Transcripts For CSPAN2 New Jersey State Of The State 20180113

[cheers and applause] thank you. [cheers and applause] thank you. Thank you all very much. Now, before we begin, i have to ask you for a favor. Not for a moment of silence but for a moment of celebration, for the extraordinary life of governor brendan burn. Thats what he would have wanted. We know brendon wouldnt have wanted violence. He would have wonted celebration so lets all rise and celebrate governor burn. [cheers and applause] [applause] [applause] nine years ago yesterday, i went to pick up theneightyearold patrick and thenfiveyearold bridget from school. On my way out of school with them, on the front lawn of the Assumption School in morristown, i announced to the assembled media that i was a candidate for governor of new jersey. On that day i said many things but looking back the most important statement was this. I said if youre looking for the same old stuff, you got the wrong person. Little did i know just how right i would be nine years later. Nine years is a lifetime ago in todays culture. A culture of dvrs that skip commercial, twitter, facebook, instagram, snapchat and the short Attention Spans that come from these latest waves of communicating. So, today i want us to take a breath. We need remember where we were nine years ago. On the brink of financial ruin as a state, more people unemployed than at any time in modern history, culture in avoiding the tough decisions, taxing more, spending more, of borrowing at breakneck pace, the highest property taxes in america, growing at record rate. We had to have tough and plainspoken leadership to deal with these problems. We needed to careless about being loved and more about being respected. That is why i ran for governor. [applause] i ran to be different. I ran to speak bluntly. I ran to shine light on all of new new new jerseys real problem. I ran to offer tough but achievable solutions. Ran to be a governor who did not just mark time. I ran to win. I always run to win. And i ran to be a governor of consequence, and even though its easy to forget those days and to minimize the crises of nine years ago, and crisis indeed we were in 2009. Without the new policies and the new attitude that a band of former prosecutors brought here nine years ago, the crisis could have defeated us. Now in the same way, if we revert to the policies of the past, believe me, it is a short road back to the edge of disaster. As einstein said, while he was a professor down the road, at princeton, we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. Due to the fighting attitude we outthe progrowth policy wed fought for achieved together, im proud to be here today to tell you that the state of our state is very good, and without question, much, much better than it was eight years ago. [applause] state of my friends on both sides of the aisle, the affects are the facts. Eight years ago we inherited a state with an Unemployment Rate at 10 . In our eight years that Unemployment Rate was cut in half. Eight years ago, we had lost 248,000 private sector jobs, and businesses were leaving our state at a record pace. Today, eight years later, we have helped the private sector create 334,400 new jobs, and this year, 2017, just passed, 108,252 new businesses were created in new jersey, in 2017 alone, and alltime economic record for our state. [applause] the facts are the facts. More New Jerseyans are employed today than at any time in our states history, even though our population is growing at the slowest rate it has grown in state history. A long way from the depressing record of eight years ago, and i want you tomorrow this as we sit here today. This morning, 4. 3 million New Jerseyans woke up and had a job to go to work to today to support their families. We are proud of that. [applause] how did it happen . Where did new jerseys Economic Growth and job creation come from . In 2011, together, we passed broadbased business tax cuts that led to 3 billion in lower tacked that our Corporate Citizen is plowed into job contraction putting hundreds of thousands of citizen back to work women took an up Employment Insurance Fund that was 2 billion in debt, eight years ago, we have paid off that debt in record time, we passed a constitutional amendment to prevent politics from stealing from this fund again, and today, as we prepare to leave office, that fund is over 2 billion in surplus, not 2 billion in debt. [applause] by the way, the reform of our unEmployment Insurance Fund has led to an additional 400 million in jobcreating tax cuts for new jersey businessesnot tax increases. We passed Economic Opportunity act of 2013, together. Which has helped us to make new york more competitive at attracting and retaining jobs, putting even more of our citizens back to work. We reduced jobkilling regulations, at the direction of the lieutenant governor, by a third over the previous administration, freeing up resources to put New Jerseyans back to work, not waste money on lawyers and accountants to fund the next thing government was ordering them to do or not to do. Thats how to create jobs, not through the government doing it. [applause] finally, most importantly, we held the line on new and increased taxes. I vetoed income tax increases. I vetoed Corporate Tax increases. Vetoed energy tax increases. In fact over the last eight years, i have vetoes more tax increases than any governor in modern american history. [applause] [applause] let me say this to my friends on the side of the aisle who just stood up. Each one of those vetoes was sustained by my republican colleagues in the legislature, through the leadership of senator tom kean, jr. , the late alex deporch and john bremni crunch k. [applause] the bee leaguered taxpayers of new jersey were protected for the first anytime a decade from tax increases. So i want to say, to tom, to john, to betty