priorities because they are a critical opportunity that come up only once in the life of a child. of all the things we do i believe this has the most impact in our community and do the most to close the opportunity gap. in our state, every single child deserves a great education. [applause] in kindergarten through third grade classrooms because we know a high-quality teacher is the single important asset we provide funding for more opportunities especially for new teachers and we are able to provide them with a

modest is unjustified cost-of-living adjustment adjustment, the first since 2008. also made paying for college easier on family budgets. the only state in the united states to pass a to wishing cut this year for students. [applause] republicans had a great idea to have the tuition cut and i gladly give them credit. [applause] also gladly give democrats credit that we should cut tuition for every one including community and technical colleges. [applause] together we found a way. this is something everyone

in the chamber can celebrate. we restore funding for one of our most precious public assets, our state parks. it was heartbreaking to even consider having to close some of these parks last year there is a family frolicking on the beach i remember my own childhood when mom and dad would throw was the back of the station wagon and taken sell for the day or the weekend just knowing this tradition will continue is extremely gratifying. one of the biggest

performance it will continue to be felt with the impact of the philanthropic efforts in his work on the blue ridge bin task force and our thoughts are with the walker fairly as they mourned his recent passing. finally we read the state employees there first wage increase since 200085 i would like to take a moment to speak directly to the state employees. what if you we're doing really great work. i was happy to be able to get you a modest raise. results initiative for washington is a national leader of the performance management strategies the

godfather for the need management in the country told us he believes washington is that the very forefront of this effort in the country and we know thousands of you know, how the of public sector can manage growing workloads to increase efficiency and improve the quality. thank you for that. those on the front lines really do important work. and part of that effort is that we hold ourselves to the highest standards so if the public trust is violated , we blow the whistle and provide absolute accountability that is what is happening with when non 13 years that the department

of corrections. often you're the first was to see when something is not working right that is why you should feel empowered to bring these things to management's attention to your being heard. i expect all state employees, especially managers, to act responsible in this regard. you can expect those that do not will be held accountable you always have to remember the core initiative is serving the people of washington. every single thing we do ought to reflect that mission. that i came into office focused on cutting jobs to grow our economy that is why i push for these investments in education in the quality of life.

so let's take a look at how we're doing. i am pleased to report that washington continues to rank in the top five states in the country for job growth. the fastest gdp growth in the nation more than twice the national growth rate. for the past few years washington exports grew 20%, more than in the other state. we beat them all. but to be focused on jobs since i took office. was buried -- very gratifying to say we have added nearly a quarter of a million jobs since 2013. [applause] there are more than 30,000 people working today in

three years ago. i am so glad they are able to get up every day and help us build our economy. although our economic growth has not been uniform, we do know that unemployment in all states counties is now, the first time in eight years, back in the single digits. . .

it also increases funding for teacher mentor and programs. the job has the support they need.

i propose we pay for it through elimination's and tax breaks. for those who wonder how we're going to get this done reminder of what we have done before. because tax breaks on a bipartisan basis. 1.1 billion over six years. because we recognize we had some critical needs. but -- [applause] the reason is simple because it does not matter of the smallest class sizes in the nation if no one is standing

from the classroom the 2nd thing we need to focus on last year's record-setting. >> there were destroyed. the firefighters lost their lives. related to battling these firefighters. using 29 million from the disaster response and a help ensure we are better prepared to fight them in the upcoming fire season.

the state may devastating cuts and we continue to be hobbled while we enact together to have the more than $700 million we still have significant work to do. the last legislative session hundreds of treatment beds, psychologists, psychiatrists my budget also included a number of investors to keep people out of hospitals, safely and the communities family. this is important. the people who assessment

while services go to our hospitals. served in our communities. actually have the appropriate to come appropriate services in place. these are nameless faceless people. wetlands, colleagues. the college freshmen who experiences a psychotic break, the wounded veteran with a traumatic brain injury and we need to make sure they get the treatment to stabilize and help. my budget proposal to reach these folks in need. but all of these investments made required skills staff set them up and keep them running.

i need to ensure we have enough doctors coworkers and treatment staff. these are investments you have to have confidence in. get the mental health care they can improve dramatically. the western state hospital. we have urgent short-term needs. we also need to take the long run out of the liver stronger mental health care system. my budget includes funding. timely access to high-quality treatment and

the appropriate setting. they all on someone with mental illness. [applause] now let's talk about our 4th person need. put in place a framework for our future k --dash 12 investment. absolutely necessary the session. we are on track met during the summer to develop this framework the most complex part i am confident we will

take that step mixture the 2017 session. and there is no reason and we cannot just going to fix a few potholes. so our kids and grandkids not just because the constitutional imperative but because the right thing to do for our kids. [applause]

i also like to talk today about other issues. statewide consideration. voters take things. first and foremost the issue of a working family. even as our economy improves. simple fact our economy is not working for everyone. on the one hand we have the biggest boom in north america. working families and communities, even though

they are working hard, doing a great job. washingtonians, hard-working people in every corner of the state including those rising housing prices, student loan debt, medical bills, initiatives that were filed yesterday and provide sick leave for hard-working washingtonians. [applause] i stand on this with the rocksolid belief if you work 40 hours a week and puts her over your head and food on the table. you should not have to give up a day's pay. [applause] but it is not just minimum-wage who are falling

behind in the economy. the problem is the most workers are now sharing the fruits of their increased productivity. producing more goods and services per hour that had any time. in a nutshell people working harder and getting paid less in real dollars. now, this is not true for corporate executives. co2 worker pay ratio is 20 to one. today it is more than 300 to one. look, i am fine with paying for exceptional results. i also believe that these gaps should be transparent.

