2023 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Budget & Economy


Andy Beshear: Our mission is to move our families out of the floodplain

Our mission is to move our families out of the floodplain and out of harm's way. But doing so gives us a chance to reimagine our communities, to go beyond just rebuilding, and to set the stage for future growth. We have the chance to build new homes, community centers, senior apartments, maybe even new schools, along with strong, modern, resilient infrastructure that will help the entire region. And here's the best part: There is enough land--both to rebuild and to attract new jobs.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Kentucky legislature Jan 4, 2023

Andy Beshear: Bringing new prosperity to every corner of the commonwealth

Our fiscal house is also stronger than ever. My administration is expected to post the four largest budget surpluses in the commonwealth's history. We have the largest rainy day fund ever, and we reported the highest annual revenue growth rate in 31 years. Put simply: We are winning and bringing new prosperity to every corner of the commonwealth, leaving no one behind.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Kentucky legislature Jan 4, 2023

Andy Beshear: Our Eisenhower moment: investing more in infrastructure

In many ways, we are in our Eisenhower moment, investing more in infrastructure than ever before. We have some major results on major projects to be excited about--ones that have been talked about for decades. Together, we have also worked together to make the largest public sector investment in expanding high-speed internet. We delivered on projects to bring clean drinking water to nearly 85,000 homes, with every single county receiving funding.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Kentucky legislature Jan 4, 2023

Brad Little: Investing in local infrastructure IS property tax relief

Let us work on better ways to facilitate growth paying for growth and give local governments the tools they need to keep taxes low. The fact is, investing in local infrastructure IS property tax relief. Over the past two years, we made the biggest investments ever in our most precious resource--water. When we invested in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, we saved Idaho citizens the local taxes or fees they would otherwise pay to cover those improvements.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Idaho legislature Jan 9, 2023

Brian Kemp: Partner with local governments on workforce housing

But transformational projects, good-paying jobs, and new investment are worth little if there aren't options for hardworking Georgians to live where they work. That is why I am creating the Rural Workforce Housing Fund, enabling the state to partner directly with local governments to develop sites across the state for workforce housing.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Georgia legislature Jan 25, 2023

Dan McKee: Quarter billion dollar investment in creating more housing

Housing is one of the most critical issues facing Rhode Island today and over the next decade. That's why our Administration proposed a once-in-a-generation, quarter-billion dollar investment in creating and supporting more housing at all income levels. We have over $90 million in funding from the historic $250 million available for developers. And 39 projects have already been funded that are anticipated to create or preserve over 1,000 units of affordable housing.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the R.I. legislature Jan 17, 2023

Dan McKee: $2B for 137 state infrastructure projects moving forward

The budget surplus and economic stimulus funding from the federal government has put us in a position to make a record-setting investment in Rhode Island and in the people of Rhode Island. In addition to economic development projects happening across the state through public and private partnerships over the next several years, we will also have 137 state infrastructure projects totaling nearly $2 billion moving forward.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the R.I. legislature Jan 17, 2023

Doug Burgum: We've made great progress on our 10-year infrastructure plan

We've made great progress on DOT's 10-year infrastructure plan, investing $318 million so far this biennium to rebuild aging roads and bridges and our executive budget proposes an unprecedented $2.4 billion to accelerate our work. We can also build on the work done on water infrastructure last session by investing over $600 million to advance flood protection and our regional and critical water supply infrastructure across the state.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the N.D. legislature Jan 3, 2023

Eric Holcomb: Indiana has become known for our responsible budgets

Because of our strategic collaboration [with the legislature], Indiana has become known for our responsible budgets--and this one is no different. We have again proposed to make an additional $1 billion contribution to the pre-1996 teachers' pension fund. Since 2011, 30 years have been cut from the time to fully fund this pension, which will free up dollars for other uses beginning in 2029 instead of 2059. And just since 2017, we've paid down our state debt by 31%!
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Indiana legislature Jan 10, 2023

Gretchen Whitmer: Sustainable funding for our economic development efforts

Make it in Michigan proposes a sustainable funding source for our economic development efforts while growing talent, making our communities better places to live, and helping our state become a place where anyone can thrive. If we get this done, we can move faster year-round to compete and win cutting-edge manufacturing projects and bring more supply chains home. We can create opportunity for you and your family and support local economies and small businesses across our state.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Michigan legislature Jan 25, 2023

Gretchen Whitmer: I will continue finding ways to keep fixing the damn roads

If you haven't heard, roads are pretty important to me and every Michigander--our state flower might as well be an orange barrel! Since I took office, we've fixed 16,000 lane miles and 1,200 bridges, supporting 89,000 jobs. Throughout my second term, I will continue finding ways to keep fixing the damn roads. And as we fix them, let's build the most innovative transportation systems in the country.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Michigan legislature Jan 25, 2023