lou, on behalf of her late husband, and to all the republicans who stood up and thad mose difficult votes. On behalf of the people and the businesses of new jersey who have much more of their own money in their pocket because of their leadership, thank you very much. [applause] you has led to seven consecutive years of private sector job growth. Now, that is a very consequence shall accomplishment. Cons consequential for all the people of number. At the inherited a budget that was bloated, out of balance and riddled with gimmicks2. Billion in deficit in a fiscal year that was five months from ending. A projected 11 billion deficit in the coming fiscal year, total of 13 billion of projected deficits over the first 18 months. Too many Public Employees doing too little and costing too much. One shot gimmicks that accounted for over 13 of our revenue when i entered this chamber eight years ago. We deferred raises in the last administration. We deferred payments in the last administration. All of them left as a ticking time bomb and little gift for the new governor. In addition, in eight years before we arrived, debt issued be State Government increased by more than 10 per year every year, and unsustainable rate of debt. In our eight years, we have reduced that rate of growth by threequarters, to only 2 a year, over the last eight years. We have stopped the decade of exploding debt growth initiated by our predecessors. Today, budgeted have been balanced for eight years a row. Today, there are over 10,000 fewer state employees. Today, Discretionary Spending is nearly 2 billion less than it was ten years ago. Not growth. Actual dollarfordollar spend and the oneshot revenues that created enormous chasms down to 2. 8 . So, lets be clear. Before the next team comes in here. We are handing off a state that is growing jobs, and a budget that is honestly balanced, unlike what we inherited eight years ago. [applause] one other way we controlled that, for eight years we have said no to unbudgeted, unplannedfor, exorbitant spending and have used the veto and the lineitem veto to enforce fiscal responsibility. Its been eight years. How much spending have we used the veto and lineitem veto to stop for taxpayers . Beside probably knows off the top of their head. We have vetoes and lineitem vetoed 7. 3 billion in spending that the legislature appropriated and wanted to do that we simply didnt have the money to pay for. Thats near abillion dollars a year every year that we kept in the pockets our citizens and out of the hands of trenton politicians. Thats the way you honestly balance budgets in the state, not by continuing to raise taxes on the people of new jersey. [applause] so, for governorelect murphy, we hand him a bugged that is a budget that is in balance, with a surplus, not the 2 billion deficit we were handed eight years ago. Those are the actions of an monday argues that treated our citizens money as if it were our own. Those are acts with real consequences for every taxpayer in this state. Now, while the budget crisis was the most immediate task that be face eight years ago, we debt i did not win just to fix those problems. We have a vision for tackling the chron mick problems in number. In ten years before we came to trenton property taxes increased 70 . And an average of 7 a year every year for ten years. Fact. That is a chronic problem which was crippling our citizens ability to buy and keep a home. Thats why win the legislature wanted to go home in july of 2010, after passing the budget i used my Constitutional Authority to call them back to finally address the growth of these taxes and together, we passed a 2 cap on property taxes with four exceptions. It was tough medicine but tough medicine is what was needed to deal with this issue. Heres the good news. We did it for our constituents and it worked. In 2017, dca just gave us the numbers, proximate taxes in new jersey increased by only 1. 64 . [applause] so therefore, in the last seven years, property taxes have increased an average of 1. 98 per year, the 2 cap worked. Dont change it. [applause] what has that meant to property taxpayers in the state . It has saved property tax taxpayers 18. 2 billion. Why else did it work . Because we also gave the towns and the counties the tool to control their largest single expense, police and fire salaries. Now, we have great men and women who serve as Police Officers in firefighters in the state. However, they are also the highest paid firefighters in america, and the second highest paid Police Officers in america. They are objectively not, not underpaid, not seven years ago, and not today. So to make the 2 cap real we needed to cap the interest arbitration salary increases given to them every year. So we did it, in a bipartisan way. Twice. Twice. And it has saved over 500 million in salary increases alone. Over the last seven years. Which would have been paid for by higher property taxes. The 2 cap and she some arbitration cap have worked in a state that suffered with 7 property taxes. Every year for a decade, that is an accomplishment of consequence for every new jersey home owner. [applause] heres my first warning for taxpayers in new jerseys future. If you do not act in a bipartisan way to renew the arbitration cap, the property taxes of our citizens will, will skyrocket again. The cap expired nine days ago. The progress we have made over the last seven years is at real risk. And our governorelect has refused to ask the legislator to act before the cap expired. Now, if our Public Safety officers were underpaid, underpaid, i could understand this debate. But even after seven years of a 2 arbitration cap they remain the highest paid Public Safety officers in our entire country. While our taxpayers still pay the highest property taxes in america. Let me be clear. Failure to renew this cap is a failure of leadership, a failure which