positive results. looking ahead, we have the opportunity to do even more good work for the people of wisconsin. again, i ask for your help and support. tonight, i propose a blueprint for prosperity to help provide more opportunities for the citizens of wisconsin. specifically, i ask you to work with me over the next few weeks to return the vast majority of the new surplus directly to the hard-working taxpayers of wisconsin and to add more than- [applause]-- $100 million to the state's rainy day fund. as it has over the past few years, lowering the tax burden will contribute to a stronger economy and a better fiscal situation in the future. our blueprint for prosperity will put more than $800 million back into the hands of the

hard-working taxpayers all across the state through tax cuts and withholding changes. once passed, the total tax relief provided since i took office will be roughly $2 billion. [applause] first, we will reduce property taxes by $406 million. [applause] this is more than four times larger than the property tax relief we passed last year, and it is vitally important to protect working families, senior citizens, farmers, and small businesses. the typical homeowner will see an actual reduction of $101 dollars on their next property tax bill.

[applause] second, we will reduce income taxes by $98.6 million. to to ensure we don't leave anyone behind in our economic recovery, we will target this tax relief to the lowest income tax bracket. if you're a family of four making $40,000, your savings will be $58. no one will get a bigger savings than that. third, earlier today, i directed revenue secretary rick chandler to adjust withholding for state income taxes by $322.6 million, so you can keep more of your hard-earned paycheck. [applause]

this will put more money in the hands of consumers and will continue to stimulate the economy. starting in april, a typical working family of four will see $57.90 more in their paychecks each month. [applause] by the end of this year, that's more than $520 dollars. [applause] for everyone watching from home, go to prosperity.wi.gov to see how much you will save under our plan, and then contact your legislator to offer your support.

[applause] in addition, our blueprint for prosperity will increase the wisconsin fast forward program by $35 million to focus on three new areas: first, investment in our technical colleges to eliminate waiting list in high demand fields, like manufacturing, agriculture and information technology; [applause] second, help high school students get training in high demand jobs through dual enrollment programs between our high schools and technical colleges; and third, support programs helping people with disabilities enter the workforce, as i outlined in our year of a better bottom line initiative. [applause]

i ask that the funds already set aside in the joint finance committee from the surplus at the wisconsin economic development corporation be used for the expansion of wisconsin fast forward. tonight, i'm calling on you, the members of the legislature to pass this blueprint for prosperity and return this money to the people of the state. tomorrow, i will call for a special session to move forward with legislation to return this surplus to the taxpayers and to invest in our technical colleges, train workers for high-demand jobs, and support employment opportunities for people with disabilities. [applause] when i ran for governor, wisconsin faced big economic and fiscal crises. as i travelled the state then, i saw the impact that job losses had on so many individuals and families. i saw the stress on the faces of people all across

the state as so many worried about making the mortgage each month or paying to put food on the table. it was then and there that i set a big goal to make up for the jobs lost in the past and to aim high for a recovery that did not leave anyone behind. to take on the economic and fiscal crises of the past, we came in and made some pretty bold moves. now, three years later, we see a dramatic turnaround in our state. these are historic times. the $911 million budget surplus shows that the economy is coming back strong as more people are working, more employers are hiring and personal income is up. [applause] our reforms are helping the people of wisconsin create more jobs and more opportunity and these reforms are helping restore fiscal sanity to state and local governments.

tonight, i call on the members of the legislature to continue to build on these positive reforms by passing our blueprint for prosperity. some might say that we should keep more of this surplus in madison. i disagree. when i travel the state, people don't tell me that they want to keep sending more money to madison. they don't tell me that taxes are too low or even that taxes are just right. overwhelmingly, people across the state tell me that one of the best ways to fuel the economic recovery is to reduce their tax burden.

the best way to prepare for the future is by continuing to grow our economy, not by keeping more money in madison. with a rainy day fund seven times larger than we had ever had before i took office, now is the time to send your money back to you, the hard working taxpayers of wisconsin. now is the time to add to the many faces of the economic recovery that you saw earlier. now is the time to ensure that

budget surpluses, like the one we celebrate here tonight - continue in the future. now is the time, once again, to put the power back in to the hands of the people. now is the time to pass our blueprint for prosperity, and help move wisconsin forward. thank you, god bless you, and may god bless the great state of wisconsin by recent action on the assembly to move forward with the tax proposal that governor walker laid out.

it passed in the committee. the senate is continuing discussion behind close doors. they write republicans control the senate and assembly the leaders are bickering on how to settle the funds. ...

[applause] >> governor, welcome to the chamber. >> lt. governor, president pro members of the one letter in seven general assembly. members of the cabinet, members of the judiciary, carla, and the people of delaware. thank you for inviting me to address you today. i also want to a knowledge family members who were here by

district duty. brother-in-law and my niece. [applause] now, i know it was not necessary, but i just want to assure the members of the general assembly that secretary bat was ready to personally pile each of your drive voice to facilitate your travel here. now, in all seriousness i would like to take a moment to acknowledge our terrific state employees, day and. -- [applause] day in and day out to provide critical services to the citizens are state. we all experienced the benefit of their work and commitment during their recent snowstorms. our public safety, transportation, health care,

facilities, other staff trillions for the call. and we owe a continual debt of gratitude to our state employees for being there when their neighbors and fellow citizens needed in. [applause] let me also thank the members of our military, friends from the dover air force base, the armed forces and members of the delaware national guard. we had more members of the guard deployed last year than ever. two of our afghanistan veterans are with us today, and i ask you to join me in thanking. [applause] [applause]

please accept our appreciation for all that you and your colleagues have done for us. in this past year one of delaware's own made the ultimate sacrifice. warrant officer sean mullen gave his life serving in afghanistan, and i ask that we all pause for a moment of silence to honor his memory. [silence] >> thank you.

veterans like captain malloy and chief gordon and warrant officer mullen protect what makes america great. our freedoms, liberty, and the promise that any child in america can grow up to be whether they want to be. and that, of course, is the essence of the american dream. everyone in this state wants a piece of it, and that learning defines who we are as a people. and while it is not our job to guarantee success for every citizen, it is our job to empower them to make their dreams real. and through several difficult years in this country's worst recession generation we have made progress in securing the promise. the state of our state is charted a then on and dressed you a year ago. our job growth has outpaced the nation highlighted by a driving financial sector and

technological innovation from companies large and small whether it is the parts manufactured at miller metal, the new pharmaceutical developed in insight, the software made in step one or the cutting edge fuel cells made by bloom energy. our schools are implementing higher standards while thanks to legislation passed by this general assembly we are better preparing her teachers. in the companies that will hire our students are dealing with fewer and clearer government regulations. so we have made progress, but to paraphrase will rogers, even if we are on the right track we will get run over if we just sit here. we have so much more to do. and if you have the right skills and live in the right communities good paying jobs are available. for too many people, that is not

reality. everyone has something to contribute if given a chance. we need to make sure that they have that chance. as governor i paid repeated visits to the school. the young men often require incentives, rehabilitation. four years ago during the visit to a plus a.m. man who i will call ryan gave me a drawing he made. about a year later a confident young man approached me at the habitat for humanity and that delivering a firm handshake and testify remembered u.s. i could not quite pleasant. i'm brian, he said. i give you the during. a bit stunned best if he was working for habitat for humanity he was not. he was just volunteering in his free time while studying to be a

