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>> LIVE FROM THE STATE CAPITAL
FROM JACKSON THIS IS THE
GOVERNOR'S ANNUAL STATE OF THE
STATE DELIVERED BY A SPECIAL
JOINT SESSION OF THE MISSISSIPPI
LEGISLATURE.
♪
>> THE JOINT SESSION OF THE
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE IS NOW
CALLED TO ORDER.
I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE HERE
THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR COMING.
AT THIS TIME IT GIVES ME GREAT
PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE A GOOD
FRIEND OF MINE, A GREAT LEADER
IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI,
PLEASE HELP MAKE WELCOME THE
HONORABLE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
TATE REEVES.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
MR. CLERK, CAN YOU RECOGNIZE THE
ESCORTS THAT ARE TO BRING IN OUR
HONORED GUESTS?
>> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR REEVES AND
SPECIAL GUNN ANNOUNCED A
COMMITTEE OF SENATORS OF DODY
PARKS AND WILLIAM BARNES
JENNINGS AND WILLIS TO ESCORT
THE FIRST LADY TO THE DESK.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR REEVES, AND
SPEAKER GUNN ANNOUNCED A
COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF WIGGINS
AND REPRESENTATIVES WAY ROGERS,
THOMAS AND HANEY DESK COURT PHIL
BRYANT TO THE DESK.
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE THE HOUSE SPEAKER PRO
TEM GREG SNOWDEN.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES IN THE
SENATE AND I APPRECIATE THE
SPEAKER AND THE SPEAKER PRO TEM.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO
RECOGNIZE THE PRESIDENT PRO TEM
OF THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE,
SENATOR TERRY BROWN.
[APPLAUSE]
NOW, LET'S WELCOME OUR STATEWIDE
ELECTED OFFICIALS:
SECRETARY OF STATE DELBERT
[APPLAUSE]
STATE TREASURER LYNN FITCH
STATE AUDITOR STACEY PICKERING
COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE MIKE
CHANEY
COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE &
COMMERCE CINDY HYDE-SMITH
PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME THE
MISSISSIPPI SUPREME COURT.
PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL
ALL HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED.
CHIEF JUSTICE BILL WALLER JR.
PRESIDING JUSTICE MICHAEL
RANDOLPH
JUSTICE ANN LAMAR
JUSTICE JAMES KITCHENS
JUSTICE DAVID CHANDLER
JUSTICE RANDY PIERCE
JUSTICE LESLIE KING
JUSTICE JOSIAH DENNIS COLEMAN
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING
THEM.
[APPLAUSE]
>> NOW PLEASE JOIN ME IN HELPING
WELCOME OUR STATE COURT OF
APPEALS.
AGAIN, PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE
UNTIL ALL HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED.
CHIEF JUDGE JOSEPH LEE
PRESIDING JUDGE TYREE IRVING
PRESIDING JUDGE KENNETH GRIFFIS
JUDGE DONNA BARNES
JUDGE DAVID ISHEE
JUDGE LARRY ROBERTS
JUDGE VIRGINIA CARLTON
JUDGE JAMES MAXWELL II
JUDGE CEOLA JAMES
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THEM
TO THE JOINT SESSION.
[APPLAUSE]
>> NOW LET'S WELCOME OUR MEMBERS
OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE
COMMISSION.
BRANDON PRESLEY OF THE NORTHERN
LYNN POSEY OF THE CENTRAL
STEPHEN RENFROE OF THE SOUTHERN
DISTRICT
AND HELP ME WELCOME OUR
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONERS.
MIKE TAGERT OF THE NORTHERN
DISTRICT *** HALL OF THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT. GOV. TATE
>> THANK YOU.
IT IS NOW MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE
THE FIRST LADY OF THE GREAT
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, DEBORAH
BRYANT.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND NOW, PLEASE JOIN ME IN
WELCOMING THE GOVERNOR OF THE
GREAT STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE
HONORABLE PHIL BRYANT.
>> YAY!
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
OH, PLEASE, PLEASE!
[APPLAUSE]
>> I'M GOING TO STAND HERE UNTIL
YOU STOP.
[LAUGHTER]
>> WHAT AN HONOR IT IS TO BE
WITH YOU HERE TONIGHT.
THANK YOU MR. LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR AND THANK YOU MR.
SPEAKER.
IF YOU COULD PLEASE GIVE OUR TWO
LEADERS A HAND AND OUR
APPRECIATION.
[APPLAUSE]
>> COME ON!
IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE
WITH ALL OF YOU THIS EVENING,
STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER AS
WE REFLECT ON OUR
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SET OUR
GOALS FOR THE WORK YET TO BE
DONE.
TO EACH MEMBER OF THE
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE: WHAT AN
HONOR IT IS TO SERVE THE PEOPLE
OF MISSISSIPPI WITH YOU AT THIS
SPECIAL TIME.
IN JUST TWO SHORT YEARS, WE HAVE
WORKED TOGETHER TO BRING ABOUT
POSITIVE CHANGE IN OUR STATE.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE
AND YOUR DEDICATION.
TO MISSISSIPPI'S FIRST LADY AND
MINE, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
PUTTING UP WITH US ALL.
THE EARLY MORNINGS AND LATE
NIGHTS.
THROUGH STORM AND SUNSHINE, SHE
IS ALWAYS THERE.
TO HELP BLAIR BATSON HOSPITAL,
OR SUSAN G. KOMEN, OR
SMITHVILLE, OR READ ACROSS
MISSISSIPPI-SHE IS ALWAYS THERE.
SHE IS THE WIND BENEATH
MISSISSIPPI'S WINGS AND MINE,
AND SHE IS FOREVER MY FIRST
LADY.
[APPLAUSE]
AS I BEGAN WRITING THIS ADDRESS
SOME WEEKS AGO, I REFLECTED UPON
PSALM 126, WHICH SAYS, "THE LORD
HATH DONE GREAT THINGS FOR US:
WHEREOF WE ARE GLAD."
TONIGHT, LET US SEE WHY WE
SHOULD BE GLAD.
TWO YEARS AGO WE BEGAN OUR
JOURNEY TOGETHER.
OUR GOAL WAS SIMPLE: WE WOULD
ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS FOR ALL
MISSISSIPPIANS.
IN THOSE TWO YEARS, MY
ADMINISTRATION HAS ENDEAVORED TO
WORK WITH YOU TO ADVANCE THE
COMMON GOOD. REALIZING THAT ALL
POWER HELD BY THE GOVERNMENT
COMES SOLELY FROM THE AUTHORITY
OF THE GOVERNED, THE MISSISSIPPI
CONSTITUTION PLAINLY SAYS, "ALL
POLITICAL POWER IS VESTED IN,
AND DERIVED FROM, THE PEOPLE;
ALL GOVERNMENT OF RIGHT
ORIGINATES WITH THE PEOPLE, IS
FOUNDED UPON THEIR WILL ONLY,
AND IS INSTITUTED SOLELY FOR THE
GOOD OF THE WHOLE."
WITH UNWAVERING ACCEPTANCE OF
THIS DOCTRINE WE ENDEAVORED TO
PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE ALL
COULD RISE TOGETHER.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT A VISION
WITHOUT ACTION IS JUST AN
ILLUSION, SO WE SET ABOUT WITH
FOUR FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS GUIDING
OUR PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.