Henry McMaster: Save money instead of spending it to prepare for the future

This past November, South Carolinians overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment increasing the minimum required balance in the rainy-day reserve fund. I now ask the General Assembly to set aside an additional $500 million to voluntarily increase the rainy-day reserve fund minimum balance from 7 percent to 10 percent. By saving this money instead of spending it, we will once again be prepared for any future economic uncertainties, should they arise.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the S.C. legislature Jan 25, 2023

Henry McMaster: Complete infrastructure projects: roads, bridges, highways

There is no infrastructure more in need of big, bold, and continued investment than our state's roads, bridges, highways, and interstates. This year, my Executive Budget provides an additional $850 million to continue speeding up the completion of projects which will relieve traffic congestion on interstates and highways, repair or repave local roads and fix over 400 bridges across the state.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the S.C. legislature Jan 25, 2023

Jared Polis: Invested billions in housing, but can't just our way out

Since 2019 we have invested billions of dollars into housing. We created the first-ever dedicated funding source for affordable housing. Now, voters have passed Prop 123 to dedicate hundreds of millions of dollars in the coming years. But we can't just buy our way out of this, we have to break down government barriers, expand private property rights, and reduce regulations to actually construct more housing options at a lower cost so all Coloradans can thrive.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Colorado legislature Jan 17, 2023

Jim Pillen: Agencies must focus on what is needed, not what is nice

I'm introducing a budget that restricts the growth of state spending to an annual average of just 1.3% over the biennium. With an inspirational systems approach of running agencies, we will improve services to Nebraskans and cut the cost of operations. We have asked agencies to tighten their belts and focus on what is needed, not what is nice. Needs are our focus, and we are leading by example. In the budget I'm presenting the Governor's Office will not see one penny more than the prior budget.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Nebraska legislature Jan 25, 2023

Jim Pillen: Infrastructure needs are more important than ever before

Infrastructure needs for Nebraska are more important than ever before. To grow Nebraska, we must address roads and broadband. My budget includes $100 Million dollars to leverage an additional $400 Million in federal funds to improve our bridges and roads. Our team has also created the Nebraska Broadband Office. We have to get broadband across Nebraska completed. It will be the sole focus of the Nebraska Broadband Office.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Nebraska legislature Jan 25, 2023

Joe Lombardo: We're buying with cash instead of credit

My budget not only lowers the tax burden on working families and businesses, but it also reserves more than $1 dollar in savings for every new dollar in general fund spending. Not a penny of the State's one-time surplus will be used to fund any recurring programs. My budget saves taxpayers over $260 million dollars in interest payments on bonds, enabling us to, among other things, create more construction jobs in future years. In simple economic terms, we're buying with cash instead of credit.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Nevada legislature Jan 23, 2023

Kathy Hochul: Housing Compact has goal of 800,000 new homes in a decade

Today, I'm proud to introduce the New York Housing Compact, a groundbreaking strategy to catalyze the housing development we need for our communities to thrive. For our economy to grow. And our state to prosper. The Compact pulls together a broad menu of policy changes that will collectively achieve the ambitious goal of 800,000 new homes over the next decade. Because to do nothing is an abdication of our responsibility to act in times of crisis.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the New York legislature Jan 10, 2023

Mark Gordon: Old and crumbling infrastructure must be addressed

Old and crumbling infrastructure must be addressed. We are using federal funds effectively in this important area. In 2022, we allocated $50 million for water projects. Bear in mind, though, the demand was four times that. In the coming years, our state will deploy millions of federal dollars across Wyoming. We know all too well that federal funds come with too many strings. And a gap remains, leaving our smallest communities vulnerable.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Wyoming legislature Jan 11, 2023

Michelle Lujan-Grisham: Infrastructure brings jobs and opportunity to our state

Infrastructure brings jobs and opportunity to the people of our state. I'm calling for $128 million in water infrastructure improvements, $146 million in statewide broadband expansion, and updates to the New Mexico Film Tax Credit so we can attract even more businesses and redouble our investments in critical workforce development and job training programs. New Mexicans are the best workers in the country, and we are creating the conditions that bring them lifelong careers.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the N.M. legislature Jan 19, 2023

Mike DeWine: $2.5B to prepare infrastructure of large development sites

When a business is looking for a site, they want to move quickly, and so we must get these sites ready so that we can capture these jobs in every part of the State. And that is why our budget creates the "All Ohio Future Fund" -- a one-time investment that will provide a lifetime of returns! We will make an unprecedented $2.5 billion investment to prepare the infrastructure of large economic development sites located in every single part of Ohio.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Ohio legislature Jan 31, 2023

Ned Lamont: Small business boost fund invested in over 100 new companies

Our small business boost fund has invested in over 100 new and expanding companies, and most of these companies are led by women and entrepreneurs of color. I spent 30 years in business, and I see opportunity through the lens of starting small businesses & helping them grow. But innovation doesn't begin and end in the private sector. I want all of our state employees to be empowered to innovate as well. We rely too much on subsidies instead of innovation to provide better service at less cost.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to Connecticut legislature Jan 4, 2023