nurse, and he was positively glowing. at the about him whenever i see is drying hanging in my office. it reminds me of the potential in every delawarean. unleashing that potential is one of the most important things that we can do. unrealized potential as always been a human tragedy. and now it is also an economic calamity because the premium in today's economy is on the human factored, the creativity, the talent, and the drive in every one of us in a society that squanders the potential of its people as a society that lets its features the boy. a bright future belongs to the state in the nation that empowers all of their citizens, transforming those who learn there resources into

contributors to our community, and that bright future belongs to places where people like brenda trained and find good jobs and build better tomorrows, and that future will belong to us if we commit to unleash the potential in every delawarean. how we do that is what i want to talk about today. first and foremost unleashing the potential requires that delawareans have the up the chimney to work. before the end of the decade 60 percent of our jobs will require training beyond high school and yet only 20 percent of our kids graduate from high school ready for college or a career. the path to middle-class security is not what it was 30 years ago. our approach career preparation cannot be either. let's ensure that we are on a path to realizing their full

potential whether they choose to pursue a degree or take an accelerated career path. first of many to make sure that every student to can succeed in college that's off to a great start. leslie guest book and an event today announced a new commitments. because of our commitment to the first in the nation working to expand college aborigines delaware was the only state to be recognized. [applause] thanks to our partnership with the college board we are identifying students with the potential to private college but you would likely not apply, often because of financial concerns. they receive letters from some of the nation's top colleges, including those from dell or institution encouraging them to

apply, waving their application fees and offering financial support. they are students like one man who was born in nigeria to present to the parents are never dreamed of going to college. [applause] after receiving the information she applied and has been accepted to six institutions, including the honors program at the university of delaware. congratulations. [applause] we have won dozens since in delaware who are capable of succeeding in college but who do not intend to, and we can get that number to zero.

we know that students are challenged and high school with college level material often rise to the occasion. studies show that when these students could a taste of college academics there twice as likely to enroll and persist to a second year in college. i propose a scholarship program so that all low income delaware students with college potential can take credit bearing courses during they're senior high-school. [applause] and as we send more of our students entire education we need to make sure that they have a road map from the classroom to employment and that our major employers are working with universities so that our youth are prepared for the work force. i am pleased to announce today that dupont has agreed to partner with our colleges on this effort. there will work to identify skills that are needed for entry-level positions and match

the skills with courses offered by our colleges and provide internships. by completing these identified courses and by practical experience they will put the students on a fast track for opportunities, including full-time jobs, and we look forward to other employers joining dupont on this initiative. though they also ensure that those students to choose an accelerated career path, one that does not involve a degree. we will allow a new two-year comprehensive program and manufacturing technology for high school juniors and seniors. the problem will focus on mechanical, electrical and computer engineering and lead to national and recognize manufacturing certificates. modeled after a partnership between delaware tech which allows students to attend classes at their own school while augmenting what they learned by providing access to

manufacturing equipment and to lower tech. no, to make our new program even more meaningful it also must include real-world experience, and that is where a new public-private partnership comes into play. the delaware manufacturing association and the manufacturing extension partnership are working with us to identify members willing to offer real world and opportunities during the summer between junior and senior year. whether it takes the form of hands-on work, job shadowing, direct exposure to the workplace is crucial. several manufacturers have already answered this call to action, including siemens, cbs, and ppg. [applause] now, matching skilled workers with the available jobs is

critical. thanks to our new javelin capability it is easier than ever for employers to search our database for employees with the skills they need. in the last year hundreds of employers have taken advantage of new tools to find employees, and those inquiries led to hundreds of new hires at places such as cabals, bechtel, and brailling inches to cut industries. all of our efforts will be most successful when delaware businesses collaborate with the lower educational the institutions. i propose creating a competitive grant program to fund public-private partnerships between employers and our schools and colleges that will develop the skills needed by tomorrow's work force. finally, to many working delawareans struggle to care for their families and put food on the table. i am glad that the general assembly is poised to increase the minimum wage.

thank you for helping so many working delawareans. [applause] now, our ability to put delawareans to work depends in part on whether we build on our legacy of innovation. we have a rich history of invention in delaware, and it is time to write a new chapter. from the ashes of the old chrysler plant is rising in the center of innovation that promises to do just that, science, technology, and advanced research. the start kent represents the potential of university -based innovation to transform the industry and spawn new companies academic research in delaware contributed to the technologies that led the smart phones and tablets, work done by nobel laureates and richard heck the

mechanical processes used in pharmaceuticals, energy, and electronics i ask that you invest in innovation by creating a $2 million matching grant program that will leverage federal dollars in support of research to create the jobs of tomorrow. one of the most promising areas for research that will have an impact on our economy is cyber security. from the financial information held by dollars many banks to the technologies being developed by area science companies cut our economy is only as secure as the networks that old our personal data in intellectual property. as customers of target and many other companies know packed -- hacking in cyber attacks represent a huge threat. staying end of this challenge is something we in our employers need to do to protect our citizens and customers, and it is good for our economy.

hundreds of unfilled jobs exist in delaware today. our institutions of higher education of positioning themselves to take a role in this area. i employ you to join with them to watch the delaware cyber initiative located on the start campus. this initiative will be a public-private partnerships to lower tech and the private sector. it will feature a collaborative learning and research network dedicated to such renovation. and i am proud to say that it will tap into the resources of the one under 66 network work warfare squadron of the national guard. [applause] unleashing the potential of our economy boss of the men's world class and researcher.

the ability to move goods and services officially to connect to cutting its emission technology infrastructure and access cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable energy is essential to every industry in our state. for years delawareans tried to avoid the interchange of by-95 and route one. our investment in new severance has alleviated congestion, shortly commute, shipping times, and trips. we are making similar improvements. that exit ramp was a notorious chokepoint, but improvements have cut the average number of hours of slowing traffic from six to less than one anyone. sinn beginning construction. in suffolk county, widening state route 26 and the crustal or a new and improved by pesach improving air quality of life. infrastructure investments create high-paying middle-class

jobs today and lay the foundation for future prosperity i think it is time we stopped complaining about the sorry shape of our transportation trust fund and fix the underlying issues. i propose that we invest $1 billion over five years. $500 million increase over our current. [applause] let's improve our transportation network for generations to come and put thousands of delawareans to work. we need to invest beyond our roads. as speaker shorts, and senator simpson know full well, investments in our parks, wildlife areas, beaches, and other amenities help attract millions of tourists who, in turn, spends hundreds of millions of dollars to support thousands of jobs and

restaurants, motels and retail shops across our state. look specifically at our waterways. water is the foundation of our tourism industry. it is vital to agriculture, manufacturing, and everything that we do. yet a century of pollution as impaired nearly every waterway in our state. well we have some definitely reduced air pollution far too many strings remain unsafe. we cannot eat our fish. because when into many parts of the and then they. though results are laced with toxic pollutants. this is embarrassing. unacceptable, and we must change it. [applause]

this will not be easy or cheap, but it is achievable. we have to upgrade waste water and drinking water plants and improve storm water infrastructure, use cutting its technologies to remove toxic substances thanks to the strong advocacy of senator bush will. to work toward these goals i will propose the clean water for delaware future initiative. the goal of this initiative is to clean up our waterways and generation. some much faster than. in our time this will create jobs. in our kids times will revitalize communities across our state. he of future generations clearwater. it is that simple.

