Bill Lee in 2019 Governor's State of the State speeches
On Budget & Economy:
Better to save for emergencies than spend now
As a conservative businessman, I know a good budget needs to pay for what is needed, take on zero long-term debt, and, perhaps most importantly, save for a rainy day. I am particularly proud of this: in my budget, we are making the largest single
contribution to our Rainy Day Fund in the state's history. When this budget is implemented, our Rainy Day Fund will be $1.1 billion--the largest it has ever been in both real dollars and as a percentage of our overall revenue.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Tennessee legislature
Mar 6, 2019
On Crime:
Electronic monitoring for low-risk offenders
One area of reform is our use of community supervision for low-risk offenders. It costs about 20 times more to incarcerate someone than to put them under community supervision, and the latter leads to better outcomes. One of the first things we will
do is add funds to the Electronic Monitoring Indigency Fund and add the use of GPS monitoring so that low-risk, non-violent individuals can keep their jobs and provide for their families instead of spending unnecessary time in jail.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Tennessee legislature
Mar 6, 2019
On Crime:
Volunteer to mentor degree-seeking inmates
We are launching the Volunteer Mentorship Initiative to equip Tennesseans throughout our state to mentor fellow Tennesseans who are currently in prison. And I'm signing up tonight as the first volunteer. This initiative will begin by working with
Tennessee-based non-profits to pair degree-seeking inmates with mentors on the outside as they seek better opportunities for themselves during their time in prison and their first days back in their communities.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Tennessee legislature
Mar 6, 2019
On Drugs:
Fight Medicaid fraudulent distribution of opioid medications
Another way to lower health care cost is to combat Medicaid fraud. Tackling fraud in Medicaid is particularly important as we work to prevent the fraudulent distribution of opioid medications.
To support that effort, we are creating 24 new positions in the state's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Together these efforts will place downward pressure on the cost of coverage.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Tennessee legislature
Mar 6, 2019
On Drugs:
Drug traffickers should fear Tennessee
We must also take bold steps to stop the scourge of drugs illegally trafficked into our state. I pledged to make Tennessee a state that drug traffickers fear, and I will make sure that our prosecutors and our law enforcement have the tools they need to
make that a reality. We are increasing the penalties on dangerous drugs like fentanyl and making it clear that we will have no leniency on high level drug dealers who target the residents of this state.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Tennessee legislature
Mar 6, 2019
On Education:
Fund school choice; competition via charters and ESAs
Parents need more choices and those options should be well-funded and highly accountable. I believe highly accountable public charter schools are a great model for expanding choice without sacrificing quality, and I've seen how they can impact the life
and trajectory of a student. We are doubling the amount of public charter school facility funding and I will support legislation this year that makes it easier to open good charter schools and easier to close bad ones.
Education Savings Accounts will enable low-income students from under-performing school districts to attend an independent school of their choice at no cost to their family. I know there's concern that this will take money from public schools, but my
plan will invest at least $25 million new dollars in public schools in the first year. Creating competition will provide a new incentive for schools to improve and provide new opportunities for thousands of students.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Tennessee legislature
Mar 6, 2019
On Education:
Schools must focus on acquiring job skills
The job market can change quickly and education must stay in sync with industry. Elementary and middle schools need to begin skills training earlier and, from top to bottom, high school needs to look a lot different. I'm proposing the
Governor's Investment in Vocational Education--the GIVE Act--a $25 million investment to increase the number of young adults earning an industry certification and entering a career within one year of high school graduation.
I recently announced the Future Workforce Initiative, a $4 million effort to increase STEM training in K-12 schools. The Future Workforce Initiative will add 100 new CTE programs, grow the number of teachers qualified to teach work-based
learning and computer science classes, and expand access to AP courses and early postsecondary options for high schoolers. We are also investing in agricultural education by allocating new recurring funding for both FFA and 4-H youth programs.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Tennessee legislature
Mar 6, 2019
On Education:
Teach civics, with unapologetic American exceptionalism
It was reported that young people in this country have a more favorable view of socialism than capitalism. How will our children know of our cherished American values if we do not teach them? We cannot expect future generations to build upon the
incredible progress our country has made if we fail to teach them the history and values that made it possible. In this state, our children will be taught civics education, character formation, and unapologetic American exceptionalism.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Tennessee legislature
Mar 6, 2019
On Health Care:
Community/faith-based care, not big government
So that more uninsured Tennesseans have access to quality primary and preventative-care services, we are providing additional funding to our health care safety net which supports community and faith-based care centers serving those who do not
have health insurance coverage. We will continue to work with the General Assembly and with Washington to look for waiver opportunities that help us increase insurance coverage without big government strings attached.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Tennessee legislature
Mar 6, 2019
On Health Care:
Expand funding for mental health treatment
I am recommending an increase of $11 million in recurring funds to our Behavioral Health Safety Net and our Regional Mental Health Institutes. These investments will help us serve thousands more of our most vulnerable Tennesseans, most of which do
not currently have health insurance. Tennessee's suicide rate is 20% higher than the national average. For that reason, I'm proposing a $1.1 million investment that will expand the state's partnership with the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Tennessee legislature
Mar 6, 2019
On Principles & Values:
Faith-based & community initiatives better than government
The voters did not send us here to create more government. They sent us here to protect their freedoms and their hard-earned money. So, to help protect taxpayer dollars and to engage some of our under-utilized citizens, one announcement
I am particularly excited to make is the Governor's Office of Faith-based & Community Initiatives. This office will leverage the non-profit community to not only make lives better but to reduce the responsibilities and ultimately the size of government.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Tennessee legislature
Mar 6, 2019
Page last updated: Apr 02, 2019