First, we appointed former United States ascender to lead to the effort and he has 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. Set the senator using the authority we gave him, negotiated that number down by more than 50 , just over 138 million and in 2017 we announced glad you are all seated for this one 1140 11. 4 decrease in property taxes in Atlantic City which means average property tax reduction of 621. This was the result of budgetcutting measures that reduced city spending by 66 million over the 2015 budget and with a jeff in charge the budget will stay level in 2018 as well. He also reached a settlement with the police union, a settlement leading to now there will be 12 hour shifts in Atlantic City, reduced salaries, reduced term lease payments and reduced workforce of 252 officers, all agreements that would not have occurred without the senators intervention. As a result hard rock is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in every developing the taj mahal. The former sands is being redeveloped. Casino revenues are up, non casino revenues are up. Internet gaming has been established in this legislation and is thriving. By the way, all without bankruptcy or selling public assets like the war authority. All of the things the naysayers said we would do when they were trying to scare you to not give us the authority. They were wrong then. Both parties are just as wrong today as they were two years ago remember, we associated precedent presse said it, not me. The headline was Atlantic City on the verge of a major revival in 2018. Of this will be especially true if our six year fight to bring way to new jersey is successful in 2018. While many experts told me to abandon them to fight, we stuck with it for six years and today, we await a decision by the Us Supreme Court which if victorious will bolster Atlantic City more. All of this is due to our efforts, not bowing to political correctness, not worrying about being loved it today because if we bow to those concerns we could easily turn the major revival into a major downturn. Today i want to thank mr. Hansen for eight years of extraordinary volunteer effort on the half of people of new jersey he has done an extraordinary job and i could not of that without you. God bless you and thank you. [applause]. [applause]. Atlantic city is ready for rebirth and to return to its former glory, lets not screw it up. Thats an achievement of real consequence for our entire state. Eight years ago, it had been baffling to Administration Since the 1970s, what do we do with the city of camden . Some tried to turn it into a militarized his own to extend the tide of murders and shootings. Some tried to throw money at the problem due to the urging of corrupt politicians who later landed in jail due to the efforts of my us attorneys office. That didnt work by itself so we decided to confront these problems using common sense bipartisanship and telling the hard truth that past administrations were too politically correct to sell out. Verse, established Unprecedented Partnership with the democratic mayor of camden, dana read. We promised each other that we would check politics at the door and put the interests of a resurgent camden at the forefront. Data kept her word to me for eight years and is here today for that i say thank you, partner. Thank you very much. [applause]. [applause]. Second, we needed together to establish a plan to create the foundation of any successful city in america today, real Public Safety, good Public Education and Economic Opportunity. First, we attacked the issue of Public Safety and 2012. It had been the deadliest year in camden history earning its distinction as the nations most violent city, so what we do . We fired the failed Campus City Police department because they were overpaid and underperformers. Everyone knew it and no one else wanted to say it. Dana read and i said it and fired them and then we parted with the city and the Camden County free horns to create a Countywide Police force with a metric division that would patrol campus city. Gets ready. For the same amount of money we went from 160 Police Officers to make 349 Police Officers and when the next class of cadets graduated it will bring the number to 400 Police Officers. One of the results been . In 2017 murders are down 66 from 2012. Robberies are down 46 and nonfatal shootings are down 45 from 2012 and so you have a context, 2017 was the lowest number of murders in camden and more than 30 years. [applause]. Even more than the change in numbers, theres been a fundamental change in the relationship between the police and the public. While we all in horror watch rock phones are upped in ferguson, missouri there was no such violence in camden and under the leadership of thompson ec Police Officers in camden at churches and Police Affairs and school crossings, but a each one of those places they stand with the people that they are sworn to protect and serve. For chief thompson and the men and women of the Camden County police force metric division, god bless you for the lives you have saved over the last five years. [applause]. [applause]. Next we deem needed to change the failing camden Public Schools because they were the worst performing Public Schools in new jersey with four of the five lowest performing schools in new jersey and unlike the newark schools from decades earlier we were with the School District and effectuated a agreedupon Partnership Working with the community picking a dynamic new superintendent. We began a school by School Evaluation with the goal of improving education in every classroom and closed schools that did not work. We open three new charter schools, three new