Association summer meeting. Thank you all for coming. Certainly hope you enjoyed your time here in salt lake. Governor herbert, again issue express my profound appropriation to bought and you first lady for the warmth of your hosting, for the choir, for donnie and marie, tonight, every step of the way, please give the good governor the first lady a round of applause. [applause] were honored to have everybody here and thank you. Welcome to utah, this has been a great event so far. I appreciate the little gift i just got from my good friend, governor of montana. Its a monocle. It allowed me to see the fine print when i sign legislation. [laughter] for the last year ive had the dink honor and privilege of sending on behalf of americas 55 governors of our states and territories. Couldnt be more pleased witch the work we have done together. Governors all across the country on the frontlines and their states each and every day, theyre serving constituents, coming up up with Real Solutions, unfortunately for us we have support from the National Governor association along that way as well. Nga staff has been especially helpful to me throughout my tenure as governor of montana. I still remember showing up in california for the new governors academy, or what Governor Hogan and i call baby governor school. Even doing that with my peers, democrats and republicans, gave me a Good Foundation to start serving, and then more recently National GovernorAssociation Staff provide me the resources and platform to take my chairs initiative, good job for al americans, and make its great success. With the support of nga then and the governors coming along, we and countless partners have taken the positive steppeds to create a future ready work force, we sparked the conversation but the growing skills gap and empowering the nation to make sure no american is left behind in our evolving economy. Want to take a moment and recognize interim director nicky guilford can as well as her staff at the nga. Thank you for stepping into this. This isnt in the script you wrote. [cheers and applause] but for those that also dont know that nicki was going to be transitioning from nga and working for governor dewine and planned to do that long before we asked her to be the interim executive director and you have been a star. Its also my pleasure to announce in the governors only meeting we announced and approved were going to have a new executive director, big mcbride. He work for governor engler in michigan. Governor snyder is his dc rep and has incredible experience on the hill as well. Think that bill mcbride is a person thats really well positioned to take National Governor association to serve the voices of the 55 governors, as we go forward. So thanks so much, bill, as well. [applause] id also i guess take the chairs discretion. I want to thank my staff. Governors so often like we take on a new project with awe and excitement, while our staff is like with dread and what did he sign up for this time . And when it comes to doing this National Governor association work, what it really does is piles additional responsibilities on folks already working hard for montana. So adam shaveter and my staff, thank you so much for your good work. And id like to thank my fellow governors for supporting me throughout the exciting journey. When you signed up for nga leadership you sign up for not one year but two years. I served as vice chair under former Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval and then had as my vice chair governor larry hogan and both working with them have method me both a better governor, better leader and a better person. Thank you as governors when you provided input on both what National Governor association should be and can be and thanks for the support of our initiative, and thanks for what you do every day. Gives me great pleasure at a time when plate cass divisiveness seems to disdistract from what is being accomplished that you all together at nga gives the platform to work past the politics and work sidebyside to make our states and nation a better place. For the last come of days we have shared best approximate best practices and enjoyed each Others Companies and listens to one acosta respects one another. Our governors continue to show we truly are the United States of america. Bittersweet day for me in many respects as i pass the baton to the new chair, but im more than confident in my friend Maryland Governor, larry hogan help has already shown strong leadership, putting us all into the organization while serving is a vice chair and then jumping bee shareship head first. Its any honor to announce the new York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been named as the vice chair. Im confident that Governor Hogan and Governor Cuomo will continue or legacy of bipartisanship. Join me in welcoming each member of the new executive committee and governor. You id like to call on ng as new their say other few words. Thank you very much. Lets give governor bullock another big round of applause and thank him for his leadership. Were all excited that chairman hogan i like chairman better than governor some ways chairman hogan is taking over the helm and has already demonstratessed his commitment, energy, effort and his achievement. Lets give chairman hogan a big round of applause. [applause] and governor herbert, the dean of the governors, thank you for the hospitality and courtesy. Everything has been beautiful. Governor herbert. [applause] im a new yorker so i know you expect a blunt new york style assessment, and i dont want to disappoint so here it is. Washington is a political mess. That is my shocking revealing, candid assessment. Also as plain as the nose on my face, which is saying something. So much for new york bluntness. Because in the case of washington the truth is obvious to off. Washington is in a state of political paralysis, and that paralysis has stymied functionality. I was speaking to a congressman the other day, and i was saying, we need washington to work. I cant do my job without washington working, and the congressman said, well, we have been making progress recently. And i said, congressman, progress is a relative concept. Did you ever hear the story what the snail said when its went for a ride on the turtles back . Whee so washington has been making progress, not enough. Dont get me wrong, governors are also good at political honestification we have our only political honestification we have our bottles but we have to keep the lights on and balance a budget and respond to daily need. Governors cannot fill buster to solve the opioid epidemic. We pant take a recess educate to child and cant rely on a parliamentary point of order to build a road. Governors must deliver. Justice brandeis spoke about laboratories of democracy. Wereon. That. Yes, were still laboratories of democraticky but states are now fact trophies