2021 Governor's State of the State speeches


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OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Greg Abbott: Ensure every child is spared from ravages of abortion.     Kevin Stitt: We'll protect the rights of unborn children.     Greg Gianforte: Urges legislature to pass restrictive abortion laws.     Henry McMaster: Send me the heartbeat bill and I will immediately sign it.     Asa Hutchinson: Now we're the number one pro-life state in the nation.     Kristi Noem: Ban abortion of preborn diagnosed with Down syndrome.

Budget & Economy     Tim Walz: Level playing field for working families, small businesses.     Gavin Newsom: $2.6 billion in grants to small businesses & nonprofits.     Mark Gordon: Make the state the digital asset epicenter of the U.S.     Janet Mills: History has shown that we cannot cut our way to prosperity.     J.B. Pritzker: Entrepreneurs create most of the jobs in our state.     J.B. Pritzker: Illinois pays billions more in federal taxes than it gets.     Jared Polis: Road repair: make it easier to travel our great state.     Chris Sununu: Money to cities and towns, local communities know best.     Jim Justice: $30 to 50 million to entice business to West Virginia.     Bill Lee: Addressing maintenance the fiscally responsible thing to do.     Larry Hogan: COVID: $1 billion in tax relief and economic stimulus.     Kay Ivey: Business tax credits attract new companies to Alabama.     Kay Ivey: Our roads are the arteries of Alabama's commerce.     Mike Parson: Workforce development programs has attracted businesses.     Charlie Baker: Massive transformation of work has wide impact.     John Carney: Proposes fund to convert existing properties for employers.     Eric Holcomb: Infrastructure a priority, complete interstate project.     Steve Sisolak: COVID: Additional $50 million to help small businesses.     Steve Sisolak: Launch State Infrastructure Bank to leverage outside capital.     Tony Evers: $40 million for Rural Innovation Fund.     Henry McMaster: Propose nearly doubling rainy day reserve fund.     Laura Kelly: Funding & assistance to strengthen rural small businesses.     Phil Murphy: COVID: Grants and loans to nearly 55,000 small businesses.     Phil Murphy: Largest investment in infrastructure in New Jersey history.     Andrew Cuomo: COVID: Washington passed the buck without passing the bucks.     Brad Little: $126 million for highways; $80 million for transportation.     Andy Beshear: Better Kentucky Budget: no tax increase, no budget cuts.     Doug Burgum: Investing in infrastructure now will save us millions.

Civil Rights     John Bel Edwards: Pandemic highlighted inequities in our communities.     Tim Walz: For too many getting back to normal isn't good enough.     Tate Reeves: Committed to building a more equitable world.     Jay Inslee: We have work ahead to undo racial inequities.

Corporations     Tom Wolf: Cut state business tax by 25%, closing a loophole.

Crime     John Bel Edwards: Create an Office of Human Trafficking Prevention.     Ron DeSantis: Opposes insane fantasy of defunding law enforcement.     Chris Sununu: Committed to bring greater accountability to our system.     Bill Lee: Improved enforcement training for police cadets.     Greg Abbott: Emergency laws to prevent cities from defunding the police.     Kay Ivey: New modern prisons will improve conditions, rehabilitation.     Mike Dunleavy: Ramp up prosecution for sexual crimes and domestic violence.     Mike Parson: Require de-escalation and bias recognition police training.     Charlie Baker: Passed one of the most comprehensive police reform laws.     John Carney: We banned chokeholds, now body cameras for every officer.     Peter Ricketts: Build a new, modern correctional facility.     Tony Evers: As long as I'm governor, we back the blue!     Tony Evers: Reform laws to help victims of sex trafficking.     Henry McMaster: Shield companies providing drugs for lethal injection.     Ralph Northam: It's time to end the death penalty in Virginia.     Asa Hutchinson: Let's not be last state to enact hate crimes legislation.     Jay Inslee: Investigations & prosecutions into racial injustice.     Kim Reynolds: There will be no talk of defunding the police here.     Kim Reynolds: Ban racial profiling and other forms of disparate treatment.     Phil Murphy: Eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent crimes.     Brad Little: Other places defund the police; Idaho defends the police.

Drugs     Jim Justice: Partnership to bring prevention programs to all schools.     Tom Wolf: Bipartisan support for legalizing marijuana.     Ralph Northam: Time to join 16 others states, make marijuana legal.     Ned Lamont: Work with legislature on legalization of marijuana.