the state investment board can help. shareholder companies, if they do not align with the company's financial conformity. i have asked investment board to go further to reduce the widening pay gap. and i am encouraging the board -- [applause] i am encouraging the board with other states and institutional investors. can be beginnings. i started a different journey last with my new executive order on public health. more people and washington are dying from firearm fatalities that even from

traffic accidents. if you have a public health crisis made a public health solution. every singleevery single day someone in our state does a gun violence. we can and must reduce accidental shootings. gun crime and suicide by gun , the executive order will strengthen the background checks and 2014. come allow us to collect information that will drive smart data-driven solutions to gun violence. the statewide suicide prevention plan recommended by task force i convene. no matter these are important actions that we can take now. we also need to continue the actions.

particularly from the threat of carbon pollution. in my minds eye the older i get the more beautiful washington becomes. a healthy place for kids to grow up. so i am glad that the needle is moving on this. because the problem of carbon pollution is not going away. i want technology optimist. we are getting more of our homegrown leaders and innovators. i also heartened by the engagement we are getting from the business community. people are robustly participating in the process. look for solutions. and i am excited about the progress and invite everyone to get involved as part of it. and in this effort we know

we are not alone. so i -- [applause] three years your syrup here as the newly not your governor. washington forward. we need to remember who we are and looking at what we have accomplished together i believe we have stayed true to the values we cherish. we remain confident because we are continually recognizing the groundbreaking things are businesses and universities are doing. remain confident in the brightness of our future because we have invested record amounts of money in

our children's education which is the truest measure of our commitment. remain confident in the inclusiveness that has built our economy and today's building our communities holidays the big companies are a small businesses. one of the most successful economies in the world because we embrace diversity and welcome all people to our great state. [applause] this is a confident state. it deserves a confident legislature. it deserves a confident,. i have to tell you is a fifth-generation washingtonian i stand here today with confidence, i feel the greatness of the state and believe and who we are which is how we will

approach the session. >> in his annual state of the state address on wednesday, west virginia governor earl ray tomblin talked about the need to reduce the state dependency on coal. this is 45 minutes. tomlblin.

>> thank you all so much. mr. speak, mr. president, member of the board of public works, justice of the supreme court of appeals, members of the legislature, distinguished west virgin virginians and my fellow virginians, five years ago first addressing the chamber i called on the legislature to get to work and put west virginia first. many things have changed, including the make-up of the legislature, our commitment to the people who call our beautiful state home remains

steadfast. we are created new opportunities and faced our fair share of challenging times. tonight our state is at a cross roads. i stand before you with a plan that preserves the best of our paths, while charting a bold new plan for our future. since 2011, we have welcomed more than 250 companies, and $10 billion in major investments. provided west virginians with more than 11,000 good-paying jobs. we worked hard to create a business climate that makes west virginia a strong competitor for major projects. we are not just competing. we are seeing huge success. nationally and internationally recognized companies like macy's, amazon, toyota already

know that west virginia is a great place to do business. i am proud to announce adavant has reaffirmed its commitment to our state and plans and expand. [applause] >> the company was on the hunt for a new location to expand its production facility. major players from the gulf cost actively pursued the company but we kept up and showed the company executives that west virginia is the right place to invest. this new expansion project not only saves nearly hundred current jobs but brings in at least $12 million and additional opportunities for employment.

plastic manufacturing is just one of the industries we are looking to attract and this project is just the beginning of that growth. adavant chose to stay here because of the business climate and a highly trained workforce that is ready to get to work. these types of investments don't happen overnight. they are the result of the hard work and positive changes we have made over the years. we overhauled worker's compensation and companies operating here have saved more than $320 million. we reformed medical malpractice and improved the climate. we have enacted reductions in

business and consumer taxes. since taking office we have saved employers in west virginia more than $225 million dollars. this year we ranked higher than each of the neighboring states and this year's business tax climate index. companies are noticing thing changes and they are paying off in big ways in regions across the state. this september we joined officials from proctor and gamble to celebrate the ground breaking of the country's newest manufacturing plant. the first of its kind built in the united states in the 1970s. projects of this scope strengthen the economy and serve as an investment in our state and people. this factory located in the eastern panhandle will create

$1,000 jobs through the initial construction phase. one full- these certificates ar preparing students for careers in engineering, computer science, electronics and training students to become skilled chemical operator technicians. blue ridge president and his team are working hard to make sure our students can compete for these good paying jobs. and p and g construction manager luis toterez is already working

with crews on the ground as part of the company's initial construction efforts. he and his family love calling west virginia home. please join me in thanking dr. checkovitze and welcoming luis and his family to west virginia. would you please stand? [applause] >> we launched a program called learn and earn in 2012. it helps students receive classroom instruction and hands on experience while earning a competitive salary and gives

employers a cost effective way to retrain employees. companies like the stamp, who manufactures auto parts, is taking advantage of these opportunities. the south charleston plant has tripled production and doubled the workforce. these are real jobs and the company has already seen a real return on investment. through a partnership with ridge valley community and technical college students can get hands-on training and earn a one-year certificate, associates degree, and a journey man's card. paul lee lanzic is with us

