Bill Walker in 2015 Governor's State of the State speeches

On Budget & Economy: Low oil prices mean millions in state budget deficit

This isn't the first time our young state has been through tough times. Many of you in this room served during the days of $9-a-barrel oil during the recession of the 1980s. Today, we have fewer than 500,000 barrels per day flowing through the pipeline. The impact of the low prices is intensified by low production.

Today, we are faced with a $3.5 billion deficit, and using $10 million every day from our savings. Some might call this a crisis. I call this a challenge and an opportunity. We have an opportunity to make impactful and constructive changes; to challenge the traditional ways of doing business.

On Families & Children: First Lady will chair Alaska Children's Trust

Her first official act as First Lady was agreeing to serve as Honorary Chair of the Alaska Children's Trust, an organization that works to provide real solutions to preventing child abuse and neglect.

I also ask that this legislature make Alaska the next state to pass Erin's Law. This is a bill that will enable our schools to further implement a proven, age-appropriate program to help children identify sexual abuse and seek help. We will take an important step toward protecting the lives of so many young, precious Alaskans.

On Homeland Security: Thank our military and law enforcement for their sacrifice

To our military and law enforcement families: I speak for all Alaskans and say thank you for the sacrifices you make daily for us. Your fathers, your husbands, your mothers and daughters--these are the heroes who protect our freedoms and keep us safe. These are the gallant and the brave who help us all sleep a little better at night.

On Local Issues: Tourism produces 50,000 jobs and $4B annually

On Principles & Values: Don't panic when times are tough; make a plan

To financially survive, we seized the opportunity and the Walker family became janitors. Our hard work paid off! When the new town-site was ready some years later, we were able to invest and buy houses in the Old Town, have them moved onto foundations in the new town and resold. We became house movers!

This is what I learned from my parents: Don't panic when times are tough. Make a plan. Stick to it. Stay focused. Stay positive. And get to work. Now is not the time to sound the alarm, my fellow Alaskans. Now is the time to pull together, to make a plan, sharpen our focus and get to work. We have the tools. We have the ingenuity. We have the team. We will work our way out and build an even stronger Alaska.

On Welfare & Poverty: Unacceptable that so many Alaskans wake up in a cold house

If Alaska was a country, we'd be among the top eight energy producers in the world and yet we have the highest cost of energy in the nation. We can and must do better.

This administration has made it a priority to reduce energy costs at state-owned and public buildings, including schools. Increasing energy efficiency will allow state dollars to be better concentrated on the services provided.

Every growing economy in the world has one thing in common, and that is low-cost energy. This administration will not rest until Alaska is squarely on the road to becoming an economic powerhouse thanks to low-cost energy that will bolster and diversify our economy.