[applause] we've got all five of connecticut representatives in congress, including ccsu alum john larsen is in the house. [ cheering ] another proud ccsu alum, aaron stewart, your mayor, along with mayor segara and other mayors and legislators from across connecticut. today we're doing something a little different than usual. usually when i hit the road and talk with folks like all of you, i got a governor with me. but you are special. so we decided one governor wasn't enough. so in addition we have devalue patrick of massachusetts, peter somelynn from vermont. this is like a governor super group, the justice league of governors. i call them the new england patriots, but that name is already taken. [laughter] i love you back. but we can't just spend the whole day talking about how we love each other. that's not why i came. we are here today--we're here today because each of us cares deeply about creating new jobs and new opportunities for all americans. and we're at this interesting moment in our economy. our economy has been growing, our businesses have created 85,000 new jobs. those ar