tv Key Capitol Hill Hearings CSPAN January 25, 2014 6:00am-8:01am EST
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ng by consolidating eliminating and transforming our operations. in 2009 arizona had a $3 billion deficit. today arizona bus a healthy state surplus in the replenished rainy day fund. most impressively we ended this last fiscal year with nearly $900 million in the bank. [applause] there is no doubt arizona is back on track. [applause] we also remember that our state was swept up to some of the worst of employment in our history. arizonas businesses and families struggled to stay afloat. today we turn things around with helping the areas of the congress authority historic tax reform, our employes a created
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nearly 175000 new jobs with an impressive $4 billion in new capitol investment. in 2009 arizona was ranked among the worst state in an integrated business tax policy. today we are among the best. helping our business grow and thrive. we lowered business operating equipment taxes spivvy lower corporate income-tax is and we lower capital gains taxes. [applause] we even supply sales taxes for the confusing multis city multilayer process to a single selection an audit. the tax and regulatory environment in a state matters.
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arizona is open for business. now i have more jobs more businesses, and more opportunities for growth and prosperity. and this company to arizona is raked in the top-10 place ceos nationwide. for his magazine recognized the says the number one state for expected job growth. [applause] it's no surprise we have attracted an expanded companies like apple, gm intel. i'm confident more are on the way.
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our focus of job creation continues to pay off because we listened to what businesses need and what attracts more of them to arizona. we press the issues of uncompensated care and in health care tax by again listening to the business community in honoring the will of the people. we recovered more than $1 million in revenue per day then that communities businesses and the economy's first. we stand united is a test do your job, keep the grand canyon opened. governments -- [applause] governments should never closed
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down with debt is created. [applause] arizona is ability to deal with our own issues stands in stark contrast to the federal government the ability to deal with their course possibility by securing the border fixing immigrations and writing our national fiscal to. on behalf of the people of arizona and say to the president and congress, quit fighting and get to work for the american people. unfortunately we can't fix washington from year. but we can and will continue to show the nation have what is done. our hard work makes it all the more rewarding to instead here today and competently proclaim that the spirit of arizona is strong.
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and so is the state of our state. [applause] we continue to lead practical and principal initiative and drive arizona forward. we must keep errors of a competitive in our tax structure education system and their limited government. a thriving economy. certainly improving areas of his business plan that has been a hallmark of these last five years. everything we have accomplished i am equally proud of the work we have done on behalf of errors of his family. school choice policies that give parents the power to decide their children's education to
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life affirming legislation protecting the unborn. [applause] together we have pursued and protected the values most important to arizonas family end arizona's future. the initiatives we have enacted these past few years has been transformational. we are not done, and we will remain unrelenting. let's continue to face our challenges head-on. merrill is not the time to rest on our competence. our immediate challenge is to transform to ensure the safety and well-being of arizonas abused and neglected children. i know this. all of us care. arizona must do better.
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we created the office of child welfare investigations as it implements a first-ever the extent of c.w. i we discovered the truth that the cbs dense to investigate or respond to the causes of reports of child abuse this is unconscionable. created the independent cared team to oversee the investigation of these cases and to identify areas of concern within cts. also ordered the department of public safety to invest -- conduct an administrative review to determine why these cases were not investigated. of what to report that they care team was making tremendous strides. today nearly all of the cases
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have been assigned and more than 3,000 children have been seen by staff or local law-enforcement. also want to express my appreciation to child -- the entire care team and the staff working with them for their dedicated efforts. [applause] our job is. good breaks where are the mix being read says the lack of transparency.
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[applause] ice this morning i signed an executive order that abolishes safety as we know it and establishes -- [applause] and establishes a new division of child safety and family the service with his own cabinet level directory your report in may. and i when asked to serve as director. >> the time has come to statutory establish that agency that focuses exclusively on the safety and well-being of children and helping families in distress with that jeopardize
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and child safety. i call on the legislature to work with me to codify a new parent agency. south safety must be the priority and become embedded in the fabric of this new agency. [applause] it is our legal and moral duty. another challenge that has confronted us and has been the cornerstone of my career is behavioral health. for more than three decades arizona has been forced to live in that direction because we failed and are serious limits total population. as governor of insisted that we properly fund an abundance we reform behavioral health.
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over the past two years first this goal was accomplished. [applause] those solutions allow the seriously mentally ill to participate in society in a more meaningful way and to receive the service and the care they require. we also introduced netflix to evaluate the system and hold it accountable as a result of these historic reforms a was brought to us last week subject to final court approval that would end the litigation after reaffirming heirs of his commitment to a community-based behavioral health care system.
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bell, let me be clear this watershed agreement 30 years of litigation it is structured so that a future government or legislature fails. plaintiffs to be able to reopen the case. this should never happen. arizona system is working and is now a national model. [applause] this agreement is the result of the hard work and dedication for many devoted people. let me recognize what as german leader is shut unmatched passion and commitment to improving the lives of people with mental of this deep it -- please dance of
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the week and thank you for your perseverance. another difficult challenge. 27 million victims or but and targets women and children turning many intense excellence. to it may shock you to the that it happens right here in arizona . let me tell you a story about what inspiring woman who triumphed over this modern-day.
