Peter Ricketts in 2015 Governor's State of the State speeches

On Jobs: Grow Nebraska: create jobs by recruiting new businesses

Our new Director of Economic Development will help us realize the untapped potential in our state, and we will be well-served with her track record of recruiting businesses. We want the world to know Nebraska welcomes business investment and has good jobs in great communities.

But creating jobs is more than just a marketing focus or incentives. We need to evaluate what we are doing to encourage small business to expand and grow. We need to have a plan to attract business investment as well as business relocations. We need to be strategic and aggressive about trade opportunities.

On Welfare & Poverty: People-centric services: hand up to get back on their feet

There are people who will continue to need our help. We must serve them effectively and with dignity and respect. When we start getting better outcomes for people, our costs will come down too.

Many people who receive services just need a hand up to get back on their feet. We have to prevent government from getting in their way. [But we have a] need for a common sense approach in government--one that does not create disincentives for people and families to work.