would cost our . Is money they need to support their families. So, seven days, im just another property taxpayer. Ands a another property taxpayer i am begging you, stand up to these interests, pass the arbitration cap like you have down twist before and do not return the citizens of the state to 7 annual property tax increases, because if you do, shame on you. [applause] [applause] we came to trenton i believe we had aa Higher Education system was underperforming its potential, and sorely needed capital. Governors for decades tried to address the situation and failed to do so. Not the political 2012 do what washington would maximize our educational and economic potential and of that another our students. More afraid of ooffending than we were afraid of failing. We refused. We refused. To accept that state of affairs. So we worked hard. We negotiated and we signed the bipartisan new Jersey Medical and Health Sciences education and restructuring act and we fixed decades of lost opportunity. I want to thank all those of who helped make this happen but governor tom cain, who happened me develop the abrupt and Assembly Monthly lighter Lou Greenwald who led the fight for this in the legislature against all of the opposition, lou, wouldnt have happen without you and i want to say publicly, thank you. [applause] to all the skeptics, lets review the facts. Doing this for you as much as for me, lou. Here it comes. Today, rutgers has a medical school. Schools of public health, and their own cancer institute. It has gone from 55th in nih funding to 22nd and we rid ourselves of the corruption and the selfdealing that was going on at umdmj, task im happy to say i began as u. S. Attorney and im proud to say that we finished as governor. Rowen university, now operates two medical schools and is nationally acclaimed school of engineering. Poised to double the student population and has created Innovative Partnership with the Community Colleges to allow those students to gate four year degree without unthinkable student debt. So let be clear. No one has been a greater champion of increasing Higher Education opportunities for south jersey than at some president Steve Sweeney and rowen would not be what it is today without his persistent leadership. [applause] [applause] we needed to turn to at at te challenge of Capital Improvement to colleges and universities. It had not been done by any administration for 25 years. Since governor tom cain. And our schools showed. Through lesser facilities and higher tuitions. Together, we made the case to the people of new jersey and we passed the building our future bond act, which invested 1. 5 billion in public money and billions more in private and philanthropic money in expanding and modernizes our campuses. Over 208 individual projects are finished and are happening, and our campuses are being transformed. So while other administrations have failed our Higher Education institutes for 25 years due to lack of courage and lack of funding, we refused to accept that failure. Let me tell you, nothing is more consequence shall to the States Economic future than Educational Opportunities for our citizens. We didnt a play small ball, everybody. We acted together, and new jerseys Higher Education system is far better today than it was eight years ago as a result of our actions. [applause] another failing gem of our state eight years ago was the beautiful and historic resort of Atlantic City. From the miss america path generals to diving horse, from americas playland to establish of casino gaming, Atlantic City has been a national and International Destination for more than a century. But as often happens, corruption in Atlantic City, combined with actions in trenton helped to bring the town to the brink of bankruptcy. Bad decisions and timid action based on Political Correctness led to trenton nearly killing the goose that laid the golden egg for all of new jersey. Another problem i began to work on as u. S. Attorney, by puts corrupt Atlantic City politicians in jail for stealing from their people, but unfortunately i that was not nearly enough to heal Atlantic City. As we entered office, let us remember, casinos were closing, property tax rebates were piling up in the hundreds of billions of dollars. The streets were unsafe. And the private sector was fleeing. Not only that, but as a result, property taxes were soaring for the residents of Atlantic City. So, i turned to john handsome, chairman of the number Sports Gaming and Entertainment Commission to develop a blueprint for change. We created a tourism district. We took over policing there. We invested in national advertising, and supported efforts by the City Government, which were wellintentioned but failed. We needed to do more but were being stopped by politicians inside and outside of this chamber who were just trying to score cheap political points and burying their heads in the sand. Fortunately we thought back those entrenched and misguided interests interests interests and acted in a bipartisan way to refliss ineffective City Government who was unwilling or unable to bring about needed change. Through legislative and executive action, we took over Atlantic City, and lets look at what has happened. First, we appointed former United States senator jeff to lead the effort and he has done so with incredible skill. And produced phenomenal results. [applause] think about this, tax appeals were weighing down the city. 303 million is owed just to the casinos. In tax rebates. Using the authority we gave to the senator, negotiated that number down by more than 50 to just over 138 million. In 2017, we announced im glad your seated for this an 11. 