Education     John Bel Edwards: Increase in teacher pay isn't enough, hope to do more.     John Bel Edwards: Invest in higher education for student success in workplace.     Tim Walz: Reform school financing, reflect diverse student body.     Ron DeSantis: COVID: other states not opening schools a policy blunder.     Ron DeSantis: Rejects education cuts, launched civics initiative.     Janet Mills: $6 million in low/no interest loans for childcare facilities.     J.B. Pritzker: No budget cuts; focus on meeting needs of students.     J.B. Pritzker: Expand college access for smart kids who can least afford it.     Chris Sununu: $30 million in one-time grants for school capital projects.     Chris Sununu: Student debt relief for graduates staying & working in state.     Chris Sununu: Unified and merged state college and university system.     Bill Lee: Expanding civics education with Civics Seal Initiative.     Gina Raimondo: Made community college tuition free before most states.     Larry Hogan: Scholarships for deserving students for non-public schools.     Tom Wolf: Finally hold charter schools accountable for results.     Tom Wolf: High-quality education is the ticket to greater opportunity.     Greg Abbott: Teach students what it means to be American & to be a Texan.     Kay Ivey: $1.25 billion bond for K-12 public schools, state colleges.     Kevin Stitt: Change school funding formula to current enrollment.     Greg Gianforte: More trade education scholarships; more teacher incentives.     Mike Dunleavy: Increase funding for public homeschooling.     Gretchen Whitmer: Our economy demands every child has a great public education.     Gretchen Whitmer: Tuition-free opportunities for COVID front line workers.     John Carney: Double Opportunity Funding for public schools.     Michelle Lujan-Grisham: Enact an equity-first budget for public education.     Michelle Lujan-Grisham: Supports tuition-free two-year higher education.     Tate Reeves: Job training lifts people out of poverty, into proud work.     Tate Reeves: Ensure parental choice to save children from bad districts.     David Ige: Maximize school land by building compatible structures.     Spencer Cox: Change the way we fund schools, what's best for entire state.     Tate Reeves: Have invested more than $10 billion in education programs.     Eric Holcomb: Parents deserve options but not at expense of public schools.     Eric Holcomb: Help Hoosiers obtain post-secondary education for jobs.     Steve Sisolak: Dollars follow students, not districts nor schools.     Peter Ricketts: Fully fund aid to K-12 education, invest in next generation.     Tony Evers: COVID: Hold schools harmless for enrollment reductions.     Henry McMaster: $13 million to establish Education Scholarship Accounts.     Henry McMaster: Remove outdated "Common Core" textbooks from classrooms.     Asa Hutchinson: Raise average teacher salaries $2,000 over next two years.     Kim Reynolds: $28 million for public-private partnerships for child care.     Kim Reynolds: Make open enrollment available in all school districts.     Kristi Noem: Schools should teach is US is most special nation in history.     Brad Little: Make sure all students can read by end of third grade.     Doug Ducey: Parents have new options, we should empower them.     Andy Beshear: $1000 salary boost for all school workers.     Andy Beshear: $100 million to repair crumbling public schools.     Phil Scott: Investing in childcare a top priority; address inequities.     Doug Burgum: Expand career/technical academies across the state.

Energy & Oil     John Bel Edwards: Reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.     John Bel Edwards: Work with--not against--oil & gas companies on solutions.     Gavin Newsom: New cars & trucks in California to be zero-emission by 2035.     Mark Gordon: Crazed pursuit of 100% green energy will cripple the nation.     Mark Gordon: Coal will help make Wyoming net negative in CO2 emissions.     Janet Mills: Double Maine's clean energy jobs over next ten years.     Jared Polis: Colorado is a national leader in green energy jobs.     Chris Sununu: Fund the Office of Offshore Wind Industry Development.     Jim Justice: We should help our coal, gas, and oil companies.     Kevin Stitt: Protect oil and gas industry from radical liberals.     Mike Dunleavy: Harness renewable energy resources: wind, tidal, hydro.     Mike Dunleavy: False premise: protect environment or economic development.     Charlie Baker: Roadmap to reach net zero emissions by 2050.     Michelle Lujan-Grisham: New Mexico to have nation's largest single wind complex.     Steve Sisolak: We're poised to lead the world on clean energy storage.     Doug Burgum: Clean coal will allow us to shape global energy policy.