FIRST, WE BELIEVE EVERY
MISSISSIPPIAN SHOULD HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE GAINFULLY
EMPLOYED RIGHT HERE AT HOME;
SECOND, EVERY MISSISSIPPIAN MUST
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN
FROM THE BEST EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
WE CAN OFFER; THIRD, WE BELIEVE
THAT EVERY MISSISSIPPIAN
DESERVES TO BE BORN INTO A
MATURE, TWO-PARENT FAMILY;
FINALLY, WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY
MISSISSIPPIAN SHOULD BE CERTAIN
THAT HIS OR HER TAX DOLLARS ARE
PUT TO PROPER USE.
I BELIEVED, THEN, AS I DO
TONIGHT, THAT THESE FOUR GOALS
ACHIEVED TOGETHER WILL CREATE A
MISSISSIPPI OF LIMITLESS
OPPORTUNITY.
LET US SEE HOW THE PLAN HAS
WORKED THUS FAR.
I HAVE OFTEN SAID WE CAN MAKE
MISSISSIPPI THE MOST
JOB-FRIENDLY STATE IN AMERICA.
WHEN A MISSISSIPPIAN HAS A JOB
IT CHANGES EVERYTHING.
A MISSISSIPPIAN WITH A JOB IS
LESS LIKELY TO NEED PUBLIC
ASSISTANCE, IS MORE LIKELY TO
CONTRIBUTE TAXES TO THE STATE
TREASURY, IS A STRONG EXAMPLE OF
RESPONSIBILITY TO HIS OR HER
CHILDREN AND IS MORE LIKELY TO
VOTE, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
COMMUNITY AND TO AVOID CRIME.
EACH DAY AS GOVERNOR, I MAKE IT
MY JOB TO ENSURE MORE
MISSISSIPPIANS HAVE A JOB OF
THEIR OWN.
YOU AND I HAVE HELPED CREATE AN
ECONOMY WHERE THE UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE HAS DROPPED FROM 9.4% WHEN
WE TOOK OFFICE TO 8.3%.
AND IS GOING DOWN.
[APPLAUSE]
IN THE TWO YEARS SINCE WE BEGAN
OUR WORK, MISSISSIPPI HAS ADDED
NEARLY NINE THOUSAND JOBS
THROUGH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
EFFORTS.
LAST YEAR, AT THIS ADDRESS, I
WENT THROUGH A LIST OF NEW
COMPANIES THAT HAD MOVED TO
MISSISSIPPI AS WELL AS THOSE
EXISTING INDUSTRIES THAT HAD
EXPANDED.
I THOUGHT ABOUT DOING THE SAME
THING AGAIN THIS YEAR, BUT 2013
WAS SUCH A SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN
MISSISSIPPI THAT IF I LISTED
ALL OUR ACHIEVEMENTS, YOU
PROBABLY COULD NOT MAKE IT TO
DINNER ON TIME.
INSTEAD, I WILL LET YOU KNOW
WHAT OUTSIDE EXPERTS HAVE BEEN
SAYING ABOUT ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IN MISSISSIPPI.
AREA DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE, A
NATIONAL PUBLICATION THAT
FOCUSES ON SITE-SELECTION, RATES
MISSISSIPPI AS THE NUMBER NINE
STATE FOR DOING BUSINESS; AS THE
NUMBER TWO STATE FOR BOTH
COMPETITIVE UTILITY COSTS AND
PERMITTING SPEED; AND AMONG THE
TOP FIVE FOR OVERALL COST OF
DOING BUSINESS.
CNN BUSINESS NEWS REPORTS THAT
MISSISSIPPI IS THE FIFTH BEST
STATE IN AMERICA FOR
ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS.
EXPANSION SOLUTIONS MAGAZINE HAS
NAMED OUR STATE AMONG THE TOP
FIVE FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING
EXCELLENCE, AND THE FRASER
INSTITUTE SAYS MISSISSIPPI IS
THE SECOND BEST PLACE IN THE
WORLD TO INVEST IN THE OIL & GAS
INDUSTRY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> PERHAPS THE GREATEST
INDICATOR OF SUCCESS IS OUR
STATE'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
-- THE SUM OF ALL FINANCIAL
PRODUCTION AND GROWTH IN OUR
ECONOMY.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
MISSISSIPPI'S HISTORY, OUR STATE
REACHED $100 BILLION DOLLARS IN
GDP.
THE AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE
EXCHANGE COUNCIL RANKED
MISSISSIPPI AMONG THE TOP TEN
MOST SUCCESSFUL STATES FOR
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK, AND AREA
DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE SAYS,
"MISSISSIPPI IS ON AN ECONOMIC
ROLL."
I COULD NOT AGREE MORE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> CERTAINLY, WE CAN ALWAYS DO
BETTER, BUT THESE STANDINGS
INDICATE WE ARE TRENDING UPWARD,
AND THE WORLD HAS TAKEN NOTICE.
WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE
COMPANIES WHO HAVE TRAVERSED THE
GLOBE TO MAKE MISSISSIPPI HOME.
ONE WE ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD TO
WELCOME TO OUR STATE IS YOKOHAMA
TIRE COMPANY, WHICH WILL BRING
THOUSANDS OF JOBS TO CLAY
COUNTY.
I AM HONORED TO HAVE AS OUR
GUEST TONIGHT, SITTING IN THE
NORTHERN BALCONY, THE PRESIDENT
OF YOKOHAMA TIRE MANUFACTURING
MISSISSIPPI, MR. TAD YOMAMOTO.
[APPLAUSE]
>> YOKOHOMA TIRE COULD HAVE
PLACED ITS NEW PLANT ANYWHERE IN
THE WORLD.
EVERY STATE IN THE NATION WOULD
HAVE BEEN HONORED TO HAVE THIS
GREAT COMPANY AND ITS NEW
FACILITY.
THE SITE SELECTOR LOOKED AT OVER
A THOUSAND POSSIBILITIES AND
SETTLED ON THE VERY BEST -
MISSISSIPPI.
MR. YOMAMOTO, I THANK YOU FOR
YOUR CONFIDENCE IN OUR STATE,
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DEEPENING
OUR FRIENDSHIP AND OUR BUSINESS
TIES.
I WISH YOUR COMPANY MANY YEARS
OF SUCCESS IN MISSISSIPPI.
IN ORDER TO OFFER YOKOHOMA AND
OUR EXISTING INDUSTRIES THE
WORLD'S BEST WORK FORCE, WE MUST
CONTINUE TO MAKE CAREER TRAINING
PROGRAMS ALL THEY CAN BE.
TO MAKE CERTAIN OF THIS SUCCESS,
I HAVE ASKED MR. JAY MOON,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
MISSISSIPPI MANUFACTURERS
ASSOCIATION, TO LEAD THE STATE
WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD AND,
ALONG WITH OUR GREAT COMMUNITY
COLLEGES, MAKE OUR WORKFORCE
SECOND TO NONE.
NOW, ABRAHAM LINCOLN IS CREDITED
AS HAVING SAID, "GIVE ME SIX
HOURS TO CHOP DOWN A TREE AND I
WILL SPEND THE FIRST FOUR
SHARPENING THE AX."
WE MUST PREPARE OUR WORKFORCE
FOR THE ADVANCED SKILLS NEEDED
IN TODAY'S ECONOMY.
NOTHING IS MORE CRITICAL TO OUR
SUCCESS.
LET US SET ABOUT TO SHARPEN OUR
AX TOGETHER.