4 decrease in property taxes in Atlantic City, which meant an average property tax reduction for every home owner of 621. This was the result of our budgetcutting measures that reduced city spending by 56 million over the 2015 budget, and the good news is, with jeff in charge, this budget will stay level in 2018 as well. He also reached a settlement with the police unions, and what has that led to . How to there are 12hour shifts in Atlantic City, reduced salaries, reduced leave payment and reduced work force of 252 officers. All agreements that would not have occurred without the senators intervention. As a result, hard rock is envision hundreds of millions of dollar inside redeveloping the taj majal. Rebel has been sold and well reopen but the summer. Casino revenues are up. Noncasino revenues are up. Internet gaming has been established in this administration and is now thriving. While many experts told me to abandon this fight, we stuck with it for six years. And today with u. S. Approved court we were victorious to bolster Atlantic City even more. All of this is within our efforts not bowing to Political Correctness or worried about those concerns of the day we could turn a revival into a downturn. So today thanks to mr. Hansen for eight years of extraordinarily volunteer effort on behalf of the people of new jersey he has done an extraordinary effort i could not have done it without you. Thank you. [applause] [applause] Atlantic City is ready to return to its former glory. Lets not screw it up. That is the achievement of consequence for our entire stay. Eight years ago one Administration Since the 1970s, what do we do with the city of camden . Some day a militarized zone with murders and shootings due to the urging of some politicians later went to the jail from my u. S. Attorneys office. We decided to confront this problem with bipartisanship and once again the passive ministration was too politically correct to say out loud to establish the Unprecedented Partnership with the democratic mayor of camden. And we promised each other we would check politics at the door to put the interest of a resurgent camden at the forefront. She is here today and thank you partner, thank you very much for the last eight years. [applause] and to establish a plan to free the foundation of any successful city in america today. Real Public Safety, Public Education and Economic Opportunity. Looking at 2012 the deadliest year in camden history the nations most violent city. So what do we do . We fired they camden to the Police Department they were overpaid and over performing one underperforming. Everybody knew it and we set it and we fired them. Then we partnered with the city and the Camden County freeholders to have a Countywide Police force in the Metro Division ii patrol. For the same amount of money we went from 150 Police Officers up at 349. When the next class of cadets graduates that number will be at 400. In 2017 the murders are down x from 2012. Robberies are down 40 and fatal shootings are down 45 and in 2017 was the lowest numbers of camden and more than 30 years. [applause] there has been a fundamental change of the relationship between the police and public. While we watched ferguson missouri in horror. Instead with the leadership of those here today Police Officers are at the street fairs and churches and baseball games. But heres the difference at each of those places they are standing with the people they are sworn to protect and serve. Chief thompson in the men and women of Camden County Police Department Metro Division god bless you for the lives you have saved b17. [applause] next we need to change the failing public schools. The worsted new jersey with four out of five lowest performing ghouls in new jersey. We worked with the schools and effectuated the agreedupon Partnership Working with the community to pick a dynamic superintendent. And began a school by School Evaluation with the goal to improve education in every classroom. We closed schools that did not work and open three new Charter Schools and significantly cut back the wasteful Central Office fats. Since these changes have been made and the results are astonishing. In five years Graduation Rates have gone from 49 of 70 . [applause] the dropout rate went from 21 down at 12 . That the dropout rate for africanamerican students have been cut in half. [applause] and to those who believe throwing money at Public Education is what will fix it, camden is the proof we do not need to change the funding we need to change the approach people need to get that through their head and camden is the proof. [applause] of course there is still more a good Public Education is very possible for most camden students. More than five years ago last the increased Economic Opportunities for all those in camden as the garden state growth zone a promise made and kept through the 2009 campaign. Twenty projects have sprung up across the city. 1. 4billion of private investment. Private. To create 2000 new jobs to retain over 3500 more. That development will spur 70000 construction jobs for Building Trades alone cooper, philadelphia 76ers, subaru america, Lockheed Martin and the new 700 milliondollar waterfront project to have office space, residential units and a hotel. A Waterfront Hotel than waterfront jail in camden. We are making progress. [applause] the words that i never thought i would say business is booming and camden. Business is booming in camden. [applause] by the way so is rutgers university. They are expanding opportunities for students each and every day. It is happening dana. What we envisioned eight years ago is happening. Not through government giveaway but through the cando attitude. A lot of people are responsible for the rebirth but one person never wavered in his belief with this city. None of this could have been accomplished without the relentless will of george norcross. [applause] it is indisputable camden has have a cheerleader with no Greater Investor i cannot believe it that i am honored that george is here today and even more honored to call him my partner in this