Eliot Spitzer in 2004 Governor's State of the State speeches


On Education: Increase investment in education with transparent funding

Our reform agenda for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade is built on a simple premise: in exchange for new money, school districts must show where that money is spent and whether it’s getting results - with consequences for failure and rewards for success. My upcoming budget will include a new, transparent school funding formula that dramatically increases investment over the next four years throughout the state, targeting the investment where we need it most.
Source: 2004 State of the State Address Jan 3, 2007

On Government Reform: Submit a reform package for full public campaign financing

We will submit a reform package to replace the weakest campaign finance laws in the nation with the strongest. It will lower contribution limits dramatically, disallow special interests to circumvent these limits, and sharply reduce contributions from lobbyists and companies that do business with the state. Full public financing must be the ultimate goal of our reform effort. By cutting off the demand for private money, we will cut off the special-interest influence that comes with it.
Source: 2004 State of the State Address Jan 3, 2007

On Health Care: Propose a Stem Cell and Innovation Fund to voters

We will propose a Stem Cell and Innovation Fund to be presented to the voters for approval. The fund will provide long-term investment, overseen by independent industry experts, for stem cell innovations and other types of applied research that will lead to direct commercial application. This investment will repay itself many times over in increased jobs, economic activity and improved health.
Source: 2004 State of the State Address Jan 3, 2007

On Tax Reform: Dramatically reduce property taxes to help homeowners

We must reduce our cost structure is to dramatically reduce property taxes. Because of the different needs of our state, as we provide more resources to school districts, we must provide more property tax relief to over-taxed homeowners. I will submit a budget that includes the first installment of a three-year, $6 billion property tax cut - cuts that are focused on those middle class homeowners whose property taxes are rising too fast for their incomes to catch up.
Source: 2004 State of the State Address Jan 3, 2007

On Welfare & Poverty: Provide greater aid to distressed cities and towns

We must provide greater aid to distressed cities and towns in the same way we will provide more funding to distressed schools, based upon the principle that with any new investment must come new accountability. Therefore, we must significantly expand the Aid and Incentives to Municipalities program for those cities and towns in greatest need. But as we provide new aid, we must demand that municipalities practice better financial management and make stronger efforts to achieve efficiencies.
Source: 2004 State of the State Address Jan 3, 2007

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