Bill Ritter in 2004 Governor's State of the State speeches


On Education: Cut the high school drop-out rate in half in a decade

About 30 percent of Colorado high school students don’t graduate. Less than half of the black, Latino and American Indian students who start high school in Colorado actually finish. Our goal: cut the drop-out rate in half within 10 years. The achievement gap separating poor and minority students from more affluent and white students is about 30 percentage points on the CSAP tests. I also want to keep the emerging technology gap from widening so we don’t leave poor and rural kids behind.
Source: 2004 State of the State Address Jan 11, 2007

On Energy & Oil: 20% electricity efficiency improvement by 2020

I will adopt the Western Governor’s Association’s recent resolution calling for a 20% improvement in the efficiency of electricity use statewide by 2020. Getting wind energy on the wires will be one of my highest priorities. I’m eager to see the bill that will double the renewable energy requirements. I’m excited about the possible creation of a Colorado Clean Energy Fund that will help with the technology transfer of research to the marketplace & finally into our communities, homes & businesses
Source: 2004 State of the State Address Jan 11, 2007

On Energy & Oil: Increase the use of local bio-fuels at the state government

We must convert our vehicle fleets to hybrid or flex-fuels as they are replaced. We must increase the use of bio-fuels which are produced in Colorado. All new and renovated state buildings must comply with higher energy-efficiency standards and become High Performance Buildings. Each year, I will recognize the remarkable people, businesses, institutions and nonprofits who work in the renewable energy field. I am happy to announce the creation of the Excellence in Renewable Energy Award.
Source: 2004 State of the State Address Jan 11, 2007

On Health Care: Provide Coloradans some basic form of health care by 2010

My long-term vision is to establish a Colorado Health Plan that provides every Coloradan with access to some basic form of health insurance and health care by 2010. I look forward to solving this crisis with the legislature and the new “208” Health Commission. In the short term, we can make immediate progress by joining a multi-state drug-purchasing pool, and we can do it while still protecting vulnerable populations. This will be one of my first executive orders.
Source: 2004 State of the State Address Jan 11, 2007

On Technology: Committed to solving congestion problems on I-70

I will be appointing a Colorado Transportation Finance and Implementation Panel to get that conversation underway. The panel will work with CDOT and the Colorado Transportation Commission. The panel’s work will begin with a statewide Transportation Summit. In the long term, I am committed to solving congestion problems on I-70. I want to see more regional projects, such as FasTracks and Go 1A in Colorado Springs. I want to see our regional airports thrive.
Source: 2004 State of the State Address Jan 11, 2007

The above quotations are from 2004 Governor's State of the State speeches.
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