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at age 16 forced into the commercial sex industry. analysts have said rate, homelessness, and drug addiction . thankfully she is a survivor then the hopeful example a loving wife and a proud mother pursuing her master's in social work at asu. advocate for victims travel in the country to promote awareness and prevention and providing comfort in healing for fellow survivors. the davis shows us that there is hope and that we can and that we are shower that most people. this amazing woman is with us today. i am proud of you. please stand and accept our gratitude for your inspirational
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human spirit. [applause] last year established a human trafficking taskforce to address this problem cochaired by cindy mccain. the task force recommended ways to better protect increase penalties for perpetrators end to end these horrible crimes. today and rescue to strengthen arizonas lot to give prosecutors and law-enforcement more tools
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to combat this evil and better protect victims. it will also watch awareness campaign so arizonans know what to look for and how to report it and victims will go and seek help. elk read a human trafficking task force to coordinate efforts statewide to adjust ascribe. all the victim's we have not forget new. to the crow traffickers are say your days are numbered. [applause] i firmly believe in this great state of arizona in our ability
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to address our challenges in to be successful in pursuing tomorrow's potential we are doing today will set the tone for years. our future quality depends of today's decision. this year i'm calling on the legislature to approve a package to further boost arizonas business competitiveness. particularly technology and manufacturing sectors arizona, for example is one of the few states that impose a sales tax on manufacturers'. the current manufacture. eliminate any increase first. [applause]
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we recognize that manufacturing is more than just an industry. it is a mighty engine of of the operation. arizona can be even more competitive. let me give you an example. recently back toward the plant which makes a drug that treats several forms of cancer. the breakthrough life-saving drug is produced only in arizona and it was developed in arizona thanks to a partnership. it is the step of innovators tour research driven an idea to market manufacturing system that ultimately produces good jobs and help the economy.
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continue its sizable in developing arizonas bioclimatic industry. connecting quality a stellar work force, and a competitive manufacturing from beginning to end. for arizona to remain competitive on all fronts though we also cannot ignore transportation, water and other infrastructure demands. these are of paramount to creating jobs attracting capital investment endangering a sustainable future periods together we must be honest and have an open dialogue about workable solutions to address these critical leads. of course none of our progress towards economic prosperity it will ultimately work if we do not improve our k-12 schools.
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[applause] the students must be better prepared for the challenge in a competitive world that there will soon enter. that leaves we stop funding the status quo and instead it reward innovation in measure that comes stuff and find the results we want. i am asking legislators to approve an ambitious and historic education proposal which i call stevens success funding. under this plan we will reward
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improve students performing end incentivize and replicate. also reforms are needed deny education. for reasonable arizona's family is working hard to save enough for their kids to seek a university degree. unpredictable tuition hikes. arizona students need affordability in their college education to ensure that these twin goals are met messinger arizona border regions to develop a plan. the guarantee in-state tuition levels for the four years it should take a student to graduate. [applause]
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students expected end arizonas taxpaying parents deserve it. [applause] keith a. seven greater positive economic impact. together they contribute more than $9 billion to our economy annually while safeguarding agree country. more prepared to help the military accomplishes diverse missions the nearly any other state. i remain committed to protecting and enhancing areas of his military bases. that is why would direct the military affairs commission to develop a strategic plan for sustaining missions. we must be ready to protect arizona's military installations if the federal government moves to "or realign more bases. [applause]
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this year i am calling of the legislature to reduce support for the military installation fund. that money will be used specifically to mitigate property encroach when tempers their military ladies projects without throwing that financial burden on private property owners. protecting our military is good for arizona and good for america. [applause] i have been returning to the for more than 30 years. uniting with my fellow public servants in pursuit of a shared mission to stand up for the people we are entrusted to serve
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. to keep our order clean and to leave this place better if freer and we found it. for little more than a century representatives of the people have come to this capital this beautiful desert land to a lesser this is safe from harm and to provide children the knowledge and character that will make and keep them free. great men in gray women have what these chambers embraced these lands with their honorable public service.
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we should aspire year to rake it was the best of those. for the state was built by others before us and eventually will be left to others who will follow. it is ours to love only for a ton. they loved it wisely and leave it will ten years from now whether i run again in the -- [laughter] -- i will be working in my garden and i will look back with pride. and if i can borrow a sentiment from reagan i will be uplifted
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governor j. nixon's "state of the state" address degrees during his hour-long speech he talked about the state's economic progress, education, and the expansion of medicaid and and health care law. his address was just under an hour. [applause] >> ladies and gentleman governor jay nixon. >> thank you. they keep a lid said governor,
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speaker jones, president pro tem judges of the missouri supreme court state officials, members of the legislature members of my cab fell missourians. tonight we are replaced to be joined by misery's exceptional first lady to with georgann. [applause] in our son well. tonight we're honored to be joined by people who put their level to protect the lives of others whether they fight our enemies abroad or protect communities at home these ordinary men and women do extraordinary thick's. they are real heroes. on august 6 in the dark of the
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night deadly flash floods struck several communities without warning. rising by as much as 23 feet. inundating homes washing no roads, and ultimately claiming lives. there were many acts of bravery that night as state and local emergency personnel fanned out to look for folks in need of help. to local fire fighters had been attempting to rescue a man and a young child when their boat capsized in the rushing water leaving all four of them clinging to a single guide wire. another local first responder have been holding to women above water for 30 minutes never giving up of the rescue attempt but tiring. fortunately the corporal in the senate of our misery state highway patrol were on duty that
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night. overcoming darkness and debris pouring rain to lead treacherous floodwaters even test of rescue boat, troopers got all seven of these individuals safety. >> three years ago when we worked together right here to merge the state highway and water patrols we knew this change would improve efficiency and reduce overhead.
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it as. but in the rushing waters that night it was clear that the benefits of this report went way beyond balance sheets. it saved lives. these two great leaders thanks you for your. [applause] these brave people remind us that the true strength of our state cannot be measured in bricks or bushels but in the talent and tenacity of our citizens. folks don't shy away from challenges. they work together to tackle them, getting up early, working hard, staying late and looking out for one another. thanks to the people of missouri the state -- "state of
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the state" is strong and growing stronger with each passing day. [applause] with that in nearly 44,000 jobs and when you look at the pace of private sector job growth private sector job growth missouri was in the top ten in the nation first been better than every single one of our neighboring states. exports increased by more than a billion dollars of the past five years. that's 71 percent think see the misery farmers and ranchers that deliver each and every day.
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behind these impressive numbers a significant investments by companies though it doesn't if the. high-tech global prince along with small businesses like startups, cofactor genomics in st. louis. we all know that if you want to win you have to compete. that is why i want to thank this general assembly for helping make us in missouri and a finalist for the boeing triple seven acts. we may have not won the biggest prize but we competed at the highest level.