tonight and he is the new plant manager. and jaime thompson a graduate who is training 12 new students already. please join me in celebrating their success. [applause] >> these partnership are special to helping those train the workforce they need to grow. tonight i am introducing legislation to help grow the program. we know we must to do more to improve the state's workforce

participation rate. i am proud there are more job training programs in place today than every before. with the help of more than $40 million in federal grant funding, workforce west virginia is helping coal minors and those who have exhausted unemployment benefits. they provide up to $5,000 in tuiti tuition assistance for classroom work and on-the-job training. i ask you remember that call the state's southern coal fields home. as a sign of these coal fields i have dedicated my life to supporting the minors and their families. despite the difficult times we find ourselves in, west virginia remains the fourth largest producer of electricity in the

country. i believe the coal industry will support families well into the future. we cannot ignore the unprecedented shift that is taking place in our sate and in our nation. forces beyond our control have damaged the industry and even the most optimistic among us realize it is unlikely coal production will reach past levels. this nation knows these west virginians -- owe -- a debt of gratitude and we are ready to cash in on the substantial i owe yous.

>> this fall we submitted an application seeking more than $140 million in funding from the united states department of housing and urban development. this competition has the potential to help six counties in our southern coal fields adjust, adapt, and advance their communities. if we are successful these federal funds will help us rebuild aging infrastructure and promote land use planning and stimulate housing and economic development in areas outside of these regions flood plains. we are also proposing to develop

the largest industrial side in west virginia history in boone and lincoln counties. 12,000 acres show the site is large enough to fit every economic development project in recent mystery including toyota, procter and gamble, macy's, amazon and more with thousands of acres left over. we know this is major undertaking and with the help of local landowners, marshall

university, west virginia university, and the conversation legacy fund we are working together to find new uses for the site while the mining activity continues. join me in welcoming this team. gary white, new marshall president jerry gilbert, gordon gee, tom clars -- clark -- and kim mccoy. let's give this team a round of applause. [applause] >> tom and his team are also helping us develop new and innovative ideas to include state clean power plant submission. wile the eep continues to work

on a visibility study we anticipate the final plan may include reforestation. thank you for your assistance, tom, on both of these projects. this is just the beginning of what we can do to help diversify the economy not only in this region but our entire state. when pursuing large stale projects, our talented team at the time. we offer industrial, and commercial development. as part of the federal grant application we have identified five sites in boone, lin coln, logan, mcwell and wireman

counties which are strong candidates for similar redevelopment efforts. [applause] >> we as west virginians owe the people that call this area home the opportunity to do better for themselves and their families. taxes from the southern coal fields and the timber from our mountain sides paid for our schools, the roads we drive on and the services which so many west virginians rely on. it is time to reinvest in these communities and give them an opportunity to make a great life in the place they call home. i hope you will join me in

making that commitment to our state and a our people. [applause] -- and our people. [applause] >> new opportunities offered for growth and we must guarantee natural resources meet our needs at home. as the ninth largest producer of natural gas we must work to create the pipeline infrastructure necessary to insure this industy's continued growth. [applause] >> this is bringing new revenues and new jobs to west virginians. that is why i sent a letter to the federal regulatory

commission in support of the columbia gas mountain express pipeline project. this $2 billion investment will transport a significant amount of natural gas to new markets. much like similar pipeline projects by other companies this investment has the potential to create thousands of good paying construction jobs while generating significant tax revenue to fund local roads and other endeavors. while these announcements grab the headlines we cannot forget our state's small business owners who work day in and day out to support the same growth in our local communities. 96% of west virginian employers are small business owners and they are there backbone of the economy. while we work hard to help tens of thousands of west virginians

on unemployment find new opportunities to succeed we cannot overlook the training and skills these people already have. and that is why tonight i am introducing the self employment assistance act. it is a new program to strengthen our local economy and make it easier for west virginias receiving unemployment benefits to get the help they need to open a business. starting a new business can be hard no matter how great the idea may be or how hard the owner works to make it a success. with this exemption new business owners are able to reinvest in their company while continuing to receive unemployment benefits to support their families. for four years, matt nolan worked as a diesel mechanic at a local coal mine outside of charleston. when the mine closed, he lost his job. matt knew he could earn a good income using the skills he had

but he needed help starting his own business. earlier this year, matt attended a west virginia small business workshop in putnam count ducy. he sat down to develop a business plan and find a good location for the adventure a new months ago matt opened d and d truck shop. a full service diesel truck and heavy equipment repair shop. not long after he opened he fired his first two employees. two mechanics he worked alongside with at the coal mine. with the help of the work program matt is in the process of getting additional support to train new employees. the truck shop was only open for a few months and matt has seen growth and he is looking to expand. matt, casey and ronnie, please stand so we can recognize you and congratulate you on the

succe succe success you are having. [applause] >> helping residents to find skills is important but keeping them off drugs is critical to the state's growth. substance abuse has become one of the greatest struggles our state has faced. it has destroyed the lives of far too many of our family members, friends and neighbors. we must continue to make the fight against substance abuse a top priority.

i developed a team to look into this epidemic. we have updated the system and made it tougher to get methamphetamine ingredients. [applause]