Environment     Ron DeSantis: Create Resilient Florida program to deal with flooding.     Gretchen Whitmer: It's time to rebuild Michigan's water infrastructure.     John Carney: $50 million investment in new Clean Water Trust Fund.     Michelle Lujan-Grisham: State recovered over $1 million from corporate polluters.     Eric Holcomb: Investing in community trails, planting a million new trees.     Brad Little: Wildfires are about land management, not climate change.

Families & Children     John Bel Edwards: Reasonable accommodations for health of mom and baby.     Gavin Newsom: Increase child care subsidies; add to paid family leave.     Chris Sununu: Paid medical leave can be done without an income tax.     Bill Lee: Extend coverage for new moms, mental health for children.     Bill Lee: Pro-life includes improving lives of struggling families.     Mike Parson: Consolidate several programs into new Office of Childhood.     Ralph Northam: Fund doula services for pregnant women.     Phil Murphy: Make New Jersey safest place to deliver and raise babies.     Phil Murphy: Committed to more robust child-care support system.

Free Trade     Laura Kelly: First Democratic governor for US/Canada/Mexico trade deal.

Government Reform     Gavin Newsom: Radically ramp up forest management efforts.     Ron DeSantis: No to ballot harvesting and private groups spending money.     J.B. Pritzker: Pass ethics legislation, restore public trust.     Jim Justice: Create cabinet posts on tourism & economic development.     Gina Raimondo: Rhode Island Supreme Court now multiracial, majority female.     Greg Abbott: Election integrity essential to our democracy.     Kevin Stitt: Government's job is to get out of the way & cut red tape.     Greg Gianforte: Red Tape Relief Task Force to review all regulations.     Mike Dunleavy: Strengthen agricultural sector with fewer regulations.     John Carney: Make mail-in voting a permanent feature of our elections.     Tate Reeves: Will advocate for Oregon's voting innovations nationally.     Henry McMaster: Magistrate judges should be lawyers, publicly screened.     Ralph Northam: $12 million into natural resources agencies.     Ralph Northam: Amend constitution so that ex-cons can vote automatically.     Tony Evers: Fixing broken unemployment system is a priority.     Tony Evers: End gerrymandering, stop legislature from destroying records.     Brad Little: Idaho is now the least regulated state in the nation.     Ned Lamont: Easier absentee ballots, early voting should be permanent.     Doug Burgum: One-stop reporting for hazardous spills helps state respond.

Gun Control     Bill Lee: Reintroducing concealed carry legislation.     Greg Abbott: Texas must be a Second Amendment Sanctuary State.

Health Care     John Bel Edwards: COVID: Relying on doctors and scientists and epidemiologists.     John Bel Edwards: Medicaid expansion saved lives.     Gavin Newsom: COVID: Science--not politics--drove our decisions.     Ron DeSantis: COVID: We will not close schools, jobs, businesses.     Jared Polis: Telehealth is literally a lifesaver for many in rural areas.     Chris Sununu: Our 10-Year Mental-Health Plan continues to be fully funded.     Bill Lee: Tennessee first state to get Medicaid block grant waiver.     Greg Abbott: We must focus on mental health challenges.     Greg Abbott: Ensure coverage without being forced into the ObamaCare.     Kevin Stitt: Use managed care to operate Medicaid expansion.     Mike Parson: Will expand Medicaid but be vigilant against fraud and waste.     Charlie Baker: Emergency telehealth order worked, now it's permanent.     Michelle Lujan-Grisham: Mental health care is health care, we must meet those needs.     Tate Reeves: Ensure everyone has access to affordable health care.     Eric Holcomb: Now is the time to implement a managed care system.     Tony Evers: Fund state alternatives to ObamaCare.     Kim Reynolds: $30 million over two years to fund mental health reform.     Kristi Noem: Make pandemic rules for telehealth permanent.     Andrew Cuomo: Telehealth invaluable, but must ensure accessibility to all.     Brad Little: Expanded telehealth access, let's make changes permanent.     Doug Ducey: Once we're all vaccinated we can get on with life.     Andy Beshear: COVID: Troubling that a public health crisis was politicized.     Phil Scott: Time to cap annual increases, prioritize prevention.

Homeland Security     Mark Gordon: We will partner with other states to address veteran suicide.     Jared Polis: Allow gay veterans to receive certain state benefits.     Peter Ricketts: Working to bring Space Command to the Heartland.     Kristi Noem: Tax exemptions for veterans with disabilities.     Andy Beshear: Full exclusion of military pensions from state income tax.

Immigration     Greg Abbott: Texas must fortify its efforts to secure our border.     Greg Gianforte: Ban sanctuary cities in Montana to maintain rule of law.