we all agree a quality education is essential for anyone seeking to unleashes are potential hellenist begins at a very early age. teachers tell us that the number one barrier to academic success is when kids don't come to school ready to learn. six years ago senator bill leavens improve the quality of children's early money experience as the prime sponsor of the legislation that created the stars quality rating system. the stars' program has provided the critical days for the investment we have made all the lists of lawyers. the amazing if in progress. last year alone the number of low-income children attending a high quality program increased by 50%. that means 2,202,200 more children are getting better

opportunities to be prepared for success. i am grateful to the center and all the members of the general assembly for your support of release child of the education and opportunities for low-income delawareans. but our work on behalf of our most vulnerable children is not an. we can do more to support the national mayors family partnership program to which nurses, low income and teach them how to care for newborns. the results around the country have been stunning including better economic performance, juvenile delinquency, and better overall child health. as our next above propose that we more than double the number of first-time mothers who will serve in delaware by this proven which would give us a higher percentage of eligible mothers who are benefiting from this program than in any other state in america.

[applause] and i want to thank the clinton cabinet for championing this proposal. mayor making significant strides in a school's thanks to this general assembly including education shares, representative scott and thanks to so many talented educators across the state. the world language immersion program now has 850 students in ten schools spending half a school days learning in nine chinese are spanish. the parents of the students have been thrilled with the result telling is that these programs have enriched their children's education. our professional learning communities in the implementation of higher standards are producing higher results. two-thirds are educators say they're improved professional development is having a positive impact on the questions.

we are particularly focused on supporting our teachers of science, technology, engineering , and math. many jobs of the future will be in these. we have trouble recruiting and retaining talented it stemmed teachers to have more lucrative options. today and delighted to announce that this fall the delaware state council in partnerships will be giving awards to support our best teachers so that they can share effective teaching strategies. [applause] no, the magic of education happens with our teachers. does not happen to legislation or in my office. if you look at the way we fund education you would think the politicians have all the answers

. state government sets rigid funding formulas that determine how many assistant principals reading instructors and the minister of assistance the school have. back now we have one of the most rigid funding systems in the country. those who know our students best to innovate, creative vision, and pursue. is tied to give these people more ability to make a difference. starting a handful of districts have propose that we give school leavers the ability to expand some portion of their state resources in implementing there of school improvement plans. we should attractive choices, measure the results and see how we can best provide greater flexibility to more schools. [applause]

i thank the representative for technology of this issue now unleashing every student's potential demands that we make it more attractive or our best teachers to continue to do with a love, to teach. and since last year and my administration has been listening to educators about how we might set up a compensation system that attracts and retains great teachers. our best teachers deserve a pat to receive additional compensation for pursuing of virginities or remaining in the classroom. we also must write the names that are starting salaries and not competitive with the names. no one to think the delaware state education association and the teachers who were working with this on an improved approach to educating compensation the real pleased

with the progress we have made, but there is still more work to do now we will be in a position to introduce legislation. [applause] much of our success as a state will depend upon whether our cities are safe and vibrant an important part of making our streets safe and and we can replicate the success of other communities and strengthening neighborhoods while also harnessing the migrant and towns for talented young people and innovative small businesses. to do so i propose that we create downtown development districts, a small number of did it -- designated areas in our city that will qualify for development incentives and a

host of other benefits and housing and transportation. those looking to make investments in these districts would receive grants for a percentage of their investments. i proposed designated $7 million to resist a project which will leverage tens of million dollars more important in this program can improve our housing site and revitalize their downtowns. [applause] them making our downtown more vibrant and save, wilmington is the business capitol of the state and our cultural center. violent crime has and built neighborhoods and taken many lives. and people don't feel safe in their communities the los matters. there is no quick fix. a significant test them, but it will take all is doing a part.

all levels of government, a neighbor of leaders, communities, businesses, all of the. secretary, attorney general, new castle county executive and others of standard to help address the problems in wellington and beyond. far too often gun violence is committed by shearson in a million guns. his critical than we do a better job tracing these weapons back to their sources. we must redouble our efforts to confront the gun trafficking that has escalated the cad wars. to do so i am proposing a new division a special investigation within the department of safety in homeland security the will focus on gun trafficking. ..

too often our solution is to throw the drug user in prison but many of these individuals need treatment more than a prison guard. for many addicts it's possible to deal with their disease successfully and to go on to live happy productive lives. there are stories like the young man recovering from a life-threatening addiction to heroin and becoming a business owner. where a teenage girl who lasts into drug and alcohol use following her father's suicide and landing in jail but with the assistance of a drug court trevor and she overcame her addiction. she got a college education. we all know people with

addictions who with the right intervention could live fulfilling lives and it's time for us to put into practice what we are the no, addiction is a disease that can and must be treated. representatives kealy and barbara maroni along with senators henry and how long are reviewing the addiction treatment needs of our state and the resources available. later this year i will propose changes to better align our resources to fill the gaps of our drug treatment system and i look forward to working with you to fill those gaps. [applause] we can't meet the potential of our great state and our great country if we give up on a great number of our people.

today american ex--- america incarcerates more than 2 million people and each year we release more than 700,000 inmates. 25 years ago the total number of people incarcerated with 700,000 for release inmates their criminal record makes it difficult for -- to be productive members of society. it is worth every penny that we spend to keep them there are but when a person has served their time it is up to them and to us to make sure that the transition effectively, achieve their potential and contribute to society. in 2014 i adapted an initiative

to help offenders prepare for their eventual release. by giving them some of what they need to return to our communities, identification, access to medical care, a transition plan, job training opportunities and five years of experience has taught up with that those little things make a big difference but for many offenders there is one thing we can't give them, a driver's license. this penalty is just one more punishment that prevents them from seeking employment in accessing job training. this should change and i ask you to eliminate the arbitrary loss of driver's license for crimes that have nothing to do with automobiles. [applause]

too many of the inmates that we release in the going back to prison and one of the best predictors of whether a person will commit another crime is whether they have a job. if we know that employing ex-offenders helps make our communities safer why are we putting so many hurdles in the way of job opportunities? we need to start by looking at employment discrimination against people who have repaid their debt to society. here's an example. if there is one employer in delaware that should be able to decide whether hiring an ex-offender makes sense is the department of corrections that the department is prohibited from hiring anyone with a record even on a part-time basis. as representative jj johnson has suggested we can do better. many communities have started to

expand the job applications by eliminating the box that says check here if you have been convicted of a crime. i believe that we should ban the box for state government hires this year. [applause] let's stop denying ex-offenders their first interview in let's be a model for the private sector because marginalizing ex-offenders helps none of us. delaware's incarceration rate is higher than the national average in a country whose average is higher than the rest of the world. that is not a point at right. it's incredibly expensive and it has not worked. we lock up too many people for not making de la not appearing at hearings. 40% of the women incarcerated at a later our pretrial detainees, many charged with nonviolent offenses.