[APPLAUSE]
>> SOON, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF
THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF
EMPLOYMENT SECURITY, THE STATE
WORK FORCE INVESTMENT BOARD, AND
THE STATE LONGITUDINAL DATA
SYSTEM, WE WILL UNVEIL A STATE
OF THE ART SYSTEM MATCHING JOB
SEEKERS WITH EMPLOYERS.
THE SYSTEM, ALONG WITH ITS APP,
WILL BE UNLIKE ANY OTHER IN THE
NATION.
IT WILL PUT JOB SEEKERS AND
EMPLOYEES A CLICK AWAY FROM
SUCCESS.
-5- FINDING A JOB OR A QUALIFIED
NOW, FINDING A JOB OR A
QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE IN
MISSISSIPPI WILL BE EASIER AND
MORE EFFECTIVE THAN EVER. THE
MISSISSIPPI WORKS WEB SITE WILL
ADD THIS IMPORTANT FEATURE VERY
SOON.
I WILL JUST SAY, STAND BY TO BE
AMAZED.
AND I ASSURE YOU, THIS WEBSITE
WORKS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I AM ALSO VERY PLEASED TO
ANNOUNCE A REVOLUTIONARY
HEALTHCARE EFFORT TONIGHT.
THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
MEDICAL CENTER, GE HEALTHCARE,
NORTH SUNFLOWER MEDICAL CENTER,
AND C-SPIRE, WE ARE LAUNCHING
THE MISSISSIPPI DIABETES
TELEHEALTH INITIATIVE.
NOW, THIS GROUNDBREAKING PILOT
PROGRAM WILL USE TELEHEALTH
TECHNOLOGY TO PAIR RESOURCES
FROM THE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL
CENTER WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS
AND 200 OF THE MOST COMPLEX
DIABETES PATIENTS IN THE
MISSISSIPPI DELTA.
NOW THIS COORDINATED CARE
APPROACH WILL IMPROVE DISEASE
MANAGEMENT AND HEALTH OUTCOMES
FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
IN MISSISSIPPI.
FINALLY, LET ME REMIND YOU THAT
2014 HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS THE
YEAR OF THE CREATIVE ECONOMY, A
MISSISSIPPI HOMECOMING.
THIS YEAR WE WILL FOCUS ON THAT
SEGMENT OF THE ECONOMY, WHICH
PROVIDES SOME 60,000 JOBS AND
GENERATES AN ENORMOUS ECONOMIC
IMPACT IN OUR STATE.
2014 WILL SEE HUNDREDS OF
CREATIVE EVENTS FROM CONCERTS TO
PLAYS TO MOVIE PREMIERS ALL
ACROSS MISSISSIPPI.
WE ARE ASKING MISSISSIPPI
ARTISTS WHO HAVE MOVED AWAY TO
COME HOME FOR ONE SPECIAL EVENT
TO SHARE THEIR TALENTS LIVE WITH
THEIR FELLOW MISSISSIPPIANS.
WE AIM TO SHOW THE WORLD THAT
MISSISSIPPI IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF
AMERICA'S MUSIC, BUT WE ALSO
COOK AND WRITE AND ACT AND PAINT
AND DANCE AND DIRECT.
THIS WILL BRING THOUSANDS OF
VISITORS TO MISSISSIPPI.
LET US HAVE A HOMECOMING AND
INVITE THE WORLD.
[APPLAUSE]
>> ONE OF MISSISSIPPI'S CREATIVE
ARTISTS IS WITH US TONHT.
BRUCE LEVINGSTON, A YOUNG MAN
FROM THE DELTA.
HE BEGAN TO PLAY THE PIANO AT
AGE FOUR AND HAS BECOME A
LEADING FIGURE IN AMERICAN
MUSIC.
BECAUSE OF HIS IMMENSE TALENT,
SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST
PROMINENT COMPOSERS HAVE WRITTEN
WORKS FOR HIM TO PREMIERE.
HE HAS PLAYED IN VENUES AS
DIVERSE AS CARNEGIE HALL, THE
UNITED NATIONS, LINCOLN CENTER
AND POWER APAC SCHOOL HERE IN
JACKSON.
HE HAS BEEN HAILED BY THE NEW
YORK TIMES AS "ONE OF TODAY'S
MOST ADVENTUROUS MUSICIANS."
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY
FRIEND, BRUCE LEVINGSTON.
[APPLAUSE]
>> LAST YEAR, WE ENACTED THE
MOST TRANSFORMATIONAL PUBLIC
EDUCATION REFORMS IN THIRTY
YEARS.
WE CAME TO THIS ACTION BECAUSE
WE RECOGNIZED THAT SERIOUS
PROBLEMS EXIST WITHIN OUR
STATE'S EDUCATION SYSTEM.
WHEN WE SET ABOUT TO DEVELOP OUR
EDUCATION WORKS AGENDA, WE FOUND
TROUBLING EVIDENCE OF THE
STRUGGLES IN MISSISSIPPI
CLASSROOMS.
JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, EDUCATION
WEEK RELEASED ITS QUALITY COUNTS
RATINGS THAT PLACED MISSISSIPPI
AS NUMBER 51 FOR K THROUGH 12
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
NOW, WE CAN ALL AGREE THIS IS
UNACCEPTABLE.
POTICAL POSTURING AND
FINGER-POINTING DO NOTHING TO
HELP THESE CHILDREN, SO WE HAVE
WORKED TOGETHER IN THESE PAST
TWO YEARS TO OFFER SOLUTIONS.
NOT THROUGH SOME ARBITRARY
FORMULA OR STANDARDS DICTATED BY
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUT BY
COMMON SENSE PRIORITIES.
OUR EDUCATION WORKS REFORMS WILL
HELP PREPARE CHILDREN FOR
LIFELONG LEARNING BY IMPROVING
LITERACY SKILLS AND ENDING
STATUS QUO SOCIAL PROMOTION.
IN ONE EVENTFUL YEAR, WE
IMPLEMENTED THE THIRD GRADE GATE
TO REQUIRE READING PROFICIENCY;
WE LAUNCHED A MERIT PAY PROGRAM;
WE RAISED STANDARDS FOR TEACHER
TRAINING PROGRAMS AND CREATED
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR BRIGHT YOUNG
STUDENTS WHO WANT TO TEACH; WE
ESTABLISHED A COLLABORATIVE
PRE-K LEARNING PROGRAM; WE
FUNDED MISSISSIPPI BUILDING
OCKS; AND WE CREATED A PUBLIC
CHARTER SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WHAT A YEAR, WHAT A MEASURE OF
SUCCESS FOR EDUCATION.
WITH THESE PRIORITIES, WE
INCREASED OUR TARGETED EDUCATION
SPENDING BY $18.6 MILLION
DOLLARS AND ALSO DIRECTED $22.6
MILLION DOLLARS TO THE NATIONAL
BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHER PROGRAM
AND $6 MILLION DOLLARS TO TEACH
FOR AMERICA.
THE TOTAL APPROPRIATION FOR K
THROUGH 12 EDUCATION FOR FISCAL
YEAR 2014 EXCEEDS $2.3 BILLION
DOLLARS.
NOW THIS IS MORE FUNDING FOR
EDUCATION THAN HAS BEEN
APPROPRIATED IN ANY OF THE PAST
FOUR YEARS.
NOW, WITH THE LEGISLATURE'S
HELP, WE WILL INCREASE THIS
FUNDING FOR THE UPCOMING BUDGET
CYCLE.