rebirth. We did it. Thanks for being my partner. [applause] for those of you who have known me for a long time on the floor or in the gallery the truth be told my happiest days of public life leading federal Law Enforcement in new jersey. But i have one simple task to ensure justice was done. It became so clear to me the state criminal Justice System was less effective than it should have been to protect Violent Crime and much too harsh that they were unduly punished. Decadesold prejudices and the rhetoric politicians always look to seem tough on crime. I didnt need to seem tough on crime. I am tough on crime. But that doesnt mean you lack compassion or believe in Second Chances. [applause] with bipartisan cooperation i will tell you a story. Sixteen years ago i met a smart articulate wife of United States marshal cunningham. She was his partner in every way. They truly made a dynamic duo. He became a do long a mentor and was a great Public Servant i am sure he is bursting with pride from heaven as he watches his wife senator cunningham together have crafted criminal Justice Reform that got the only letter a rating in the nation that is a role model for other states to get broader approval from all of you. Released from jail pending trial isnt based on how much money you have but the seriousness of the accusation and your criminal record. No longer can he repeat Violent Offender be released because he has millions in cash to post bail. By the same token no longer must you stay in jail for minor offenses longer than you would have been to be convicted of the crime that you are accused of committing just because you dont have 500 for bail. No longer can and employer make a job applicant check a box to end their chances of employment. We band of the box in new jersey. So now it can be expunged in three years and six years and others are available so the county prison populations are down 17 and two state prisons have been closed saving countless millions for taxpayers. Violent crime is down since we instituted the beginning of reform and over 25 during the eight years of this administration to increase hope and Second Chances decreasing crime at the same time. Thanks to the atty. General for his outstanding work on this issue. [applause] most of all thanks my friend of 16 years andy cunningham. [applause] her heart and willingness to work with me has changed hundreds of lives already and tens of thousands of others and i will say this i think glenn is proud of both of us tonight. A Second Chances the disease that is killing more residents of new jersey then every year of opioid addiction. I will not go over everything i shared last year but first i challenge you to pass groundbreaking legislation immediately and you did but we are still living too many citizens but at least now we are taking concrete steps new jersey now has the strongest limits on opioid addiction since we have started those in march those prescriptions have decreased by over 15 . It is working with prescription monitoring programs the first to do it nobody else was sharing this information but since then due to the push from new jersey 15 more additional partner sharing information including the neighboring states pennsylvania connecticut delaware so is this program . Back in 2015 the only had 198,000 cross border request. In 2161. 1 million. And 3. 5 million. With this tool we can stop the doctor shopping across the borders and save lives. In 2011 to rid the medicine cabinets of these deadly pills the first state to do this in 2011 we have collected 88 times of pills at over 400 locations including our corporate partner walgreens in every store in new jersey. In dispersing them in the environmentally safe way. An online wafer pharmacist and doctors and nurses to report suspicious use for the sale of opioid and attended the toxic financial relationship between positions and pharmaceutical companies that influence prescribing habits with limits on what they can pay doctors to stop the cycle i guarantee b17. [applause] but thats not all. We expanded medicaid it obtained a waiver from the federal government and have connected patients from every county in the state converted state prisons make drug available on every corner of the state in the last eight years. We are lowering the stigma of addiction with the hope that comes from Addiction Treatment. I have the honor to share the president s commission through the opioid crisis. I now call the new jersey because he was smart enough to marry age or zero mom a jersey girl. [applause] together with attorney general and the governor presented 65 comprehensive recommendations to the president and last week the white house announced they have accepted each and every one of the 65 recommendations moving toward implementation. Then we will have a real chance. Patrick it could not have been done without our partnership Going Forward i am convinced those that need the help will get the help that they need. [applause] because i dont want you to ever forget ever ever forget 175 people per five People Per Day are dying in america every day. On 9 11 every two and half weeks i am proud we are on the side of hope and treatment and recovery. Believe me we are truly leading the nation on this issue. [applause] also the star of the Television Ads she has been in recovery for over three years for heroin addiction and has become the beacon of hope for so many new jersey families suffering from addiction it is appropriate as a lookup in the gallery that she is sitting with my cabinet because she has been a member of the cabinet for the last year i cannot thank you enough for your honesty and courage it is an inspiration to millions who are suffering the same disease that you are combating every day we love you and are counting on you. Thank you vanessa. [applause] new jerseys infrastructure and the trust fund has been on autopilot