Nathan Deal in 2013 Governor's State of the State speeches
On Crime:
Accountability courts to avoid 5,000 prison beds
In Public Safety, let's capitalize on the success that we have already had in criminal justice reform, in which, last year, we crafted legislation that saves both lives and taxpayer dollars.
Through increased use of accountability courts--drug, DUI, mental health and veteran courts--along with other measures, this state will avoid the need to add 5,000 prison beds over five years and save taxpayers at least $264 million; these measures
simultaneously decrease the number of offenders who end up back in jail after being released--and create productive, taxpaying citizens rather than more dangerous criminals. And we have continued funding for accountability courts by allocating
$11.6 million toward that purpose in my budget proposal.This year we will continue our work by bringing legislation designed to produce better results with juvenile offenders and divert them from the adult system.
Source: 2013 State of the State address to Georgia Legislature
Jan 17, 2013
On Drugs:
BUI: Boating Under the Influence: if blood alcohol over .10%
This past summer, Georgia witnessed several tragic accidents on our waterways. We know alcohol is involved in over 50 percent of all boating fatalities each year. On Georgia's roads, if the operator of a vehicle has a
Blood Alcohol content of .08 or higher, he can be charged with Driving Under the Influence. However, you cannot be charged with Boating Under the Influence unless your Blood Alcohol level is .10 or higher.
The Jake and Griffin Prince BUI Law that I am proposing will change that. If you are too drunk to drive an automobile, you are too drunk to drive a boat!I will also propose, through the Kile Glover Boat Education Law,
that you place age limits and educational requirements on young operators of boats and personal watercraft and that children who are 13 or younger must wear life jackets when riding in an open boat that is moving.
Source: 2013 State of the State address to Georgia Legislature
Jan 17, 2013
On Government Reform:
Fulfill true purposes of government then get out of the way
Last year, I told you that I had a goal: To fulfill the truest purposes of government--the ones for which Georgians need their government most--"and then get out of the way so that they can live their lives in freedom and as they see fit."
So far, I believe we have done that well. We have made communities safer, improved educational opportunities, provided for infrastructure improvements, driven workforce development, generated a better business environment and created jobs.
Source: 2013 State of the State address to Georgia Legislature
Jan 17, 2013
On Jobs:
Employment is primary goal of education: more HOPE Grants
Since employment is a primary goal of education, I want to commend the Chancellor of our University System and the Commissioner of our Technical College System for evaluating and refocusing their programs of study to give priority to those educational
paths that have a proven record of employability. It is a tragedy when a young person works hard, accumulates debt for student loans and then graduates with a diploma in a field where there are no jobs.
My budget proposes to focus more funds within our HOPE Grant Program toward occupations where we know jobs are available & shortages actually exist. Currently, there are several thousand jobs available for individuals with a commercial driver's license.
There are similar shortages in the areas of nursing and early childhood education. In order to fill these vacancies we suggest directing additional funds within our Technical College HOPE Grants.
Source: 2013 State of the State address to Georgia Legislature
Jan 17, 2013
On Local Issues:
$50 million bond package for the Port of Savannah
Another asset is the Port of Savannah, the fourth largest container port in the country and the second largest on the East Coast. As you know, we have worked for many years to expand the Savannah Harbor
and deepen the channel in order to allow the larger vessels that will soon be coming through the Panama Canal to dock in our state. We are very pleased that last fall we succeeded in getting a positive Record of Decision from the federal government.
This is a major milestone on this project.My budget includes an additional $50 million in the bond package for this project. This will bring our total state contribution to $231 million. That is almost the state's entire contemplated share of
the costs of this project; the remainder of the cost is to be paid by the federal government. While that is a sizable amount of money we expect the benefits to be $5.50 for every dollar spent--Not a bad return on investment!
Source: 2013 State of the State address to Georgia Legislature
Jan 17, 2013
Page last updated: Dec 05, 2018