2019 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Budget & Economy


Bill Lee: 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

J.B. Pritzker: Time for honest budgeting instead of game-playing

Illinois has a $3.2 billion budget deficit and a $15 billion debt. Last year the state paid out more than $700 million in late payment penalties, enough to cover free four-year university tuition for more than 12,000 students. Budgeting will not be done any more by court orders, consent decrees and continuing appropriations but instead by debate and compromise. The budget I present to you today is an honest proposal--the costs are not hidden, the revenues I propose are not out of reach.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Illinois legislature Feb 20, 2019

Mike Dunleavy: Our government spending far exceeds our revenue

Let's talk about creating a real, honest budget. Alaskans believe our state budget process is a mess. Why is it a mess? Because our government spending far exceeds the revenue we take in. Kicking the can down the road for years, wiping out billions from savings, and then taxing the PFD, all the while just hoping for another oil boom--it simply doesn't work. We can no longer spend what we don't have.

We are now preparing a budget that for the first time all Alaskans will be able to understand & trust. No more games, no more shuffling numbers. Just an honest, straightforward look at where we are.

My administration will be focused on the basic functions of government, while realigning programs and operations to eliminate duplication and prioritize each agency's core mission. My first budget is going to be an honest budget. As I promised the people, we must start from the standpoint that expenditures must equal revenue. We can't go on forever using savings to plug the budget gap.

Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Alaska legislature Jan 22, 2019

Brian Kemp: Georgians First Commission: more diverse economy

Through the Georgians First Commission, we will review regulations that make it difficult for job creators to hire, expand, and invest. We will work to make government more efficient and put hardworking Georgians first. I am confident that we can build a stronger, more diverse economy. We can add a new designation to Georgia's resume: #1 for small business.

With conservative budgeting, Georgia has maintained a triple-A bond rating. Our Rainy Day Fund stands at $2.5 billion. Our fiscal house is in order. Last year, the Legislature lowered state income tax rates and fully funded public school education. I am confident we can do it again.

Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Georgia legislature Jan 17, 2019

Laura Kelly: Address financial crisis without new taxes

Those breathtaking years of crisis have left Kansas on the brink of collapse. While the time for finger pointing is over, we're not off the hook for the long-term consequences of past policy decisions. I'm proud to honor my promise to balance the budget without raising taxes. That is why we must be cautious, conservative and fiscally responsible. We must live within our means. Prioritize what matters most. Always look for ways to save. And always make sure our children come first.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Kansas legislature Jan 16, 2019

Jim Justice: Balanced $217M budget deficit with no new taxes

The first time I walked in the door [in 2017], things were pretty doggone tough. Our state was bankrupt: a $217,000,000 deficit, and the next year, it's gonna be $497,000,000, and the next year, 600 and some.

And I prayed a lot. And I truly give the good Lord the credit for all the good ideas, and I'll take the credit for the bad ones. But 23 months later, we're here today, there's been lots and lots and lots of hard work. Didn't have anywhere to go. Had to cut. Had to cut to balance the budget.

Well, we haven't had any cut budgets recently, and we're not going to have one today either. Today, we have things that are so good, so pluses. No new taxes. Did you hear that? No new taxes.

You're going to see a budget that is increased less than the rate of inflation, a budget that is increasing significantly less than the economic growth of our state. And you're able to announce--the biggest in the State's history--a surplus bigger than we've ever had before.

Source: 2019 State of the State address to West Virginia legislature Jan 9, 2019

Mark Gordon: Define Rainy Day Account for "steady as she goes"

I believe our best times will come when we assure a reliable and stable fiscal future. It is hard to find a consistent path forward when one chases revenue, hopes for windfall, or reacts drastically to downturns. It is important that we find a course where "steady as she goes" becomes the watchword.

Wyoming has been responsible in putting together savings that can help stabilize the downturns. If we are to chart our own future, we must also be disciplined and refill and even augment those savings in the good times.

We must be wise with our savings, using them when we need them. I support a bill to better define the purpose of the Rainy Day Account, or LSRA, so that those nearly $2 billion can be invested in a way that, first and foremost, assures the money in it will be there for rainy days and second that it can earn incrementally better returns than it does now. This definition will also clarify when, how much, and for what purposes we have set aside these specific savings.

Source: 2019 State of the State address to Wyoming legislature Jan 9, 2019

Ned Lamont: No more funny math in budget; balanced for future

Let's fix this damn budget, once and for all! In six weeks, I will present to you a budget which is in balance not just for a year, but for the foreseeable future; so that mayors and first selectmen, business and labor leaders, teachers and police officers know what to expect. However, I want to be clear--no more funny math or budgetary gamesmanship. Don't tell me some consultant says there are $1 billion in easy spending cuts; show me the money or I will show you the door.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Connecticut legislature Jan 9, 2019

Brad Little: Look for too much spending on autopilot

As we review our state budget-we must ask key questions: Is there too much spending on autopilot? Are we putting off maintenance that will cost our children more tomorrow? Do we have adequate rainy-day funds? How do we structure the surplus eliminator?

These measures and my proposed budget ensure we avoid the short-term fiscal mistakes that other states and the federal government continue to make.

Source: 2019 State of the State address to Idaho legislature Jan 7, 2019

  • The above quotations are from 2019 Governor's State of the State speeches.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Budget & Economy.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Ralph Northam on Budget & Economy.
  • Click here for more quotes by Charlie Baker on Budget & Economy.
Candidates and political leaders on Budget & Economy:

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: Apr 02, 2019