MY FISCAL YEAR 2015 EXECUTIVE
BUDGET RECOMMENDATION INCLUDES
ANDDITIONAL $22 MILLION
DOLLARS FOR EDUCATION SPENDING.
BE IN K-12.
THIS INCLUDES OUR EXISTING
EDUCATION WORKS PRIORITIES, AS
WELL AS $16 MILLION DOLLARS FOR
A NEW SCHOOL REPAIR FUND TO BE
ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION.
PLACING THESE CAPITAL EXPENSE
DOLLARS ASIDE SPECIFICALLY FOR K
THROUGH 12 EDUCATION WILL GO A
LONG WAY TOWARD REPAIRING
LEAKING ROOFS IN OUR CLASSROOMS
WITHOUT CONTRIBUTING TO THE
RISING TIDE OF COSTS IN THE
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.
EVEN WITH THESE SUCCESSES, OUR
WORK IN EDUCATION IS FAR FROM
FINISHED, AND THERE ARE NEW
EFFORTS THAT I WILL CALL ON THE
LEGISLATURE TO ADOPT.
HOWEVER, WE SHOULD MAKE OUR
FIRST PRIORITY IMPLEMENTING THE
REFORMS WE HAVE ALREADY PASSED.
I RECENTLY RELEASED OPPORTUNITY
MISSISSIPPI, WHICH IS MY
STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THIS STATE.
IN THAT DOCUMENT, I OUTLINED
BENCHMARKS FOR OUR EDUCATION
WORKS REFORMS:
NOW, COLLEGE AND CAREER
READINESS AMONG HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS HAS BECOME A
CENTERPIECE OF CHANGE AND
ADVANCEMENT.
WE MUST AIM TO REDUCE THE HIGH
SCHOOL DROPOUT RATE 10 PERCENT
BY 2017.
IF PROPERLY IMPLEMENTED, THE
OTHER REFORMS WE HAVE ENACTED
WILL HELP US ACHIEVE THIS GOAL.
NOW, THROUGH THE THIRD GRADE
GATE, WE SHOULD ALSO WORK TO
DOCUMENA 20 PERCENT INCREASE
IN LITERACY ATTAINMENTS FOR
THIRD GRADE STUDENTS BY 2017.
I CALL ON THE LEGISLATURE TO
WORK TOWARD PROVIDING ENOUGH
FUNDING FOR THIS ESSENTIAL
PROGRAM TO ESTABLISH A RATIO OF
ONE READING COACH FOR EVERY NINE
TEACHERS IN OUR HIGHEST-NEED
CLASSROOMS.
I HAVE LONG BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR
INCREASING TEACHER SALARY, AND I
BELIEVE WE SHOULD PAY GOOD
TEACHERS WELL.
LAST SESSION, I REQUESTED AND
YOU APPROVED OF FUNDING FOR A
PILOT PROGRAM TO ESTABLISH A
MERIT PAY SYSTEM.
NOW, MY STRATEGIC PLAN CALLS FOR
IMPLEMENTING MERIT PAY IN AT
LEAST 70 PERCENT OF MISSISSIPPI
SCHOOL DISTRICTS BY 2018.
NOW, IT IS MY HOPE THAT REVENUE
WILL BE SUFFICIENT TO INCREASE
THE CURRENT MERIT PAY
APPROPRIATION BY A SUBSTANTIAL
AMOUNT AND FAST TRACK THE PILOT
PROGRAM TO GET RAISES TO
TEACHERS SOONER.
MY FISCAL YEAR 2015 EXECUTIVE
BUDGET, LIKE MY PREVIOUS BUDGET,
HAS ALSO REQUESTED THAT THE
LEGISLATURE FULLY FUND THE
NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHER
PROGRAM.
A TREMENDOUS PROGRAM FOR
MISSISSIPPI TEACHERS.
ACHIEVING THIS STATUS CAN MEAN A
$6000 RAISE FOR A TEACHER.
SOME 3,500 TEACHERS IN
MISSISSIPPI ARE BOARD CERTIFIED.
WE ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB OF
ENCOURAGING TEACHERS TO PURSUE
THIS CERTIFICATION, AND I WANT
TO SEE MISSISSIPPI INCREASE ITS
NUMBER OF BOARD CERTIFIED
TEACHERS 25 PERCENT BY 2018.
THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES
FOUNDATION HAS RECOGNIZED
MISSISSIPPI'S EFFORTS IN THIS
ARENA AND HAS AWARDED OUR STATE
A GRANT OF $350,000 DOLLARS TO
HELP SUPPORT TEACHING STUDENTS
WHO WISH TO PURSUE BOARD
CERTIFICATION AT THE OUTSET OF
THEIR CAREERS. THIS PROGRAM
SHOULD HELP MISSISSIPPI RECRUIT
ANOTHER 1,000 TEACHERS FOR BOARD
CERTIFICATION IN THE NEXT FEW
YEARS.
ALL OF THIS WILL TRANSLATE INTO
A GREATER NUMBER OF HIGHLY
QUALIFIED TEACHERS IN
MISSISSIPPI CLASSROOMS, WHICH
WILL MEAN BETTER OUTCOMES FOR
STUDENTS.
NOW, FINALLY, I ASK THE
LEGISLATURE TO GRANT THE REQUEST
IN MY EXECUTIVE BUDGET
RECOMMENDATION TO PROVIDE $1.5
MILLION DOLLARS TO CONDUCT A
PILOT PROGRAM TO EXAMINE THE USE
OF THE ACT AS THE HIGH SCHOOL
EXIT EXAM IN LIEU OF OTHER
ASSESSMENTS.
THIS PILOT WILL COVER THE COST
OF THE ACT FOR EVERY HIGH SCHOOL
JUNIOR IN MISSISSIPPI IN THE
UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.
THIS PROGRAM WILL NOT ONLY ALLOW
US TO OBTAIN A MORE ACCURATE
MEASURE OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT,
IT WILL BENEFIT STUDENTS BY
PROVIDING THEM WITH ACCESS TO A
TEST THAT HAS PRACTICAL USE IN
THEIR LIVES AS A COLLEGE
ENTRANCE EXAM.
IT WILL ALSO SAVE US MONEY
BECAUSE MISSISSIPPI'S CURRENT
GROUP OF HIGH SCHOOL ASSESSMENTS
COSTS MORE THAN $4 MILLION
DOLLARS PER YEAR.
NOW, LET US MAKE THIS COMMON
SENSE CHANGE NOW AND GET ON WITH
PREPARING OUR CHILDREN FOR
SUCCESS IN THE REAL WORLD AND
STOP TEACHING FOR THE TEST.
[APPLAUSE]
>> OUR THIRD OBJECTIVE FOR
SUCCESS SHOULD BE FOR EVERY
MISSISSIPPIAN TO BE BORN INTO A
MATURE, TWO-PARENT FAMILY.
NOW, OUR HEALTHY TEENS FOR A
BETTER MISSISSIPPI PROGRAM HAS
CONDUCTED COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND
SEMINARS ALL ACROSS THE STATE.
WE HAVE INVOLVED SCHOOLS,
CHURCHES, FAMILIES, HEALTH CARE
PROFESSIONALS AND, MOST
IMPORTANTLY, TEENS, IN COMMUNITY
DISCUSSIONS REGARDING
DECISION-MAKING AND HEALTHY
BEHAVIOR.
AND WE HAVE STARTED MAKING A
DIFFERENCE.
