of these lawsuits should not have been included in the first place. when i became governor, we also inherited 4000 pending applications.

on a law and order governor. 4000 people in limbo, is not how we do good business. whether we approved or denied, we shut out the provided answers. today, i'm a proud announcer for us to be clear, totally clear, for the first time in decades. as a former chair, this reform doesn't mean that we are getting people out of prison, or freeing criminals. people who have truly turned their lives around. people who are joining us here today. in his youth, he was drinking, getting into fights, and found

himself alongside of the law read today, kenny has turned his life completely around. he earned a bachelors and masters degree. he has been a pastor for more than 20 years. including service as a hospice chapter. kenny and others like him, made some mistakes. please join me in recognizing him. >> [ applause ].

>> either way our office has been able to capitalize, has been them appointing over 135 three support judges. more than 4% of the judiciary has been appointed by our organization. this is more in the states history. we have truly reshaped judiciary traditions to come. guaranteed a judiciary part that opposed the politics of the moment. >> they are additionally doing this since the first.

lieutenant governor, r fitzpatrick, they're not here today. thank you for stepping up and answering the call. on trusting people within the great state of missouri. today, i want to highlight another one of my quality apartments. this is within the city of st. louis. we didn't pick. as a matter of fact, we never even asked. he clearly cared for the people of st. louis.

he valued strong communities. fighting crime. returning law and order. putting people first. this is between profanity and circus office -- circuits office. our office is greater than i have ever experienced. please join me in recognizing st. louis circuit attorney, gabe gore. >> [ applause ]. when the history books tell the story from her 57th governor, i hope that with our workforce development, that the accomplishments stay well.

our final priorities as governor, have no turning back. we know that they have a strong foundation. this is within our children. this year, we will once again get the k through 12 foundation. additional $120 million from last year's level. this is all across the state of missouri. >> [ applause ]. in total, the administration has increased funding for k-12 education by $700 million. this was since 2018.

we know that is state funding. at the same time, it is the general assembly. we have more families through the education savings account. public, private, charter, or christian. we don't care if it is quality education, as long as they get one. >> [ applause ]. >> we need to do our part on teacher pay. we are including funding to increase teacher pay, increasing teacher baseline paid to $40,000 per year.

they are going to go within our administration. we are also recommending six million dollars. these have benefited tens of thousands of teachers within every corner across our state. we have also made historic investments in missouri higher education sector. we have increased higher education and poor funding by 24%. we have invested $1.2 billion in state-of-the-art capital improvements. this includes upgrades on the college campuses. within this year's budget, we

included another. 3% for increased institutions and colleges. $54 million from the workforce training program on college campuses. >> [ applause ]. when i graduated high school, i joined the united states army. for me, there was no turning back. my path was similar. nearly 60% of the workforce, don't have college degrees. that is okay. we all know that it doesn't take a college education to be successful. since 2018, we have helped

establish, upgrade, and transformed 57 career and technical education institutions across our state. more of our young people are earning a quality skill, certificate, or credential that will help secure them a good paying job, without a college degree. we are also of scaling the current workforce, helping them secure the skills that they need to succeed worried since the upgrade in 2019, missouri one star has helped trained -- trained more than 170,000 workers. since its creation, the fast track program has benefited over 1700 students. this is with more than 55%

going into healthcare. ladies, more than two thirds of that or women. >> we are prioritizing friendships within this state. they have benefited from historic support. we are looking at the career centers. we are going to look at the reserves from springfield. trying to finish presently. i firmly believe that with hard work, determination, and a skill of some kind, these individuals are proving it.

please join me recognizing everything across the state. this group, represents a sample of more than 57,000, since we have become governor. this is another investment. as you can see, this target investment truly makes a difference in the lives of these missouri civilians.

missouri is going to be looking at the united face of america. this is something to be proud of. >> [ applause ]. >> like any challenge in this state, we don't hide from it. they are investing in $10 million. we are looking at advanced semiconductor search. this is $7 million, to support critical mineral development in missouri. missouri ranked fourth in the nation for manufacturing. we are making sure that we

never have to rely on china again. another focus, and workforce development, is that the first lady and i are specially proud of. this includes students that could be struggling. they have found themselves in some trouble. they are high risk. this is when we first began back in lieutenant governor days. we have six programs, 225 students. today, they support more than