since 1988. That was last time any major changes were made and Funding Sources were directly addressed. I made a commitment to the community that during my years as governor to be the first 25 years to responsibly expand and i have some demands of my own i wanted more than usual fiveyear plan and to stop being a political football to significantly increase our expenditures and plan a constitutionally dedicated every penny of the gas tax and also representing tax fairness to the people of new jersey together we reached every one of those goals and we will not have to reauthorize. We crafted a plan with an eight year plan the longest in history to spend extremely in dollars of state funds of Infrastructure Spending by 25 to increase the gas tax and they dedicated every penny for only Infrastructure Spending. That actually lowered taxes to the citizens of new jersey. I will look at my democratic friends to remind you what you did with me. Look up i am talking to you, lou. [laughter] look at my democratic friends. Together the sales tax. Together 100,000 of Retirement Income from state income tax for seniors and together we honored veterans to give them a significant tax we went for most punitive death tax in america to know death tax at all no longer will they move from the state to avoid this onerous tax and we did that together. [applause] i remember sitting in my office going over the final math. No matter how you think things get done it is because people get in the same room together. To negotiate these measures taken together to netted 200 milliondollar tax cut. More Infrastructure Spending every year for eight years and investment with reliable Funding Sources and tax fairness to the people of new jersey this is another example of bipartisan cooperation to truly listen and respect each other to the commuters and taxpayers with eight years of funding for roads and bridges and eliminating the death tax in new jersey those are consequential accomplishments. [applause] october 29, 2012 for new jersey that is a date you will never forget the super storm sandy changed new jersey forever and it changed me too. Seeing that destruction of lives and property i saw every day for months across my home state. The pain and suffering the raw emotion made me promise i could do all i could to recover from that day to rebuild this state as strongly as possible of what i am the most proud of is the days weeks months and years since sandy in the way our government handle this. They never are perfect but what was was the effort and compassion and focus of all the people in our Administration Every day for over five years 365,000 homes damaged or destroyed roadways impassable or destroyed two thirds of the state without power over two weeks. No Water Treatment or wasteWater Treatment plant operational across the state shelters that had to be staffed to keep people alive. Thousands of tons of debris strewn throughout the state and wet and cold and tired and scared this was provided from everys sad song sector of our state and nation. We were grateful then and are still grateful today. To devise and operate individual programs, 97 new programs focus on housing, schools, insurance claims, Small Business, mental health, family support, local county government, energy restoration, food supply, fuel supply and dozens of others. Where they never existed before. This has never been done before at this scale. There is no blueprint when you get this job to deal with this. Starting from scratch to respond to the needs of the people started with the removal of storm debris. But now that we have some perspective i will give you the facts on storm debris removal depleted within 100 days of the storm by private contractors we hired at 50 per cubic yard compare that not to louisiana or mississippi or florida but new york and the same storm who hired the army corps of engineers and they paid 100. Human card, double the cost for one eighth of the debris and it was the choice to do that. We save time and money for the people of new jersey the only way recovery can start is when debris is removed we did efficiently and effectively with cost savings. 85 of all families that applied for help are now back in their presandy home. [applause] we have distributed 2 billion of Housing Assistance to those in need. For those living in flood prone areas and did not want to go home through our program we spent 100 million to buy those homes that prestorm value to give them a fresh t. A. R. P. To walk away from the nightmare of perpetual flooding to damage of lives and property. Building 3100 new affordable new Affordable Housing units with another 2600 under construction as we speak. 350million successfully distributed to pay mortgage or rent and repair. Standing up for our talents at the shore by creating a new Program Providing 333 million of grant without property tax increases and we came back on debris removal and we paid that. So property taxes would not be affected 111 million we help citizens 60000 citizens with Behavioral Health screen 3500 people received drug Addiction Treatment and that began because of sandy more than 10000 families receive Psychological Services through Community Service centers and to rebuild the Small Business community that was devastated by sandy we developed a new program distributing 56 million in grant and 86 million in zero interest loans to 1200 businesses to rebuild the Business Community and many have concluded five years later the Business Community is stronger and more resilient than it was before sandy helping our best tourism year ever. We are invested to make sure the next storm doesnt take us out like andy did our friends in ocean county destroying route 35 to a stateoftheart to establish an Energy Resilience of 200 million of loans for Energy Resilience projects with 1. 