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it is important to remember we came together in another special session and had very high-stakes . other plants to close, jobs to go overseas, and folks that it would not be long before the last missouri made vehicle role of the light. instead of giving up we took action. together we pass the misery manufacturing jobs act, up to our investment in work-force training in saved misery's of industry. today the automotive come back continues to make headlines. just like last week. on sunday gm unveiled the zero new gmc canyon. on monday ford unveiled the all new f-1 50. later that same day we welcome the new automotive supplier in
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over 150 jobs. on thursday floridian of the hiring of the 1000 workers to build a fork transit and previously built exclusively overseas saw the pride they take in building the next generation of american made vehicles. they will tell you it means more than just a paycheck. the work we do your is very real . bell our economic progress is no accident. it is the result of a clear and unwavering focus on strict fiscal discipline and smart investments. [applause]
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we are the show me state so we develop a strategic plan and followed it. instead of engaging in washington style that the spending we kept our fiscal discipline balancing budgets cutting waste, and keeping taxes low. [applause] this past year of three major rating agencies reaffirmed that perfect credit rating. tonight as i have every year i am proposing a balanced budget that calls the line on taxes and continues to downsize government cutting more than 81 positions from the state payroll. by the end of this fiscal year we will have reduced the state work force by 4600 full-time employees. the we did that just make government smaller. we made it smarter. we reduced energy use the muscle of surplus property, and put more state services online. my budget continues to invest in technology to provide
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missourians with the efficient effective accountable government they deserve. now, keeping our fiscal house in order as of this protect our shared values. we made sure that as we moved our economy forward we did valley folks behind. a young child with autism a student working her way through college. a family rebuilding after a natural disaster. a soldier returning from the front lines. four years ago we launched show me euros to help employers record in hire men and women in uniform. two years ago we strengthened it by making sure these veterans also get the training they need. today show me heroes continues to change lives. i recently visited one of the 3400 misery companies that have taken the chevy euros pledged commend ibm and columbia we recognize the 5000 veterans
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employed through this program. .. the 5,000th veteran employed through this program. (applause) our veterans boughtfought for us and i thank you for help being there for them. for every soldier serving our country overseas there's a family back here at home putting on a brave face each day for the kids. families who in soldiering on through the loneliness lend their loved ones strength. it is so important as they lend us all strength we honor their sacrifice as well. tonight we are joined by heather styles and her daughters paige and payton. heather's husband of 11 years major matthew stooils is a helicopter pilot in his second deployment to afghanistan. while he serves our country at war heather is holding down the fort at their home in jefferson
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city. they represent thousands of military families all across our state who are counting d >> military families are counting down the days. please join me in thanking the family for their service and sacrificing. we wish them a speedy and safe return. [applause] [applause] [applause] >> together we have laid a solid foundation that got us through some tough economic times. it has brought us to a defining moment for our sake. now there economy picking up steam how do we build on that foundation? with washington paralyzed by politics, what can we do here in
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missouri to make a lasting difference to real people? and when it's always easier to do the small things and to clear victory, how do we tackle the big challenges? the things that matter most. schools and good jobs and healthy communities for kids to grow up in. missouri is a state where we have small-business owners and artists and outdoorsmen and farmers and there are many things every single one of us would agree upon. but here is one that we can. our single greatest responsibility as elected officials and those parents and as citizens of our state is to make sure that every child in missouri has an opportunity to achieve his or her dreams. and we all know that that
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opportunity starts with education. [applause] [applause] [applause] for centuries public education has been a value that we cherish and a value that we are reaffirmed time and time again. in the 1700s we call 48 education system that would safeguard our young democracy from tyranny and oppression. in the 1800s we establish a land grant university including the university of missouri and by 1900 every state in the nation had three public elementary schools. and when the greatest generation returned home from world war ii after saving a free world a
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grateful nation honor them with something far more precious unpatriotic than a ticker tape parade. the g.i. bill. [applause] [applause] >> shepherded through congress, he gave millions of americans an opportunity that their parents hepherded through congress he gave millions of americans an opportunity that their parents never had. the chance to earn a college degree without going into debt. so take a second to think of the impact that we have had. between 1940 and 1950 the number of degrees awarded by u.s. colleges and universities more than doubled. over the next half-century the percentage of americans with a college degree quintupled and they became engineers of small-business owners and scientists supreme court
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justices. presidents and preschool teachers. they bought homes and they started companies creating the modern middle-class unlike anything the world has ever seen. we are joined by one of them tonight. doctor frank fontana served and follow the frontline all the way to berlin. [applause] [applause] [applause] when he came home the g.i. bill provided him the opportunity to get a degree in optometry and he
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started his own practice later. he married the love of his life may have two sons that they put through school. the g.i. bill gave him the opportunity to pursue his dreams. to support his family. to become a great optometrist. i should know. he is mine and i can see him. [laughter] please join me in thanking frank for his service in reminding more importantly what the american dream is really about. thank you. [applause] [applause] [applause] >> this nation's biggest generation made a commitment with education and they made the united states driver of the global economy and the undisputed leader of the free
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world. now it is our turn. it's our turn to carry on the legacy. now we must work to help every child starts school ready to learn and we must demand that every school is getting the job done and we must make sure that every student can afford to get a college degree. and so let's resolve to give our children and grandchildren more opportunity and better opportunity and build the opportunities they deserve. [applause] but to really succeed we have to start early. the first few years have an impact that last a lifetime. the children start kindergarten ready to learn more likely to succeed in school and he did a good job after college. working together effort the last year we have expanded access
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giving more children the opportunity to go to high-quality preschool in their communities. but this year it is time that we do much more. kids grow up fast and there is no time to waste. we must work together to make sure that our kids start smart. and that is why my budget will nearly triple funding for the missouri preschool program just this year. [applause] [applause] [applause] providing quality opportunities for thousands of kids all across missouri, but that is just the beginning. as many of you know we spent a lot of time in missouri schools talking with students and meeting with teachers and students and staff and sometimes
