2010 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Government Reform
Jim Gibbons:
6% salary reductions for all state workers
Last year I recommended 6% salary reductions for all state workers. The Legislature imposed furlough days instead. The furlough program is not working. It is unfair because some state workers have pay reductions and some don't.
As we work through this budget, we will look for EVERY WAY TO SAVE MONEY. Many private businesses across the state have cut salaries in order to reduce layoffs or stay in business.
New across-the-board salary reductions for state workers, may be necessary, but that will be a last resort. And just so you know, my entire staff in the Governor's Office has had their pay cut 6 percent. I am donating 6% of my own salary back to the
state to be used for special awards for exceptional teachers.It is with deep sadness and disappointment that I must propose laying off several hundred state workers. Just like the layoffs in the private sector, state government must do the same.
Source: Nevada 2010 State of the State Address
Feb 8, 2010
Donald Carcieri:
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
Gary Herbert:
Commission to Optimize State Government: do more with less
We created the Advisory Commission to Optimize State Government. The goal of this group is to help the state do more with less in order to benefit all. It is headed by former Governor Norm Bangerter. This diverse and bipartisan group of civic and busines
leaders is taking an inside-out look at all areas of the state. Their efforts will improve our already well-managed state, and, now more than ever, we must achieve new levels of efficiency in state government.
Source: Utah 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 26, 2010
Gary Herbert:
Guidelines on gifts, lobbying, & conflicts of interest
Today I signed an Executive Order that reaffirms and clarifies guidelines about accepting gifts, participating in lobbying efforts and identifying conflicts of interest. Now is as good a time as any to remind all state employees what
constitutes acceptable and unacceptable conduct.I encourage you, as lawmakers, to remove any perception of possible ethical issues by implementing meaningful and substantive ethics reform.
Source: Utah 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 26, 2010
Mark Sanford:
End unlimited and undisclosed campaign donations
We now have on-line transparency to allow a taxpayer to see more directly how their money is spent in state government. We found a way to begin on-line disclosure so that citizens could better see where money was coming from and going to in campaigns.
We passed campaign finance reform. It had been vetoed twice during the previous administration, and its passage ended the Wild West practice that allowed unlimited and undisclosed amounts to go to a political party or caucus.
Source: South Carolina 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 20, 2010
Mark Sanford:
Change rules of governorship and state officers
We are the only state in the country that does not allow its Governor to administer the laws administered by the other 49 Governors. You would not be giving this power to me, I'm gone in 11 months--but for the sake of good government please give this
power to whoever follows me. Please give them the tools by which they may succeed or fail, and then hold them accountable. Two, put the Governor and Lt. Governor together as a team. To me it makes no sense to have a governor elected by the people,
and yet have his Lieutenant Governor, who in our state could be of opposite political persuasion and party.
Finally, can we let the people of South Carolina decide on whether a host of constitutional officers should be appointed rather than elected.
We are for instance the only state in the country where the Adjutant General is elected. We are not asking that any of you take a position for or against change in any of these changes, just that you let the people of South Carolina decide.
Source: South Carolina 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 20, 2010
Bill Richardson:
Whistleblower protections, & ban corporate donations
Several vital reforms have been put off for too long:- Whistleblower protections to shield employees from retaliation for reporting fraud, waste or abuse.
- Disclosure by any contractor wishing to make a bid on a state project of any campaign
contribution of $250 or more over the last two years.
- A ban on candidates doing taxpayer-funded, public service announcements.
- An end to the revolving door where legislators this year become lobbyists next year. Just like we did for state officials
- A ban on campaign contributions by corporations, state contractors or lobbyists.
If we as elected officials want the public trust, then we must trust our people. I believe we need an independent, bi-partisan, citizen-led ethics commission.
This commission must be able to investigate, discipline, fine, or censure, not just public officials or state employees, but also contractors and lobbyists. 41 other states have such a commission. New Mexico needs one too.
Source: New Mexico 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 19, 2010
Joe Manchin III:
Public financing pilot for state Supreme Court races
I will introduce judicial reform legislation: a public financing pilot project for the two Supreme Court seats that will be open for election in 2012.
The goal is to relieve judges from the burden of political fundraising and to reduce the potential for appearance of bias as a result of campaign donations. This money would be available for both the primary and general elections.
Source: West Virginia 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 13, 2010
Pat Quinn:
Limits on campaign contributions and much more disclosure
Obviously, the events that preceded my Oath of Office shook the confidence of the people of Illinois. So we went about the task: we enacted strong standards with respect to procurement and contracts. We reformed the behavior; we enacted strong ethic
standards for lobbyists as well as state employees. We enacted a campaign finance reform law that I did sign, that is for the first time a chance to have limits on campaign contributions in the State of Illinois and much more disclosure and openness
with respect to money and politics. I think that's a great achievement.
I think we do need in Illinois, what I would call, an ethics initiative that we would put into our constitution that would give voters at every level of government - whether it
be the local level, or county level, or the state level - the power to petition and binding referendum to enact binding ethical standards and campaign finance rules that the people feel are appropriate for all of us who are elected representatives.
Source: Illinois 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 13, 2010
Sonny Perdue:
Make government more responsive, efficient, & value-driven
We spent the first six years of my administration, before this recession even began, making government more responsive, more efficient, more value-driven. And then came the biggest state revenue drop since the Great Depression. It would be easy
to sit back and point fingers at Washington. But we must reject the course forward that promises the next generation little more than an expensive bill--crushing entitlements and unfunded mandates.
Source: Georgia 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 13, 2010
David Paterson:
Comprehensive ethics reform about what is legal and rampant
Chronic and continuing experiences of outside influence and inside decay have bred cynicism and scorn of the people we represent. That is why today, I'm introducing comprehensive ethics reform--not driven by the illegal acts of any one person, but instea
by what is legal and rampant in our entire system of government. The Reform Albany Act will have as its centerpiece an independent ethics commission that will have jurisdiction over State government. This commission will have the power to enforce
campaign finance and end pay-to-play and bring jurisdiction and oversight to so-called good government groups, who hide their donors behind walls of sanctimony.
The Reform Albany agenda will significantly drive down campaign contributions;
require openness of outside income; will strip public officials of their pensions who commit felonies; phase in gradually public campaign finance; and will impose term limits on State officeholders by constitutional amendment.
Source: N. Y. 2010 State of the State Address
Jan 6, 2010
Page last updated: Dec 03, 2018