ACCORDING TO THE ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE MISSISSIPPI STATE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, OUR
STATE'S TEEN PREGNANCY RATE
DECLINED BY 10.3% IN 2012.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE ALSO
DONE AN ADMIRABLE JOB IN
PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN, BOTH
BORN AND UNBORN.
BY STRENGTHENING THE CHILD
PROTECTION ACT AND BY REQUIRING
THAT ABORTIONISTS OBTAIN
ADMITTING PRIVILEGES AT LOCAL
HOSPITALS, WE ARE PROTECTING
WOMEN'S HEALTH.
BUT LET ME BE CLEAR, ON THIS
UNFORTUNATE ANNIVERSARY OF ROE
VERSUS WADE, MY GOAL IS TO END
ABORTION IN MISSISSIPPI.
[APPLAUSE]
>> NOW, I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE
THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME TO STAND
FOR OUR BELIEFS-OUR FAITH, OUR
FAMILIES, AND OUR NATION.
TO STRENGTHEN OUR RESOLVE, I
HAVE ASKED THAT WE TAKE A BOLD
STEP FOR GOD AND COUNTRY.
I HAVE CALLED ON SENATOR MICHAEL
WATSON TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION
THAT WOULD CHANGE THE WORDING ON
THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF
MISSISSIPPI TO REFLECT OUR
NATION'S MOTTO.
WITH YOUR HELP, THE SEAL OF THE
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI WILL, FROM
THIS SESSION FORWARD, REFLECT
THE SIMPLE YET PROFOUND WORDS
"IN GOD WE TRUST".
[APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU.
AS OUR FOURTH GUIDING PRINCIPLE,
THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS PLEDGED
TO MAKE CERTAIN EVERY TAX DOLLAR
IS PUT TO A PROPER AND LEGAL
USE. SINCE THE BUDGET REFORMS
OF THE MID 1990S, MANY OF US
HAVE SUPPORTED A PERFORMANCE
BASED BUDGETING SYSTEM THAT
ALLOCATES RESOURCES BASED ON
RESULTS.
I APPLAUD APPROPRIATIONS
CHAIRMEN BUCK CLARKE AND HERB
FRIERSON FOR TAKING STEPS TO
MOVE OUR STATE TOWARD A MORE
ACCOUNTABLE BUDGET MODEL.
NOW, CHANGE IN THIS ARENA IS NOT
EASY, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP.
LET THIS BE THE YEAR WE SHOW THE
TAXPAYERS OUR COMMITMENT TO
PERFORMANCE-BASED BUDGETING THAT
REWARDS SUCCESS AND REDUCES
WASTEFUL SPENDING.
NOW, IN MY FIRST EXECUTIVE
BUDGET, I CALLED ON THE
LEGISLATURE TO REINSTATE THE
TWO-PERCENT SET ASIDE,
APPROPRIATING ONLY 98% OF
AVAILABLE REVENUE.
AGAIN, I APPLAUD YOU FOR HEEDING
THAT CALL.
YOUR DISCIPLINE HAS HELPED PUT
MORE THAN $109 MILLION DOLLARS
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
HOWEVER, WE CAN DO BETTER. AS
REVENUE COLLECTIONS INCREASE, WE
MUST TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
REFILL THE RAINY DAY FUND TO
PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE.
IF WE LEAVE THE BALANCE OF OUR
STATE SAVINGS ACCOUNT UNTOUCHED,
AND AGAIN ADHERE TO THE 98%
RULE, WE CAN BRING THE RAINY DAY
FUND TO NEARLY HALF OF ITS
STATUTORY LIMIT.
NOW, AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I
WORKED HARD IN 2008 TO FILL THE
RAINY DAY FUND AND WAS
CRITICIZED BY SOME AT THE TIME
FOR DOING SO.
NOW, THAT DECISION TO SAVE WHEN
WE COULD PROVED CRUCIAL WHEN WE
WERE HIT WITH THE GREAT
RECESSION.
NOW, ALTHOUGH WE WERE FORCED TO
CUT BUDGETS, THOSE SAVINGS KEPT
US FROM CUTTING AS DEEPLY AS WE
WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN FORCED
TO DO.
LET US TAKE THAT PRUDENT
POSITION ONCE MORE AND FILL THE
RAINY DAY FUND FOR THE DIFFICULT
DAYS THAT COULD BE AHEAD.
[APPLAUSE]
>> NOW, I NEED NOT EMPHASIZE THE
IMPORTANCE OF REDUCING OUR
DEPENDENCE ON ONE TIME REVENUE
FOR RECURRING EXPENSES.
I COMMEND THE SPEAKER AND
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND THEIR
LEADERSHIP TEAMS FOR WORKING
WITH ME TO STOP THIS PRACTICE,
AND I AM CONFIDENT WE CAN END IT
THIS YEAR.
AS I HAVE SHOWN IN MY EXECUTIVE
BUDGET RECOMMENDATION, WE CAN
ADEQUATELY FUND GOVERNMENT AND
HAVE NO-ONE TIME FUNDING FOR
ONGOING EXPENDITURES.
THE TAXPAYERS CAN BE CONFIDENT
IN YOUR LEADERSHIP TOWARDS THIS
GOAL.
NOW, THIS YEAR, I HAVE ASKED
THAT WE ADD A FIFTH OBJECTIVE TO
OUR VISION FOR THIS STATE.
WE MUST BUILD A FUTURE WHERE
EVERY MISSISSIPPIAN WILL BE SAFE
IN HIS OR HER PERSON AND
PROPERTY.
THE FOREMOST DUTY OF GOVERNMENT
IS TO ENSURE THE PUBLIC'S
SAFETY.
SEVEN MONTHS AGO, YOU ASSEMBLED
A COMMITTEE OF STAKEHOLDERS AND
GOVERNMENTAL LEADERSHIP WHO-WITH
THE HELP OF THE PEW RESEARCH
TEAM-PRODUCED A RESULTS-DRIVEN
REPORT ON CORRECTIONS AND
CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
THE TASKFORCE ISSUED A
COMPREHENSIVE SET OF POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I BELIEVE
WILL BE INSTRUMENTAL TO
REFORMING OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM.
THAT TASKFORCE'S BIPARTISAN
EFFORT SHOWS WHAT RESULTS CAN BE
ACCOMPLISHED WHEN WE ARE NOT
ONLY TOUGH BUT ALSO SMART ON
CRIME.
AS A FORMER DEPUTY SHERIFF AND
AS A STATE AUDITOR, I HAVE
HELPED PUT MANY CRIMINALS BEHIND
BARS AND HAD NO REGRETS ABOUT
DOING SO WHEN NECESSARY.
OUR FAMILY HAS EXPERIENCED A
VIOLENT CRIME THAT RESULTED IN
THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE.
I HAVE ATTENDED FUNERALS AND
MEMORIALS OF SLAIN OFFICERS AND
WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE PAIN OF
THOSE MOTHERS AND WIVES.
I HAVE NO SYMPATHY FOR VIOLENT
OR CAREER CRIMINALS, AND I
BELIEVE THAT ANY MODIFICATION TO
THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM SHOULD
PUT THE VICTIM FIRST.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I PLAN TO EXPAND THE CALL OF
THE PEW REPORT AND TO ASK FOR
THE CREATION OF VETERANS
TREATMENT COURTS TO AID OUR
SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE
MADE MISTAKES AND WANT TO GET
BACK ON TRACK.
I BELIEVE WE OWE OUR VETERANS
THIS SPECIAL ATTENTION BECAUSE
THEY, MORE THAN MOST, HAVE
EARNED A SECOND CHANCE FROM
THEIR COUNTRY.
AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE ALSO LONG
BEEN AN ADVOCATE OF DRUG COURTS,
AND I HOPE YOU WILL FOLLOW THE
GUIDANCE IN MY BUDGET AND FULLY
FUND THIS EFFORT.
THESE COURTS WORK. THEY PROVIDE
A VALUABLE SERVICE THAT HELPS
GET MISSISSIPPIANS ON THE RIGHT
PATH AGAIN.
TO COMBAT POCKETS OF SERIOUS
CRIME IN OUR STATE, I HAVE ASKED
YOU TO FUND A VIOLENT CRIME
STRIKE FORCE COMPOSED OF STATE,
LOCAL AND FEDERAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
THESE ELITE FORCES WILL RESPOND
TO A SPECIFIC HIGH-CRIME AREA
AND HIT GANGS AND DRUG DEALERS
WHERE THEY LIVE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> IF YOU WILL GIVE LAW
ENFORCEMENT THE AUTHORITY AND
THE RESOURCES THEY NEED, AND
THEY WILL GET THE JOB DONE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> YOUR MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC SAFETY HAS DONE A
REMARKABLE JOB THIS YEAR.
WITH US TONIGHT IN THE GALLERY
IS A FINE EXAMPLE OF THE
SELFLESS BRAVERY OF OUR
TROOPERS.
TROOPER FIRST CLASS KERVIN
STEWART WAS RECOGNIZED AS THE
2012 TROOPER OF THE YEAR.
NOW, WHILE OFF DUTY AND
TRAVELLING THROUGH ALABAMA,
TROOPER STEWART CAME UPON A
FIERY CRASH.
DESPITE THE RISKS TO HIMSELF,
TROOPER STEWART PULLED THE
DRIVER FROM HIS VEHICLE,
EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE THAT WAS
ENGULFING HIM, AND SAVED HIS
LIFE.
A TWENTY-YEAR VETERAN OF THE
ARMY, TROOPER STEWART IS JUST
ONE EXAMPLE OF THE DEDICATION OF
THE FINE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR
HIGHWAY PATROL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO
MISSISSIPPI.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WEAR
THE BLUE AND GREY OF THE
MISSISSIPPI HIGHWAY PATROL
REMAIN THE BEST OF THE BEST, BUT
THEY NOW NEED YOUR HELP.
THE LAST TROOPER SCHOOL ADDED 51
OFFICERS TO A PATROL THAT
REMAINS NEARLY 150 BELOW ITS
NECESSARY NUMBER.
NOW, THIS SHORTAGE PUTS NOT ONLY
THE MOTORING PUBLIC'S LIVES AT
RISK BUT ALSO THOSE OF OUR
TROOPERS.
LET ME ASSURE YOU, WITHOUT MORE
TROOPERS ON THE ROAD PEOPLE WILL
DIE.
PLEASE HELP US FUND A TROOPER
SCHOOL THIS YEAR.
[APPLAUSE]
>> OF ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE
MISSISSIPPI GREAT, PERHAPS NONE
IS MORE VALUABLE THAN OUR
ABILITY TO PERSEVERE AND ACHIEVE
GREAT THINGS TOGETHER.
MISSISSIPPIANS AS A WHOLE ARE
WITHOUT A DOUBT THE MOST
RESILIENT, THE MOST PASSIONATE,
AND THE MOST CAPABLE PEOPLE IN
THE NATION.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN, HISTORY
PROVES THAT WHEN WE FIX OUR
FOCUS ON A GOAL-BE IT REPAIRING
THE DAMAGE WROUGHT BY NATURAL
DISASTERS OR LAUNCHING ENTIRE
NEW INDUSTRIES-WE ARE BOLD
ENOUGH TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS.
AS GOVERNOR, I AM THANKFUL FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHART THE
COURSE FORWARD FOR OUR STATE.
OUR HARD WORK IS ALREADY
YIELDING REWARDS, AND WE ARE
EQUIPPING OURSELVES WITH THE
TOOLS TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF
THE NEXT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL
COME OUR WAY.
NOW, I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR
HELP AND YOUR DISCERNMENT. EVEN
YOUR OPPOSITION MAKES US BETTER
AS WE CONSIDER EVERY NEW IDEA
UNDER THE INTENSITY OF YOUR
GAZE.
BUT IN THE END, IT IS THE MOVING
FORWARD THAT KEEPS US TOGETHER.
IT IS THE CHALLENGE OF ACHIEVING
THE PEOPLE'S WILL NOW AND FOR
THE FUTURE.
BEFORE WE LEAVE TONIGHT, I WOULD
ASK YOU ONE MORE THING.
I ASK YOU TO JOIN ME IN THANKING
THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ARMED
FORCES, PARTICULARLY OUR
NATIONAL GUARD, FOR DEFENDING
THE FREEDOMS THAT ALLOW US TO
GATHER IN THIS PLACE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK,
TOGETHER WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS.
GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU; GOD BLESS
MISSISSIPPI; AND GOD BLESS THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, GOVERNOR, BRYANT
FOR YOUR REMARKS.
AS THIS JOINT ASSEMBLY COMES TO
COATING I WOULD LIKE TO
REPRESENT THE BLOOD AND SALIVA
FROMBY TO DISSOLVE THE FORUM.
>> AS I WAS SAYING THE LADY FROM
LINCOLN.
[LAUGHTER]
>> MISS CURRY, YOU ARE
RECOGNIZED.
>> MR. PRESIDENT, I MAKE A
MOTION THAT THIS JOINT SESSION
OF THE MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
NOW BE DISSOLVED.
>> YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION FROM
THE LADY FROM LINCOLN THAT THIS
JOINT ASSEMBLY BE DISSOLVED.
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO.
>> NO
>> WE ARE DISSOLVED.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND NOW THE DEMOCRATIC
RESPONSE.
GOOD EVENING. I AM PARKER
WISEMAN, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY
OF STARKVILLE. IT IS AN HONOR
TO ADDRESS YOU ON BEHALF OF THE
MISSISSIPPI DEMOCRATIC PARTY,
THE DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS OF THE
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE, AND OUR
PARTY'S LOCAL AND COUNTY
OFFICIALS.
GOVERNOR PHIL BRYANT JUST
DELIVERED THE STATE OF THE STATE
ADDRESS.
AND WHEN HE EXPLAINS THAT SOME
OF OUR CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES
ARE DOING WELL, HE'S RIGHT.
BUT TODAY, MORE MISSISSIPPIANS
ARE STRUGGLING THAN EVER BEFORE.
UNEMPLOYMENT IS UNACCEPTABLY
HIGH IN OUR STATE.
INCOMES ARE TOO LOW, AND
OPPORTUNITIES ARE TOO FEW AND
FAR BETWEEN.
THESE PROBLEMS ARE TOO BIG FOR
ANY ONE PARTY OR ANY ONE IDEA TO
FIX.
BUT I KNOW THAT IF WE CAN PUT
PARTY LABELS ASIDE AND WORK
TOGETHER, WE CAN CREATE A BETTER
MISSISSIPPI.
AS A MAYOR, EVERY DAY I WORK
WITH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS
ALIKE TO SOLVE MY COMMUNITY'S
PROBLEMS.
