Transcripts For CSPAN Wyoming State Of The State Address 201

Delivers his final state of the state. His speech is 45 minutes. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2018] [applause] thank you very much. Have a seat. Thank you. Have a seat. Good morning. Members of the 65 legislature, 65 legislature, mr. Gordon, justice burke, members of this ,udiciary, military, veterans fellow citizens, my family, good morning. I give my eighth and final state of the state address today. The speaker and president have been kidding me in recent days that it takes about eight years. O train a governor agoas a couple of years when the president of the senate was announcing his excellency, it takes a while to train a speaker and a president. The privilege has been to appear before a joint session each year to talk about wyoming, the state we love. Believe these work to work this passive and years has built a better legacy. Together,e more year a little less, and i look forward to a great year. My last address begin with tributes work so hard for wyoming. I have identified select individuals to knowledge. Today i want to start with the wyoming legislature. I thank you for working with me for the betterment of our state. The people of wyoming have counted on leaders to move the state forward, and the legislature delivers. As citizen legislatures you generously give your time, skill, sweat, not just during the session but year round, for wyoming. You leave your families, leave your place of work, leave the comforts of home, not for personal gain but out of a sense of duty, concern for and love of this state and her people. To of the wyoming house and senate currently serving or during myt tenure as governor, thank you. I applaud for your service and ask the audience to join me. [applause] chief justice burke, to you and all our judges, i want to say its been an honor working alongside the Judicial Branch and an honor to appoint great judges in our meritbased Selection Process. Over the past seven years, i have appointed about half the state judiciary. That is Supreme Court, District Court and Circuit Court judges. The merit Selection Process is important because its based upon qualifications and experience. It is apolitical and it results in great judges. [applause] our justices at the Supreme Court and judges on federal courts and around the state are committed to our communities, state and people. They are committed to a wellfunctioning Justice System, access to justice for everyone and the rule of law. Lets think them all for what they do. [applause] its been a pleasure working with the other statewide elected officials who are here today. Especially on the boards, state loan and investment board, state board of land commissioners that we served together on. It seems like yesterday. State superintendent and treasurer, i thank you for your service to the state of wyoming and i have enjoyed the privilege of working with all three of you. Thank you. [applause] irecognize the tribes recognize the tribes today. We are neighbors and friends and about each other. Working with the tribes is important and we must continue to work together. The tribal Justice System is also important and i note that john st. Claire, the chief judge of the tribal court, is retiring. Judge st. Claire has been on the bench for 30 years. I recognize him this morning for his long service and commitment to tribal court. [applause] with recent budget constraints, two tribal liaison positions in the Governors Office became parttime. The liaison for the northern arapahoe tribe also serves as an amazing member of the executive council and i would ask if the , liaisons and members of both tribes joining us today would please stand. We welcome all of you here in these chambers. [laughter] [applause] as always, its my privilege to recognize the wyoming National Guard today. The guard had a busy, productive year in 2017. Every year they are busy and productive, and remain busy. 198 of our guard are currently deployed, joined recently by security for the next couple of weeks at the Winter Olympics in south korea. Seeing the work of the guard at home, and i have traveled to visit our troops in cuba, bahrain, kosovo, qatar, afghanistan, i have seen too many deployments and welcome homes to count. I can share with you, without a doubt, wyoming guard is the best of the best. In 1899, wyomings governor richard said of those who serve in our military they have so conducted themselves under all circumstances as to entitle them to the honor of which there is none higher of being called true american soldiers. General, please stand so we can show our appreciation to you and the guard who, without a doubt, are true american soldiers. [applause] i recognize our veterans today. Over 47,000 veterans live in wyoming. Our country would not be what it is, strong and free, and we would not be able to live freely as we do without them. I thank our vets and the people who support them. And i thank those currently serving in the u. S. Armed forces and the people who support them. We have made progress these past seven years. Veterans welcome home day legislation, Vietnam Veterans highway designation, more veteran service officers, expanded programs and services. I have been to 24 wyoming veterans welcome home day ceremonies in communities all around the state, going to some more in a couple of months. These are great occasions. They are very patriotic. They are very personal. On these occasions, i am so proud i live in a patriotic state that values and respects our veterans. Theres Something Else we can consider for our vets. Wyoming needs a Skilled Nursing