2014 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Jobs
Scott Walker:
$35M for Wisconsin Fast Forward: technical skill training
Our Blueprint for Prosperity will increase the Wisconsin Fast Forward program by $35 million to focus on three new areas:- Investment in our technical colleges to eliminate waiting list in high demand fields, like manufacturing, agriculture and
Information Technology;
- Help high school students get training in high demand jobs through dual enrollment programs between our high schools and technical colleges;
- Support programs helping people with disabilities enter the workforce,
in our Year of A Better Bottom Line initiative.
I ask that the funds already set aside in the Joint Finance Committee from the surplus at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation be used for the expansion of Wisconsin Fast Forward. Tomorrow,
I will call for a special session to move forward with legislation to return this surplus to the taxpayers and to invest in our technical colleges, train workers for high-demand jobs, and support employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Source: 2014 State of the State Address to Wisconsin legislature
Jan 22, 2014
Rick Snyder:
MAT2: Michigan Advanced Technician Training for skills gap
Continuing the administration's laser focus on creating an environment that encourages job growth and prosperity includes:- Making Michigan even more welcoming to immigrants with advanced academic degrees or entrepreneurial aspirations, allowing
the state to benefit from their countless contributions, including job creation.
- Stepping up efforts to connect job providers and talent.
- Expanding the Michigan Advanced Technician Training (MAT2) program, an employer-driven initiative that helps
employers bridge the "skills gap" through a statewide system for training and educating skilled technicians to fill high-paying jobs.
- Continuing the successful Community Ventures program, a public/private/nonprofit partnership created to hire at
least 1,000 structurally unemployed residents from distressed neighborhoods, initially in the cities of Flint, Detroit, Pontiac and Saginaw. First-year goals have been met, resulting in jobs for over 1,400 structurally unemployed residents.
Source: 2014 State of the State Address to Michigan legislature
Jan 16, 2014
Dave Heineman:
NE needs more middle-class jobs; so lower income tax rates
Nebraska's income tax rates are among the highest in America and higher than all of our neighboring states except one. Lowering Nebraska's income tax rates are essential to attracting higher paying jobs. Nebraska needs more middle-class jobs in the
$60,000 to $120,000 a year category. Nebraskans don't want to leave, but to take care of their families they need good paying jobs. Small businesses need lower income tax rates to help grow their businesses and increase jobs.
Nebraska does a significant amount of work to attract new businesses through the Nebraska Advantage 5 Program, but we need to do more to help existing businesses grow. The business community supports lowering income tax rates, and I agree with them.
We need higher paying jobs to reverse the decline in Nebraska's median family income. We need higher paying jobs to increase the state's population and growing jobs requires a more competitive tax environment.
Source: 2014 State of the State Address to Nebraska legislature
Jan 15, 2014
Chris Christie:
Zero means zero: fight abuse of sick leave & pension fraud
Let's not forget the expensive practice of sick leave payouts for government employees. Sick time should be used when you're sick. If you're lucky enough to be healthy, that's your reward. Sick leave has been abused too many times, and the cost is real.
Almost a billion dollars in liability facing NJ towns--$880 million to be exact. And it will only get higher if the system is not fixed. These reforms are common sense: let's lift this billion dollar albatross off the necks of NJ's towns. Let's together
enact the "zero means zero" plan.Our pension system is burdened by some who collect disability retirement because they claim they are "totally and permanently disabled," but who are now working full-time. So we've established by Executive Order
a special unit to prosecute pension fraud. Let's go even further to solidify our pension system and reduce costs by reforming our disability retirement system to end this fraud and abuse. This will also help us to reduce property taxes.
Source: 2014 State of the State address to N.J. Legislature
Jan 14, 2014
Dennis Daugaard:
South Dakota WINS: a 20-point job training plan
Two years ago, I announced the South Dakota Workforce Initiatives, or "South Dakota WINS," a 20-point plan to get more South Dakotans trained and ready to work in a rapidly growing and changing South Dakota economy. South Dakota WINS included these
categories of effort:- Preparing our youth to live and work in the 21st Century. The state has strengthened SDMyLife, an online portal for students and parents to research career and academic options.
-
Operation Reach All Veterans: a plan to meet every veteran in South Dakota and to offer assistance & local benefits.
- Our citizens with disabilities are too often overlooked by employers with job openings.
I believe that in this world people with disabilities often develop higher levels of determination and accomplishment. We need to connect employers with employees who have disabilities because it makes good business sense.
Source: 2014 State of the State Address to South Dakota legislature
Jan 14, 2014
Dennis Daugaard:
Assist disabled with employment; adversity builds character
According to a 2011 estimate, only 41% of working age individuals with a disability were employed in South Dakota--less than half the rate of those without a disability. I can't pretend that I understand all the obstacles that confront a person with
disabilities, but I do feel a special appreciation for the disabled worker and for the employers who hire them. Both my parents were born deaf, and I witnessed the challenges they faced as they job hunted. Good employers know that the most valuable
worker is the one who works hard, is loyal, is honorable, and gives an honest day's work for an honest day's pay, whether that worker is disabled or not. These employers know that hiring people with disabilities is good business. They know that adversity
builds character, and people with character are good employees.
In the past year, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation alone assisted over 900 people with disabilities to reach their employment goals.
Source: 2014 State of the State Address to South Dakota legislature
Jan 14, 2014
Terry Branstad:
Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress: investment for jobs
Three years ago, more than 100,000 Iowans were out of work. Jobs were hard to come by and investment in our state was inadequate. We refocused our economic development efforts by changing our approach. Together, we created the Iowa Partnership for
Economic Progress. This public-private partnership is reaping dividends for our economy with more investments and more jobs for Iowans. In the last three years, Iowa has seen $7.5 billion in new capital investment, and I am pleased to report that
since taking office, over 130,000 new jobs have been created in this state.Perhaps the best example of our state's turnaround and of our policies working for middle-class families is seen in Lee County, which had the highest unemployment rate in the
state when I took office in 2011. Iowans in Lee County are getting back to work, thanks in part to the largest on-shore purchase of wind turbines in history and a world-class fertilizer plant bringing much needed jobs and investment to the area.
Source: 2014 Iowa State of the State address
Jan 14, 2014
Bob McDonnell:
Campaign bumper sticker: "Bob's for Jobs"
When I campaigned for this office, I got the message down to a bumper sticker: "Bob's for Jobs." What can I say, I have a good name for politics!It wasn't just a slogan; it's why I ran. That's why our chief priority has been simple:
to put in place the policies necessary to help the great free enterprise system create good jobs and opportunities for our people.... and then get the heck out of the way!
Source: 2014 State of the State Address to Virginia legislature
Jan 8, 2014
Page last updated: Dec 07, 2018