based on guidance from commissioner coupe i propose that we pilot in the city of wilmington a program of pretrial supervision for nonviolent offenses. based on a model from new york this pilot program will allow the department of corrections and social service providers to help get offenders to hearings and avoid trouble while awaiting trial. by supervising better we can keep him out of prison in the first place and link them with services for addiction or mental health concerns in the community and not a prison cell. in addition to filling our prisons with pretrial detainees, we also impose longer sentences than other states do. one reason is that we are the only state in the country that forces our judges without exception to impose consecutive rather than concurrent sentences for multiple offenses. that has not made us any safer

and it contributes to overcrowding in our prisons. i ask you to join me in giving judges greater discretion when it comes to concurrent and consecutive sentencing. [applause] and lastly we need to change the trajectory of kids who enter the criminal justice system at a young age. many of these kids are bright and full of potential. it after living in a facility with structure, education and medical care, they have the same goals and determination as any of our kids. but here's the reality. as well as those kids do while they are in a secure facility, when they leave our care they often return to the same exact circumstances that led them to us in the first place, only now

they are returning with the burden of a juvenile record. many of them will not complete their education. of 184 kids in custody at our falkland rd. campus last year only 11 were back in traditional schools six months later. many of these kids dropped out where there are real incarcerated. this is our failure. we have seen the progress that many of them made while under our care so we must do better when we transition away from our building. i am asking you to fund community-based advocates to work with these families and kids after they leave the custody of the kids department. a 15-year-old doesn't know how to access mental health services or to re-enroll in school and get on the path to success. these advocates can make that happen.

we also need to break the cycle of incarceration by getting these kids back into school and i'm asking secretary rongji to lead a task force to focus on how to get these children into an educational environment that is sensitive to their unique challenges and experiences. one of my favorite parts about being governor is that i get to meet delawarians from every walk of life. the budding entrepreneur, the ex-con trying to get back on his feet, the first-generation college student and her generation farmer, the excited new mother, the hopeful immigrant. and you know what? we all want the same thing. we want to give life our best shot and make the most of our talents that god has given us. much as been written in recent months about inequality in

america about a lack of academic mobility declining incomes for working families with a shrinking middle class about a lack of opportunity for people born in difficult circumstances or who make a poor decision early in life. but there is promise in the american dream that while we are not year in teen people outcomes weird earring teeing equal opportunities to achieve our potential. that is why in recent years we have focused so much on strengthening our schools, creating good-paying jobs and enhancing our quality of life. that is why with the help of representative melanie smith and senator gregg lavelle we passed the justice reinvestment act to rehabilitate and not just incarcerate. that is why we have passed new laws to make it clear that delaware is a welcoming state no matter who you love. we do all of this because of our core value, our shared belief

that we all stand to gain when everyone gets a fair shot. isn't that why we are all here? years from now after the roads have been built, after today's kindergartners have retired from jobs we helped create, after our cities thrive in our waters run clean, the people of delaware may not remember us by name or know about the laws we pass toward the bills we debated. but in the end that is not what's important. what they will know is that we were here for them and that our focus was to unleash the potential of every delawareans now and help ensure that future generations will be able to go further than we could ever have dreamed. i know we have the resolve to do our part to realize the promise

of our great state of delaware. thank you. god bless you and all the people of delaware. [applause] [applause]

next mississippi governor phil bryant giving his annual state of the state address at the n. jackson. governor bryant's mississippi 64th governor having served in the position since 2012. his address is 30 minutes. [applause] >> thank you. [applause] thank you. i'm going to stand here until

you stop. what an honor it is to be here with you tonight. thank you mr. lieutenant governor and thank you mr. speaker. if you could just a moment give these two leaders at hand for our appreciation. [applause] it is a privilege to be here with all of you this evening. standing shoulder-to-shoulder as we reflect on our accomplishments and set our goals for the work yet to be done. to each member of the mississippi legislature what an honor it is to serve the people of mississippi, to serve with you at this special time. in just two short years we have worked together to bring about positive change in our state and i thank you for your service, for your diligence and for your dedication. to mississippi's first lady,

mississippi's first lady and mine i want to thank you for putting up with all of us, the early mornings in the late nights, through storm and sunshine she is always there. to help blair batson hospital or susan g. koman or smith bill or read cross mississippi. she is always there. she is the wind beneath mississippi's wings and mine and she is forever my first lady. [applause] as i began writing this address some weeks ago i reflected upon psalm 1:26 which says the lord hath done great things for us, wherever we are glad. tonight let us see why we should be glad.

two years ago we began our journey together. our goal was simple. we would accomplish great things for all mississipians. in those two years my administration has endeavored to work with you to advance the common good. realizing that all power held by the governed come solely from the authority of the governor and the mississippi constitution says all political power invested in and drive from the people originates with the people founded upon there will only and is instituted solely for the good of the whole. this unwavering acceptance of this unwavering acceptance of this doctor and we endeavor to provide an environment where all of us can rise to get there. we understood that a vision without action is just an illusion. so we set about with four fundamental beliefs guiding our plan for the future.

first we believe every if mississippian should have the opportunity to be gainfully employed right here at home. second, every mississippian should learn from the best educational system we cannot offer. third, we believe every mississippi and deserve to be born in, sure, two parent family. finally we believe every mississippi and should be certain his or her tax dollars are being put to proper use and i believe that as i did tonight and these four goals achieved together will to create a mississippi of limitless opportunities. let us see how the plan has worked so far. i have often said we could make mississippi the job friendly state in america. when a mississippian has the job changes everything. and mississippi with the job is less likely to need public assistance, more likely to contribute taxes to the state treasury. there's a strong example to his or her children and is more

likely to vote and purses paid in the community and avoid crime. each day as governor i make it my job to ensure mrs. sabaeans have a job of their own. that you and i have helped create an economy where the unemployment rate has dropped from 9.4% one we took office to 8.3% today and is going down. [applause] in the two years since we began our work mississippi has added nearly 9,000 jobs through our economic development efforts. full last year at this address i went through a list of new companies as well as those existing industries that had expanded. i thought about doing the same thing again this year but 2013 was so successful for economic development in mississippi defy had listed all of the

achievements, you probably would not make it to dinner on time. instead i will let you know what outside experts have been saying about economic development in mississippi. area development magazine, national publication that focuses on site selection rates mississippi as the no. 9 state in america for doing business. it is the number 2 state for competitive utility costs and permitting and among the top five for overall cost of doing business. cnn business news reports mississippi is the fifth best state in america for entrepreneurial success. expansion solution magazine his name our state among the top five for advanced manufacturing excellence. the top five. of frazier institute says mississippi is the second-best place in the world to invest in the oil and gas industry.