renaissance schools and significantly cut back a wasteful central office. Since these changes have been made the results have been astonishing. Five years. In five years the Graduation Rates have gone from 49 to 70 . [applause]. The dropout rates district wide have dropped from 21 to 12 and this is the one that warms my heart the most, the dropout rates for African American students in camden have been cut in half. [applause]. To those that believe throwing numbly at Public Education it is what well fix it, camden is the proof we do not need to change the funding. We need to change the approach to educating these students and people who run the state need to get that through their head in camden is the proof of it. Of course, theres still more to do, but a good Public Education is now very possible for most camden students, something we could not have said five years ago. Lastly we need to increase Economic Opportunity for all of those who live in camden and due to our designation of camden a promise made in from the 2009 campaign 28 projects have sprung up across the city of camden have been at 14 billion in private investments, private investments. It will create nearly 2000 new jobs in camden and retain over 3500 more jobs. The development thats happening will spur 7000 construction jobs for our building trade alone and as a whos who quartet, cooper mdm cancer center, philadelphia 76, subaru of america, lockheed martin, Cooper University healthy and the new 700 milliondollar camden water Front Project which will have office space, residential units and hotel, a Waterfront Hotel rather than a waterfront jail in camden. We are making progress. [applause]. Words i never thought i would say from behind this podium, business is booming in camden. [applause]. By the way, so as Rutgers University who is adding a number of universe buildings to its campus expanding opportunities for students. Of the rebirth of camden is happening, dana. Watch we envisioned eight years ago is happening and not with government giveaways, but with a bipartisan spirits and they can do attitude. A lot of people are responsible for its rebirth, but one person never wavered in his belief in the city. I want to tell you, none of us could have been accomplished without the relentless will of george. [applause]. Is indisputable that camden has no greater cheerleader and no greater investor. I cant believe it, but im honored that george is here today and im even if more honored to call him my partner in this rebirth of camden. We did it, george, and thank you for being my partner. [applause]. For those of you that have known me for a long time, some is sitting on the floor here, some of the gallery, when the truth be told you know my happiest days in public life are when i have the honor of leading federal Law Enforcement in new jersey at the us attorney. They were my happiest times because at one simple task ensuring justice was done for the people of new jersey, so when i became governor, he became so clear to me that our state criminal Justice System needed major reform. Of the system was less effective than it should amend and much too harsh on those whose nonviolent acts were unduly punished. Reform would not be easy due to the power of decades old prejudices and the rhetoric of opportunist politicians always looking to seem tough on crime. After seven years as us attorney and didnt need to seem traffic on top crime. Im charles on crime, but that doesnt mean you lack compassion or you dont believe in Second Chances. [applause]. Once again bipartisan cooperation with past success let me to you a story. 16 years ago i met the smart, articulate wife of the United States marshal the landing cunningham. For those of you who knew them in those days, she was his partner in every way. Of a truly made a dynamic duo. He became a mentor of mine and later the mayor of jersey city and a state senator. Glenn cunningham was a great Public Servant and im sure hes bursting with pride from heaven as he watches his wife, my friend of senator Sandy Cunningham and together we have crafted criminal Justice Reform which at the only a rating in the nation and that is becoming a role model for other states that have gotten broad approval from all of you. Release from jail pending trial is no longer based on how much money you have, but the seriousness of the accusations against you and your own criminal record. No longer can a repeat Violent Offender be released in terrifying his victims because he has millions of dollars in cash to post bail by the same token no longer must you stay in jail for minor offenses longer than if youd been convicted of the crime which you are accused of committing just because your family doesnt have 500 to post bail and no longer can an employer make a job applicant with a criminal record check a box and ended their chances of redemptive employment because together with the end the box in new jersey. Crimes of our youth can now be expunged in three years. Adult crimes in six years and many more crimes are eligible for lifechanging expungement. Prison population is already down 17 and to state bridges have been closed saving countless millions for taxpayers. With all of this Violent Crime in new jersey is down 5. 