Phil Murphy: Netflix production hub shows NJ is ready for our close up

Netflix will create a major production hub at the site of the former Fort Monmouth--a nearly $1 billion dollar investment that will create thousands of permanent, and overwhelmingly union, jobs. The dozen soundstages to be built, along with new housing and hospitality space, will revitalize not just Fort Monmouth but lift the small businesses around it. More than anything, this investment by Netflix makes it clear to all--New Jersey is ready for our close up.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the N.J. legislature Jan 10, 2023

Phil Murphy: More than $1B to support revitalizing our downtowns

Our downtowns took a beating during the pandemic, and we have committed ourselves to bringing them fully back. We have helped our downtowns and small businesses make it through some very dark times and into the recovery which is still ongoing with more than $1 billion in support. And together, in the budget we passed, we maintained our $50 million investment in the Main Street Recovery Program. And the holiday season saw our downtowns bustling again, as they should be.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the N.J. legislature Jan 10, 2023

Tate Reeves: Economic boom due to fiscally conservative principles

Since 2019, we've raised per capita personal income in Mississippi by approximately $7,000 or almost 18%. We were able to accomplish this momentous feat because we never wavered from the tried and true economic and fiscally conservative principles that have set up states for growth for generations. And we were able to accomplish this despite the left's best attempts to grow government. Our conservative reforms and sound budget management have laid the foundation for this economic boom.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Miss. legislature Jan 30, 2023

Tony Evers: $150M for small business & Innovation Grants

I'm excited to announce we're going to continue our Main Street Bounceback program in my biennial budget with a $50 million investment to provide as many as 5,000 eligible businesses with grants up to $10,000 to help afford building repairs and improvements, lease and mortgage payments, and defray other expenses that can be a barrier to someone's dream becoming a successful business.

We're going to continue harnessing our local ingenuity through the Workforce Innovation Grant program with a $100 million investment to keep developing new, innovative ideas and locally-based projects that will support our workforce and economic development based on what those communities need. We're going to invest $10 million in an initiative led by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to collaborate with industries to retain and attract talented workers.

Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Wisconsin legislature Jan 24, 2023

Tony Evers: Repaired over 5800 miles of roads, nearly 1600 bridges

When we began our work together four years ago, our roads and bridges were in disrepair. I'm proud to say that the state of our state is much different today. We've gotten to work fixing the darn roads--I even helped fill some of those potholes myself, by the way. And as I stand here tonight, I'm proud to report we've worked together to repair and improve over 5,800 miles of roads and nearly 1,600 bridges across our state.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Wisconsin legislature Jan 24, 2023

Bill Lee: Public-private partnerships to modernize transportation

Right now, there's a $26 billion backlog of projects across the state. Simply put, we are way behind, and we have to change the way we fund and build our roads and bridges.

That's why I'm introducing the Transportation Modernization Act--a plan to engage public-private partnerships to build additional choice lanes on urban highways, to ensure electric vehicle owners pay their share in maintaining our roads, and to provide a delivery model that builds rural and urban projects faster.

Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Tennessee legislature Feb 6, 2023

J.B. Pritzker: Illinois has passed four balanced budgets in a row

What was once an Illinois with $17 billion in overdue bills is now an Illinois that pays its bills on time. What was once an Illinois that went years without a budget is now an Illinois that has passed four balanced budgets in a row. What was once a state with no cushion to protect it in an economic downturn is now an Illinois on track to have a $2.3 billion Rainy Day Fund. What was once an Illinois with a credit rating on the verge of junk status is now an Illinois getting credit upgrades.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature Feb 15, 2023

J.B. Pritzker: Illinois Grocery Initiative to open/expand local grocers

It's time we return to a tried and true model -- one where those communities are served by independent, local grocery stores that sell food grown by Illinois farmers. This budget includes a first of its kind investment of $20 million to launch the Illinois Grocery Initiative, assisting municipalities and independent grocers to open or expand grocery stores in underserved rural towns and urban neighborhoods -- with an additional $2 million going towards purchasing food from Illinois farmers.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Illinois legislature Feb 15, 2023

Wes Moore: We can invest today while also preparing for the future

We made the largest investment in public education by any governor in our state's history AND introduced $200 million in targeted tax relief for children in poverty and veterans in retirement.

We put forward a plan to make Maryland the first state to end child poverty, AND we kept 10% in the rainy day fund. Let's put an end to the belief that we cannot invest in the future today, while also preparing for the uncertainty of tomorrow. It's Just. Not. True.

Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Maryland legislature Feb 1, 2023

  • The above quotations are from 2023 Governor's State of the State speeches.
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  • Click here for more quotes by Andy Beshear on Budget & Economy.
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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, 2023