>> you received a brochure available online and at local court houses, hospitals, schools, churches, and libraries in all 50 counties. this september, we launched 844 help for wv, the state's first 24-hour substance abuse help line. this call line gives people the opportunity to speak with certified professionals and receive referral support in their local communities. the call line has connected more than 700 west virginians with treatment and recovery services across the state. in october, i welcomed president obama and dhs secretary for an honest conversation about the

devastating toll this epidemic is taking on our families. i traveled to the area that is considered to be ground jeer zero of the heroin epidemic in the state and talked to a panel. we recognized the progress we made and identified ways to work together to create a brighter, drug-free future for our residents. we want people to find help and hope in west virginia. and that starts with making sure treatment facilities are providing comprehensive care. tonight, i am introducing legislation to establish licensing requirement for medication assistance treatment facilities. research shows us the use of methodone alone does not support

recovery. these medications don't treat the root cause of an addiction and only continue the addiction cycle. this legislation requires counseling, and behavioral therapy to be used alongside these treatments so they can have the support they need to begin the recovery process. [applause] >> we now have first responders kercar carrying narcon on them and since may we have coordinated training to teach first responders and others how to administer the drug safely. more than a hundred people are

certified today to host information meeting. first responders administered more than 3,000 doze -- doses. when an overdose happens every second counts and ems crews and fire are not always the first on the scene. this november, two officers found themselves first on the scene of a drug overdose and they administered two live-saving doses of narcon and within minutes the young man regained consciousness and was treated at the hospital. the two officers are here tonight. please stand and let us say thank you for the work you do. [applause]

>> this man's life was saved because of the quick action of the officers and our efforts to expand the livesaving drug. i urge this legislature to expand access to narcan by supporting by proposal to make it available to any west virginian without a prescription. this requires pharmacist to be trained on how to safely ad

minter the drug and help us keep track of who is receiving narcan to help fight it in the hardest areas and being sure it isn't used as a crutch to enable a heroin addiction. we know this addiction is heart breaking for families but in many cases our children suffer the most. that is why last year following the recommendations from juvenile justice is the help of this legislature we launched juvenile justice reform. this legislative package provided $600,000 in new funding to establish truancy diversion programs and early intervention. putnam county has seen significant improvements in

overall student attendance and achievements. truancy referls dropped a truancy referals are down and graduation rates have increased during that period. we know this program works. it is making a difference for students like winter davis. for most of her life, winter didn't have a stable place to call home. from the time she was born her parents struggled with substance abuse. she spent much of her youth living with a family of no relation and helping to care for their young children and elderly family members. between 2011-2012 winter missed 39 days of school and was behind in her class work and was struggling to keep up. with the help of the truancy

diversion program, winter got the extra attention she needed and earned her high school diploma graduating with a 3.7 gpa and zero unexcused absences. [applause] >> she plans to become a teacher for special needs children now. a dream she has had since second grade. winter shared the story saying life wasn't easy for me but i am making the best choices i can. i am the only one in my family that went to college and i am going to finish college whatever it takes. please join me in welcoming winter davis.

[applause] [applause] >> by connecting and children to substance abuse recovery services, mental health programs, and functional therapy we are giving had whole family the opportunity to thrive. thanks to this legislature and there work of our local partners

across the state we have reduced the number of kids being sent to state home placement by more than one third and reduced the number of detention beds by more than 40%. so far, we have saved six million at the division of juvenile services. and they are confidant we can double that savings in the coming year. we are giving these kids an opportunity to take advantage of the bright community we are making here. we started on a path to improve the state's education system in 2010. instead of allowing paperwork to drive the education, we refocused on giving the children the skills they need to compete in the economy. we expanded early childhood

education. we are engaging middle and high school students with hands-on programs. and breaking down silos and providing seem less transitions. these reforms and the standards coming with them are giving our kids the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. and that starts by making sure our students are in the classroom for 180 days of instruction time. over the past year, the delivery of public education of west virginia has been used as a political football by members of both parties. it is disappointing, unacceptable, and it is a disservice to our kids. at a time when comprehensive

reform -- [applause] >> -- has led to real improvements our students are more competitive with peers in other states. we need to build on this and not legislation that prioritizes summer vacation over a good edge cak cakesicati -- education. we cannot led the red tape get in the way of providing our kids with a thorough education. tlr there are a number of reasons why charter schools are not the best for our students but we can find common grounds by rewarding schools for innovation and creativity while raising students achievements. that is why i am introducing legislation to restructure the system to establish a new program called innovation in

education. this legislation reallocates nearly two and a half million in existing education funding. we can teach our students how to think critically. a skill they need to be successful long after graduating high school. all of us in this chamber and those watching and listening across the state know we have experiencing budget challenges unseen in more than a generation. every agency and every branch of government has shared in the burden of these reductions. in spite of those challenges, we are paying our current bills and keeping every financial commitment of the past.

teachers retirement, public employees retirement, and we have done that without a single tax increase while reducing tax burdens on west virginian families and those doing business here by hundreds of millions of dollars. [applause]

>> tonight, i am introducing legislation to increase the state tobacco tax by 45 cents a pack to a total of $1. this will be considered too high by some and too low by others. but it strikes a balance that protects retailers in the border counties and discourages young people from smoking while generating 71 and a half million annually in new revenue. combined with savings from the new prescription drug contract, $43 million of the new revenue will fund peia. meaning they will not see the benefits in reductions proposed for the coming here. [applause]

>> i am proposing legislation to eliminate a sales tax exemption that brings us in line with other countries. we will place the 6% sales tax on cell phones and phone line usage putting us with what is done in the vast majority of other states. we can collect an extra $60

million each year with this. with these proposed changes and despite the projections, the 2017 budget i present to you tonight uses no money, no money from the rainy day fund. >> and it doesn't include any across the board budget cuts beyond those in place. in spite of the tight budget years of the past, our new six year budget forecast shows

surpluses on 7 million in 2019 and $118 million in 2021. i will not be in office to see these surpluses but i am proud to have been part of more than 30 years of responsible fiscal policies that have put us on the path to a brighter financial future. [applause] [applause]