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i even seek out and shoot a few hoops. schools are the hearts of our communities. @ schools are the hearts of our communities. where lifelong friendships are made in fundamental values are learned. in today's global economy whether you wrote for the dragons or the bulldogs were the panthers are k-12 schools must also be rigorous high-tech institutions of innovations. [applause] more technologies and smaller class sizes and well-prepared teachers. the tools at our kids need to succeed. [applause] accomplishing that goal will take an unwavering commitment by all of us. and something else, it is going
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to take months. that is why my budget increases funding this year by $278 million. [applause] [applause] [cheers] and so those of you at home that will put us on a path to fully funding the foundation formula for next year. [applause] [applause] >> you know every one of us has run for office. and when we knocked on doors folks asked if he believed in public education and we all said
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yes. when someone raised their hand at town hall meetings and asked what we do with teachers, we said that we would support them. and on the campaign trail all of us made a promise to invest in our students and schools. it is time to put our budget or a campaign brochures. [applause] [applause] [cheers] [applause] it is time to decide we are going to talk about public education and whether we are going to fund it. this is the test and this is the year to get serious about funding our schools. [applause] and we all know our local
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schools work in a big way for kids in our communities. here are a few priorities that school districts have already outlined. every student to have a computer. fifty additional teachers to reduce class sizes and give kids the personal attention that they need. in santa fe, they are going to bring back summer school and establish the district's first early childhood education program and then they will implement project project lead the way. to help students understand and excel in science. in springfield, 4000 or three and 4-year-olds will have the opportunity to attend high-quality preschool. >> i would like you to stand if
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you would, please. please join me in honoring them for the challenge of the take on everyday for supporting our kids. [applause] [cheers] [applause] [cheers] you know, and with this commitment we are going to demand accountability and measurable results. cover classes and higher test scores and higher graduation rates. our students need to be ready to compete worldwide and that means that they have to raise their game and we have to raise ours as well. we have to believe in education so much that we commit to making it better. when we talk about education it
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is something that always bears repeating. there is no more honorable profession and being a teacher. [applause] [applause] you know none of us would be in this room if it were not for the extraordinary people who taught us and believe dennis year ago. we are blessed to have so many talented teachers across our state. selfless public servants who stay late to make sure that our children don't fall behind and often dig into their own pockets to make sure that they have the material that they need to teach our kids. each year there are some who believe the way to build up our schools is to tear down our teachers. try to cut their pay, reduce their retirement benefits, or threaten their job security. that's simply must stop.
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[applause] [cheers] [applause] [cheers] and now we can all support making smart reforms for education system and we should hold educators accountable for the important job that we have entrusted them to perform. but instead of attacking public school teachers we should make it our mission to recruit the best and brightest minds to take on the honorable work of teaching our kids. [applause] and that is exactly what this significant investigation will allow our local districts to do. tonight we are pleased to be joined by mr. schultz. ever since he was in ninth grade, he knew that he wanted to be a teacher. he continues to inspire and motivate students each and every
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day. last october mr. schultz won the prestigious milken family foundation national educator award. we were all inspired by how we rally behind his students and his schools. just this month 1400 students walked into three brand-new schools working another milestone in a remarkable recovery. he is joined tonight by susan dey ncj hot. please join me in thanking mr. schultz and all of our teachers today. [applause] [applause]
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now, he works hard to make sure that kids are prepared to take the next step and in pursuit of higher education that they need for the careers that they were. many of us have had the same conversation with her kids around the dinner table. you tell them that no matter what they are interested in the more education they get the more financially secure that they will be in the numbers are stark. the unemployment rate among high school graduates is more than twice that and by the end of this decade two thirds of all jobs will require some kind of college credentials. we made great strides to ensure the quality and affordable college education is an option for every family and over the past five years missouri's public universities have led the nation in holding down tuition increases. we are number one. [applause] [applause]
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but we are not done yet. we're going to make sure that students graduate from college with the skills to compete for good jobs and not just a load of debt. that is why i have called upon our for your institutions to once again freeze tuition. that is why. under my budget at our public universities should not have to pay a penny more for tuition. not a single penny. [applause] and no student should have to settle for less education just because their parents make less money. the we are doing something about that as well. my budget but puts additional dollars so that students from low-income families with the financial aid that they need. keeping our best and brightest students in missouri adding 266
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schools in 2009. giving thousands of students the opportunity to earn a scholarship. all across missouri students who work hard and play by the rules and give back to their communities are going to be able to attend community college tuition free. but affordability is only part of the equation. once again the corresponding will be awarded based on performance on how well the institution meets specific goals and high-tech global economy, we need to make sure that the degree the students pursues matches the skills that businesses need. the jobs in highest demand will require some background in science and technology and
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engineering and math. absolutely. we are talking about mathematicians, machinist coders. the best way to attract high-paying jobs is to make sure that our workers have the skills to fill them. and that is exactly what it will do. with the initial investment of $22 million, this initiative will help her university purchased state-of-the-art equipment and more importantly produce more graduates in these fast growing cells. investing in high-tech educational pack a huge punch for our economy. [applause] now education was started early, but it can never stop. we can't forget that learning needs to be a lifelong endeavor.
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this unique opportunity to invest in our students's future. our state's future. it is our responsibility to do it. but there are those who feel that instead, fully funding our schools, we should grow money out of our classrooms in order to experiment with our tax code. let's get something straight. i have held a line on taxes every year i have been governor and will do so again this year. missouri is a low tax state, sixth lowest in the nation, and we like it that way. i signed four tax cuts as your governor specific, targeted tax cuts that have helped our businesses expand and grow. for example missouri employers will save $70 million this year alone because we cut the corporate franchise tax.