[applause] [applause] >> perhaps the greatest indicator of our success is the state's gross domestic product. the sum of all financial production and growth in our economy. for the first time in mississippi history our state has reached $100 trillion gdp in. the american legislative exchange ranked mississippi among the top-10 most successful state for economic development outlook and area development magazine says mississippi is on an economic role. i could not agree more. i can certainly always do better. these standings indicate we are trending upward and the world has taken notice. we are very proud of companies that traversed the globe to make mississippi home.

one we are particularly proud to welcome to our state is yokohama power company. they will provide thousands of jobs in clay county. i am proud to have as our guest the president of yokohama tire manufacturing in mississippi, my friend mr. tad yamamoto. [applause] [applause] >> they could have placed their new plant anywhere in the world. every state in the nation would have been honored to have this great company and its new facility. the site selector looked at over

a thousand possibilities and settled on the very best, mississippi. i thank you for your confidence in our state and i look forward to deepening our friendship and our business ties. i wish your company many years of success in our mississippi. in order to offer yokohama and our existing industries the world's very best work force we must continue to make retraining programs all they can beat. to make certain of this success i have asked mr. d. a. and moon, executive director of the mississippi manufacturers association to leave the state work investment board and our great community colleges, make our work force second to none. abraham lincoln is credited as having said give me six hours to chop down a tree and i will spend the first four sharpening

the axe. we must prepare our workforce 40 advanced skills needed in today's economy. nothing is more critical to our success. let us set about sharpening our act together. [applause] very soon with the assistance of the mississippi department of employment security mr. mark henry, executive director of the state workforce investment board and state longitudinal data system we will unveil a state of the arts system matching job seekers with employers. the system will be unlike any in the nation. it will put job-seekers and employers a click away from success. finding a job for a qualified employee in mississippi will be easier and more effective than

ever. mississippi works website will lead this important feature very soon. standby to be amazed. i assure you our web site works. [applause] >> i am also very pleased to announce a revolutionary health care effort right here in mississippi. the partnership with the university of mississippi medical center g e health care, north sunflower medical center and cease-fire, we are launching the mississippi diabetes health and initiative. this groundbreaking pilot program will use tell us health technology to have resources from university medical center with health care providers, and 2 of the most complex diabetes patients in the mississippi

delta. this coordinated care approach will improve disease management and health outcomes for generations to come in mississippi. finally, let me just remind you, we were talking earlier, 2014 has been designated as the year of the creative economy of mississippi homecoming. this year we will focus on the next segment of the economy which provides 60,000 jobs and generate an enormous economic impact on our state. 2014 will see hundreds of creative events from concerts' to plays to movie premieres all across mississippi. we are asking artists who have moved away to come home one special event, to share their talents live with their fellow mississippian. we aim to show a world that mississippi is the birthplace of

america's music but we also cook and right and act and paint and dance and direct. this will bring thousands of visitors to mississippi. let us have a homecoming and let us invite the world. one of mississippi's creative artists is with us tonight. bruce livingston, a young man from the delta, funny how that happens, began to play the piano at age 4 and has become a leading figure in american music. because of his immense talent some of the world's most prominent composers have written works, he has played in venues as diverse as carnegie hall, united nations, the lincoln center and the power apex school in jackson.

he has been hailed by the new york times as one of today's most adventurous musicians. ladies and gentlemen, my friend and fellow mississippian, bruce livingston. welcome tonight. [applause] >> last year we enacted the most transformational public information reforms in 30 years. we came to this action because we recognize serious problems exist within our state's education system. when we set about to develop our educational work agenda we found troubling evidence of the struggles in mississippi's classrooms. two weeks ago education week released its quality count rating that placed mississippi as no. 51 for k-12 student

achievement. we can all agree this is unacceptable. political posturing and finger pointing did nothing to help these children so we have worked together these past two years to offer solutions. not through some arbitrary formula or standards dictated by the federal government, but by common sense priorities. our education work reform will help prepare children for lifelong learning by improving literacy skills and ending status quo social promotion. in one event for year we implemented the third grade requirement for reading proficiency. we lost a merit pay program, raised standards for teacher training programs and created scholarships from bright young students who want to teach, we established a collaborative learning program and funded mississippi building blocks and

created a public charter school system. what the year. won a measure of success for education. with these priorities we have increased our targeted education spending by $18.6 million and also directed $22.6 million to the national board certified teacher program and $6 million to teach for america. the total appropriation for k-12 education for fiscal year 2014 exceeded $2.3 billion. this is more funding for education than has been appropriated in the past four years. with the legislature's help we will increase this funding for the upcoming budget cycle. by fiscal year 2015, executive budget recommendation includes an additional $22 million for education spending k-12. this includes our existing

education work priorities as well as a $60 million for a new school repair fund administered by the department of finance and administration placing these capital expense dollars aside specifically for k-12 will go along way towards repairing leaking roofs in our classrooms without contributing to the rising tide of cost in the administration building. even with the successes our work in education is far from finished. there are new efforts on ocala legislature to adopt. however, we should make our first priority implementing the reforms we have already passed. i recently released opportunity mississippi. which is my strategic plan for the state. in that document i outline benchmarks for in education work

reforms. college and career readiness among high school students has become a centerpiece of change and advancement. we must aim to reduce our high school dropout rate by 10% by 2017. if properly implemented, the other reforms we have enacted will help us achieve this goal. we should also work to document a 20% increase in literacy attainment for the third grade students by 2017. i call on the legislature to work toward providing enough funding for this essential program to establish a ratio for one for every and nine teachers, one reading coach for every nine teachers in our highest needs classroom. i have long been an advocate for increasing teachers' salary and we should pay good teachers

well. in the last session i requested and you approved funding for a pilot program to establish merit pay system. my strategic plan calls for implementing merit pay in at least 70% of mississippi's school districts by 2018. it is my hope that revenue will be sufficient to increase the current merit pay appropriation by a substantial amount and fast-track the pilot program to get raises to teachers sooner. . by fiscal year 2015, executive budget, like my previous budgets, has also requested that the legislature full refund a national board certified teaching program. a tremendous program, achieving this status can mean -- i am sorry -- essex thousand dollars race for a teacher.

some 3,500 teachers in mississippi are board certified. we are doing an excellent job of encouraging teachers to pursue their certification and i want to see mississippi increase its number of board certified teachers 25% by 2018. bill and melinda gates foundation has recognized mississippi's efforts in this arena and has awarded our state a grant of $350,000 to help support teaching students who wish to pursue board certification at the outset of their careers. this program should help mississippi recruit another thousand teachers for board certification in just the next few years. all of this will translate into a greater number of highly qualified teachers in mississippi's classrooms which

means better outcomes for students. finally, i ask the legislature to grant the request in my executive budget recommendation to provide $1.5 million to conduct a pilot program to examine the use of the act has the highest collective exam in lieu of other assessments. this pie that will cover the costs of the act for every high school junior in mississippi in the upcoming school year. this program would not only allow us to obtain a more accurate measure of student achievement, it will benefit students by providing them with access to a test that has practical use in their lives. used as a college entrance exam. it will also save us money because mississippi's current group of high school assessments cost us more than $4 million a year. let us make this common sense

change now and get on with repairing our children for the success in the real world and stopped teaching for the test. [applause] >> our third objective for success should be for every mississippian to be born in a mature two parent family. our healthy teens for better mississippi program has conducted community meetings in seminars all across the state. we have involved schools, churches, families, health care professionals and most importantly teams and community discussions regarding such things as decisionmaking and healthy behavior. we have started making a difference. according to the annual report of the mississippi state department of health. our state's teen pregnancy rate has dropped by 10.3%.