2 billion for new jersey resilience transit projects that was the highest award given to any of the 13 states that competed for those grants. 127 gas stations are completely Energy Resilience to operate on generators in the event of a longterm power outage and 500 million investing in wasteWater Treatment plants in government never has to make the decision to dump raw sewage into the waterways because none of the plants are working. A one milliondollar coastal reformation project to ensure another sandy event does not devastate the jersey shore. We are building protections we can count on for decades to come this was not acceptable after sandy we felt seawalls input tiling and mitigation on the Hackensack River and gates and piping systems. We are more prepared today than at any time in history not only because we wanted to recover but rebuild stronger. The job is almost done but almost is not good enough. We have recovered half the time of mississippi and louisiana. And we are still way ahead of new yorks recovery from the same storm. With all those who worked on this recovery in particular the men and women from recovery and rebuilding you have my undying gratitude as do the people of new jersey. [applause] a defining moment of the last eight years to provide us with the most satisfying personal and professional moments. We were in fact stronger than the storm. Smart allegedly balanced and fully staffed judiciary should be the goal of every governor we worked hard to make sure the law was followed for all citizens. State law requires there is an equal distribution that law was blatantly being ignored when we arrived in trenton there were 31 more democrats and republicans on the state board bench so we wanted to make sure the political balance is what the law requires in the end. [laughter] the chief justice knows this i want to say our association has been one of the true joys of public life and we Work Together on this as well. So once again mr. Chief justice you all me big time i will tell you why. [laughter] there more judges on the bench today than any time in history in fact only 11 vacancies out of 452 judicial seats. I know this is right because he is nodding his head yes. Justice is now available to everyone in every county and just as importantly from a 31c2 only a 5c difference and i hope is removed for the governor elect and senators in this chamber respect the rule of law and finish the job we started by keeping the benches full and balanced. [applause] no state of the state is complete if not online to discuss the new jersey future cannot happen in this room with other than what hangs over the head from every new jersey and with hope to build on the success of the last eight years and in 2009 i was proud to start the discussion no government in america was having the broken state Pension System in the end affordable promises were choking the ability of State Government to invest in the future. No one wanted to talk about it but the good news for me was the only other public official who honestly discussed this issue was the same year i was elected governor. Previous governors and legislatures at increased cost with no contributions benefits were made more generous that the that increase would hide the problem and 14 straight years not enough was contributed by the state even to cover that years cost. That alone sported the unfunded liability. Let me be clear it was done by both parties. Economic times were bad and Economic Times were good. In my last time in this chamber i am tired of hearing the bologna on this issue. Go to the fax and back to the 80s and every decade since. Governor kane drastically increased benefits to fire and Police Personnel and did not pay for it so without assumed rate of return in 1988. But then assumed rate was 7 to 8. 75 to avoid making any pension payments. Governor whitman cost us four times what we borrowed when we finally finished paying them off in the next decade. The governor defrancisco increased benefits with no additional funding. Others made no contributions and therefore years and governor corzine had an eight 1 4 return quarter return continuing to hide the problem from the public and had even larger than expected payments. Both parties over 30 years added to this problem. They did not talk about it and did not fix it and made worse. Each and every year and then they deposited in my lap january 2010 and said it is your fault. We didnt have the problems of the people i got on the road and traveled the state and i sounded the alarm and what did we get in return . Regularly attacked by Union Leaders who never cared how we would pay for these reckless promises but they only care the checks keep coming. No matter the road to ruin it put down the other jerseyans so what did we do . In 2011 we passed historical reform to share the pension cost and pay some share of Health Insurance costofliving adjustments until the funds were leveraged. These reforms will save 120 billion over 30 years and for the time being they are there solvent in the system. Now to reject our payment plan they made sense then and even more so now. But dont stop there. We dedicated the lottery to the Pension System for the next 30 years this dedication will get the funds to 90 funded funded within 30 years. And another step this administration to. We also made unprecedented Cash Contributions and in our eight years we have contributed 8. 8 billion in cash this represents 2. 