1 since we into instituted the beginning of the reform in Violent Crime is down 25 during the eight years of this administration. Being smart on crime has increased open Second Chances and decreased crime at the same time. I want to the attorney general for his outstanding work on this issue. Thank you, chris. [applause]. Most of all, went to think my friend of 16 years, Sandy Cunningham. [applause]. I will embarrass you more, sandy. Her hard and willingness to work with me has changed hundreds of lives already and 107,000 thousands to come. I will say this, i think pretty confidently that glenn is proud of both of us today and speaking of Second Chances i devoted all of last year of the state of state address to the disease killing more new jersey ends than anything else every year, the disease of opioid addiction. Covert the reading i shared with you last year, but i will say thank you and i challenged you last year to pass a groundbreaking legislation immediately and you did, but we are still losing too many citizens. Now at least we are taking steps to turn back the tide of death and suffering. New jersey has the bishops produce would be worried prescription and since we implemented our new restrictions in march those prescriptions have decreased by over 15 in new jersey. Its working. We establish state sharing Prescription Monitoring Program in 2014. We shared with our neighbors of delaware known elses sharing information is sharing information at the time. Since then, due to the push from new jersey we have 15 more additional partners sharing information with us including our neighboring states, new york, pennsylvania, and delaware. Is that Prescription Monitoring Program working . Back in 2015, we only had 198,000 crossborder requests into the system. In 2016 we had 1. 1 million requests and in 2017 3. 5 million requests. With this tool we can stop doctor shopping in film those across state borders and we will save lives. In 2011 we instituted project medicine drop to rid our medicine cabinets of these deadly pills and since 2011 new jersey is the first day to do this to collect 88 tons of the pills at over 400 locations across our state including our court corporate partner walgreens in every story new jersey getting these pills out of our children and disposing of them in an environmentally safe way. Attorney general reno has instituted an online way to report suspicious use for sale of opioids and in addition he has ended the toxic financial relationship between pharmaceutical companies and positions to prescribing habits by placing regulatory limits on what pharmaceutical companies can pay doctors. It will stop this cycle, i guarantee you. [applause]. Thats not all. Weve expanded medicaid. We obtained a waiver from the federal government to open more treatment beds. We have connected patients with recovery coaches in every county in the state following drug overdoses and we have made drug court available in every corner of the state all in the last eight years. We are lowering the stigma of addiction and connecting desperate families with the hope that comes from Addiction Treatment. Due to our work i had the honor of chairing the president s commission on combating drug addiction in the opioid crisis. My lead a member of this group is here today and i now call him new jerseys pastor kennedy because he was smart enough to marry a jersey girl with. Welcome home, patrick kennedy. [applause]. Patrick and i together with professor and Governor Cooper governor baker and attorney general bondy presented 65 comp rents of to the president and just last week the white house announced that they have accepted each and every one of our 65 recommendations and are now moving towards implementation and when they are implemented we will have a real chance to stop the dying. Patrick, it could not of been done without our partnership and our friendship going forward. Im convinced it will be based on making sure people who are addicted with mental help problems get the help they need and get the help now. [applause]. I dont want you to ever forgets ever ever forgets 175 people a day are dying in america every day. At 911 every two and a half weeks. Im proud that we have planted new jersey slag on the side of hope and treatment and Recovery Care believe me, i can tell you we are truly leading the nation on this issue. [applause]. I also want to think an inspiration for all of these efforts and the start of their Television Ads ms. Vanessa the toll of. She had been in recovery for over three years for heroine addiction and she has become the beacon of hope for so many new jersey family suffering with addiction. It is completely appropriate as i look up in the gallery that vanessa is sitting with my cabinets because shes practically been a member of the cabinet for the last year. I cant thank you enough vanessa for your honesty, your cordage. Its an inspiration to millions of new jersey ends suffering from the same disease you combat every day. We love you and we are counting on you. Thank you, manasseh. [applause]. Thank you, vanessa. [applause]. New jerseys of the structure and the Transportation Trust fund which is supports it has been on autopilot since 1988. That was the last time any major changes to the program were made, the last time Funding Sources were directly addressed. When i became governor i made a commitment to the Business Community that during my eight years as governor i would be the first governor in 25 years to expand in the structure spending i had demands of my own. I wanted more than the usual fiveyear plan for infrastructure investment, wanted tcf to stop being a political football and to plan to increase our expenditures on infrastructure and dedicated everybody of the gas tax and i wanted a plan that represented tax fairness to the people of new jersey. Glad to tell a love you together we reached those goals and our next governor no matter how long he serves will not have to reauthorize the tts during his tenure. We crafted a plan where commuters and craft members wind with an eight year plan from the longest in the history of the tts which will spend 16 billion in funds