Jobs     John Bel Edwards: Pass a minimum wage bill, get it on my desk, I'll sign it.     Janet Mills: Goal: 100% of students have option of paid internships.     J.B. Pritzker: Support for childcare aids women's workforce participation.     Jared Polis: Passed a law to ensure women are paid the same as men.     Bill Lee: Helped faith communities connect people with job services.     Mike Dunleavy: Bring gaming to Alaska: create hundreds of high-paying jobs.     Mike Parson: Expand programs to link high school graduates with jobs.     Spencer Cox: Funding for job training, not everyone needs a degree.     Eric Holcomb: Pass pregnancy accommodations bill for women on the job.     Peter Ricketts: We've been cutting red tape to keep Nebraskans working.     Laura Kelly: Rebuilding crumbling infrastructure means jobs.

Local Issues     Chris Sununu: Expand Rainy Day Fund to up to 10% of revenue.     Kevin Stitt: Must address state sovereignty over tribal land & peoples.     Tate Reeves: Invest in emergency management to prepare for fire seasons.

Principles & Values     Tim Walz: Coaching HS football taught grit, resilience, teamwork.     Tim Walz: Nonviolence the only way to move hearts and create change.     Ron DeSantis: Florida sun a beacon of light for those yearning for freedom.     J.B. Pritzker: We need a reliably well-funded government.     J.B. Pritzker: We had to give up things; we didn't forget how to be human.     Jared Polis: Embracing the outdoors part of the Colorado Way of Life.     Jim Justice: God is responsible for miracle of West Virginia.     Bill Lee: Through times of trial we become more purposeful.     Gina Raimondo: To young women: look within; summon courage to lead.     Larry Hogan: The truth doesn't know party affiliation.     Tom Wolf: What do people need to be able to build a brighter future?     Greg Abbott: Prevent government from shutting churches during pandemic.     Mike Dunleavy: Alaskans are a different breed: we don't run and hide.     Charlie Baker: More important to ask questions than be judgmental.     Tate Reeves: We're all on the same team, made in the image of God.     Spencer Cox: We are friends; we must always be friends.     Henry McMaster: COVID: We slowed down, but safely remained open.     Laura Kelly: Leaders must set an example that we share a common bond.     Ralph Northam: Voters deserve the truth, even when it's hard to hear.     Asa Hutchinson: When the election is over we need to come together.     Kristi Noem: COVID: no shutdowns, we stayed open the entire time.     Phil Murphy: New Jerseyans need to know government has their backs.     Brad Little: Our statehouse demonstrates openness of political process.     Doug Ducey: Condemns violence & destructive rioting at US Capitol.     Roy Cooper: Cast aside notions of red counties or blue counties.     Ned Lamont: Important to reset relationships with regional states.

Tax Reform     John Bel Edwards: We can make tax reforms but they must be revenue neutral.     J.B. Pritzker: Cut corporate loopholes forcing middle class to pay more.     Jared Polis: Get rid of special interest tax breaks for the few.     Chris Sununu: Managed to mitigate worst of pandemic without raising taxes.     Jim Justice: Repeal income tax; increase sales tax 1 «%, add wealth tax.     Larry Hogan: $1 billion+ in tax cuts for every single retired Marylander.     Larry Hogan: Not a single tax increase since I was elected governor.     Tom Wolf: Tax cuts for working families earning less than $84,000.     Kay Ivey: Online sales tax means no need for raising income tax.     Greg Gianforte: Lowering top tax rate will make Montana more competitive.     Mike Dunleavy: Any new broad-base tax must be approved by Alaska people.     Mike Parson: For lower taxes, but online retailers hurt local business.     Tate Reeves: We need a bold move: elimination of the income tax.     Tony Evers: Incentivize in-state pharmaceutical, medical equipment.     Henry McMaster: 15% across-the-board reduction for all personal brackets.     Asa Hutchinson: Lower tax rate for new residents to 4.9% for five years.     Jay Inslee: Reduce increases in unemployment tax.     Kim Reynolds: We need to continue the conversation about cutting taxes.     Kristi Noem: The taxes we have are stable and predictable, no increases.     Andrew Cuomo: COVID: Raise taxes on the wealthy to help states.     Brad Little: Proposes the single largest tax cuts in Idaho history.     Doug Ducey: Haven't raised taxes, on tax reform let's think big.     Phil Scott: Reduce unemployment payroll tax without impacting benefits.

