Dave Freudenthal in 2010 Governor's State of the State speeches
On Budget & Economy:
Remain fiscally conservative without dipping into savings
There are many reasons for this state to remain fiscally conservative. The Senate and the House will decide whether or not you to go into the savings which we have set aside. The budget that I submitted did not go into the savings. We need to be careful.
This has and will continue to be felt on Main Street throughout this country.I do not see a dramatic change that suggests this is going to be some aggressive and robust recovery. I believe that it is going to be slow; it is going to be difficult.
Part of it is simply the absence of credit availability, particularly for small businesses, and not a matter that I see being resolved very quickly. The state should remain, I believe, fairly conservative.
Source: Wyoming 2010 State of the State Address
Feb 8, 2010
On Crime:
$50M for separate facilities for juveniles
It is time that we have a degree of uniformity in this state about how we treat juveniles. We have allocated $50 million of stimulus money to a series of juvenile detention facilities around this state.
These facilities create options, so when we have juveniles that need to be detained they can be taken someplace other than hard lockdown with adults. Adults, whose offenses usually far exceed anything we would like these young people to be around.
Source: Wyoming 2010 State of the State Address
Feb 8, 2010
On Education:
Base cuts on valuation of projects, & keep building schools
I do not support the decision to significantly reduce school capital construction. There are 3 reasons. One is about the only thing that is going to generate jobs in this state for construction is going to be public construction. Second, we are getting
some of the most remarkable bids we have ever seen in terms of school construction.I am also troubled by the fact these reductions were accomplished by essentially dropping four projects off the bottom of the School Facilities Commission list, not
based on the valuation of the projects, just sort of, "We need to save $50 million; let's cut it off the bottom."
The decision of the committee to reduce overall funding by 8.5%, based on changes in construction costs, is fine with me. It does not
change the number of projects we will be doing. However, I think we need to be cognizant of the fact that we have told school districts, "If you'll play by the rules, and not come to the Legislature and ask for special bills, we'll keep building schools.
Source: Wyoming 2010 State of the State Address
Feb 8, 2010
On Energy & Oil:
We have doubled the take-away capacity of natural gas
Since 2003, we have more than doubled the take-away capacity of natural gas out of this state. So while you have had a decline in price, it has been offset by the fact that you have had an increase in volume relative to previous declines in this state,
and that makes a significant difference. The efforts of the Pipeline Authority and those who supported it also had a bearing. When other states say Wyoming is so lucky, I don't think it is so much luck. Hard work makes it look like luck.
Source: Wyoming 2010 State of the State Address
Feb 8, 2010
On Environment:
One year moratorium on eminent domain for wind power-lines
In the Industrial Siting Act, two items are controversial: One is my suggestion that we suspend wind generation companies' power of condemnation to build collector power-lines. I do this mindful of the fact that it is going to produce some significant
controversy.The exercise of eminent domain by a private party is the exercise of a state authority granted by the Legislature. It is a decision by the Legislature to prefer one group's property rights over those of another.
When wind companies say t
you, "We don't use eminent domain," the truth is we have not used a nuclear bomb since World War II, but the existence of the deterrent nuclear arsenal has colored every discussion about international and national security in that time.
The same is tru
with regard to eminent domain. The fact it is not used does not mean it is not a part of the conversation. I am not suggesting we do away with it forever. I am suggesting we take a one-year hiatus. This moratorium is limited to collector lines.
Source: Wyoming 2010 State of the State Address
Feb 8, 2010
On Health Care:
Health reform is not creeping socialism; let's try a pilot
Our health reform demonstration project was characterized as creeping socialism, and it dies. I would hope that you will reconsider that. What we are asking people to do--I do not believe it constitutes socialism--is to contribute something to their own
health. They have to participate.In this pilot project, we expect participants to work at least 20 hours per week, and follow their doctor's orders. The project calls for people to have greater access to their primary care physician.
What we are looking for are those things that drive the system in terms of cost. We are looking for early detection of diabetes; for early detection of cancer; for early detection of heart disease. With any ailments that can become chronic diseases, we
are looking for early detection.
Which part of that is socialism? The part where we ask people to be responsible? The part to pay for their own insurance? The part where we ask people to work? I encourage you to rethink this and take a shot at it.
Source: Wyoming 2010 State of the State Address
Feb 8, 2010
On Homeland Security:
$1.9M for Military Assistance Trust Fund
Some years ago when you created the Military Assistance Trust Fund there was some skepticism about its appropriateness. That fund has given approximately $1.9 million over the last few years to family members in the seven active duty Reserve and National
Guard branches. It is working, and it is working well. It is one of those things that makes a difference for the men and women who continue to volunteer to protect this country. It is the least that we can do to continue that.
Source: Wyoming 2010 State of the State Address
Feb 8, 2010
On Social Security:
$48M for state retirement fund, but employees must pay more
The change in the economy compels us over time to require state employees to make a greater contribution to the retirement fund. What I did in my budget was to acknowledge we will need more money. I put aside $48 million. We can figure out over the next
year the right structure, the right mix, between added funds from the State and added funds from the employees.But there are some other assumptions that I think need to be evaluated over the next year.
One is that ours is a fixed benefit plan, and we have had a habit of taking a fixed benefit plan and inserting cost of living increases. We need to assess whether that makes sense and whether we need to reevaluate the structure of the plan and the
role of the employee.
I do not take grave exception with the proposition state employees are going to have to pay more. What I am worried about is we have headed off on a course of action and do not have a strategy.
Source: Wyoming 2010 State of the State Address
Feb 8, 2010
Page last updated: Dec 03, 2018