I will always firmly uphold these Truths which are self-evident, that all men are created equal. That all are given, by their Creator, the Right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. The most vulnerable, the most helpless, the most abused & the most oppressed. The elderly, the ill--and especially the unborn--everyone has been endowed with the Right to a Life. I will do everything as Governor to protect those who cannot protect themselves, and protect our Freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.
By year's end, Alabama would see many peaceful protestors jailed for daring to advocate equal treatment for all people. The University of Alabama would enroll its first African-American students. Four little girls killed inside their place of worship during Sunday School. The rising up of thousands who marched to this building knowing they were endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights. That was 50 years ago.
Today, we are ever-mindful of our turbulent past while we eagerly look forward to a new chapter in our state's history. Alabama IS our Sweet Home. And we want it to be a place where economic opportunity abounds and there are good-paying jobs, where children can get a good education, where counties and cities can build roads to compete for businesses and industries.
We also will make sure our teachers--and students--are safe and protected. The events in Connecticut of last December are a grave reminder that protecting our schools, and ensuring the safety of our students, our teachers & our bus drivers should always be a top priority.
I've asked to develop a strategic plan for preventing and responding to incidents of active shooters. Through use of training, technology through Virtual Alabama and public engagement, we hope to prevent tragedies from happening. A Homeland Security hotline is now posted on the Governor's Office website. Anyone can call that number and report suspicious activity. Calls are anonymous and are connected to the state's intelligence and information sharing operation.
From the state's largest cities to the smallest towns, nothing is more important to me than putting people back to work. Because of my steadfast commitment to recruiting jobs for the people of this state, Whether it is 50 jobs in a small town or 1000 jobs in a large city, every job matters to me and especially to that person who will go back to work.
They are the men and women who make up Alabama's greatest economic asset--and that's our workers. I'm proud of our workers, and we should all take pride that the products rolling off the assembly line are stamped "Made In Alabama."
Everyone benefits from ATRIP. When companies build new factories, they look for areas with good roads and bridges. ATRIP is giving them what they need.
Now, for those remaining six counties which have not participated in ATRIP, help is on the way. We will soon announce details that will help those counties to participate in ATRIP. Every single county in Alabama will be given the opportunity to participate.
|
The above quotations are from 2013 Governor's State of the State speeches.
Click here for other excerpts from 2013 Governor's State of the State speeches. Click here for other excerpts by Robert Bentley. Click here for other excerpts by other Governors.
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
| Click for details -- or send donations to: 1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140 E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org (We rely on your support!) |