>> we are reminded west west virginians have never had it easy. we have been proving what is true all along. the people that call our state home are among the best and brightest in the world. claire grant grew up in what was once a one-room school house with her five brers brothers and sisters. she spent her childhood like so many west virginia children playing outside, caring for the garden and racing her brothers and sisters on her family's gravel road. by high school she was breaking records and winning state titles. she was determined to run across country. she became an all-american.

in 2011, she ran the boston marathon. claire finished 60th overall and was the third american finisher. at three years later, she made her mark on the national stage winning the pittsburgh marathon. last summer claire returned to the pittsburgh marathon for most of the second race she sat in second place. but after catching relief, she found the mental toughness to not only win for the second year in a row, but finish 40 seconds ahead of her competition. this february, she will travel to the u.s. olympic trials in los angeles for a chance to compete for team usa in the 2016 summer olympics in brazil. [applause]

>> catherine johnson who was born in white sulfur strings in 1918 became what was called one of the greatest minds every to great the space agencies or country. she worked with the national advisory committee of aeronautics for 30 years using the most advanced practical mathematics of her day to chart and verify the math john win traveled as he orbited the earth. in 1958, catherine's research focused on calculating margins of error for spacecraft take off and landing. the document was the first paper published by nasa's flight research division with a woman's name on it. [applause]

>> catherine published scientific papers and her research was used to create the mercury and apollo missions and was critical to sending man to space and bringing him home. she was awarded the presidential medal of freedom. our country's highest civilian honor for her incredible contributions. in an interview, catherine's daughter, who is with us tonight, a former nasa scientist herself, said it was her mother's confidence that led her to succeed. my granddaddy told my mom she was no better than anybody else but no less than anybody else

and she believed it. please join in as we celebrate these wonderful west virginians and wish claire the best at her trials next month. >> whether you are a single mother going to school, a budding entrepreneur, the ceo of an international company, or a

recent graduate overcoming challenges to help a community, west virginians have been willing to work twice as hard and be twice as tough to get the job done. over the next 60 days and throughout the coming year, we know there is work to go done and difficult choices to make. tonight, i challenge each of you to find the courage to make these decisions for the sake of the next generation not the next election. it is time to get to work. thank you. god bless you. and god bless the great state of west virginia. [applause]

>> florida delivered his annual state of the state address on tuesday. he talked about investments in education and job creation and commented on the fight against isis is issue in the presidential race. this is half an hour.

ver thank yo. thank you. good morning speaker crisafulli, president gardiner and members of the florida legislature. welcome lt. governor carlos lopez-cantera. i would also like to welcome attorney general pam bondi. [applause] chief financial officer jeff atwater. [applause] commissioner of agriculture adam putnam.

[applause] chief justice labarga and members of the florida supreme court. [applause] i would like to recognize my amazing wife, ann. [applause] she is the love of my life and my best friend. we are blessed with two wonderful daughters and four very energetic grandsons. this year, we will celebrate our 44th wedding anniversary. [applause] today marks my 262nd week in office as the governor of the

great state of florida. [applause] and i have had a lot of time to reflect over the past 5 years. judging by earthly standards, ann and i have had a good bit of success in our lives. but as i reflect on that, i realize that our time on earth is fleeting, and i am unable to do anything of lasting significance without the grace of god. i know our work that is eternal is the time we spend investing in other people. our families for sure, but we also do work of lasting significance when we invest in the lives of our friends and our neighbors. i ran for governor to help my

neighbors, all 20 million of them across our great state. there are some who believe that the best way to help people is for government to give them money. and the truth is, for those in dire need, we need to provide a safety net. with your help, we have invested florida taxpayer dollars to make a lasting difference in the lives of florida families. for the first time ever, we completely funded the critical needs waiting list so persons with unique abilities can get the help they need. [applause] we made a record high investment in our education system so every child can have the opportunity to pursue their american dream. [applause] and just this year, we started a pilot program to better serve individuals who suffer with substance abuse and mental illness. these are two issues that have

affected my family and many other families in our state. but, government assistance must be the very last resort, not the first. government does not create prosperity, and it never has. top down mandates from big government are artificial and not sustainable. real prosperity is created by the ingenuity and hard work of the american people. [applause] the people of florida have proven that when they are unfettered by the artificial constraints of government, they are the ones who create real and genuine prosperity for their families. prosperity that is created naturally, not from the top down, but rather from the bottom up. floridians want the opportunity to live their dreams. therefore, i believe that the best way to help our weakest,

our poorest, and our most disadvantaged neighbors live their dreams is to help them get a job. [applause] a job is the number one way to change any person's life for the better, and today, i am proud to report to you that the state of florida is, in one word, growing. [applause] thanks to the hard-working people in our great state, over one million jobs have been created in just five years since i took office. [applause] one million jobs.

