2011 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Budget & Economy
Tom Corbett:
Reduce the size and cost of state government
The option I have chosen is to reduce the size and cost of state government. I'm proposing something we haven't had in a long time: a reality-based budget. The electorate, its trust scraped to the bone by lies and half-truths, isn't going to stand for
another broken promise. I said we'd cut. I'm not asking you to read my lips. I'm asking you to read my budget. And you can read my budget online, from your home. My administration created an online budget "dashboard."
Source: 2011 State of the State speech to Pennsylvania legislature
Mar 8, 2011
Tom Corbett:
Reduce the size and cost of state government
The option I have chosen is to reduce the size and cost of state government. I'm proposing something we haven't had in a long time: a reality-based budget. The electorate, its trust scraped to the bone by lies and half-truths, isn't going to stand for
another broken promise. I said we'd cut. I'm not asking you to read my lips. I'm asking you to read my budget. And you can read my budget online, from your home. My administration created an online budget "dashboard."
People can log on and view the entire budget in a reader-friendly form. You'll be able to see for yourself how we propose to spend your money. You can track the revenue source.
You can check every department's spending, where it came from, where it's going, and why. There's a reason I call it the "dashboard." It's time the tax-paying citizen felt as if he or she were in the driver's seat.
Source: 2011 State of the State speech to Pennsylvania legislature
Mar 8, 2011
Robert Bentley:
Goal is balanced, conservative budget without federal help
We face a $165 million dollar shortfall in the education budget, and a $110 million dollar shortfall in the General Fund. Alabama must live within its means. My budgets will be balanced and conservative. First we must balance our current education and
General Fund budgets. Then we must look to 2012 and prioritize what taxpayers can and cannot afford. While there are sacrifices that must be made, we will come out of this difficult time stronger. Alabama will not look to Washington to bail us out.
Source: 2011 State of the State speech to Alabama legislature
Mar 1, 2011
Robert Bentley:
Protect essential services, and otherwise cut 15-45%
Medicaid must be protected. We must maintain funding of the Department of Corrections. But we also must be cost efficient in criminal justice spending. There will be protection for our Alabama National Guard. We will preserve and protect the ability
to maintain and achieve an ethical state government, by fully funding the Ethics Commission. Aside from those protections, every agency in the state's General Fund will be cut anywhere from 15 percent to 45 percent.
Source: 2011 State of the State speech to Alabama legislature
Mar 1, 2011
Pat Quinn:
Restrain spending by $220B by Budgeting For Results
We have taken the first steps to stabilize our budget--with a comprehensive plan to restrain spending and reform state government. The first part of this plan is budget restraint--finding new ways to reduce unnecessary state spending. Since taking
office, I have reduced our spending every year. No area is above review. Last year, we enacted a landmark pension reform law--the most far-reaching public pension reform in our nation's history.Over the next generation, we will save the people of
Illinois $220 billion. Our commitment to taxpayers is simple: we will only use tax dollars to provide necessary state services. All unnecessary state spending will be eliminated. We are looking at programs in a new way--saving taxpayer dollars while
improving the services we deliver. This new approach is called 'budgeting for results'. The spending reductions and program reforms I am talking about today are the result of our budgeting for results process.
Source: Illinois 2011 State of the State Budget Address
Feb 16, 2011
Scott Walker:
Wisconsin's once strong economy is in need of repair
We have an economic crisis in this state that demands our immediate attention. The solutions we offer must be designed to address both job creation and our budget problems. Wisconsin's once strong economy is in need of repair. Too many of our people are
hurting and too many of our employers are struggling. As I travel the state, I hear too many stories of families struggling to put food on the table; and I learn of too many small businesses who are forced to layoff workers because of the economy.
Source: 2011 Wisconsin State of the State Address
Feb 1, 2011
Terry Branstad:
End the days of unsustainable commitments
The results of our past budget practices have been across the board cuts and a mountain of broken promises. The days of unsustainable commitments are over. It will come as no surprise to any of you that I am submitting a biennial budget that includes my
recommendations for both Fiscal Years 2012 and 2013. Also included with this budget is a five year financial projection that shows how the decisions we make this year will impact the bottom line over the next five years.
Iowa desperately needs these financial planning tools and I will insist the Legislature join me in this commitment to provide Iowans with an honest, open, and transparent approach to spending the public's money.
We will make our government as good, as dependable, as well-managed as the people it serves.
Source: 2011 Iowa State of the State Address
Jan 27, 2011
Peter Shumlin:
Get back to fiscal responsibility, post-stimulus
What we face in this budget year is the reality that the stimulus funds allocated by the federal government to cushion the blow of the worst recession in American history are now gone. We all knew that this day would come. It is now our responsibility to
make difficult choices, and to find a balance between compassion for our most vulnerable citizens and the imperative to put our state on solid fiscal footing. In addition to reducing spending, my budget maximizes federal dollars available to our state.
Source: 2011 Vermont State of the State Address
Jan 25, 2011
Jay Nixon:
Missouri has earned its triple-A credit rating
The national recession hit Missouri hard. But after losing jobs back in 2008 and 2009, we turned the corner in 2010, and are poised for job growth this year. We will continue to be aggressive and relentless, fighting every day for every job. And we'll
continue to be aggressive and relentless in making government smarter and more efficient.We've kept our fiscal house in order with prudent financial controls, rigorous cost reductions, and smarter, more efficient government. That's earned Missouri a
Triple-A credit rating--the best you can get--from all three rating agencies. We're one of the few states in the nation that can make that claim. It's a big vote of confidence in our state, and saves taxpayers millions of dollars a year in interest.
Compare that to what's going on in other states. Texas has a $15 billion deficit; Kansas; and Illinois just raised personal and corporate income taxes. Now look at our state. Fiscal responsibility is a value we share here in the Show-Me State.
Source: 2011 Missouri State of the State Address
Jan 19, 2011
Earl Ray Tomblin:
2011 budget: balanced; no new taxes; no new fees
I am proud to present to you today a General Revenue Fund budget that is balanced.- Not only is it balanced--but it contains no tax increases.
- It raises no fees.
- It furloughs no teachers or state employees.
- This budget neither cuts nor
creates entitlement programs.
- It does not rely on any Rainy Day Funds.
- And, the budget I submit to you today, does not rely on any one-time stimulus funding from the Federal Government as a backfill to State operations.
Source: 2011 W.V. State of the State Address
Jan 12, 2011
Dennis Daugaard:
Invite, increase, and innovate--for economic development
I propose to elevate the Office of Economic Development to cabinet level. I plan to be personally involved, every day, in our state's economic development efforts. I intend to be South Dakota's #1 salesman. Often, a governor is called upon to be
a "deal-closer," and that is an important role. I will also be a "door-opener," and I will use my office to seek out new opportunities for our state. Our economic development efforts will use a three-pronged approach: invite, increase, and innovate.
Source: 2011 South Dakota State of the State Address
Jan 11, 2011
Mitch Daniels:
Automatic taxpayer refund when reserves exceed 10%
I ask you to vote for lasting spending discipline by enacting an automatic taxpayer refund. When the day comes again when state reserves exceed 10% of annual needs, it will be time to stop collecting taxes and leave them with the people they belong to.
Remember what the Hoosier philosopher said: "It's tainted money. 'Taint yours, and 'taint mine." Beyond some point, it is far better to leave dollars in the pockets of those who earned them than to let them burn a hole in the pockets of government.
Source: 2011 Ind. State of the State Address
Jan 11, 2011
Page last updated: Dec 04, 2018