AND LIKE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES
WHO SERVE MISSISSIPPI'S
COMMUNITIES AS COUNCIL MEMBERS,
ALDERMEN, AND SUPERVISORS, WE
DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF
IGNORING PROBLEMS.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DEBATE THEM
AND MOVE ON, HOPING THAT THEY'LL
SOLVE THEMSELVES.
WE MUST FACE THEM HEAD-ON EVERY
DAY.
THE SCHOOLCHILDREN WHO ARE
WITHOUT THE RESOURCES THEY NEED
TO SUCCEED ARE OUR CHILDREN AND
OUR NEIGHBORS' CHILDREN.
THE WORKING POOR WHO ARE BEING
PRICED OUT OF HEALTHCARE ARE THE
FOLKS WE SIT NEXT TO IN CHURCH
PEWS AND HIGH SCHOOL STADIUM
BLEACHERS.
THE HOSPITALS STRUGGLING TO
SURVIVE ARE OUR COMMUNITY
HOSPITALS.
AND THE TEACHERS AND POLICE
OFFICERS WORRIED ABOUT THEIR
RETIREMENT ARE THE MEN AND WOMEN
WHO TAUGHT US AND KEEP OUR HOMES
SAFE.
IN STARKVILLE, WHEN THE
WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY IS
AT STAKE, THERE IS NO PROBLEM
TOO BIG, TOO SMALL, OR TOO
DIVISIVE FOR US TO TAKE ON.
WE HAVE PRIORITIZED ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVED QUALITY
OF LIFE.
AND FOCUSING ON THOSE PRIORITIES
HAS PAID OFF.
OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, MORE
THAN 100 NEW BUSINESSES HAVE
OPENED THEIR DOORS IN
STARKVILLE.
FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, RETAIL
SALES AND TOURISM SPENDING IN
STARKVILLE HAVE GONE UP EVERY
SINGLE YEAR.
AND LATER THIS YEAR, THROUGH A
PARTNERSHIP WITH C SPIRE, WE
PLAN TO BECOME ONE OF LESS THAN
1 PERCENT OF AMERICAN CITIES
WITH INTERNET DOWNLOAD SPEEDS OF
1 GIGABIT PER SECOND.
THE ROAD TO ADVANCEMENT HAS
OFTEN BEEN TREACHEROUS.
IT'S BEEN FILLED WITH
DISAGREEMENTS AND COMPROMISES ON
ALL SIDES.
BUT THE REWARD FOR STAYING AT
THE TABLE AND FINDING SOLUTIONS
HAS BEEN WORTH IT FOR OUR
COMMUNITY.
LOCAL LEADERS ACROSS OUR GREAT
STATE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR NUMBER
ONE JOB IS TO TACKLE PROBLEMS
AND HELP IMPROVE THE LIVES OF
THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S BECAUSE MISSISSIPPI'S
TOWNS ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR
STATE.
THEY'RE THE PLACES WHERE WE HAVE
OUR ROOTS, WHERE WE BUILD OUR
FUTURES, WHERE WE TAKE CARE OF
OUR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS.
BUT NO TOWN IS AN ISLAND. WE
ARE ALL CONNECTED.
AND TOGETHER, WE STILL HAVE LONG
WAY TO GO.
IN OUR STATE, ONE OUT OF EVERY
FIVE PEOPLE LIVES IN POVERTY.
THAT IS BY FAR THE HIGHEST
POVERTY RATE IN AMERICA, AND IT
MEANS WE ALL KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS
STRUGGLING JUST TO MAKE ENDS
MEET.
AND OUT OF THE 50 STATES IN THIS
COUNTRY, MISSISSIPPI'S
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS LOWER THAN
ALL BUT FIVE.
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE
GAP BETWEEN THE AMERICAN DREAM
AND THE AMERICAN REALITY HAS
GOTTEN WIDER FOR MISSISSIPPIANS.
OUR SCHOOLS ARE CHRONICALLY
UNDER-FUNDED.
OUR LOCAL HOSPITALS ARE BEING
SQUEEZED TO THE BREAKING POINT.
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE CONTINUES TO
FAIL THE NEEDS OF OUR PEOPLE AND
OUR INDUSTRIES.
THESE ARE PROBLEMS THAT NEED
SOLVING.
BUT YEAR AFTER YEAR, REPUBLICAN
LEADERS IN OUR STATE CAPITOL
SPEND FAR MORE TIME
GRANDSTANDING THAN SOLVING REAL
PROBLEMS.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
AS LEADERS, IF WE ARE NOT
DEVOTING OUR TIME AND EFFORTS TO
SOLVING THESE FUNDAMENTAL
PROBLEMS, WE ARE FAILING OUR
PEOPLE, AND WE ARE HOLDING OUR
STATE BACK FROM ITS TRUE
POTENTIAL.
THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE IN
OUR STATE CAPITOL AFFECT THE
ENTIRE MISSISSIPPI FAMILY.
THESE ARE ENORMOUS
RESPONSIBILITIES.
DEMOCRATS IN THE MISSISSIPPI
LEGISLATURE HAVE PROPOSED A
PACKAGE CALLED THE "MISSISSIPPI
ACHIEVEMENT PLAN."
I SUPPORT THIS PLAN BECAUSE IT
GIVES MISSISSIPPI'S TOWNS AND
CITIES THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO
SUCCEED.
THIS AGENDA IS THE RIGHT ONE TO
GET OUR PEOPLE BACK TO WORK; TO
SUPPORT JOB GROWTH; TO PROVIDE
FOR A SAFE AND HEALTHY
MISSISSIPPI; AND, MOST
IMPORTANTLY, TO INVEST IN THE
FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN BY
PROVIDING A QUALITY EDUCATION
AND PAYING OUR TEACHERS A FAIR
WAGE.
NO MISSISSIPPIAN SHOULD BE
SATISFIED WITH OUR CURRENT
RECORD ON THESE ISSUES.
TWO WEEKS AGO, A NATIONAL REPORT
CARD GAVE MISSISSIPPI'S
EDUCATION SYSTEM AN "F."
IN DECEMBER, THE UNITED HEALTH
FOUNDATION RANKED MISSISSIPPI
LAST AMONG THE 50 STATES FOR ITS
FAILURE TO ADDRESS KEY PUBLIC
HEALTH CONCERNS.
AND THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF
CIVIL ENGINEERS HAS CONCLUDED
THAT OVER HALF OF MISSISSIPPI'S
MAJOR ROADS ARE IN "POOR OR
MEDIOCRE CONDITION."
WE CAN AND WE MUST DO BETTER!
THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET
CALLS FOR A MODEST INCREASE IN
KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE
FUNDING.
WHILE I APPRECIATE THE
GOVERNOR'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT
WE MUST DO MORE FOR OUR
CHILDREN, THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET
DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH.
THE SAME NATIONAL REPORT CARD
THAT JUST RANKED MISSISSIPPI
LAST FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
EXPLAINED THAT WE ARE NATIONAL
LEADERS FOR SETTING
ACCOUNTABILITY STANDARDS FOR THE
CLASSROOM; HOWEVER, WHEN IT
COMES TO FUNDING THE PRIORITIES
THAT WE'VE SET, WE ARE AGAIN AT
THE VERY BOTTOM.
THE CYCLE OF SETTING HIGH
STANDARDS, PROVIDING NO SUPPORT
TO MEET THEM, AND THEN PASSING
THE BLAME WHEN WE FAIL IS
UNSUSTAINABLE AND UNACCEPTABLE.
IT IS A DISSERVICE TO OUR
TEACHERS AND, ULTIMATELY, TO OUR
CHILDREN.