[applause] now that is something for floridians to brag about. one million jobs. one of these amazing job creators growing our state from the bottom up is with us today. please help me welcome the founder and ceo of gladiator lacrosse, rachel zietz from boca raton. [applause]

rachel is just 15 years old and she started her company when she was 13. [applause] like any competitive athlete, rachel said she wanted to practice lacrosse as much as possible, but she found the quality of her gear wasn't holding up. every few months she was purchasing more equipment, and she said it was getting expensive. rachel decided to do something about it and she created her own line of lacrosse gear to meet her standards. between school, homework and lacrosse practice, rachel now runs her own online company, which had over $1 million in revenue in just two years. [applause]

even more impressive, this young small business owner now has three employees that help her out while she is in class. rachel, thank you for helping to make florida first for jobs. we know you are just starting your success. congratulations. [applause] while i am pleased to report to you today that the state of florida is growing, i must confess that our work has just begun. now we face the mighty task of keeping job creation going strong. now, we must set our sights even

higher to make sure we do not fall back. now, we must be dedicated to making florida not second to texas, but first in the nation for job growth for years to come. [applause] our goals are mighty, our challenge is clear. we have two objectives. first, we must keep doing what's worked the last five years to help floridians get a job and live their dreams and keep cutting taxes. [applause] second, we must diversify our economy and help small

businesses grow by creating a new $250 million florida enterprise fund, which has already been endorsed by mayors and city leaders all across our state. with record state revenues, we have the opportunity to diversify our economy and help our small businesses grow by cutting taxes by $1 billion dollars. [applause] i've never heard of a businessperson who wanted to grow a smaller business. if we put more money in their pockets, they will spend it on research, new equipment and hiring to create more jobs. ann and i started our first business in kansas city.

when i was just 22 years old, i had gotten off of active duty with the us navy, and ann and i used $3,500, all the money we had in savings, to open up a donut shop so my mother could get a job. it is hard work to start a business. it is risky. it is scary. i still remember it like it was yesterday. that's why i am asking for your support this legislative session for our first for jobs $1 billion tax cut package to cut costs for the manufacturers, the innovators, and the entrepreneurs in our state who take the risks that make our economy grow and create good paying jobs. [applause] a tax cut package of $1 billion may seem like a high number, but

let me put a face to this effort by introducing you to dane grey. dane, please stand. [applause] dane is the ceo of elite parking services in jacksonville. in college, dane began a valet parking service to make extra money. little did he know that his dorm room business would turn into a company with 360 employees and locations all across the country before he turned 30 years old. [applause] dane said he now plans to add around 100 new florida employees over the next year.

our first for jobs tax cut package will cut the commercial lease tax dane pays today and help him keep more money to reinvest in the company he worked so hard to create. dane, thank you for helping to make florida first for jobs. [applause] i also want to introduce you to isaac lidsky, ceo of odc construction in orlando. [applause] isaac is blind, but his degenerative eye disease never stopped him from accomplishing his dreams. he graduated from harvard law school and was the first blind u.s. supreme court law clerk. [applause]

his entrepreneurial spirit brought him to florida in 2011 when he took a chance and used his families' life savings to buy odc construction. odc built more than 2,000 homes in florida last year and employs more than 300 men and women. and i am excited to announce that they have built a brand new headquarters in orlando and will be cutting the ribbon on it very soon. [applause]

for the past four years, odc has had commercial leases on their buildings in orlando and tampa, which was costing over $14,000 a year in taxes. isaac is here today in support of reducing the commercial lease tax on businesses to make it easier for entrepreneurs in florida to start and grow a business and create more jobs. [applause] we know that the commercial lease tax unfairly targets small and large businesses across our state. and, under the first for jobs tax cut package, we will begin the fight to do away with this unfair tax. now, cutting taxes alone will not be enough to diversify our economy and allow florida to become first for jobs. that is why we are asking for

your support to reform our business incentive process at enterprise florida to create the new florida enterprise fund. the creation of this new $250 million dedicated trust fund will help us diversify florida's economy, support small business, and become the number one place in the world for families to get a good paying job. [applause] please help me welcome just a few of the mayors who have supported our proposal to create the new $250 million florida enterprise fund who are here with us today. jacksonville mayor lenny curry. [applause]

orlando mayor buddy dyer. [applause] tampa mayor bob buckhorn. [applause] ft. myers mayor randy henderson. [applause] apalachicola mayor van johnson. [applause] pensacola mayor ashton hayward. [applause]

thank each of you for your support. enterprise florida has helped many businesses move and expand in florida. to create good paying jobs. today, i want to share just one story with you. last year, i met with 1st choice aerospace on a trade mission to kentucky. while i was there, we announced that 1st choice aerospace had chosen to expand in miramar instead of in their home state of kentucky, which resulted in 45 new florida jobs. 1st choice aerospace picked florida over kentucky because of our talented workforce, our low taxes and our strong presence in the aviation industry. because we temporarily ended the sales tax on manufacturing machinery and equipment, 1st choice aerospace has been able to save money and reinvest it

into their business. and that is why we must permanently end the sales tax on manufacturing machinery and equipment this year. [applause] if not, it will effectively be a tax increase on small businesses like 1st choice aerospace. we want 1st choice aerospace to keep growing and hiring more employees like david tablada, who is here with us today. [applause] david was the first employee 1st choice aerospace hired when they expanded in miramar. david moved to florida when he was eight years old, from nicaragua, so his father could pursue a career in aviation.

david worked hard to follow in his father's footsteps and attended the george t. baker aviation technical college in miami to get the skills he needed to find a good paying job. david said he is thankful to work at 1st choice aerospace because he can provide for his wife, ania, and his son, sebastian. david says his job at 1st choice aerospace is allowing him to live his american dream in florida and also enables him to give back to his community. as a former law enforcement officer, david is working hard to become a volunteer reserve police officer in miami beach. thank you david for helping to make florida first for jobs. [applause] many of you know that my favorite three topics are jobs, jobs, jobs.

