2016 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Government Reform


Bruce Rauner: Pursue devolution to control costs

To create true long-term property tax relief for our taxpayers, we've got to give local governments a way to control costs. Some have said local control is impossible, and yet many in this Chamber have embraced it before, voting repeatedly to give Chicago more control in its contracting and collective bargaining rules. We should not force other mayors and school boards to come to Springfield to beg for more control.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Illinois legislature Jan 27, 2016

Bruce Rauner: Term limits need to be voted on

The people of Illinois deserve the chance to vote on term limits. The state Supreme Court made it clear that it takes legislative action to put term limits on the ballot. This is the year to make that happen.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Illinois legislature Jan 27, 2016

Peter Ricketts: Government agencies should be user focused

Other agencies have been innovating as well to make government more customer-focused. The Department of Labor launched a first-in-the-nation reemployment program to help our state's job seekers connect more quickly with good-paying jobs. Individuals receiving benefits now participate in the program, which includes job coaching and creating a resume that is searchable by potential employers. This helps give our job seekers a leg up.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Nebraska legislature Jan 14, 2016

Sam Brownback: State Supreme Court justices should be elected not appointed

Kansas is the only state in the country where the selection of Supreme Court justices is controlled by a handful of lawyers. Kansas, however, is grounded in the principal of representative democracy. Enough is enough. The Legislature should put before Kansas voters a proposed Constitutional amendment for a more democratic selection process for our Supreme Court justices. We must have faith in the people. Here the people rule.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Kansas legislature Jan 12, 2016

Doug Ducey: Repeal laws to stimulate economic growth

All too often a government's success is measured by how many bills are passed. We all have priorities this year. But as you debate new laws, I call on you to ask: Is this the proper role of government? Are we expanding freedom--or limiting it? In that spirit, in the governor's office, we've identified hundreds of buried regulations that state agencies have imposed on Arizonans through the backdoor, hurting businesses large and small. Stifling job creation and progress.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Arizona legislature Jan 11, 2016

  • The above quotations are from 2016 Governor's State of the State speeches.
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  • Click here for more quotes by Chris Christie on Government Reform.
  • Click here for more quotes by Terry McAuliffe on Government Reform.
Candidates and political leaders on Government Reform:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 09, 2018