[applause] >> i believe we have also done an admirable job protecting our children both born and unborn by strengthening the child protection act and requiring that abortion is obtained admitting privileges at local hospitals we are protecting women's health but let me be clear. this unfortunate date of roe v wade my goal is to end abortion in mississippi. [applause] i continue to believe this is the right time and place to stand for our beliefs. our faith, our family and our nation, to strengthen our resolve i have asked that we take a bold step for god and country. i call on senator michael watson to introduce legislation that

would change the wording of the great seal of the state of mississippi to reflect our nation's motto. with your help the ceo of the state of mississippi from this session forward will reflect a simple yet profound words in god we trust. [applause] our fourth guiding principle, this administration has pledged to make certain every tax dollar is put to proper and legal use. since the budget reforms of the mid-1990s many of us have supported a performance based budgeting system that allocates

resources based on results. i applaud appropriations chairman for taking steps to move our state forward toward a more accountable budgeting model, change in this arena is not easy and i thank you and the legislature for your leadership. let this be the year we show the taxpayers' our commitment to performance based budget that rewards success and reduces wasteful spending. in my first executive budget, i called on the legislature to reinstate appropriation for 98% of available revenues. again i applaud you for heating that call. your discipline has helped at $19 million into the rainy day fund. [applause] >> we can do better.

as revenue collections increase and they will, we must take this opportunity to refill the rainy day fund to prepare for the future. if we leave the balance of our state's savings account and touch and again adhere to the 90% rule, we can bring the rainy day fund to nearly half of its statutory limit. as lieutenant governor i worked hard in 2008 to fill a rainy day fund and was criticized by some at the time for doing so and that decision to save when we could prove crucial when we were hit by the great recession. although we were forced to cut budgets, those savings kept us from cutting as deeply as we otherwise would have been forced to do. let us take that prudent position once more and filled a rainy day fund for those difficult days that could lie

ahead. [applause] >> i need not emphasize the importance of reducing our dependency on one time revenue for reoccurring expenses. i commend the lieutenant governor and the speaker and there's a leadership teams for working with me to stop this practice. they have done a remarkable job and i am confident that we can end this practice this year as i have shown in my executive budget recommendation, we can adequately fund government and have no one time funding for ongoing expenditures. taxpayers can be confident of your leadership toward this goal. this year i have asked that we add a fifth objective to our vision for the state. we must build a future where every mississippian will be safe in his or her person and

property. the fourmost duty of the government is to ensure the public safety. seven months ago you assemble the committee of stakeholders and government leadership who with the help of the pew research team produced a result striven report on corrections in criminal justice. this task force issued a comprehensive set of policy recommendations that i believe will be instrumental in reforming our criminal justice system. that task force's bipartisan effort shows what result in be accomplished and we are not warmly tough but also smart on crime. as former deputy sheriff and state auditor i helped put many criminals behind bars and had no regrets about doing so when it was necessary. our family has experienced a violent crime that resulted in a loss of a loved one. i have attended funerals and

memorial of slain officers and witnessed firsthand the pain of the mothers and wives and families. i have no sympathy for violent or career criminals and i believe any modification to the correctional system should put the victims first. [applause] >> i plan to ask for the creation of such things as veteran treatment courts. veterans courts to aid our service men and women who have made mistakes and want to get back on track. i believe we owe our veterans this special attention because they more than most of earned a second chance from their country. i have also long been an advocate of a drug courts and i hope you will follow the guidance in my budget recommendation and full refund this effort. these courts provide a valuable

service that helps get mississippian is on the right path again. to combat pockets of serious crime in our state i asked the new fund a violent crime strike force composed of state, federal and local law-enforcement officers, these russell senate office building says will respond to specific crime areas and hit the gains and drug dealers where they live. [applause] >> a few give law-enforcement the authority and resources they need, they will get the job done. hmmm [applause] >> the mississippi department of public safety has done a remarkable job this year. with us tonight in the gallery is a fine example of the selfless bravery of our troopers. trooper first class curb stewart was recognized as 2012 trooper

of the year. while off-duty and traveling through alabama troopers stewart came upon a fiery crash. despite the risk to himself, troopers stewart pulled the driver from his vehicle, extinguished the fire that was engulfing him and saved the man's life. 20 year veteran of the united states army troopers steward is just one example of the dedication of the fine men and women of our highway patrol. thank you for your service to mississippi. [applause] >> the men and women who wear the blue and gray of the mississippi highway patrol remain the best of the best but they now need your help.

the last trooper school added 51 officers to patrol the remains nearly 150 below its necessary number. this shortage, not elliot puts the motoring public's lives at risk but those of our troopers. let me assure you, without more troopers on the road people will die. please help us fund a trooper school this year. [applause] >> of all the things that make mississippi great perhaps none is more valuable than our ability to persevere and achieve great things together. mrs. sabaeans as a whole are without a doubt the most resilient, the most passionate and the most capable people in the nation. time and time again history proves that when we fix our

focus on a goal, be it repairing the damage from natural disasters or launching an entire new industry we are bold enough to do whatever it takes to achieve success. as governor i am honored and thankful for the opportunity to chart the course in some small way forward for our state. our hard work is already yielding rewards and we are equipping ourselves with the tools to take advantage of the next opportunities that will surely come our way. i think all of you for your help and your discernment, even your opposition makes us better as we considered every new idea under the intensity of your gaze but in the end, in this end, it is the moving forward that keeps us together. it is the challenge of achieving the people's will now and for the future.

before we leave tonight i ask you one more thing. i ask that you join me in remembering the men and women of our armed forces, particularly the mississippi national guard, defending the freedoms that allow us to gather freely together here in this place. [applause] >> thank you for your hard work. together we can do great things. god bless each of you, god bless mississippi and god bless the united states of america. >> governor bryant's state of the state address presenting a generally optimistic outlook according to the mississippi business journal.

the publication listed jobs and education as the take aways from the address referencing the governor's statement over the unemployment rate falling since the beginning of his tenure as well as his proposals for improving standardized testing in state schools and teachers being compensated through a merit pay system. >> now to honolulu, hawaii, for the state of the state address from democratic governor neil abercrombie, the state's seventh governor having been elected in 2010 after serving 29 years in the u.s. house. his address is half an hour. [applause]