but, i want to switch gears before i conclude today. in thinking about the eternal significance of our 20 million neighbors all across our state, i have been increasingly focused on their safety over the past few months. the hate-filled, cold-blooded events of recent months make it clear that we live in a fallen world, where terror sometimes reigns and evil seems unbridled. we've seen people at a concert ruthlessly murdered in paris, health care workers massacred in san bernardino and a floridian, steven sotloff, beheaded by the hands of isis just months before. no one can dispute that isis is evil. our next president must make it their mission to immediately

eliminate the threat of isis to the united states of america. [applause] as a proud us navy veteran, i have found it even more important over the last few months to stop and honor those who serve to keep our nation safe from harm, at home and abroad. one of these service members is here with us today.

please help me welcome captain brian mcdowell. [applause] an active guard reserve member of the florida national guard who is currently serving in the 3rd battalion of the 20th special forces group out of camp blanding. he began his military career in 2000 and has been deployed multiple times in support of operation enduring freedom and iraqi freedom. while deployed to afghanistan in 2004, brian received the purple heart after sustaining

significant shrapnel and burn injuries to his entire body from an ied explosion. after spending six months in the hospital overcoming life threatening injuries, he fought hard to be able to return to work with his fellow guardsmen. i would like to welcome captain mcdowell and his wife ana, who is also an active guard reserve member of the florida national guard, here today. [applause] as we honor captain mcdowell and his wife anna, will every active service member, every veteran and every first responder in the

chamber today please also stand so we can thank you for your service. [applause] in closing, let me say again what i will say all across the state on my bus tour that starts tomorrow. the state of florida is in one word, growing. [applause] together, we have completely turned our economy around and more families are thriving here today than five years ago. florida recently surpassed 20 million residents and we are adding more than 1,000 new residents per day, growing faster than california and new

york. florida has added more than one million jobs. [applause] but, we cannot let up. our $1 billion tax cut package and the creation of the florida enterprise fund will be key elements to make florida first for jobs in the nation for years to come. let's work together to diversify our economy and help our weakest, our poorest and our most disadvantaged get a job, even when times are tough across the nation. let's work together to cut taxes to help families working hard to live their dream in florida. let's work together to help every small business owner who is risking their life savings to succeed here in florida. let's work together to support the next young entrepreneur

like rachel, dane and isaac, building the next great idea here in florida. let's work together to make sure florida continues to have a world-class education system. let's keep working together to make a lasting legacy in the lives of people all across our great state. let's make florida first for jobs together. god bless each of you and god bless the great state of florida. thank you. [applause] in his annual state of the state message, arizona governor doug ducey discussed jobs, education, and the state foster care system. this comes from arizona capital television.

[applause]

>> speaker gowan, president biggs, house leaders montenegro and meyer, senate leaders yarbrough and hobbs, chief justice bales, members of the legislature and judiciary, my fellow arizonans. thank you and . thank you and good afternoon. [applause] i also want to give a special welcome to the newest member of the state's highest court, justice clint bolick. [applause]

tomorrow marks one year since you first welcomed me into this chamber, seven days on the job. on that day, our state was broke. a billion dollars in the red. old laws stood in the way of new jobs. and a lawsuit over school funding froze progress for our kids while threatening a constitutional crisis. what a difference a year makes. [applause] today, because of our decisions, there's money in the bank, we can pay our bills, and our credit rating upgrades will save taxpayers millions. [applause]

we've added more than 56,000 new jobs, and 100,000 new citizens, and forbes says we are the best state in the country for future job growth. [applause] we've unleashed innovation. our free enterprise system is flowing, and so is the beer at four peaks. [laughter] [applause] and we enter 2016, united in an effort to deliver our students and teachers billions in new dollars. [applause] i'm proud to stand here today, and say, the state of the state isn't just strong, it is on the rise.

[applause] opportunity for all. i'm convinced our accomplishments in this first year came from a commitment to that vision, and the ability to work together to tackle problems long postponed. lawmakers here stepped up. and speaker gowan and president biggs delivered on the promise of legislative leadership. [applause] when it came to balancing our budget, we were told it just couldn't be done. not without raising taxes. but we weren't going to make the people of arizona pay for the failings of politicians. so we got the job done, and instead of raising taxes, we lowered them.

[applause] a year later, the big spenders who told us we couldn't balance the budget, are beating the drum, celebrating our hard work with plans to spend and party like it's 1999. [laughter] some people never learn, no matter how much their heads hurt in the morning. someone needs to be the voice of sobriety. so when they bring out the punch bowl, i will be here to say, once again, not on our watch. [applause] on friday, i will release my budget, and the big spenders and special interests aren't going to like it. it prioritizes vital commitments

like education, child safety and public safety. it eliminates waste. it's balanced. and most importantly, it does not raise taxes. [applause] now, i understand that it's unusual for elected leaders to keep their promises, but let me assure you, i intend to keep mine. together, we will lower taxes this year. next year. and the year after. [applause] and at the same time we will invest in education this year, next year, and the year after. [applause] it doesn't have to be an either

or. we can be responsible with our budget, invest in the future, and allow the people to keep more of the dollars they earn. after all, it's the people's money, not the government's. [applause] those same taxpayers expect results from us at this capitol. but all too often, success in this building is measured by how many bills we pass and new laws we add to the books. the result is more than 10,000 pages of statutes, containing some 20,000 laws. we all have priorities this year. but as you debate new laws, i call on you to ask, is this the proper role of government? are we expanding freedom, or limiting it?

