2018 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Government Reform
Jeff Colyer:
4-point plan to increase state government transparency
I will sign four executive orders, that take important steps to make Kansas government more transparent:- First, we will no longer charge Kansans for open records requests of less than 100 pages.
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Second, we will institute policies to ensure the Administration relies on official email accounts to conduct state business.
- Third, I will implement performance metrics for Cabinet Agencies so Kansans can see how we perform.
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Fourth, we are launching a website to serve as a one-stop-shop for Cabinet Agencies to post open meetings, locations and materials.
Transparency is key to better accountability and accountability is the key to real results. Let's make this happen.
Source: 2018 Kansas Inauguration/State of the State speech
Feb 8, 2018
Larry Hogan:
End partisan gerrymandering; make term limits
Help us put the issue of term limits on the ballot this year for the people of Maryland to decide this issue for themselves in November. And in order to uphold the public trust and to truly represent the interests of all the people we were elected to
serve, let's put partisanship and self-interest aside and join together with the overwhelming majority of Marylanders to end the practice of partisan gerrymandering in Maryland.
Source: 2018 Maryland State of the State address
Jan 31, 2018
Ralph Northam:
End unnecessary restrictions: no-excuse absentee ballots
Voting is the most fundamental action a citizen can take in a democracy. Choosing leaders and holding them accountable is how citizens shape the future for all of us.
If we really believe in a system where the people are in charge, we should work together to eliminate barriers to the ballot box instead of building them higher.
Unfortunately, Virginia law imposes many onerous and unnecessary restrictions on voting that discourage participation for many people.
Let's reverse that troubling trend by passing no-excuse absentee voting, so more people can have a say in their
future without jumping through unnecessary hoops. This commonsense reform will make voting easier, reduce lines on Election Day and send a simple message that in Virginia, we want more voters, not fewer.
Source: 2018 State of the State speech to Virginia legislature
Jan 16, 2018
Eric Greitens:
Slash 33,000 regulations across the board
We need to get government off our backs. Regulations that waste money, waste time, had been building up for too long, like plaque in the arteries of Missouri's economy. We launched the most aggressive effort to roll back unnecessary regulations in
the US. By taking a strong, thoughtful, conservative approach to government, we are taking nearly one out of every three regulatory requirements in the state of Missouri--that's 33,000 regulatory requirements--off the books for good.
Source: 2018 Missouri State of the State address
Jan 10, 2018
Ralph Northam:
Make absentee voting easier
Yesterday, Governor-elect Northam and I stood together and outlined several pieces of legislation that we hope the new General Assembly will pass this year. They include:- Reducing obstacles to voting by doing away with barriers to absentee
voting.
- Closing a loophole in our ethics laws by prohibiting the personal use of campaign funds.
- Giving Virginians the tools to manage student debt and hold predatory lenders accountable by passing a Borrower's Bill of Rights.
Source: Terry McAuliffe's 2018 Virginia State of the State address
Jan 10, 2018
Terry McAuliffe:
Make absentee voting easier
Yesterday, Governor-elect Northam and I stood together and outlined several pieces of legislation that we hope the new General Assembly will pass this year. They include:- Reducing obstacles to voting by doing away with barriers to absentee
voting.
- Closing a loophole in our ethics laws by prohibiting the personal use of campaign funds.
- Giving Virginians the tools to manage student debt and hold predatory lenders accountable by passing a Borrower's Bill of Rights.
Source: 2018 Virginia State of the State address
Jan 10, 2018
Jay Inslee:
Favors automatic voter registration
Access to democracy is a cornerstone to the enduring health of our nation and state, so let's leave a legacy of a stronger democracy by increasing voter participation and equitable representation.
It is time to pass the Washington Voting Rights Act, automatic voter registration, and Election Day registration.
Source: 2018 Washington State of the State address
Jan 9, 2018
Kay Ivey:
Ban lobbyists from appointments by the executive branch
I wanted to restore our state's image. To do this, government must be efficient and transparent. With executive orders, we've streamlined state government, dissolved unneeded task forces, and banned lobbyists from appointments by the executive
branch, ensuring more citizens have an opportunity to serve and contribute. Administratively, I've appointed more than 350 qualified and diverse individuals to boards and other groups which affect the day-to-day lives of Alabamians.
Source: 2018 State of the State speech to Alabama legislature
Jan 9, 2018
Kim Reynolds:
Protect the ballot box with new voter ID laws
Let me take a moment to highlight what we have accomplished together:- We balanced the state budget, protecting taxpayers while safeguarding important priorities like education.
- We invested in our kids at a record level, committing $735 million
more for education since 2011.
- We prepared our students for the jobs of tomorrow, through work-based learning, pre-apprenticeship and computer science programs.
- We reformed collective bargaining and worker's compensation laws, putting more power
in the hands of local governments and school districts, small businesses, and taxpayers.
- We protected the ballot box with new voter ID laws.
- We protected life, standing up for the most vulnerable by prohibiting late-term abortions. And we will
never stop working to protect the unborn.
- We restored liberties, by strengthening our 2nd amendment rights.
- We fought for Iowa farmers and a robust Renewable Fuel Standard, and we won!
Source: 2018 State of the State speech to Iowa legislature
Jan 9, 2018
Page last updated: Apr 07, 2019