4000 reserves. this was just 90%. >> that is thanks in large part for taking this program under your wing. we are looking at former students joining us today. the students are on the way did this is with your help. you can choose not to stand behind the students, the thousands like them are across

the state. it won't be me you have to answer to. first lady herself, would you please join me in giving these students joining us today a round of applause? >> when it comes to the workforce, we know we are on solid ground. this is going to be a quality early learning program. business leaders estimate the collapse of early-morning programs. they are costing our state $1 billion annually. over 85% believe that early

childhood learning, supports the child's success, parents success, and a business success. today, we only have the capacity to serve just 39% of missouri's children, and licensed facilities. it is time for change. this year, along representative arthur, and percentage of shields, these programs are helping improve access and affordability for families seeking childcare across the state of missouri. additionally, we are continuing funding for the expansion of these programs. these are common sense majors that are good for business. they are great for families. they are best for missouri's children. join us today.

they are finding it to to find quality childcare. full-time nursing student, that uses these colleges recorded on your program. this is something that we can all agree on. that should be the minimum for every child in missouri. this year, we are proposing a $52 million investment in the missouri's childcare substance program. they can receive the care that they need and deserve. please join me in welcoming catherine, feel, and program director, from the middle area

college. another issue affecting missouri children. fentanyl crisis. drugs, pouring into our country from the open border. this is devastating missouri families buried last year, dozens of missouri children, were lost due to fentanyl exposure. i'm going to say that one more time. they were lost to fentanyl exposure. they didn't use it or do anything. they were just exposed. this year, alongside representatives, we are proposing legislation. we are guaranteeing strict

punishments for exposing children and wonders to fennel. he then failed to do your job by securing the missouri will act. this is the most vulnerable. supporting the attorney general's plan. this is together.

we are looking at pro-life as well. speaking of pro-life, we are looking at historic success. 8000 elective abortions were performed annually in missouri. i stand before you today. that number is zero. i'm proud to report.

>> [ applause ]. >> the priority of this administration, roads, bridges, missouri's infrastructure. roads and bridges might not be the most exciting topic. this is the one that impacts all missouri civilians the most. infrastructure was one of the first major initiatives that we took home. 5.5 years ago, working with all

of you, we set out to repair and replace missouri roads and bridges. for the first time in the states history, we have represented a bonding authority to send this. the way we look at this program, allowed us to pull down additional funds. i'm only repairing 250 overlooked missouri bridges, but it freed up additional resources for major projects. this is a new bridport bridge. many doubted that it would ever happen. as i stand before you today, i say mission accomplished. focus on bridges is complete. i-270 is complete.

>> [ applause ]. >> in total, from our administration, we have repaired or replaced over 1000 bridges across the state. we have repaired a 17,000 miles of -- missouri roadway in five years. that's about 50% of all of missouri's entire highway system. it has been replaced or repaired. i will remind you, we have the seventh-largest system in the nation. as for missouri, with an

unprecedented funding of $200 million, nearly 2000 miles of roads have been completed. >> [ applause ]. when i became governor, the statewide transportation approval program is across the entire state. they stood at $2.5 billion. today, it is funded at nearly $14 billion. joining us today, in the upper gallery, are the men and women who are make it all happen. each of these eight men and women represent over 130 years of experience and more than

4600 missouri dot employees across our state. we have kept this group visit. please join me in recognizing their contributions to our state. >> is the expansion of i-70. i have talked about decades of hot air. decades in the book. decades of inaction, have turned into action. this is within columbia.

there is no turning back. >> is the strategic weight and how we chose to fund i-70, that i bring up the project today. smart use of the resources. efficient and effective work. we are projecting an i-70 completion. not only on time, but with savings too. two days ago, we received more great news from this congressman. this is over $90 million in additional funds. putting this towards projects on i-70 third with those

savings, and these additional funds today, we are announced our recommendation, to establish the i-40 for improvement fund. this will build on the nearly $150 million already included in the current step. that's why we are looking at the foundation to improve one interstate. also, two interstates. we are also ranked second in united dates for capital bridge

projects. the administration has invested it. $4 million. making tens of thousands of homes and farms across the state. thanks to these efforts, another $1.7 billion is coming to our state, through federal funds they are hoping to secure it. we are looking at the digital divide.