increasing Infrastructure Spending in the state by 25 . We increase the gas tax and the voters constitutionally dedicated every penny of it for only Infrastructure Spending and devised a plan that lowers taxes on the citizens of new jersey. Cant believe i will look right at my democratic friends for this one because i want to remind you what you did with me. Lookup, lou. On talking to you. [laughter] with it my democratic friends. Together, we lowered the sales tax. Together, we exempted 100,000 in Retirement Income from state income tax for our seniors. Together, we honored our veterans like you name it significant Tax Exemption and finally and most importantly we went from the most punitive death tax in america to know death tax at all. No longers will our seniors have to move to another state to avoid this onerous tax. We did it all together. [applause]. I remember sitting in my office in newark and going over the final math with the speaker on a piece of paper. No matter how you think things get done, things get done because people get in the same room together, get out a piece of paper and say heres what im willing to do and together the speaker, the Senate President then i negotiated these members and when taken together with the gas tax increase they lead to a net 200 milliondollar tax cut for the people of new jersey. More of the structure spending every year for eight years, more guaranteed years of and investment, dedicated reliable Funding Source and and id know you guys love this, tax fairness for the people of new jersey. Of this is another example of bipartisan cooperation nation that comes from not only hearing each other but truly listening to and respecting each other and the winners are the drivers, commuters and taxpayers of our state. We secured eight years of arrival funding for roads, bridges and mass transit and eliminated the death tax in new jersey. Those are certainly consequential accomplishments. [applause]. October 29, 2012, 4 new jersey that is a day none of us will forget. Super storm sandy changed new jersey forever and it changed me, also. No person can see the destruction to lives and property that i personally witnessed every day for months across my home state and not be dramatically changed. About pain, suffering and raw emotion of our citizens made me promise i will do all i could to recover from that day and rebuild our state as strongly and as quickly as possible. Whenever i am asked what i am most proud of in these last eight years i say it simply, the days and weeks, months and years since sandy the way our government handled it. The results were not always perfect. They never are perfect. Will tell you what was perfect, the effort, compassion and the focus of all the people in our Administration Every day for over five years, 365,000 homes significantly damaged or destroyed, roadways every corner of the state destroyed or impassable. Two thirds of the state without power for only for more than two weeks. No Wastewater Treatment plants operational across the state, shelters that needed to be supplied to keep people alive that. Thousands of tons of debris strewn throughout the state. People wet and tired and cold and scared leadership was needed and leadership was provided from every sector of our state and nation. Nonprofits, faithbased organizations all answered our call for help. We were grateful them and we are still great. State government we devised and operated individual programs, 97 new programs to focus on housing, schools, insurance claims, small business, mental health, social services, family support, local and county government services, food supply, fuel supply and dozens of others and build them up where they never existed before october 29, 2012. This has never been done before on this scale in our state. Theres no blueprint that they leave you in the top desk drawer when you get this job to deal with this. We started from scratch by responding to the needs of our people. We facilitated removal with our towns and counties of overt 8 million cubic yards of storm debris. We had lots of fun with that back then. And now that we have some perspective and the politics of the moment has cooled limit give you the facts on storm debris removal quickly. It was completed with 100 days of the storm by contractors we hired at 50 per cubic yard. Lets compare that not to louisiana, not to mississippi or florida, lets compare that to new york in the same storm who hired the army corps of engineers to do the job. They paid 100 cubic yard, double the cost for one eighth of the debris and it took twice as long to remove it, so lets make the record clear. We saved time and money for the people of new jersey. Thats the only way the recovery can start is when debris is removed and we did it and did it efficiently, effectively and with cost savers. Five years later, 85 of all families who applied for housing help are back in their presandy homes. [applause]. We have distributed 2 billion in Housing Assistance to those in need, 2 billion and for those who were living in the flood prone areas at the time and didnt want to go home at the direction of the dep, bob martin and his Blue Acres Program with that over 100 100 million to buy the homes at prestorm value to your families a fresh start and walkway from the nightmare of perpetual flooding in construction to their lives and property and built over 3100 new Affordable Housing units with another 2600 under construction as we speak. 