5 times more than the governors before me combined if they had done this all along the problems would be nonexistent and to take cap bipartisan approach to invest under republican bob grady and our returns have been those of most public plans even while taking less risk and that is a fact. Here is another the fund has increased by 10 billion even though we paid out 70 billion in benefits but just like all of it we still have a big problem to tackle that will only be solved by making benefits more realistic a Bipartisan Commission laying out a plan that will work if you finally have the will to implement it. If you do not i will assure you they are not enough taxes to raise her programs to cut to feed the insatiable beast of Public Employee pension and Health Benefits and one other thing, no matter what you do, unless it involves complete capitulation you will be vilified by the public Union Leaders. We have seen that play out over eight years and if you thank you are immune i am sure your attention is drawn to the solvent budget. [laughter] these actions speak louder than their words were money ever can. If you dont believe me reviewed the record one more time more money contributed in last five governors combined, lottery completely dedicated to pensions quarterly payments rather than annual all signed by this governor that i have been criticized so this will not lead you to be loved the gratitude you will be from the future residents who are not living in a bankrupt state were 8. 1 Million People are working until july to pay benefits for 800,000 retirees. That is unacceptable and unsustainable. [applause] choice before you is clear but it is tough the failure to act option is running out of time. I took every ounce of Political Capital i ever had on the line to bring about the changes and i dont regret one minute despite the impact looking at the words of Winston Churchill he said success is not final failure is not fatal but the courage to continue with what counts. Continue i have done for eight years on this issue i pray you do the very same thing in the month and years ahead. Today 2913th day. There is a big calendar in her office. I love the job and i am so grateful to all the people of new jersey to give me a chance to serve where i was born and raised and with my four children were born and raised. I wish governor elect murphy success and joy that is possible for them over the next four years. Next tuesday will be my governor his success is our success and i hope for him and our state nothing but blue skies ahead for the next four years. This job can be lonely but if youre lucky youre never really alone with the days filled with friendship and come lottery. I am fortunate to have been joined in this venture by new jerseys first tenant governor. [applause] [applause] [applause] think about what she has done. She executed her charter duties with class and energy and humor i cannot thank you enough taking this ride with me for your service to me and the people of the state i will always be grateful. [applause] i have been fortunate to have at the helm a person who approached his job the same way i approached mine with compassion and vigor and resolve stubbornness and colorful language the achievement would not have been possible without goodwill and honesty and character and to have fun with these last eight years. A great leader and a better man i have enjoyed our eight years together i will miss our Early Morning phone calls but most of all and from the heart , steve i am happy and relieved as i depart you will remain in that chair to ensure the safety and success of new jerseys future. Thank you my friend. [applause] [applause] by the way the first four hours have been great. [laughter] there are not words sufficient to think your family for what they endure and support and tolerate when someone they love. It has been a true joy to have my dad at 84 years old to be here witness to every every day of these last eight years to represent himself and my mom. Thanks for being a wonderful father. [applause] into my brother and their spouses thanks for always understanding the missed events and missed phone calls and never ever holding it against me. You made this easier. Thank you very much. [applause] to my four children who have grown up in front of the people of new jersey because of the job their dad picked the true joys of the last eight years almost always produced by andrew, sarah, patrick and bridget. I love you. [applause] to my wife of 31 years can you imagine for putting up with me for 31 years . There is the shocker of the day. The mother of our children and our incredibly classy and energetic first Lady Mary Pat b17 mary pat you and only you know the joys and challenges of the last eight years only you have been there every step of the way thanks for each of those steps and for your love and understanding it would not have been possible without you. [applause] how governor cannot be elected or worth electing or keeping for eight years without a great team 16 years ago i was sworn in as u. S. Attorney every day i have been blessed to be surrounded by an extraordinary team. I cannot name all of you but i dont have to. Because your service was selfless. But they are represented by names like rich and jeff and bill, charlie, kevin, amy, tom, chris and michelle, paul and mike. To my team we worked very hard and very well and always for the right reasons to do the right things. Now with the final hours of our partnership slips away, i am regularly reminded of a great quote from ulysses and i truly believe it applies to each and every one of you over the last 16 years so please listen carefully. And those with heaven and earth one equal from our parts made week by time and faith but strong and will and strive to see and never never yield. For me and the team i brought with me years ago to pick up a win for the people that we serve. To find solutions that no one could solve before. That is a pressure or puffery or partisanship with that phrase that has never been done before. I leave you today graceful, happy and a better man than i was then walking in here for the first time eight years ago. And the wonderful people of the great state of new jersey. Coming to this job eight years ago proud to be one of you and i leave next week even prouder to be one of you. God bless you. [applause]