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here is what i won't do. i won't support anything that takes money out of our classrooms. [applause] >> as we saw last summer, in community after community, in all corners of our state, parents, teachers, administrators, school board members, business leaders and concerned citizens spoke out with one united voice. the people of missouri expect their elected leaders to support public schools because they know that education is the best economic development tool there is. [applause]
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>> high-paying jobs growing businesses thriving communities, these are goals we share. let's invest in the one thing we know will help us achieve that. a workforce that can compete worldwide. this is a year to send a bid it to my desk on track to fully fund our schools and build the missouri our kids deserve. [applause] >> we have shown we can work together to create better opportunities for all missourians. just look at what we are doing together. to serve missourians with disabilities and mental illness. in 2010 we passed landmark legislation to require insurance companies to cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders, and what a difference
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it has made for our kids. today because of this law 1.6 million missourians, and treatments more than 2500 missourians were treated for autism spectrum disorder last year. [applause] >> our partnership continues to be a tremendous and like changing success the thousands of missourians with developmental disabilities. my butt expand those vital programs in more communities across our great state. for years thousands of missourians with developmental disabilities were forced to wait months, often years, for those services they needed. people like snake hoffman from st. peters, when launched the partnership for hope in 2010.
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and access to physical therapy and other services to help them be more independent. even got strong enough to walk around his high school track. when he graduated those services ended. 4 eight years nate's condition and quality of life worsens when he was placed on a waiting list for in home services eight years. it was heartbreaking. that was before the partnership for hope. today nate is doing better, physical therapy going well and able to communicate with the new computer system. told me his goal was to be able to walk around that track again and thanks to the partnership for hope he is getting closer to reaching that goal weekend every way. because of missourians like me, each year i have been in office we made it a priority to chip
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away at the waiting list. now i am proud to report this year. that waiting list will no longer exist. [applause] >> our friends in neighbors when they need them. mental illness tragedy's across the nation expose dangerous gas in our mental health safety net we took action in missouri, we added new mental health liaisons' and each of our 20 community mental health service so that officers can focus on being cops not front-line care givers. we launched seven targeted emergency response teams to ease the burden on doctors and
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nurses. we made a historic investment in mental health first-aid training so that more teachers first responders and ordinary citizens can identify signs of mental illness and know what to do. we are training more than a thousand missourians on these proven life-saving techniques and with your help this session, train thousands more. [applause] >> any member of law enforcement can tell you there is room for home preventative services or simply not enough. some mental illnesses are so severe that those suffering from them are danger to themselves and others. since 1851 this care has been provided, missouri's only maximum-security theatrics
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facility a facility that is crumbling and in desperate need of replacement. in inadequate to its patients, in adequate for the staff that cares for them and an embarrassment to our state. that is why i look forward to working with you to address this most urgent of needs and issue bonds to support the construction of a new mental hospital in full. [applause] >> interest rates are low credit rating is high and it is undeniable. let's roll up our sleeves, work together and for the safety of our communities get it done this year. >> as we intensify our efforts to make sure missourians with
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mental illness and developmental disabilities with appropriate care it is clear we need more qualified professionals to provide that care. look at the numbers 104 of missouri's 114 countries had designated mental health professional shortage areas, 72 counties even lack a licensed psychiatrist. these are good jobs that are in demand now. we just need qualified professionals to fill them. that is why my budget includes a $20 million investment to help our community colleges and universities train 1200 more mental health professionals. [applause] >> teaching the child with autism and interact with piers helping law-enforcement respond to individuals and mental health crisis, these health professionals will keep our community safe and make sure all
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missourians have the opportunity to live up to their god-given potential. the priorities i just laid out of by no means the only issues that require our attention this session. we need to restore public faith in what we do by reinstating strict campaign contribution limits and passing comprehensive ethics reform. [applause] we need to rein in tax credit programs that don't deliver a solid return on our investment. a [applause] and we need to end discrimination against lgbt missouri in the workplace. no one should be fired because of who they are or who they
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love. [applause] last year the nondiscrimination passed the senate, bipartisan support failed to get behind my desk. let's get that done this year. [applause] >> we also need to fix the law so much stress and uncertainty for families in schools as thousands of students the transported from one district to another. we need a robust discussion about the state's long-term infrastructure needs and how to pay for them. need to develop a comprehensive energy plan for our state that balances the need for low-cost energy with our responsible stewards of the environment.
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[applause] >> we need to reauthorize the program to prevent 200,000 seniors and missourians with disabilities from paying more for prescription drugs. [applause] >> let's work together as we did three years ago to extend essential help to missourians in need but the most significant improvement we could make to the health and well-being of our state, is medicaid and needs to get done this year. [applause] since new year's day, missouri
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taxpayers have spent $115 million and counting, that is $5.47 million a day to improve and reform health care in other states, states like arkansas and arizona new jersey and iowa, michigan and north dakota. that adds up to $2 billion, $500 for every missouri taxpayers every year. each day we don't act the state use missourians tax dollars to implement innovative reforms like rewards for healthier lifestyle choices and penalties for missing doctor's appointments. each day we don't act missouri's medicaid system continues as it has for years without additional protections for taxpayers, new measures to promote personal
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responsibility. each day we don't act, thousands of missouri women aren't getting the preventive health care they need to detect breast or cervical cancer early. while there is still time to treat it. [applause] >> each day we don't act, 300,000 working missourians go another day without the treatment they desperately need for no other reason when they live in a renton instead of bentley ville. and cape gerardo instead of cairo. [applause] >> if you don't see these folks knocking on your doors and let not your phone line did is because they don't have time,
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they are working. [applause] >> to pay the bills and make ends meet. we all know there are problems with obamacare and washington's implementation of it has been abysmal. rejecting medicaid won't fix any of those things. [cheers and applause] >> it won't eat missourians from having to pay federal taxes. it won't exempt business from new requirements under that law.
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by standing still, making sure the things we don't like about obamacare are even worse, to bear all the costs of this law and reap none of the benefits. [applause] >> think about that. the people who are suffering as a result of the failure to act don't work in the white house. they worked night shift in factories, they wait tables and scrub floors drive snowplows and look after our kids. [applause] >> right now hundreds of thousands of these working missourians on the basic health services to bring healthy productive lives, folks like anita sutherland from van buren who was a home health care worker who now works part-time.