350 million successfully distributed to families in aid to help pay mortgages, rent payments and repair costs and stood up for devastated town especially at the shore by creed in a Program Providing 133 million in grants to towns to fund a Central Services by police and public works in education without property tax increases and by the way we came back on the debris removal and a 10 max they had to pay the federal government, we paid it so property taxes would not be affected and secured 111 million in loans to bridge any the town had. We helped citizens under stress type providing 60000 of our citizens with Behavioral Health screenings and over 3500 people receive drug Addiction Treatment for addiction that began because of sandy. More than 10000 families received Psychological Services through the schools, Community Service centers arranged for by our administration and rebuild small Business Community that was devastated by sandy. We develop new programs called stronger business loans. We distributed 56 million in grants and 86 million in zero interest loans to more than 1200 businesses. Through these programs we rebuild our Business Community and booties concluded five years later the Business Community is stronger and more resilient that it was presandy helping us to have our best tourism year ever with over 44 million in tourism spending. We invested to make sure the next storm that comes will not devastate us again. For my friends in ocean county, we rebuild the destroyed root 35 to a stateoftheart standard of storm resilience. We establish Energy Resilient bank for over 2 million in rotating alone to do Energy Resilience projects. We awarded 1. 25 billion for new Jersey Transit projects. That was the highest award given to any of the 13 states that competed for those grants, 127 gas stations have become Energy Resilient to operate on generators in the event of another longterm power outage. Over 500 million has been invested to the weight was dirt Treatment Plant so a governor wont have to make the decision to dump water sewage into our states waterways because none of the water Treatment Plants are working. We engaged a 1 billiondollar coastal rest ration project to build it do this to make sure another sandy event does not devastate our sure. We are building protections our citizens will count on for decades to come leaving our sure unprotected again was not acceptable after sandy. We built seawalls and seabright. We put sheep piling, mitigation on the hockey sac river pump stations, tide gates and piping system. We are more prepared today than at any time in our history and it happened because we not only wanted to recover, but wanted to rebuild stronger. We cant stop our efforts till every family gets back in its home. The job is almost done, but almost is not good enough. We have recovered it have the time it took mississippi and louisiana to recover from a similar statistics from katrina and we are way ahead from new yorks recovery from the same storm, so for all those that worked on the storm most particularly mark and the many women of the Governors Office of recovery and rebuilding, you have my undying gratitude as do the people of the state of new jersey. Thank you, mark. [applause]. Super storm sandy was a defining moment of our last eight years that our greatest challenge and provided us with our most set aside personal and professional moments. All new jersey proved we were in fact stronger than the storm. You can sing the song to yourself. Smarr, politically balanced and politically step judiciary should be the every governor. Certainly was mine and we worked hard to make sure the law was followed and justice was available to all of our citizens you may not know this, but state law requires a equal distribution between republicans and democrats on our superior court. Dot law was blatantly ignored for years when we arrived. When i arrived there were 31 more democrats than republicans on the state court bench, so we fought to appoint better judges and ensure the political balance that our law requires. While this led to some strife, in the end [laughter] we nearly delivered on all those goals. The chief justice knows this and i want to say that our 16 Year Association has been one of the true joys of my public life and we Work Together on this problem as well and so once again, mr. Chief justice, good time. Let me tell you why. There are more judges on the bench today than anytime in new jersey history. There were only 11 judicial vacancies at a 462 judicial seats. Id know this is right because grants is nodding his head. The guy with the facts is over here per justice is available to everyone in every county and just as importantly we have moved from an inbound of 31 seats to only 5c difference between republicans and democrats and i hope as we move forward the governor elect and senators in the chamber respect the rule of law and finish the job we started by keeping the bench full and politically balanced. [applause]. No state of the state would be complete particularly found a state of the state of mind, no responsible discussion of new jerseys future can happen in this room without a discussion of our Pension System and how it dominates any hope of building on the success of the last eight years. In 2009 i was proud to start a discussion that no governor in america was having, the discussion on our broken state Pension System and how its promises were choking that ability of the State Government in investing in the future. No one wanted to talk about it and the good news for me was that the only other public official in new jersey who had discussed the issue was elected Senate President the same year i was elected governor. Perfect storm, some might say. [laughter] previous governors and legislatures ignored the menace of increase costs had no contributions. Benefits were made more generous and assumed rates of return work increased