center for them. We are the only state that does not have this service. In my mind, its a benefit our veterans have earned and its time wyoming delivered this service. The trains dont run on time without the hard work and care of state employees. Im proud of the work of our state employees and agencies directors and i want to thank them for their service. [applause] finally, i recognize the many volunteers who served on boards, commissions and task forces during my tenure. As many of you know, we have so many people from wyoming who volunteer and step up, and they do a tremendous amount of work for the benefit of our state, and when they work and they work and they reach great things and do great things, every year i doubled their salary. [laughter] for those not familiar, they make no money. When i hand the keys to the Governors Office to someone else in january 2019, i will leave the premises with gratitude to the voters who gave me the opportunity to serve. With admiration for legislative, judicial and executive branch employees who serve the state so well, and with knowledge that i leave a framework for important work to continue. As i look back to january 2011, when i took office, i see we have much to celebrate. We have Smaller Government. That is, we have smaller budget, fewer employees and fewer rules and regulations. We have downsized government and built our permanent and rainy day sayings. We consolidated Technology Services in one place, ets, creating buying power and efficiencies. For example, where state agencies had different email systems in the past, the state now has one. We have made longterm policies that will serve wyoming for many years with an energy strategy, water strategy, ten and ten, Forest Health and Outdoor Recreation Task Force Recommendations and now the endow initiative. A lot has been achieved under these policies. Just a few examples baseline water testing, orphan well plugging, continuing efforts to establish a pipeline corridor, the forest collaborative assistance program, and development of uniform hydrogy errs raphers operations manual. Im pleased to report the first five of the ten and ten projects already have start dates for construction. Because these are longterm strategy, there is more to come and im pleased to see the legislature considering senate file 14 which provides a statutory framework for continuation of the energy strategy. One of my Top Priorities as many of you know has been growing technology and we have done so with a state 100 gigabyte network which is double the National Standards for connectivity to schools. It is the envy of many states. We have not only connected fiber but also provided a connection for many of our Industry Experts by starting and growing an annual Technology Summit and an annual broadband summits. These efforts will continue to bear fruit. We can celebrate when many said it couldnt be done the delisting of grizzlies and wolves and the nonlisting of sage grass. Endangered species are a tough issue as chairmen and western governors in 201516, my initiative was to improve the endangered species act. We have moved forward. The western governors approved a resolution. We got it through the National Governors. Its being considered by congress and i believe there is a real opportunity for the first time in many years to have changes in the endangered species act at a national level. [applause] wyoming loves wildlife, and we have been doing a good job managing wildlife. We must never lose our leadership role in doing so. We must continue our conservation work, leveraging and building the Wildlife Natural Resource trust. When it comes to federal overreach, i think we have fought the good fight. The Attorney Generals Office has been very busy these past years, and in fact, so busy im occasionally criticized for being too litigious but i like the word. [laughter] the state has defended boundaries, fought a federal hydraulic fracturing rule, litigation for a coal terminal in oregon and a clean power plants. These are only a bit of the many cases the attorney general and his office have been involved in since i took office. We have taken on other difficult issues that are important including homelessness and , Suicide Prevention. Safe to tell was launched in october 26, 2016. From then to midjanuary 2018, we received 889 tips. The highest number of reports were for suicide threats. The second and third highest reports of bullying and drugs. One district knew they had saved two students lives in the first two months. They have the program in place and were able to intervene. [applause] these are just two of many stories of the importance of the successful program. In 2015, we raeeleased a home for everyone, the tenyear plan to address homelessness. We must keep pursuing the aspiration expressed in the plans title. With respect to suicide as many of you know, the rate in wyoming has been high for decades, very high. Many reasons are cited. High altitude, rural setting, insufficient resources, isolation, illness. There is many reasons. In 2013, i have brought up this issue in my state of the state trying to take the stigma away and bring it to the forefront of our conscience. In 2015, i talked about renewed focus on Suicide Prevention in a statewide initiative, which included employee training. In 2016, i started an annual suicide symposium, the third to be held the spring. The symposium brings suicide to the forefront of public attention. The human toll in terms of lives lost and families shattered of course is at the center. Health programs and prevention are also part of the suicide agenda, symposium agenda. We have to in