Steve Bullock in 2017 Governor's State of the State speeches

On Budget & Economy: Veto any budget in the red

In 2013, you learned I will veto spending if you send me a budget that's in the red. In 2015, we crafted a budget together that worked for Montana, and that left money in the bank for rainy days. I ask you to do that again.

And just as I insist you balance our budget and leave money in the bank, I will insist that our state agencies be as careful with the money they are given as Montana families are with their own. That's why, even before the Legislature came to town, we trimmed $102 million dollars of spending. That's why, even after the Legislature leaves town, I will continue to challenge our agencies to be careful stewards of hard-working families' tax dollars.

On Education: Increase funding for higher education

• Since 2009, 46 states have decreased their funding of higher education. In Montana we've increased funding.
• We hear that our kids are our greatest export--yet the facts show that 80% of our resident students are now employed right here in Montana within a year of graduating, up from 74% in 2009.
• Our University System, state government, and the private sector are working together to produce graduates that have a world-class education and the skills our local businesses need to grow.
• Yet, there is more to do. There are investments we can't afford NOT to make. I am asking you to increase our state's investment in K-12 by $30 million. We can also increase our support for special education by $1.5 million. We can continue investments in preserving our Native languages. We can invest $2 million dollars to further build out the internet connectivity in our schools.

On Education: Invest in publicly funded early childhood education

The average cost of childcare in Montana for a four-year old is $7,900 dollars--in other words, more than college tuition at Montana State University or the University of Montana. A mom earning minimum wage could easily spend half of her income on childcare for just one kiddo.

Let's help those families. I have proposed a $12 million preschool grant program to allow school districts, Head Start programs or high-quality private preschool providers to offer preschool for four-year-old kids at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.

On Families & Children: Don't cut workers from Child and Family Services Division

It also doesn't make sense to me, or to most Montanans, that someone making $9 dollars an hour pays the same tax rate as someone making $250 dollars an hour--especially when the alternative is to cut vital services for our citizens. Increasing the top tax rate for any income over a half a million dollars, and other modest revenue proposals before you, are fair. I ask that you give them fair consideration--and then pass them.