>> [ applause ]. we are going to accomplish more than most governors are able to in eight years. >> this is all within our state's history. whether it was the duck boat crisis, floods, droughts, tornadoes, civil unrest, train derailments, or 2020, when a global pandemic came knocking at our doors, the crisis that can with no road map or playbook. we never back down. have there been critics? sure. critics are a dime a dozen. one thing that i have learned

in life, you will never be criticized by someone doing more than you. it is always the person doing the least, who makes the most noise. through all the criticism, we never saw working for the people of missouri. for all of my like-minded colleagues, they came here. they put people first. i want you to listen closely. listen to what i say next. these are your wins too. together, we have reshaped the supreme court judiciary as a whole. protecting the second amendment right, safeguarding missouri's

landmark consultation. we have fought the fight for life. this is from 8000, to zero. we have streamlined these agencies, and supported them, reducing the size of encouragement. this is going to be crafting lasting partnerships. we cut 20% of the regulations on the books, and maine state government. we are looking at economic development. we have maintained the credit rate. achieving the lowest recording in the states history. we just left the state. this is more than we started with. we left $1.5 billion on the bottom line. we have created over 110,000

job. we have brought $14.5 billion in new business investment. we have cut taxes three times, and reduced income tax burdens by over 20%. this is with the largest income tax cut in our state's history. no one, no one, is looking at this administration. today, we have one. as i begin to wrap up, i want to recognize another special group of people that make it all happen.

these individuals, are truly the best of the best. i couldn't have asked for people to serve with office and governors. 6 million reserves across our state. they are often overlooked. they are overworked. their impact on this state is beyond many. we have taken on challenges that no one could ever imagine. he never complained, they never gave up. above all, they believed. they believed in a mission. they believed in people. they believe in extraordinary capabilities to achieve. this is an even better tomorrow. i am filled with pride. we are in such caliber, serving our great state. as the sun begins to set on our

career, i know we will continue today, tomorrow, and years to come. to the most loyal, hard-working people, i have ever had the honor of working alongside. this is on the behalf of the entire scene. thank you to the members of my staff. please stand to be recognized. >> [ applause ]. as a final message to this body, i am reminded of an old saying. old men and women plant trees.

it is all about putting people first. ladies and gentlemen, that has just been focus of this administration. we are looking at a better missouri. we may not be able to fully realize our work on site all of you. that was never the purpose in the first place. the point is, all of our kids and grandkids across the state, will. family and freedom are at the forefront. leading in with the idea. >> in missouri, our economy and democracy is strong. our people are strong.

we can keep it that way if we continue to put people first. they took a chance on me. they placed their confidence in me. you gave me the largest victory margin for a republican governor in modern history. i will forever be grateful. when i got the call to become governor, my big brother, told me, little brother, come back home the same way you look today. with your head held high. i will be keeping that promise. the first lady and i will return to the farm in our heads held high. if we are honest enough, to be

considered as a pretty good governor, a decent guy, for someone who never forgot where he came from, then it will all be worth it. words cannot express your appreciation i have for state, and our people. one final time before the chamber today, i simply say more than 6 million that is that the absolute privilege of serving, it has truly been the honor of my life, to be your 57 governor, from the great state of missouri. god bless you. god bless missouri, and god bless the united dates of america. thank you.

>> thank you all. >> [ applause ]. a great deal of auto

manufacturers, by looking at these companies. toyota and honda, built these plans starting in the 70s and 80s. not inside urban areas, but out there. people are not farmers. they were specifically speaking on this. they are doing all these things that were connected to the industrial society. >> sam over the hill. they would say that as a man in his run. >> watch cspan's coverage of the annual white house correspondents dinner.

live, saturday, april 27. conducting cohost, calling joseph, as the host. cspan now, celebrities will walk the red carpet into the event. 8:00 p.m. eastern on cspan. sights and sounds from inside the ballroom for the festivities again. watch the white house respondent dinner. like, saturday, april 27. on the cspan networks. >> illinois democratic senator, spoke on the floor about her experiences, having children through in vitro fertilization. protecting access, and other reproductive technologies nationwide. they objected to the request, sayi