and i want you to hear this, for 14 straight years not enough was contributed by the state to even cover that years cost but the exploding unfunded liability. All the clear about this, also. It was done by both parties. It was done when Economic Times were bad. It was done when Economic Times were booming and is so in my last time in this chamber i am tired of hearing the baloney spewed on this issue. Lets go to the facts and back to the 1980s and every decade since. Governor kane drastically increased benefits for police and fire personnel in the not pay for it. It was paid for by increasing the assumed rate of return in 1988. Governor floria increase the assumed rate of return again three years later from 7 to eight and three quarter to avoid making any pension payments. Governor whitman floated backloaded pension which will cost us four times what we borrowed when we finally finished paying them off in the next decade. Governor francisco increased benefits and no additional funding was put forward. Governor coors stubbornly maintain the assumed rate of return at over eight and a quarter to hide the problem from the public and avoid even larger expected pension payments, both parties for 30 years added to the problem. They did not talk about it and did not fix it, but made it worse each and every year and then they deposited it in my lap in january, 2010 and said its your faults. We didnt hide the problem from the people. We didnt hide from confronting it ourselves. I got on the road and traveled the state and held town Hall Meetings and sounded the alarm. What did we get in return . Regularly attacked by Union Leaders who had never cared how we would pay for these reckless promises. Of a only cared that the checks keep coming no matter the road to ruin it with the other 8. 1 million new jersey ends on for the future. What do we do . In 2011 we passed reform to make employees pay a more realistic share the pension cost, pay some share in the Health Insurance and in costofliving adjustments until funds were solvent. These reforms will say 120 billion over 30 years and staved off for the time being the insolvency of the system. While the state had to adjust our payment plan from 17 to 110 per year the reforms made since then and even more sense now, but we do not stop there. To further secure the system we dedicated the lottery to the Pension System for the next 30 years and this all with the states will get the fund to 90 funded within 30 years this administration took steps to secure the Pension System and made unprecedented Cash Contributions to the Pension System. In our eight years we contributed 8. 8 billion in cash to the system representing to have times more than the last five governors before me combined. If such contributions had been made all along our problems would almost be nonexistent. We took a diversified professional and bipartisan approach to invest in funds for the last eight years of their republican bob grady and democrat tom byrne who is with us here today. Even while taking less risk than 90 of them. That is the fact. Airs another one. The market value of the fund since february, 2010, increase by 10 billion even though in the last eight years we have paid out 70 billion and benefits despite all of this two things remain true. We still have a big problem to tackle and it will only be solved by making benefits more realistic for pension and health insurers. Bipartisan commission has laid out a plan that can and will work if you all finally have the will to implement its. If we do not, let me assure you there is not enough taxes to raise or programs to cut to feed the insatiable beast of Public Employee pensions and Platinum Plus Health Benefits. Lamy sure you something else, no matter what you do unless it involves complete capitulation, you will be vilified by the public Union Leaders and we have seen that play out with me for eight years and for my democratic friends, if you think you are immune, im sure your attention was drawn to a small legislative race this year. [laughter] let me tell you about these folks. Their actions speak louder than their words or their money ever can. If you dont believe me b the record one more time. The facts, more money contributed in the last five governors combined, lottery dedicated to pension, quarterly payments rather than annual, all these things were signed by this governor yet i think a few of the more have been criticized by the Union Leaders and i have been. The solving of this problem will not lead you to be loved. The gratitude you ultimately receive will be from future residence who are living in a bankrupt state where 8. 1 Million People work every year until june or july to pay their retirement and Health Benefits for 800,000 retirees. Thats unacceptable. Thats unsustainable. [applause]. The choice before you is clear, but its tough. Failure to act option is running out of time. I put every act of political iuppercaseletter ever had on the line to bring about the changes we have made and i dont regret one minute of it despite the impact its had on my political standing. I try to live by the words of Winston Churchill when he said success is not final and failure is not fatal. Of the courage to continue is what counts. Continue i have done for eight years on this issue and i pray for our state today that you will do the same thing in the months and years ahead are today and i know the reddick keeps count of this, today is my 2913th day as governor of new jersey. Big calendar in her office. I have loved the job and i am so grateful to the people of new jersey for giving me the chance to serve the state where i was born and raised and where my four children were born