>> thank you, everybody. very kind. thank you very much. you are very kind. thank you. i felt like jay leno saying hello to jimmy kimmel. thank you very much. before i begin, can we have a big hand for our congressional delegation who were smart enough to be here rather than in washington where it is snowing? [applause] >> madam president, mr. speaker, members of the hawaii state legislature, former governors, distinguished justices of the courts, mayors, a congressional delegation and other elected officials and honored guests,

family and friends, aloha. as we begin our session i asked you set aside our political preoccupations of the moment and reflect on the privilege we have to serve and the responsibility we have to look to the rise and beyond our own concerns. i ask the we begin with a moment of silence to honor hawaii national guard sergeant through skokie who died earlier this month in afghanistan. he was 25 years old. he leaves behind his wife, his 4-year-old son and another child yet to be born. our hearts are with his family during this time. on march 25th, the legislature will hold a joint session for the hawaiian medal of honor ceremony to recognize fallen soldiers with hawaiian ties and i think everyone here wants to work for the day when we have no

more families to console for their loss. but until that day, i ask the we join in a moment of silence and honor sergeant scooby and his family. those who are able to rise will do so, at this time, may we have a moment of silence on behalf of sergeant scooby and his family. >> thank you very much. when i entered office we issued a call for a new day in hawaii. we presented and implemented a plan that has guided this

administration and our state over the last three years through very difficult times. we face hard shoelaces and had to make some tough decisions. i am grateful for this legislature's collaboration as we navigate through these troubled waters. the question before us is what direction, where do we see our hawaii, people, our businesses in the future. to answer that question we need look no further than our own guidance. we must be trustees with a duty not just to the present but the long term future of the island. we must be stewards with a responsibility to protect our identity, our precious human and national resources and become more self-sufficient. for three years we have strategically manage our resources, endured shared sacrifices, made fiscally prudent decisions and have seen

our economy immeasurably improved. this has resulted in a general balance of $844 million for fiscal year 2014 and historically unprecedented figure that represents a turnaround of $1 billion since 2010. i want to extend my appreciation to all of you, for making those tough decisions. extend thanks to public sector employees who made sacrifices and the people and businesses in hawaii made this effort possible. i am able to report to you today our state government's financial house now stands on solid ground. [applause] >> we are entering a new phase. the supplemental budget did not

rely on any new taxes or fees. we may be able to reduce taxes in key areas. we have resources to deliver services to the people of hawaii and living within their means. the budget philosophy is sustainable. our financial plan accommodate fluctuations in revenue projections in the years to come. we are concluded collecting bargaining agreements several of which are multiple years. and the unfunded liability for medical benefits for retirees and pensions going forward from fiscal disaster. we are committed to strengthening finances of the state with a plan to build state revenues up to 10% of general fund revenues. these reserves will try to weather possible economic

downturns to guard against public service cutbacks. and recognize the efforts, from negative to stable to positive. would then of the future? i shall outline a few central elements this morning and address other issues in more detail such as housing, agriculture, through messages to you in the days following this address. there is no more critical issue than early childhood development and education. i look forward to strengthening relationships with nonprofit sectors by the constitutional amendment to provide for partnerships in early education. i appreciate the legislature at support last session for our expansion of the preschool open door program. administrative rules are nearly

complete, the program providing assistance to over 1200 families of 4-year-old children, that will no longer be eligible to attend kindergarten as of aug. first of this year. however this model the approach is not enough. some 5,004-year-olds will be affected by this change in the age requirement. some families have financial capacity to a for the average preschool rate of $8,000 a year. many middle income families will struggle and have to make difficult places. most lesser income families precluded from the option of making choices. we know the early years of the child development are crucial. and setting foundation for child behavior and lifelong learning. to age 5, more than 85% of the person's brain development takes place. an alarming number of children are entering schools without the

basics, wanting to read, vocabulary acquisition, learning to be paid within a group, what to take ourselves. to pay dividends down the road in the form of healthy and contributing adults. reduce crime and incarceration and dependency and social service. we invest in ourselves. our plan is to build and strengthen hawaii's mixed delivery system of early learning programs, community based preschools are now and will be a key component. to expand access to 4-year-olds, a direct services in 38 classrooms across the state half of which are on neighbor islands. we are auditioning -- interaction learning program. we are proposing support for families to participate in a

preschool open doors. these cost $8 million. aiming at those who have little or no options. these initial investments will serve 1,040 children and their families. i realize this is an election year. political agendas and ambitions are being formulated. let us take children out of these equations, let us resolve to the champions of children. [applause] >> our unemployment has been proved to the fifth lowest in the nation. three years ago the unemployment compensation trust fund was practically bankrupt. our progress over the last three years has allowed us to reduce the unemployment insurance tax

rate for 2014 by 35%. employers will pay $130 million less in taxes, or $300 less per employee on average for 2014 but a hard working sector of our community has gone seven years without seeing their wages rise. therefore i will be proposing a bill to increase the minimum wage by $1.50 through at least $8.75 starting in january of 2015. [applause] >> average weekly earnings increased 16% since 2007. but minimum-wage workers get zero. currently, 21 other states plus the district of columbia have higher minimum wage rates than hawaii where our minimum wage

earners are confronted by a much higher living costs. it is the myth that increases to the minimum wage just benefit entry-level workers, mostly teenagers. in hawaii, 85% of minimum-wage workers are 21 years old or older. the last four times the minimum wage was raised on average the number of jobs increased by 2.2% over the following 12 months. 20% of our children in hawaii and 6 years of age over 22,000 children live in low-income working families, low income working families. i am aware that the issue of dip credit in the hospitality and restaurant service sector was a stumbling block last year. i want you to know i am prepared to accept reasonable accommodation on this point. employees who earn tips as i did waiting tables have the opportunity to earn tips and add

to their income. minimum wage earners in other jobs do not offset any deductions. let's move quickly and resolutely on this issue. [applause] >> this is an issue for which there is no simple answer. in 2011 i established a whole why interagency homelessness. was comprised of state department directors, federal agency representatives and community, religious and business leaders. mayors in county councils across the state united in coming to grips with this issue. in oahu where the need is greatest they could not have a better partner and mayor kurt caldwell and the city council led by attorney martin. in december the interagency council submitted an action plan to you for your consideration.

it was delivered on this plan. for example, by getting support to the housing first program which houses and cherishes chronically homeless and those who suffer from the disability. housing first is an evidence based best practice currently being used in denver, seattle and ut. it has established providing housing and support services under this save taxpayers money and reduces homelessness. when i took office many inmates serve their sentences out of state. this sent hawaii dollars out of the state and of many inmates away from appropriate facilities and alternative programs on the island. in addition it often decrease the chances of successful rehabilitation as prisoners were away from their families. we had no plan or commitment to do or act otherwise. 2,000 prisoners in that context

were in mainland facilities. at an end of the last fiscal year we reduced that number by 600. starting this july more prisoners will be coming home when we reopen the correctional facility on the big island. [applause] >> thank you. it is clear we need additional facilities. most of the current decade's old structures are deteriorated, overcapacity and poorly designed. department of public safety has issued a request for information to procure a comprehensive plan to return prisoners, wrote build facilities with sufficient capacity to keep those prisoners who present a danger to our community properly incarcerated and to provide full options for keeping our community safe. and may i add a personal note of

gratitude from me and my wife to this legislature. we are now implementing a domestic workers bill of rights. only the second such law in our nation. headlines from around the world as recently as yesterday confirmed a sordid picture of exploitation and degradation. and strengthen laws against domestic violence and human trafficking. thanks to all of you, intense work at the attorney general's office, department of labor and industrial, civil rights commission, state commission on the status of women and the office of community services, these crimes against our common humanity will not be tolerated in hawaii. [applause] >> there are times for planning and time for asking. now is the time to preserve all

those phases of turtle pay. the view over the expansion of the resort into adjacent coastal land of the lands has been going on for decades. whether the courts in permitting proceedings, whether the courts in permitting proceedings in the community at large, the issue has been divisive and destructive. i am requesting authority to use general-obligation bonds to obtain conservation easement of 600 acres at the site. this guarantees these lands will remain open and free of development and open to public access in perpetuity. [applause] >> i am requesting general obligation funds to enable the state to work with a renewable energy company to purchase agricultural land conservative

