Jesse Ventura in Governor's State of the State speeches, late 1990s

On Budget & Economy: Never, ever forget it's the public's money

Within one week of my election, I set three top priorities: budget, budget, budget. Today I am releasing mine to you in a handy wallet form. They boil down to this:

Be fiscally prudent--never, ever forget it's the public's money
Do what's necessary; not what's nice to do.
Prevent future costs where possible.
Insist that projected budgets are balanced for 4 years
Set a responsible budget, live within it, and settle-up any surpluses with taxpayers at the end of the biennium.

Source: 1999 State of the State Address to Minnesota Legislature Mar 2, 1999

On Education: Responsibility for education begins with parents

The goal of this administration is to build the strongest public education system in the world.but it is only as effective as the resolve of every parent to step up and be the first and most important teacher a child will have. On that I will not give an inch. It's so easy to blame the governor, the legislature, teachers, the school board--when in reality nothing is successful without every parent making good decisions, every day, in the best interests of each child. Source: 1999 State of the State Address to Minnesota Legislature Mar 2, 1999

On Free Trade: When I travel abroad it will be with a serious economic plan

When I travel abroad, it will be with a serious economic plan, well thought through. The trip planned for fall to Japan is the first effort. Some of you may know that Japanese television carried my inauguration on national television. With such interest in Minnesota, I would be foolish not to explore that interest for the betterment of our entire state's economy. The urgency of my administration's strategy for new market development is seen most in the agricultural part of the economy. Source: 1999 State of the State Address to Minnesota Legislature Mar 2, 1999

On Government Reform: Give every new program a sunset clause to force evaluation

We must start evaluating programs for results.
We can't ever hesitate to reform or eliminate programs if they aren't producing results.
Every new program should automatically have a "sunset" clause that forces proper evaluation.
We must move decisions to the level closest to the people.no unfunded mandates from one unit of government to the next.

Source: 1999 State of the State Address to Minnesota Legislature Mar 2, 1999

On Principles & Values: Government's role is to do what people can't do themselves

I brought to the job three fundamental beliefs that are very, very important to understanding how I will govern:

First, said best by Abraham Lincoln -- the role for government is to do only what the people cannot do for themselves.
Second, I believe in personal responsibility and self-sufficiency.
And finally, I believe that greatness in this state can only continue with an active, involved citizenry.

Source: 1999 State of the State Address to Minnesota Legislature Mar 2, 1999

On Tax Reform: Reforming property tax system a high priority

It's time to quit taxing senior citizens out of homes that they own and force them into nursing homes or assisted living. It's time to confront the inequities of how we fund public schools, and how unfair that is to children and taxpayers in communities all over Minnesota. Even well-intentioned "fixes" end up making the system more complicated, and one taxpayer's fix becomes another taxpayer's problem. Reforming the property tax system is one of my administration's highest priorities. Source: 1999 State of the State Address to Minnesota Legislature Mar 2, 1999

The above quotations are from Late 1990s Governor's State of the State speeches. Click here for other excerpts from Late 1990s Governor's State of the State speeches. Click here for other excerpts by Jesse Ventura. Click here for other excerpts by other Governors.
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Page last updated: Mar 14, 2021