Donald Carcieri in 2010 Governor's State of the State speeches
On Budget & Economy:
We cannot sustain the present level of spending
A week from today, I will submit my budget for fiscal year 2011. It will be balanced--without raising taxes! But it will require significant changes at both the state and local level.
Make no mistake about it; we are going to have to find more structural ways to reduce spending at the municipal level! We cannot sustain the present level of spending; we simply do not have the revenues.
Source: Rhode Island 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 26, 2010
On Corporations:
Regulatory Review Task Force to reclaim business revolution
To thrive in the long term, however, we need to reclaim our birthright as a hotbed for business revolution. From the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century to the bioscience and green energy revolutions today, Rhode Island has always been a place
for incubating new ideas and approaches. Just as it did over a century ago--when R.I. had the highest per capita wealth of any state--our economy once again will rise on the tide of an entrepreneurial revolution.
To enable that to happen again, we need to recreate the same fertile conditions that encouraged businesses to flourish. The most important and positive actions state and local government can take now are: regulatory reform and tax reform. My Regulatory
Review Task Force has given me their final report, and, in the coming weeks, I will unveil a series of specific new proposals to streamline, simplify, and shorten the regulatory process.
Source: Rhode Island 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 26, 2010
On Education:
Strong advocate of expanding Charter Schools
We also need to embrace our heritage of independence and enlightenment by fostering more charter schools. I have been a strong advocate of Charter Schools, and we have added new ones, and expanded existing ones. These are public schools utilizing a
different model, and are achieving excellent results. This is another "revolution" that Rhode Island can and should lead. In order to build the 21st century economy successfully, we will produce high school graduates with 21st century skills.
Source: Rhode Island 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 26, 2010
On Energy & Oil:
Make R.I. the leader in development of offshore wind power
Rhode Island is leading the nation in the development of offshore wind power. The US Department of the Interior has said that the East Coast of the US is the "Saudi Arabia of wind".Deepwater Wind has recently completed a power purchase agreement with
National Grid. Simultaneously, a team of scientists from URI is working with the Coastal Resources Management Council to complete a Special Area Management Plan--an ocean "zoning" map--the first in the country.
This plan will be the guidepost for siting offshore wind farms. The Block Island project-Phase 1 of the overall wind farm plan will create an estimated 800 new jobs at Quonset Point, and equally important, we will have established R.I. as the center of
East Coast offshore wind farms. Over time, this project could lead to thousands of additional jobs, as turbine, blade, and other component manufacturers locate facilities at Quonset Point to supply this new, growing industry.
Source: Rhode Island 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 26, 2010
On Government Reform:
Reduce our reliance on government
Just like most Rhode Islanders today, our independent-minded founders weren't too fond of an overly controlling government. Famously, we were the first of the original Thirteen Colonies to declare our independence, but we were the last to ratify the
U.S. Constitution. They valued individual autonomy. They were suspicious of the power and cost of government. Imagine how they'd view government today with so much power and too much cost.We need to restore their outlook in all aspects of civic life.
We need to reduce our reliance on government. From my seven-year view as an outsider-turned-insider, the biggest blocks to progress are the political blocks. We need less party and union group thinking, and more independent free-thinking, men and women
like the one that crowns this Capital.
My team has spent seven years reshaping state government, streamlining it, and making sure that it did not become a greater burden on our citizens.
Source: Rhode Island 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 26, 2010
On Homeland Security:
Gratitude to armed forces for defending our freedoms
I'd like to recognize a proud Rhode Islander. Sergeant First Class Eric Blue was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, earned in Afghanistan. Sergeant Blue distinguished himself by his heroic actions during a complex ambush.
Despite being under heavy fire, he heroically maneuvered through the area to find and evacuate a wounded soldier. It is to men and women like Sergeant Blue that we all owe the deepest gratitude for defending our freedoms and protecting our country.
Source: Rhode Island 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 26, 2010
On Jobs:
Americans' top priority: put people back to work
Last month, 43 states saw their unemployment rates rise--many to new highs. Clearly, the national economic recovery is still very fragile, and the message from Massachusetts last Tuesday [in the election of Republican Senator Scott Brown] is clear:
Americans want Congress, the President and all their elected officials, to concentrate on the things that are most important to them--get the economy on track, put people back to work, and protect us from terrorists.
Source: Rhode Island 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 26, 2010
On Tax Reform:
Property tax increases can be avoided
In seven years, we have balanced our budget without raising either the sales or income tax. In fact, seven years ago R.I. had the 4th highest tax burden in the country. By last year we had dropped to 10th--but we need to be lower. New Hampshire, for
example, is 50th. Consequently, its unemployment rate is only 7%.Where some of us in this Chamber disagree--is whether property tax increases are inevitable. I know property tax increases can be avoided. For example, if every city and town employee
throughout our state--including all school department personnel--were to agree to a salary reduction plan this year and next, just as state workers have done, tens of millions of dollars could be saved.
This legislature has the ability to prevent
property tax increases by enacting sweeping authorizations that will allow our local leaders to reduce spending. For example, it is long past time to allow the city and town councils of every municipality to have control over their school budgets.
Source: Rhode Island 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 26, 2010
On Technology:
The new I-Way connects life-science academics with research
The new I-Way has not only already dramatically improved the traffic flow between I-95 and I-195, but the demolition of the old highway will unlock over 20 acres of prime land. The opening of this site will accelerate the development of a new
life-sciences economy in R.I. It will link together and harness the research capacity of our higher education institutions, with the complementary research and clinical capacity at our major medical centers.
Source: Rhode Island 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 26, 2010
Page last updated: Dec 03, 2018