conservation currently owned by the bill company. and open space on the north shore of oahu. we need to make this investment to secure these land so they don't become a temptation for development and urbanization. moreover this purchase will ensure a combination of energy production and contemporary farming. we moved to monica l. the best place on the planet to observe the universe. it is without fear. it provides an unparalleled opportunity to advance our knowledge of our universe. today we celebrate 50 years of astronomy in hawaii with 13 observatory's from 11 countries and of for a billion dollars in infrastructure. one project will solidify why's position as the world's premier astronomy center. the $1.3 billion, 30 meter

telescope. it will be the catalyst for the development of high tech and high paying jobs. it is presently part ring with the institute of astronomy's work force initiatives to train local college students for technical fields. initiative promotes stem initiative relating to local robotic and science programs. it also is investing $1 million every year in education so our children can reach for the stars. our state must support and ensure a tremendous opportunity comes to fruition. [applause] >> this leads us to the reality of climate change. it is becoming more and more evident across hawaii and the planet. our islands are especially vulnerable to the impact and we cannot wait. in the fall i was appointed by president obama to serve on the state, local and tribal leaders

task force on climate preparedness and resilience. at our first meeting in washington in december, governors, mayors and tribal leaders discussed the effects of climate change on their jurisdiction. one thing was apparent despite our vast geographic topographic and community differences. to date climate changes are warning bells signaling the necessity for preparedness now. at the farm we emphasize the hawaiian islands are a learning laboratory for scaleable mitigation for adaptation policies and techniques, providing a model on local and regional collaboration. the state office of planning has been instrumental in coordinating efforts to update our ocean resources management plan. we have a state sustainability coordinator in the department of land and natural resources with authority to work across department lines for planning purposes. the senate house majority

package includes hawaii climate adaptation initiative which supports research, planning and coordination. the interagency climate council plays a key role in this initiative. i will be convening resilience hawaii forums this year to engage stakeholders, native hawaiian organizations, natural resource managers, the military, tourism officials, agricultural representatives, researchers and government at all levels. these forums will create a climate change road map for hawaii. [applause] >> protecting our environment from invasive species must be a top priority. we are experiencing a biological

crisis and deadly threat to our isolated ecosystem. our natural resources and our economy. a multitudes of innovators such as the little fire and that combined animals, destroy nesting birds and hatchlings, the cocoanut rhinoceros beetles, parasites attacking coffee crops, rapidly illustrate the seriousness of this issue. the work of the interagency hawaii invasive species consul is tasked with combating this menace. i endorse your legislative initiative, proposing $5 million to meet operating costs of invasive species programs. this session my administrative package will include sustainability investment strategy to advance targets in clean energy development, local food production, national resource management, with production, green jobs creation and housing for the working middle class. this includes funding to support

watershed protection, farming infrastructure, invasive species management, transportation planning, and jobs associated with that and meeting needs. [applause] >> thank you. earlier in my remarks i commented on the necessity of providing preschool education as a foundation for the future of our children. that observation needs to be book ended by consideration of ways to promote security and dignity on the other end of the spectrum of life. those of us like myself experiencing our senior years. not only do we need to protect seniors from fraud and abuse and assist with care issues but i believe we can provide tax relief measures that will have practical in the immediate benefits for seniors. i will be asking the legislature to look at the way we tax teen

years to provide more equity and fairness for those on fixed and middle-income is to see that more money remains in their pocket books. [applause] >> we need to bring parity to the way we look at and tax retirement income. i accept and understand the message on pension income and taxation. if you have an employer sponsored pension is exempt from income tax and that will not change but everyone may not be aware that other pensions, not employer based, are being taxed right now. thousands of hawaii seniors are paying income tax even on a low and middle income benefits. i propose to exempt any presently intend income for taxpayers age 65 and older with

an adjusted gross income of $25,000 and adjusted gross income of $35,000 for heads of households, adjusted gross income of $45,000 for joint filing. [applause] >> this assures the seniors will not have their present retirement income, this will affect as many as 25,000 or more seniors throughout hawaii. i propose the deterrent refundable food excise tax credit for taxpayers 65 years or older, a g i is less than $50,000. this is a direct payment to the senior taxpayer. this will affect 110,000 hawaii seniors or more.

[applause] >> i am requesting we increase the care budget by $4.4 million and make it permanent. this enables seniors to receive care in their homes. this is an investment that will pay dividendss as the population ageds, grows in numbers and lives longer. [applause] >> these proposals address the practical, everyday reality of expenses for seniors. across the board fairness and application can take effect immediately and fit comfortably into our long-term financial stabilization, long-term financial stabilization plan. i began my remarks today in sad recognition of the sacrifice by sergeant scobee. and other sacrifices we need to make an acknowledgment of our responsibility to and for each

other and advance the common good of us all. referencing that context allow me to include my thoughts today. and the passing of our beloved loretta, it is difficult even now, more than a month since her death to accept its finality because of the vitality of her presence. i said at the time our hearts were broken but i also know she would remind us of the biblical admonition that life is for the living. the duty to carry on, to offer the hope and encouragement to others that marked her life, every day of it. i would like to thank the university of hawaii foundation for setting up the loretta memorial scholarship and health and human service, this will provide a lasting legacy that the university of hawaii students on any campus who are committed to pursuing a career in health and public human service. loretta was a lifelong supporter

of public health, she was a lifelong advocate of families and children. she set the standard for helping those in dire need of services that promoted and nurtured their health and well-being. i am requesting additional funding for the department of health early intervention services. the program provides critical services to children with developmental delays from birth to 3 years of age. the program provides positive intervention in crucial areas of cognitive and physical function. social and emotional well-being and adaptive skills. the rat was there champion. there are of course several budget requests and bills that will be proposed by the department of health all of which are important but nonetheless i am asking for your specific attention to make funding for early intervention services a priority. this will serve as a fitting tribute and appropriately deceit to honor lauretta.

there will be lasting benefits for the affected families and children. the children she loved and cared for passionately to her last day. none of us knows with any 70 how much time will be given to us. what we do know is that the time given us as public servants is a public trust. we justify that trust only by acting in the public interest. the financial stability we have achieved coupled with our long-term plan to sustain it presents us with an opportunity to act with confidence and dispatch, this legislature public trust and public interest can meet and be joined now. let's do it together. [applause] >> local news outlets in honolulu reported on the comments of hawaii's house speaker who suggested credit for the state's budget surplus should be shared among

legislatures and the state's previous administration in addition to governor abercrombie's efforts in reaction to not calling for new taxes in the speech. he suggested a tax credit for the state's senior citizens. >> welcome to booktv on c-span2, 48 hours of nonfiction books and authors every weekend. this weekend the c i a former legal counsel discusses his 30 years at the agency. watch him discuss his follow-up book to a long way gone and watched programs on reconstruction and the relationship between the pope and missile the. this and more on booktv on c-span2 this weekend. the full schedule was available at booktv.org. >> the career of have arnold commanding general of the u.s. air force during world war ii.