2013 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Environment

Pat McCrory: Remove regulations on Environmental and Natural Resources

Maggie Hassan: Restore $1M to Land & Community Heritage Investment Program

The Land and Community Heritage Investment Program has been so important for protecting our natural, historical and cultural resources, a responsibility that has not been met in recent years. That's why this budget restores $1 million for LCHIP in the first year of the biennium, and fully restores the program in the second.

This budget also begins restoring funding for our local communities. In fiscal year 2015, this budget provides $3 million to help pay for delayed and deferred water treatment projects for communities, and increases meals and rooms distributions to communities by $5 million.

Earl Ray Tomblin: Identify and remediate land available for development

Mark Dayton: Protect clean air to breathe & clean water to drink

A healthy life starts with, and depends upon, clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, protected natural environments to enjoy, and a secure ecological future. No one can endure the severe droughts or floods of recent years; endure (or, some, enjoy) our milder, snow-scarce winters; lather on sunscreen to walk outdoors without being greatly alarmed.

Even more alarming is that our state and our nation are still not doing enough to reverse this path toward global catastrophe, before it is too late. The question is: are we progressing fast enough? Are we doing all we can to utilize other renewables, such as solar, and also to make Minnesota the best place to locate these new industries and their jobs?

Tom Corbett: End the inheritance tax on family farm land

That is why we worked together last year to end the inheritance tax on family farm land. The value of land for housing and commercial centers is very high. The value of the tradition and contribution of agriculture on that same land is beyond calculation. No farming family should have to bury their father or mother and their way of life at the same time. Nor should we lose our farm land to uncontrolled development. That is why my budget contains more than $35 million dollars to fund the nation's best farmland preservation program.

Jerry Brown: $14B to build tunnels and restore San Joaquin Delta habitat

Jack Markell: Delaware has moved to the top ten of bike friendly states

Delaware is blessed with beautiful beaches, parks, & scenic farmland. Preserving and improving that quality of life is vital. In the years to come, Delawareans will be able to walk and bike to work because of the investments we are making today. Delaware is now in the top ten of bike friendly states, up from 31st four years ago. Our First State Trails and Pathways Initiative is connecting neighborhoods, parks, and downtowns throughout our state. The Pomeroy Trail connects Newark to White Clay Creek State Park. We're linking Lewes, Rehoboth and eventually Georgetown with a series of interconnected trails. We're enhancing and expanding recreational access to the Nanticoke River and Broad Creek. Projects like these improve our quality of life and make our state a magnet for talented workers.

Scott Walker: Streamline process for safe and environmentally sound mining

A mine would be a lifeline to people in northwestern Wisconsin, where the unemployment rate in Iron County is the 2nd highest in the state at nearly 12 percent. But the benefits will be felt all across Wisconsin.

We have the potential for a billion and a half dollar investment here in our state that could lead to as many as 3,000 construction-related jobs and 2,800 long-term jobs. It's no wonder that I've heard from people in places like Clinton & Wausau, Green Bay & Prairie du Chien, Superior & Chippewa Falls, all who want us to pass this bill. We need to get started on this project as soon as possible.

Jan Brewer: Natural Resources Review Council: AZ knows BEST, not Feds

More than 30 million acres across our state are ALREADY under federal control. The Council's plan will be one way we can protect Arizona's interests on federal lands. Arizona knows BEST how to manage her own land and natural resources.

Chris Christie: New Jersey is being short-changed on Hurricane Sandy relief

Make no mistake. We will be back, stronger than ever. We now look forward to what we hope will be quick Congressional action on a full, clean Sandy aid bill--now, next week--and to enactment by the President. We have waited 72 days, seven times longer than victims of Hurricane Katrina waited. One thing I hope everyone now clearly understands--NJ will never stand silent when our citizens are being short changed. The people of NJ are in need, not from their own actions but from an act of God that delivered a natural, human, and financial disaster.

Dennis Daugaard: Invest $8 million to fight the mountain pine beetle

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has been working. They have continued to be a good steward of our environment, making South Dakota only one of seven states in the nation to meet all federal air quality standards and one of only a few states implementing all National Primary Drinking Water Standards. Our air and water is clean.

Butch Otter: Endangered Species Act creates federal-state conflict

However, this past year we reaped the whirlwind sown by federal neglect and mismanagement of our public lands. Wildfire suppression costs alone approached a quarter-billion dollars--not counting huge impacts on the environment, public health, property, and the unrealized benefits of healthy, actively managed forests and rangeland.