LET'S MAKE 2014 THE YEAR WE END
THIS VICIOUS CYCLE.
IT IS PAST TIME FOR MISSISSIPPI
TO FULLY INVEST IN OUR CHILDREN.
IN 1997, MISSISSIPPI ENACTED THE
ADEQUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM, A
FORMULA DESIGNED TO ENSURE AN
ADEQUATE EDUCATION FOR EVERY
CHILD REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY
ARE WEALTHY OR POOR.
BUT THE PROMISE OUR LEADERS MADE
NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO HAS BEEN
BROKEN FAR MORE OFTEN THAN IT'S
BEEN KEPT.
LAST YEAR, WE FELL $292 MILLION
SHORT OF THIS GOAL. IN TOWNS AND
COUNTIES ACROSS MISSISSIPPI,
MANY OF OUR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS
HAVE HAD TO RAISE TAXES AT THE
LOCAL LEVEL JUST TO PROVIDE
BASIC CLASSROOM NECESSITIES.
IF WE ARE TO HAVE ANY HOPE OF
CREATING THE MISSISSIPPI THAT
OUR CHILDREN DESERVE, WE MUST
FULLY FUND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
EVERY YEAR.
AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN NEXT YEAR.
THAT MEANS THIS YEAR.
WE DEMOCRATS ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT
WE CANNOT ACHIEVE OUR EDUCATION
GOALS WITHOUT TAKING CARE OF OUR
TEACHERS.
WE WELCOME THE SUPPORT OF HOUSE
SPEAKER PHILLIP GUNN AND OTHER
REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED
AN INTEREST IN RAISING TEACHER
PAY THIS YEAR.
OUR TEACHERS DESERVE A
SIGNIFICANT ACROSS-THE-BOARD PAY
RAISE, AND WE CAN DO IT WITHOUT
RAISING ANYONE'S TAXES.
A MEANINGFUL TEACHER PAY RAISE
WOULD MAKE OUR EDUCATORS'
SALARIES COMPETITIVE AMONG
SOUTHEASTERN STATES AND HELP
ENCOURAGE OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST
TEACHERS TO STAY IN MISSISSIPPI.
AND IT IS PAST TIME FOR GOVERNOR
BRYANT AND REPUBLICANS IN THE
LEGISLATURE TO PRIORITIZE
HEALTHCARE.
WE MUST STOP PLAYING POLITICS
WITH THE HEALTH OF OUR
GRANDPARENTS, CHILDREN AND
WORKING FAMILIES.
MISSISSIPPI'S COMMUNITIES HAVE
WORKED HARD TO BUILD THE
HOSPITALS AND HEALTHCARE
FACILITIES THAT WE USE EVERY
DAY.
THESE STATIONS ARE THE ONLY HOPE
FOR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES
DEALING WITH TRAUMA OR ACUTE
ILLNESS.
THAT IS WHY WE MUST ACT NOW TO
STOP THE LOSS OF FEDERAL
PAYMENTS TO OUR HOSPITALS.
IF WE DO NOT ACT, MISSISSIPPI
WILL LOSE AT LEAST $2.2 BILLION
IN MEDICARE FUNDING OVER THE
NEXT SEVEN YEARS. THAT WOULD
MEAN A LOSS OF $145 MILLION IN
2014 ALONE.
WE NEED THAT FUNDING TO PROVIDE
HEALTHCARE COVERAGE FOR OUR
SENIORS, OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED,
AND TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY
HOSPITALS UP AND RUNNING.
I'M PROUD OF DEMOCRATS IN THE
HOUSE AND SENATE WHO FOUGHT TO
EXPAND MEDICAID IN 2013.
THAT WAS THE RIGHT FIGHT TO PICK
AND I'M GLAD THAT THEY ARE STILL
FIGHTING TO HELP FAMILIES FROM
THE GULF COAST TO THE
APPALACHIAN FOOTHILLS HAVE
ACCESS TO THE HEALTHCARE THEY
NEED.
THIS SESSION, DEMOCRATS WILL
ALSO ASK REPUBLICANS TO HELP
BRING MISSISSIPPI'S
INFRASTRUCTURE INTO THE 21ST
CENTURY.
A RECENT REPORT CONCLUDED THAT
MISSISSIPPIANS SPEND AN EXTRA
$811 MILLION EVERY YEAR IN
VEHICLE REPAIRS AND OPERATING
COSTS, SIMPLY BECAUSE OUR ROADS
ARE FALLING APART.
ACCORDING TO ANOTHER REPORT,
NEARLY 15 PERCENT OF OUR 17,000
BRIDGES ARE "STRUCTURALLY
DEFICIENT," AND ANOTHER 8
PERCENT OF OUR BRIDGES ARE
"FUNCTIONALLY OBSOLETE."
THIS IS AS MUCH A PUBLIC-SAFETY
PROBLEM AS IT IS AN
ECONOMIC-DEVELOPMENT PROBLEM,
AND I'M GLAD DEMOCRATS IN THE
LEGISLATURE HAVE MADE IT A PART
OF THEIR PLAN.
I URGE GOVERNOR BRYANT AND HIS
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES TO MAKE IT
THEIR PRIORITY, TOO.
INVESTING IN THE REPAIR OF OUR
BRIDGES AND ROADS WOULD NOT ONLY
MAKE MISSISSIPPI SAFER AND MORE
ATTRACTIVE TO BUSINESSES, IT
WOULD MEAN GOOD PAYING, QUALITY
JOBS.
THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY WE CANNOT
AFFORD TO PASS UP.
FINALLY, THE TIME HAS COME TO
STOP PLAYING POLITICAL GAMES
WITH THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
NEARLY A QUARTER-MILLION STATE
EMPLOYEES SET ASIDE MONEY EVERY
MONTH, AND THEY EXPECT THAT
THEIR EMPLOYER WILL MAKE GOOD ON
ITS PROMISE TO PROVIDE A STABLE
RETIREMENT.
WE MUST HONOR THAT PROMISE.
TONIGHT, I BEGAN BY SAYING THAT
MISSISSIPPI STILL HAS A LONG WAY
TO GO BEFORE SHE ACHIEVES HER
FULL POTENTIAL.
BUT NONE OF THESE PROBLEMS IS
UNSOLVABLE.
IF OUR GOVERNOR AND HIS
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES PUT
PARTISAN POLITICS ASIDE, WE CAN
AND WE WILL SUCCEED.
MISSISSIPPIANS ARE A TOUGH
BREED.
WE HAVE ALWAYS FOUND A WAY TO
OVERCOME OUR STRUGGLES.
WE DEMOCRATS HAVE PUT FORWARD A
PLAN TO TAKE THE FIRST STEPS.
I INVITE GOVERNOR BRYANT AND
OTHER REPUBLICAN LEADERS AT THE
CAPITOL TO JOIN US IN OUR FIGHT
FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR EVERYONE
IN OUR STATE.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU, AND MAY GOD
CONTINUE TO BLESS THE STATE OF
MISSISSIPPI.
♪
>> YOU'VE HEARD THE GOVERNOR'S
PRIORITIES FOR THE 2014
LEGISLATURE, WHAT ARE THE
LAWMAKERS GOING TO DO?
WATCH AT WISH BEGINNING TOMORROW
JANUARY 23RD AT 7:00 PM.
IT WILL BE A LIVE REPORT EVERY
THURSDAY DURING THE SESSION.
♪