Jon Huntsman in 2007 Governor's State of the State speeches
On Education:
To produce first-rate students, pay for first-rate teachers
Our strong economy now allows us the opportunity to fortify our foundations for the future. These foundations--which include education, the economy, quality of life, and governance--each has a set of reinforcing fundamentals.
The first foundation is education.When I speak of focusing on our fundamentals, I speak of teacher compensation. Teaching must be reinforced as being among the most noble of pursuits. We must compensate fairly those who inspire our next generation of
Utahns. If we hope to produce first-rate students, we must have first-rate teachers.
Educational excellence begins with the recruitment, retention and commitment of teachers who are passionate about educating our youth--the only future we have.
I refuse to stand by idly as we lose good educators to other states in our region. Together with my colleagues in the legislature, we have made significant strides in bolstering education the last two years. We can do more. We must do more.
Source: Utah 2007 State of the State address
Jan 16, 2007
On Government Reform:
Two-year cooling-off period before State employees can lobby
We all want a State equal to its promise. A State with more dreams than memories--one that is responsive, open and accessible. Tonight, as part of this administration's commitment to enhancing ethics in government, through an Executive
Order, I will enact a cooling-off period of two years before State employees can lobby their previous place of work. In the interest of a transparent government, we will prohibit nepotism in hiring or contracting for all Executive Branch departments.
Also, from this point on, I am asking for a complete ban on gifts to any Executive Branch employee. Ethics and integrity should be a requirement within all branches of government.
Tonight, I reinforce my pledge to build an Executive Branch that holds itself to a higher standard.
Source: Utah 2007 State of the State address
Jan 16, 2007
On Health Care:
We mandate insurance for cars, but not children's health
It is an irony that we live in a country which mandates insurance for our cars, but not for our children's health. We must stop seeing this crisis as a one dimensional social issue. The large number of those without health insurance nationally and in our
own State highlights a dilemma in defining the proper role of government and a critical challenge to the exercise of individual responsibility. I am recommending more than $4 million to lift the cap on the Children's Health Insurance Program
(CHIP) which will allow more than 14,000 additional Utah children access to the health care they so desperately need. In addition to the children, there are hundreds of thousands of uninsured adults. We must stop kidding ourselves that those who are
uninsured are simply not receiving health care. They are receiving care, but they are receiving too little, too late--and typically in settings such as emergency rooms where the care is much more expensive than if it had been provided elsewhere.
Source: Utah 2007 State of the State address
Jan 16, 2007
On Jobs:
Utah job growth at 5%; unemployment under 3%
I would like the numbers to speak for themselves. During 2006: - Nearly 60,000 new jobs were created in Utah--an historic high for our State
- Our job growth reached 5 percent, more than triple the national average
- Our unemployment rate of
2.5% reached unprecedented levels in State history and was among the lowest in the nation
- and Utah was recognized as America's sixth fastest growing state.
Source: Utah 2007 State of the State address
Jan 16, 2007
On Tax Reform:
Removed half of the sales tax on food
Last year, together with the Legislature, we removed half of the State portion of sales tax on food and took an initial step in adopting a flatter, fairer, income tax that will help Utah keep its competitive edge. We established a dual tax system,
now recognized nationally, that gives individual taxpayers the choice of either paying under our old income tax system or simply paying a flat 5.35 percent in income taxes. As a result of this action, every Utahn will receive income tax relief.
Source: Utah 2007 State of the State address
Jan 16, 2007
On Technology:
Fund desperately needed road expansions
It is no secret that Utah's transportation needs continue to grow. Building roads, highways, and rail has long been a priority for Utahns. I am asking Legislators to support significant increases in funding for basic, but critically important projects,
and act now to fund corridor preservation efforts so that we can plan for desperately needed road expansions. My budget proposals will allow us to do this without incurring any new debt.
Source: Utah 2007 State of the State address
Jan 16, 2007
Page last updated: Nov 30, 2018