last year, 1,163 bills were introduced. 344 crossed my desk, and 324 became law. i enjoyed reviewing all of them, yes, even the ones i didn't sign. but sometimes, as the saying goes, if you want to learn something new, you need to read something old. as barry goldwater wrote in 'conscience of a conservative,' "my aim is not to pass laws, it's to repeal them." [applause] so, in that spirit, in the governor's office, we've identified hundreds of buried regulations that state agencies have imposed on arizonans through the back door, hurting businesses large and small.

stifling job creation and progress. unfortunately, the process to get rid of these unnecessary regulations isn't nearly as easy as the process to create them. send me legislation to allow agencies to wipe them out, easier and faster. and i'll sign it. [applause] don't stop there. arizona requires licenses for too many jobs, resulting in a maze of bureaucracy for small business people looking to earn an honest living. believe it or not, the state of arizona actually licenses talent agents. i say, let's leave the job of finding new talent to adam levine and gwen stefani, not state government.

[applause] the elites and special interests will tell you that these licenses are necessary. but often they have been designed to kill competition or keep out the little guy. so let's eliminate them. [applause] where we must have government, let's make it work. we are transforming how we operate. in a pilot project across 23 state agencies, arizona was able to deliver services to our citizens 65% faster on average, without sacrificing quality. before we started, things were moving slowly. government was sitting on applications. in the case of licensing

qualified bus drivers, four days of work was taking 46 days. so now, four days of work, takes four days. [applause] expect more of these improvements, as we create a results-driven government that works at the speed of business. [applause] last year, state government finally entered the 21st century, just 15 years late. whether it was allowing inventors at techshop in chandler greater freedom to crowdfund, or ending sting operations against ridesharing by overzealous state regulators, we've embraced innovation, and we're not done yet. [applause]

more than 40 million passengers enter our state through sky harbor international airport every year. but you can't order an uber or lyft because unelected bureaucrats at city hall are protecting special interests. sky harbor may be a city airport, but it's an arizona vital resource used by citizens all over the state, and our economy is dependent on its success. i call on phoenix city government to lift these unnecessary regulations immediately. [applause] i also encourage all our cities and towns to put the brakes on ill-advised plans to create a patchwork of different wage and employment laws.

if these political subdivisions don't stop, they'll drive our economy off a cliff. 91 cities and towns with 91 different employment laws, isn't local control, it's california-style chaos. [applause] these efforts are based on the trendy, feel-good policies that are stifling opportunity across the nation, failing everywhere they've been tried. so why would we try them here? let me be more specific. i will use every constitutional power of the executive branch and leverage every legislative relationship to protect small businesses and the working men

and women they employ, up to and including changing the distribution of stateshared revenue. [applause] we will ensure arizona continues to grow jobs, not destroy them. [applause] as our economy advances, our government and our laws need to modernize too. arizona should be to the sharing economy, what texas is to oil , and what silicon valley used to be to the tech industry. moments ago, i signed an executive order creating the governor's council on the sharing economy. its mission, stop shackling innovation, and instead, put the cuffs on out-of-touch regulators.

[applause] i want startups in the sharing economy to know, california may not want you, but arizona does. [applause] and i'd be remiss if i didn't stop to thank my partner in growing arizona's economy, california governor jerry brown. [laughter] [applause] it's often misreported that there is a western water crisis, but the facts show, we'd be more accurate to call it a california water crisis. we've planned ahead. if there's one thing arizona is best in the nation at, it's water.

[applause] we sit in the capitol city in one of the largest metropolitan areas in the nation in the middle of a desert. thanks to revolutionary planning efforts like our 1980 groundwater management act, and leaders from carl hayden to mo udall to jon kyl, arizona has grown and thrived. [applause] we're building on that, and we have a plan in motion. right now, a team of our top water experts, users and providers are charting the path forward. i've directed them to investigate new, long-term sources for water in our state. explore additional conservation opportunities. and identify future infrastructure needs so we don't end up like sorry california.

[applause] i've also given the green light to the arizona department of water resources to use existing dollars to hire new staff that the water community has been requesting for years, experts who can take these plans and make them work. [applause] when it comes to our economic future, we're planning for tomorrow, and we're innovating, starting with the arizona commerce authority. we know what businesses look for when deciding where to locate, quality of life, low taxes, light regulations, good financing, and qualified workers.

it's time for aca 2.0, with a renewed focus on marketing and promotion. we have a great state with amazing assets. we know life's better here. now, let's do a better job at getting the word out. [applause] governors compete. states compete. people and businesses decide. so the goal is simple, to grow our economy, to take full advantage of our geography to better address the needs of businesses fleeing california and other states on the decline, and to ensure job creators who are already here, stay and thrive. [applause]

a great economy requires great public schools. it's important to note, we are already doing a lot of things well. three of the top 10 public high schools in the country. hardworking, dedicated and nationally-renowned teachers and principals. and while scores on the nation's report card dropped across the country, arizona students continued to improve. [applause] together, we've made substantial progress towards giving our educators the resources they've been asking for. last year, faced with one of the most contentious legal issues in arizona history, leaders in education and the legislature stepped up.