wyoming ness ofe the serious the problem to keep adequate resources at work on Suicide Prevention. We must also stay abreast of the opioid crisis. The good news in wyoming, we are doing better than most. A study of the last two and a half years shows Drug Overdose deaths increasing in the u. S. As a whole are decreasing in wyoming. It remains the case that in wyoming, prescription painkillers are a leading form of drug abuse in 12 to 25yearolds. Last november, i signed a proclamation for the kickoff of the wyoming prescription abuse stake holders Educational Campaign they didnt know which will educate teenagers and young adults about Prescription Drug misuse and abuse. The wyoming abuse of stakeholders is working to do just that. Its a Capable Group and they should continue their good work with legislative support. In the last seven years, we have never lost sight of trying to improve wyoming and the Services Provided to our citizens. Despite a period of diminished revenue, the trimming of the budget and increasing our savings, we have continued to invest in wyomings future. The Capital Square project was started years ago. It will have ups and downs like any major building project but is proceeding nicely. In the long run, it is all positive. The capitol is the most important building in wyoming. Inspiring to look at and visit it is a repository of our , history, past, present and future. The legislature well before i came into office began setting aside funding for the capitol. Its important for us to continue that work. Other important projects that have moved along include the university of wyoming engineering, education and research building, the stem building, integrative test center, research facility, the Science Initiative and many Wonderful Community college projects. So proud of the test center, funded with state and private resources, it became fully operational at the end of 2017. This cutting edge facility makes wyoming a leader in advanced coal technologies, allowing wyoming to be a continued leader not only in Coal Production but coal technology. [applause] funds have been appropriated for the Science Initiative. Supporter, and requested the release of the last of the funding in my budget appropriations approved the message. Release of funds in midjanuary and uw has now approved the final design of the Science Initiative building. We have tackled many other projects. Just on schools, which i remind you all in 2011, i suggested we slow down new school buildings, but we have not, really. We have tackled many projects, including 57 new or replacement schools, in excess of 19 school 1 billion. Renovations and additions, about 267 million. Over 11,000 major maintenance projects for about 417 million. There is more we can get done and theres more we can get done this session. The projects are the State Hospital and life resource center, theyre well planned, important projects and in my mind, must move forward to construction now. Investment in wyoming is a great investment. This body has invested in wyoming. My hat is off to the visionaries in this room, who planned for and worked for these and important projects. However, as we have invested in these projects, we must adjust to the times of constrained revenue, recognizing we cannot continue to build at the same rate and must now focus on maintaining that we have felt. My budget calls for dollars, more dollars for major maintenance, recognizing deferred maintenance is, in fact, efficient spending. [applause] before i talk about the times ahead, i want to talk briefly about last year. 2017 was another year for budget actions. Budget reductions. Reductions have occurred in four of the last eight budgets. The budgets for some agencies, for example, the department of health and department of Family Services, have been cut too much. Services and programs suffer. There are other concerns associated with overcutting. For example, in the department of corrections and state fair, the 1920 budget gives us an opportunity to remedy this situation and j. C. Has begun that important work. To j. C. Members, i appreciate your work and look forward to resolving our differences in my favor. That actually wasnt in there but thats what im thinking. [laughter] budget aside, 2017 was a year to remember for the increased emphasis on Outdoor Activities and endow. The eclipse was a wonderful occasion. It was the first total Solar Eclipse to pass over the country since 1918, with out of state and international travelers, the boost to the states economy was an estimated 63. 5 million. More great events are coming. This year is the 150th anniversary of the historic fort bridge treaty. Next year on september 10th, 2019, wyoming will celebrate, wyoming will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the law that gave wyoming women the vote. [applause] 2020, we celebrate wyoming. The first government in the world to grant unconditional women suffrage. [applause] appointed a wonderful hardworking council to plan commemorative events. Historic occasions like womens right to vote show the Pioneering Spirit that is our heritage with us still, it is part of our identity, part of our strength. We put increased emphasis on outdoors last year. New shooting sports initiatives. The wyoming top 100 amateur and the governors match and the Adventure Racing World Championships are examples. Hunting and shooting sports are an important part of our states heritage. We appreciate the Firearm Companies that have been in wyoming for years, as well as the ones that have moved here recently or are planning to move here. They promote sports shooting opportunities, fit with