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been uninsured has already taken a toll. a year ago she was diagnosed with during cancer and had to leave her full-time job. since then she racked up over $100,000 in medical bills and is suffering complications of cancer treatment. today buried in a mountain of debt and unable to referred to medical care she needs she doesn't seem to know a way out. she feels hopeless. strength and medicaid anita will be covered, able to get the treatment she needs and go back to working full time. [applause] she will have hoped. working missourians are not looking for a handout. they just want to get a checkup without wiping out their bank
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account. [applause] >> i challenge each one of you to think of any other bill that would make this kind of real and immediate difference the kind of difference medicaid would make in the lives of people we represent. i challenge each of you to consider how history will judge those who had the power to help people like anita and chose not to. i challenge each of you to explain why it makes more sense to pay far medicaid in other states then it does to reform it in hours. it is clear. we can make sure to assess affordable health care coverage improve and reform medicaid in
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missouri, we can help people. as the book of isaiah says, if you satisfy the needs of the afflicted than pure light shall rise in the darkness and your night will become night and day. [applause] at this time last year the same medicaid debate was taking place in state capitals across the donkey. since that time we have seen democrats and republicans come together to reform the health care system. in missouri we sit still. and now we have fallen on it. this year missouri is paying the cost. this year missourians are suffering the consequences. i look forward to working with all of you to bring affordable health coverage to working
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families in missouri and reform medicaid the missouri way. [applause] one year ago, many of us gathered in st. louis to more in a loss of an icon missouri's adopted son sandy, stan the man was a member of the greatest generation who put his career on hold to serve in world war ii and went on to become the greatest hitter in baseball history. [applause] stand was called baseball's perfect lawyer because while he swung a loud that he also carried himself with a quiet dignity. always a gentleman he was known
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to say every day you put this jersey on, it is a privilege. everyday you put this jersey can't it is a privilege. the same can be said for all of us in this room. everyday you put the pin on your lapel and enter these doors to do the people's business it is a privilege and with that privilege comes responsibility. the people of missouri count on us to look out for their families as if they were our families to focus on what matters better jobs better schools, better opportunities for their children. andy is easy to get caught up in the political back-and-forth of the day, the controversy of the hour, the latest tweet. we must be bigger than that.
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[applause] will work we do here is very, very real. it is real for the parents who didn't go to college but saved money every week so sunday their children can. it is real to the farmer in trenton who nearly lost his crop in the drought of 2012 but has come charging back. it is real to the child with autism who is getting the treatment he needs to learn and drive and you better believe it is real to the family who lost everything and could have moved away and started anew but they chose to stay right there to rebuild the town they love and their state government has been with them every step of the way because that is what we do. [applause] we are here to make a difference for those who work
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hard and need a hand often times for people we will never meet. because the legacy we leave will not be measured by the on election day or backslaps in these hallways. it will be measured by the lasting impact we have on the communities we serve. the opportunity we have been given to make this kind of difference in the lives of those we represent is as rare as it is fleeting. ten years from now when the trucks are still rolling off of the line people might not remember the missouri manufacturing jobs at. 20 years from now when the mom whose insurance paid for the cancer treatment that saved her life attends her son's college
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graduation she won't know the names of the lawmakers who voted for medicaid expansion costs, 30 years from now when the student who was the first in her family to go to college takes the reins of a fortune 500 company she probably won't credit of high-quality preschool she attended. but we will. and we will know we focused on the right things. we will know we made the right choices. that is our call to action. that is the sacred responsibility we hold. in the short time we have been given, let's make it count working together let's build the missouri our kids deserve. thank you and god bless. [applause]
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>> governor jay nixon's call for more money to be spent on education was the focus of a local article. the house speaker, a republican responded by saying while additional funding might help missouri schools he wants more reforms regarding teacher evaluation and school choice. the request by the governor for more spending totals $493 million. >> job creation education and crime were topics, governor sam brown in the state of the dress devastated the state address last week. he was the 46 governor of kansas
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taking office in 2011. >> thank you, mr. speaker madame president. i like the sound of that members of legislature, cabinet, judiciary first lady of the state of kansas, my wife mary my fellow kansans, welcome. as has been told to us long ago, at great promise god is in heaven, legislature is back and the crane is gone. finally gone! [applause] it only took 12 years but isn't this place marvelous? isn't this a beautiful facility? i think this is awesome and on january 29th we will have a a dedication of this building,
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because this is a beautiful place. the capital like kansas itself is open for business. welcome back to the fellowship of this assembly, welcome back to the special place, back to the work of building a better can this where there is work to do. when we gather three years ago we faced two big challenges the economy and the budget and the state government was flat broke. we ended with $876.05 in the bank account. that is etched in my mind. the state couldn't even pay its bills on time. everyone from school districts to vendors were suffering months of delays because big government had no cash. by january the state budget was illegally in deficit and more daunting we faced of
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$500 million budget shortfall and that was after taxes have been raised, and this situation, after decades of neglect the kansas pension system, the this second least funded in america. and bigger government failed to deliver prosperity. in january of 2011, fewer kansans were working in the private sector than in january of 2001 a decade earlier. and budgets were hurting and no government, prosperous for people for a long. and two big challenges, get people working again and restore fiscal discipline.
