Pat Quinn in 2014 Governor's State of the State speeches

On Budget & Economy: Hardest Hit: affordable homeownership in Great Recession

We launched the Illinois' Hardest Hit program to help working families keep their homes. More than 11,000 families, in nearly every county, have received the foreclosure prevention support they needed.

We also launched Welcome Home Heroes to give military families an opportunity to buy a home after sacrificing so much to protect our freedom. Thanks to Welcome Home Heroes, 1,150 military families have accessed more than $140 million to help buy their homes.

And we haven't forgotten about our neighbors with developmental disabilities. That's why we financed more than 2,100 new supportive housing units to provide individuals with disabilities more choices in their communities.

On Corporations: Reduce LLC fee from $500 to $39, the lowest in the nation

We should do more to support our small businesses, especially as they get started. In Illinois, new businesses have long paid a $500 LLC fee when they open up shop. Let's reduce this fee to $39--the lowest in the nation--and provide a boost to our innovators. This small but important step will encourage entrepreneurs to start their business and put more people to work.

And we won't stop there. Today I'm issuing an Executive Order to establish a Small Business Advocate whose sole focus will be to examine policies and proposals through the lens of how they impact Illinois small businesses. Let's make life easier for our small businesses--and make sure small business always means big business in Illinois.

On Environment: Clean Water Initiative: $1B for wastewater & stormwater

To date, we've received 91 clean water applications. And this year, we'll expand our Clean Water Initiative--and double this investment--to include critical stormwater and flood control projects. When it comes to creating the infrastructure we need for a strong economy, we've been getting the job done. And there's more work to do.

On Families & Children: Birth to Five Initiative: prenatal care & early learning

• 25% more likely to drop out of school
• 40% more likely to become a teen parent
• 50% more likely to be placed in special education
• 60% more likely to never attend college
• And 70% more likely to be arrested for a violent crime.

On Principles & Values: Say "no" to world of powerful feeding upon the powerless

Illinois is best served when we build and protect the middle class and when we open the door to those struggling to join it. By creating more jobs, making early childhood education a top priority, and building an economy that works for everyone--we can create a stronger economy than ever before and reform Illinois for the next generation. So I ask today for your partnership.

On Technology: Largest infrastructure construction program in IL history

We had one former Governor in jail and another on the way to jail. Our economy had plunged into the worst recession since the Great Depression, brought to its knees by greedy and corrupt financiers. And our financial house was on fire, set ablaze by decades of mismanagement and an utter lack of willingness to make the tough calls.

But over the past five years, we've rebuilt one hard step at a time. And we've been getting the job done. Illinois is making a comeback.

When I took the oath of office, state government hadn't properly invested in our infrastructure in 10 years. Within 10 weeks, we passed the largest construction program in Illinois history. So far, we've built and repaired 7,595 miles of road, 1,311 bridges and 978 schools.