and raised. I wish governor elect murphy and his family every success in every joint that is possible for them over the next four years. Next tuesday at noon, he will be my governor, also. Was success will be our success and i hope for him and our state nothing but blue skies ahead for the next four years. Now, when you have this job, it can be lonely, but if you are lucky you are never really alone of those around you make the days filled with friendships and camaraderie. I feel fortunate to have been joined in this venture by new jerseys First Lieutenant governor. [applause]. [applause]. Think about what she has done. She executed her uncharted duties and she did it with class and energy and good humor. Kim, cant thank you enough for taking this ride with me. For your service to me in your service to the people of the state i will always always be personally grateful. [applause]. I have been fortunate to have at the helm of one of the other equal branches of government in person who approaches job in the same way i approached my, with passion, vigor, emotion, resolve, stubbornness and at time per to colorful language. About achievements i spoke of today would not have been possible without a personal goodwill and honesty and character to fight with and to make deals with and to have fun with these last eight years. Senate president Steve Sweeney is a great leader, but hes even a better man. I have enjoyed our a twoyear journey and i will miss our Early Morning phone calls, but most of all i mean, this from the heart steve, and happy and relieved that as i the part you remain right in that chair to help ensure the safety and success of new jerseys future. Thank you, my friend. [applause]. By the way, craig, the first four hours have been great. [laughter] there are not words sufficient to think your family. For what they endure and supports and tolerates when someone they love serves as governor. It has been a true joy, true joy to have my dad at 84 years old to be here to witness every day of these last eight years and to represent himself and my mom. Thanks for being wonderful. [applause]. [applause]. To my brother, todd, and my sister dawn and their spouses, andrea and russ, thanks for always understanding the missed events in the missed phone calls and for denver ever holding it against me. You made this a lot easier and thank you both very very much. [applause]. To my four children, who have grown up in front of the people of new jersey because of the job there dad picked. Of the true joys of the last eight years were almost always produced by andrew, sarah, patrick and bridget. I love you all. [applause]. [applause]. To my wife am 31 years, can you imagine putting up with me for 31 years . Loretto is shaking her head, mary pat. Theres the shocker of the day. [laughter] the mother of our children and our incredibly classy and energetic first lady, mary pat. [applause]. Mary pat, you and only you know the true depth of the joys and challenges of the last eight years because only you have been there every step of the way. Thanks for each of those the steps and thinks even more for your love and understanding. It wasnt possible without you. [applause]. In the end, a governor cannot be elected, cannot be worth electing and cant be worth keeping for eight years without a great team. 16 years ago i was sworn in as us attorney and every day since i have been blessed to be surrounded and served by an extraordinary Extraordinary Team i cant name all of you, but i dont have to because your service to me was just that, selfless, but they are represented by names like rich bagger and jeff keizo, Maria Comella and bill pala tucci, Charlie Mckenna and kevin odowd , amy craddick and it tom screen the call chris perino and michelle brown, paul matey and mike duchesne, to my team, we worked very hard. We work very well and always for the right reasons to do the right thing and now at the final hours of our partnerships slip away i am regularly reminded of the great quote from ulysses and i truly believe that it applies to each and every one of you and the road we have traveled together for these last 16 years, so please listen carefully. Though much is taken, much abides and though we are not now that strength which in all the days moved heaven and earth, that which we are we are, one equal temper of heroic parts made week by time and faith, but strong and will to strive, to seek, to find and never never to yield. For me and the team i brought with me to this place eight years ago that sums up what we came here to do, to strive, to win for the people we serve, to seek that which is good and right in all that we do, to find solutions to problems that no one could solve before us and never, never to yield, not to pressure or polls, not too wise or puffery, not to partisanship or that old phrase that had never been done here before. I believe you today grateful, happy and a better man that i was when i walked in here for the first time eight years ago. For that and so much more i think you, but most of all i think the wonderful people of the great state of new jersey. I came to this job eight years ago proud to be one of you. I leave it next week even prouder to be one of you. God bless you and farewell. [applause]. On after words, former Clinton Administration official and Georgetown University law professor Peter Edelman argues courts are exploiting the poor by charging excessive fines and fees for minor crimes. Hes interviewed by representative hank johnson of georgia. Youll also hear from historian lee edwards on key moments in the conservative movement, and how money from illegally purchased g
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