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we took action, breaking from failed policies of the past. in consultation with the best minds, we developed an action plan streamlined regulations, informed workers compensation and went from the second highest tax burden in the region to the second lowest, cutting our taxes so that we could grow. [applause] >> we stopped counting on government to create prosperity and put our faith in the people of kansas and three years later we are in a much better position. listen to some of these numbers. since december of 2010 kansas has added on average thousand new private-sector jobs a month, a thousand new a month. we have gone from 6.9% unemployment rate to 5.1% tied for the tenth lowest unemployment rate in the country and still adding jobs and we are
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going to keep adding jobs. [applause] thank you. that is of good one. [applause] jobs. we put cash in the bank we are paying our bills on time and balanced three budgets in a row. thank you for doing that. and we reversed decades-long trend as finally, this is the key number personal income of kansas families is rising faster than government spending. that is what you want to have taking place personal income. [applause]
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simply put the government is back in its proper place, serving the people. not only is kansas top-10 in employment we are listed among the top 10 best states in which to make a living and the top-10 for the lowest cost of living. according to the most recent national association of education progress kansas' fourth graders are one of the 10 best states for reading proficiency. mr. speaker, madame president, it is for these reasons and more that i can report to you that the state of our state is strong and getting stronger and we are leading an american renaissance. we are leading it. [applause]
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that is good work. that is very good work. the state is more than its balance sheet. you are the 2.9 million souls cherish a way of life that honors family, values education, and embraces positive change. in fact by the end of this decade for the first time in our history kansas population will surpass 3 million people. when that 3 millionth kansan is born what state will we have built for her. my privilege to serve the people of kansas, secretary, congressman, senator and governor i have seen the majesty of this state and the wonder of its people. they are amazing in their diversity and yet sharing basic values. kansans are decent, honest, they
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care about their fellow man and they like it here. if you ask what kind of state they want to build for the 3 millionth kansan they will tell you one of the key pieces is education. we love our schools and they are great schools. [applause] i start with k-12. kansas ranks fourth among all states committed to education. 50% of state budget committed to k-12. when we look at funding for all government sources kansas schools receive $12,500 per student. for every classroom of 20 students that is a quarter million dollars put in there by their taxpayers. as stated cares enough to make
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that kind of annual commitment cares enough to see that the money is spent wisely and the best decisions are usually made by those closest to the students so it is worth noting school districts across kansas have made it a priority of all day kindergarten even when the state has only funded half of it. seems strange to me that we count all the 12 and only half of the k. recently state board of education came forward with the bipartisan idea to achieve this goal proposing an increase in student kindergarten, student server year for the next five years. this proposal was targeted, it is reasonable, it will benefit kansas school kids and thanks to the growing economy and the work of this legislature, it is unaffordable. for the first time we can ensure that every can this child has access to all day kindergarten
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and we should do it now. [applause] you can get up to that one. for districts that have already taken this step, increased student count will free up resources which can be dedicated to other priorities that they have. more money, more flexibility more learning, all paid for out of the growing economy. that is just the beginning. in the past two years we implemented programs to increase reading abilities of our children a vital skills for success in school and in life first programs in southeast
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kansas where young at risk students were given afterschool during the summer more than half of the student had significant improvement in their reading abilities. based on the success we had a reading road map initiative or nonprofit organizations with education. and family engagement. and the technical education programs are soaring, for all technical education courses taken by high school students. we have seen a 70% increase and technical enrollment in the last two years, that is amazing. a [applause] with these skills, there is a
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path to progress. good jobs with good wages. and a form foundations to their families and the kansas economy. jobs for american graduate program reaching out to a high school students at risk of falling through the cracks and helps build skills that make the best of their lives. which is todd jag student who spent much of his life in foster care said this about the program. it is not a program or class. jag is family. i have witnessed the impact of the jab program firsthand. one of the dead leader's is working with students at highland park high school here in topeka he is an inspiration to all his students and proves the one man can make a big difference in many lives. would you please stand? let's give you a round of applause for what you do.
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thank you. [applause] thanks for what you do. kansas universities are critical and also very good at basketball, i might add. we have been making strategic investments in areas of unique excellent and importance to the kansas economy and more are included in my budget proposal. one of these investments is already bearing fruit with grain news this week. years of hard bi-partisan work at the state and federal level have paid off and there is now no doubt that it will be built kansas will be the center of the global animal health industry regeneration to come. that is going to happen.
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open bracket applause] owner in the economy, world-class education, these are wonderful legacy is for us to leave our 3 millionth in engine. for all the good happening in our state too many fellow kansans are still struggling. as we continue to climb from the trough of the great recession there are too many kansans actively looking for work and can't find it. others are working harder than ever and just can't seem to get ahead.
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our challenge is to take this restored growth and fiscal responsibility and make its benefits real for families across the state. to build a state and economy that works for everyone and we know the past through education, employment, family stability. all we have done and will continue to do is done with the goal of building a broad prosperity for all kansans. that is our responsibility. if you will indulge the farm kid just a little bit i hope our 3 millionst kansan goods to grow up in rural kansas like i did and there are reasons for optimism that she will. a real opportunity is flourishing and a majority of counties there will be proposals this year to expand it even more. we now have a rural housing shortage in the state of kansas. this budget i proposed an additional $2 million to address
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the shortage focused on moderate income housing. in addition to housing world community's need access to medical care. my budget will include money for the rural bridging program to bring doctors to rural kansas. cutting edge opportunities and agriculture and animal health 5 being complemented by an energy renaissance where every sector from oil to win to biofuels approaches historic production levels but all these industries, all of our lives depend on our most precious natural resources, clean water. if the 3 millionth kansan is to build a life for we must leave her estate with access to our lifeblood, water, extending the liquid capital of our state and strong bipartisan majorities of this legislature took steps to extend the life of the aquifer and encourage best practices
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towards water usage statewide. as many of you came into the building tonight you saw the words of the greatest kansan, dwight eisenhower. you once said the opportunist thinks of me. today the statement thinks of us and tomorrow. it is no coincidence that much of the water infrastructure we are spending through today was built in ike's time. the fact is from our reservoirs we are relying on wise decisions made -- those to come times deserve the same statesmanship we have been shown. people from across the state will gather to develop a comprehensive water strategy, to secure involve yourself in this process there is no future
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without water. [applause] next we owe our trillionth kansan a safe state. last september this legislature came together in a bipartisan fashion strengthening penalties for the most serious crimes in a historically efficient special session. mr. speaker madame president leader davis, well done. that was a good session. well done. [applause] special sessions can be difficult but you did a nice job
