Dan Malloy in 2014 Governor's State of the State speeches

On Families & Children: Permanently establish the Office of Early Childhood

With the help of some great teachers, he's already caught up to his peers. His experience has put him on equal footing, and given him the tools he needs to learn. Let's help more kids like Andrew by moving our state to universal pre-K.

It will be a long and thoughtful process, but if you believe as I do that education is the civil rights issue of our time, then I ask you to join me today in taking the first steps toward making sure every child has access to a pre-K experience.

This would build on our important work begun last year to create the Office of Early Childhood. We need to finish that work by codifying this Office in statute. I am ready to sign that legislation.

On Homeland Security: Pledge to end homelessness for veterans by end of 2015

Today, the pledge we should take together is simple: Connecticut can and will end homelessness for veterans by the end of 2015. That's a pledge President Obama made for America, and it's a pledge we must embrace.

My budget proposal includes funding for a new security deposit assistance program to help veterans get over that first hurdle to finding a home. It funds the hiring of job placement specialists trained in understanding the challenges--and the opportunities--unique to veterans. And it sets aside $500 thousand to support a review of existing state facilities so that we can put them to their best use for Connecticut's Veterans.

On Local Issues: Connecticut is the land of steady habits, for good & for bad

In recent years our habits have carried us through some difficult times, as well: through the Great Recession, through storms that battered our homes and our businesses, and even through our darkest day just over one year ago. Time and again, CT has demonstrated a resolve and a devotion that has carried us forward.

Unfortunately, there's another side to our steady habits--one that hasn't served us quite so well. Over time, certain bad habits have kept CT's government from keeping up with a changing world. Putting off hard decisions left our state with a deficit that was among the worst in the nation just three years ago. I say this not to lay blame for past problems, but because those who forget their history are doomed to repeat it.

On Principles & Values: Don't listen to the critics; Connecticut is moving forward

I spoke about the work we've done to partner with Connecticut small businesses. Will every single one of those investments pay off? Of course not. And if one fails, the critics would say that's reason enough to stop investing in small businesses altogether. We should not listen. Connecticut is moving forward.

And now, during this session, those critics will say that for one reason or another that we can't increase the minimum wage, that we can't expand access to early childhood education, that we can't find ways to make college more affordable. I say they're wrong. Connecticut must move forward, because the people of our state have sacrificed, & now they deserve to share in our emerging recovery