Technology     John Bel Edwards: Fund high speed, afford broadband for everyone in Louisiana.     Ron DeSantis: Floridians have a right to control their personal data.     Janet Mills: High speed internet as fundamental as electricity.     J.B. Pritzker: Universal broadband access by 2024.     Jim Justice: Do everything we can to blanket state with broadband.     Bill Lee: One-time investment of $200 million in broadband expansion.     Greg Abbott: Broadband not a luxury; it's an essential tool.     Kay Ivey: $500 million investment over three years to expand broadband.     Mike Parson: $5 million investment to expand and improve broadband.     John Carney: Provided 25,000 low-income students with internet access.     Michelle Lujan-Grisham: $200 million for high-speed internet is urgently needed.     David Ige: Hawai'i 2.0: we must pivot to a digital economy.     Tate Reeves: $100 million in statewide broadband expansion.     Tate Reeves: Broadband expansion could mend the urban rural divide.     Eric Holcomb: Additional $100 million to boost broadband connectivity.     Peter Ricketts: Bring broadband coverage to every corner of the state.     Tony Evers: Ongoing investment in rural broadband expansion.     Laura Kelly: Established Kansas's Office of Broadband Development.     Ralph Northam: Broadband is as critical now as electricity in 1900s.     Asa Hutchinson: $30 million to expand high-speed internet into rural areas.     Kim Reynolds: $450 million for statewide high-speed broadband by 2025.     Kristi Noem: Finish connecting the state with broadband.     Phil Murphy: We're closing the digital divide for schoolchildren.     Tony Evers: Declares 2021 to be Year of Broadband Access.     Andrew Cuomo: Broadband internet must be accessible and affordable.     Doug Burgum: Essential to invest in protecting the data of our citizens.

Welfare & Poverty     Gavin Newsom: Nearly $2 billion to create more homeless housing.     David Ige: Affordable housing: 10,000 homes built, 3000 more by 2022.     Tate Reeves: $250 million investment in affordable housing.     Ralph Northam: $25 million new dollars to housing trust fund.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Andrew Cuomo New York Democratic Governor Andy Beshear Kentucky Democratic Gubernatorial Challenger Asa Hutchinson Arkansas Republican Governor Bill Lee Tennessee Republican candidate for governor of Tennessee Brad Little Idaho Republican Charlie Baker Massachusetts Republican Governor Chris Sununu New Hampshire Republican challenger for Governor David Ige Hawaii Democratic Governor Doug Burgum North Dakota Republican candidate for Governor Doug Ducey Arizona Republican Governor Eric Holcomb Indiana Republican candidate for Governor Gavin Newsom California Democratic Challenger Gina Raimondo Rhode Island Secretay of Commerce Greg Abbott Texas Republican Governor Greg Gianforte Montana Republican Gubernatorial Challenger Gretchen Whitmer Michigan Democratic Governor Henry McMaster South Carolina Republican J.B. Pritzker Illinois Democratic candidate for Illinois Governor Janet Mills Maine Democratic candidate for Maine Governor Jared Polis Colorado Democratic candidate for Colorado Governor Jay Inslee Washington Democratic Washington Governor Jim Justice West Virginia Democratic governor John Bel Edwards Louisiana Democratic Governor John Carney Delaware Democratic candidate for Governor Kay Ivey Alabama Republican Alabama Governor Kevin Stitt Oklahoma Republican candidate for governor of Oklahoma Kim Reynolds Iowa Republican Kristi Noem South Dakota Republican Larry Hogan Maryland Republican Maryland Governor Laura Kelly Kansas Democratic candidate for governor of Kansas Mark Gordon Wyoming Republican candidate for governor of Wyoming Michelle Lujan-Grisham New Mexico Democrat Mike Dunleavy Alaska Republican candidate for governor of Alaska Mike Parson Missouri Republican governor of Missouri Ned Lamont Connecticut Democratic Candidate for governor Peter Ricketts Nebraska Republican Governor Phil Murphy New Jersey Democratic 2021 Gubernatorial contender Phil Scott Vermont Republican challenger for Governor Ralph Northam Virginia Democratic Governor Ron DeSantis Florida Republican candidate for governor Roy Cooper North Carolina Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Spencer Cox Utah Republican Gubernatorial Challenger Steve Sisolak Nevada Democratic candidate for Nevada Governor Tate Reeves Mississippi Republican candidate for governor Tim Walz Minnesota Democratic candidate for Governor Tom Wolf Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Tony Evers Wisconsin Democratic candidate for governor of Wisconsin