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with the. this can serve as a model going forward as we complete the work on sentencing early in the session. if you go just a little bit further on your journey into this beautiful building you will see another quote on the wall from kansas constitution, the one in which all public officers in the states where an oaf that read all political power is inherent in the people. all political power is inherent in the people. that is distinctly american idea. in america there would be no kings or queens ours is a system of self-government of, by, for the people. here for the first time a person stationed in life wouldn't be principally a product of the station of their birth. in kansas you could go as far as talents, hard work and the good lord took you. that freedom, that sovereignty
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is also part of what we owe our 3 millionst kansan and all the come after her. one of the ironies of our age is government has become omnipresent yet the people never felt more distant from it. too many decisions are made by and accountable, opaque institutions, elected officials are sometimes complicity in this transference of power because it removes them from responsibility. let's be clear. on the number one item in the state budget education, the constitution empowers the legislature, the people's representatives to fund our schools. [applause]
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education, opportunity, safety, natural bounty freedom, sovereignty, reconciliation, these are fine things to leave our 3 millionkansan. as i conclude tonight let me add one more. we owe her our example. we have with us tonight some wonderful examples of what it means to be a kansan. kansas has a long and distinguished relationship with our nation's military. tonight we recognize and thank two brave for riley soldiers wounded in service to our nation. i point you to the balcony and ask captain adam cohen and casey wolf wind in combat to stand and be recognized. [applause]
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[applause] >> thank you, gentlemen. i have met veterans, active service members who have done as many as seven tours of duty. it is amazing. in kansas we honor veterans remember their service with gratitude and are humbled by their commitment to this great nation, honored by their commitment and sacrifice,
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inspired by this place let us dedicate ourselves to doing the people's business and let us do so with a return to the virtues and character that allowed god to bless our founders. our state's model promises the kansas path is a difficult one. we have been called to blaze the trail for america out of the wilderness on several locations with a willingness to stand for what is good, oppose what is not and acknowledge when we have been wrong. kansas marked the bloody trail of slavery when the nation was divided and undecided on whether to do so. the change of bondage of our brothers rub our skin and hearts raw until we could stand it no more and erupted into bleeding kansas. the summer of mercy sprung forth in kansas as we could no longer tolerate the death of innocent children. last year i traveled with
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descendants of the survivors of a potawatomi trail of death and remember, acknowledge and apologize for the barbarous treatment of native americans, i was at the graveyard where native children in including infants are buried, children taken from their native families to be raised as caucasians under the theme kill the indians, save the man. i was at the monroe school in topeka where the doctor in separate but equal was once the law of the land. has governor i acknowledge and accept responsibility on behalf of the people of kansas and i ask forgiveness for these wrongs we have done you. history to date the nation did there's while the path forward seems uncharted. america can't decide which way to go.
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yet the path forward is clear. kansas is leading an american renaissance, a return to the virtue and character that build the state and great nation in the first place. the path is not an uncharted leno's the way. we must drill wells and gave us life the first time. they will refresh and renew us again. we are growing and moving forward but not for the sake of growth alone. it helps everyone to realize their god-given potential blood we rebuild our families, our 3 millionth kansan can know the value of a family none of which are perfect, yet we all aspired to be better, virtuous, just righteous, though we might be blessed and might be a blessing to. our dependence is not on big government but on a big god who loves us and lives within us. [applause]
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our future is bright. our renaissance is assured if we move from dithering to action, if we listen to our own better angels in the still small boys that calls us onward. yet listen carefully we must to the voice of hope and not to the noise of decline, which way to choose. you know the way, god wrote it on our hearts. seek the truth, defends the week, live courageous lives. thank you for all you do in service to our state and may god
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bless you and continue to bless the wonderful people of kansas. good night. [applause] thank you all. [applause] thank you wall, appreciate it. thank you all. [applause] >> on wednesday the annual march for life took place in washington d.c. beginning with a rally on the national law and including speakers like house majority leader eric cantor and
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new jersey congressman chris smith. you can watch the entire rally on c-span. in the meantime here is a preview. >> thank you very much for being here today. thank you for braving these unbelievably cold temperatures. thank you for coming to give voice to our cause of protecting life. especially want to welcome those from commonwealth of virginia seventh district in particular. i believe one day in the not too distant future our movement will be victorious because we will prevail and secure a culture of life in america. i believe this for one very
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simple reason. the truth is there is an inalienable right to life and this extends to the unborn. this is not a political truth subject to the women's of man. it is a moral truth and what is written as one famous virginia noted by our creator. all attempts to rewrite or obscure the truth may prevail in the moment but will ultimately fail. you, the marchers the advocates who don't mind enduring folk worst whether washington can throw at you for the opportunity to change one mind you are a movement, not so secret weapon. you are strongest advocate and those of us in public office are merely fortunate to stand on
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your shoulders. i stand here today with colleagues, with others, with much hope. some of you have been watching for over 40 years and have endured many setbacks including the recent expansion of abortion coverage in obamacare. but it is important now more than ever that we remain strong and stand together. we cannot allow the opponents of life to continually weaken the moral fabric of our country. they need to know that they need to understand that we will continue to march we will continue to educate, we will continue to advocate and we will continue to fight for the
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unborn. because it is the right and moral thing to do. those of us in the house of representatives will be right there beside you. last year the house for the first time capable unborn protection act. this bill is an utterly decent and moral proposal that would recognize physical pain abortion can cause an unborn child and would protect that child. this remains a priority for me and my colleagues. i am proud to announce next week the house will vote once and for all to end taxpayer funding for abortion.
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the no taxpayer funds for abortion act written by our good friend and colleague chris smith will respect the moral and consciences of millions of americans and ultimately will save lives. getting the bill through the senate, however, signed by the president, will be a much tougher task. i can make use this promise. the people's house will stand for life. and we will do everything in our power to make sure that our values and the sanctity of life are reflected in the law of the land. thanks to you and the greater pro-life community around the country with the help of great pro-life leaders like my colleagues who are here with me today in congress, all of us
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together, working we will continue to make progress those that one day every child in america would be protected by law and welcome to life. thank you all very very much. >> you can watch all of wednesday's march for life at the national mall at 10:00 eastern over on c-span. >> watch our program on first lady barbara bush at 7:00 p.m. on c-span followed by a recent interview with mrs. bush at her home in houston at 8:30 and live monday our series continues. >> bill and hillary began at the university of arkansas after graduating from yale in 1973 and year later the her career began outside this building, the law school at the university of arkansas where she was a professor who taught classes like criminal law criminal
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