democracy and were hospitals of democracy and schools of democracy and airports of democracy and airports and bridges of democracy, and emergency manages over democracy, and the job generators of democracy. States have no choice but to proceed on their own the best they can, to be the most functional unit of government. Its hard. Its not ideal. Its not the intended design. Nor is it sustainable longterm , but it is essential today. How long the political paralysis lasts in washington is anyones guess. There was this is not the first time theres been a strange illness in washington. In the 1830s there was cholera outbreak in 1865 typhus. In 1918 the was influence ininfluenza. But the governors job is to deal with the here and now and today the burden falls to us, the states to get results. To help people to better lives to solve problems and to make progress. That is what it is all about at the end of the day. And the same time, i believe that is the best ant dote to the anti do it to the pale to reduce the anxiety, fear, division, that caused the paralysis in the first place. Working together as seemingly simple but extraordinarily profound as that concept is, is the cure. As president of the United States in 1908, the former governor, new york, teddy roosevelt, convened a nations governors to washington because he understood the states roles in essential notion of federalism and that was the initiation of the nga. It may have taken 111 years for new yorker to become vice chair of the nga. I dont take it personally. But i couldnt be more proud to be part of the team. Never before has there been a more important time to use our collective strength as governors to show how to lead this nation forward. Never has there been a more important time to show the people of this country that we can still find commonality, and there is still a collective and unity is not an illusion. The nga is in many ways, the only National Vehicle that can do it. The nga led the way in 1908 and together the nga will lead the way once again. I look forward to working with each and every member of this distinguished body. Thank you. [applause] thank you, Governor Cuomo, and again congratulations on becoming nga vice chair. Started my tenure as chair with respect for Governor Hogan. I end my tenure with not only respect but also with trust, admiration and a sincere friendship. Thank you for the support you provide me and all of the governors over this last year. Thank you for your tireless decide addition as dedication as well as your staff, and please come us because its time for not only the transfer of the gavel and then i made sure you cant see it from out here but the same of maryland, Governor Hogan, nga chair, made out of a little barbed wire from montana. Very nice. Thank you. Thank you very much. [applause] and with that, the chairmanship is yours. Congratulations, my friend. Congratulations to you. Hold on. Before you go. Just really quickly issue want to again thank chairman bullock for his incredible leadership over the past year. His initiative on better jobs for all americans was a tremendous success. I want to thank you. You have been great part nor work with, its been fun. Being your wing man. And we all thank you for your leadership. I have a few gifts for you. I know that you have a lot of cowboy boots and you can never have enough, but boots are made for walking so we have boots in here. On my way. We have a Great Company in maryland called under armour and we know youre running to i eave purple nga under armour Running Shoes and a great big bag of goodies you cant get in montana. Thank you. Thats cool. [applause] and we also have an outgoing i get to take it with me. You get to take your real gavel. I get the cheesy fake one. Thank you. Thank you all. Did pretty well on this. Please turn your attention to the screens as well play short video about the next governors chairs initiative. Its been an authorize serve as chair of the National Governors association. With Governor Hogan as my vice chair, Governor Hogan has a proven record of of chair hogans initiative. Its only when the partisan shouting stops that we can hear each others voices and concerns. I am prepared to create an environment of trust and cooperation. What i envision for maryland is not just an economic and fiscal recovery but a rebirth of our spirit, and a renewed commitment to our common purpose. Starting today, let me say loudly and clearly, maryland is open for business. [cheers and applause] one and a half years ago Governor Hogan launched an initiative to make maryland open for business. We have experienced four years of consecutive recordsetting growth. Live with the busiest month if. Governors launched a 600 Million Investment to improve the baggage handling system, restrooms, retail operations. Three, two, one. Were open the new concourse connect can terminal d and e is open, including an eightlane security checkpoint. Since ive been governor we have deepens the port and its only one of the deep water ports that can handle the biggest ships in the world,increasing the viable of the port, increasing jobs and revenues to the state. The confidence level and the support that the Hogan Administration has provided understanding there is a True Partnership and understanding of what drives business and the market has responded incredibly well. A growth of almost 90 . Almost a 9 annual growth rate. Governor hogan recognized for the washington metropolitan area that metro is the life blood of our system, our economy. The purple line project providing rail transportation between the states two largest counties. Worked aggressively with me and other local leaders across partisan lines. The white republican governor. He acts like regular human being. We making it work. In my state, happens to be a more than two to one democratic state. Im a republican governor. My legislate is twothirds majority of the opposite party. We got together with the democrats and legislature and the local and federal come for largest transits system in north america. Its prototype to move transportation and truck across america. Our state of maryland we have the second worst Traffic Congestion in america. Its just parked. The cars are wall to wall and i cant get across. Trying to take a left. Folks spending lives sitting in soulcrushing traffic. Not for the faint of heart. This is a big deal. The governor just concluded a press conference, i270, i495 and the 295 all to get four additional lanes each. This is a Publicprivate Partnership, 9 billion project where we get private Sector Investment without the need to raise taxes on our citizens. Governor hogan announces another plan to east major Traffic Congestion in maryland and comes a month after the unveiled a plan to add lanes. Holes in maryland have been is crease bid 200 or 300 . I cut tolls also every single facility never state for the first anytime 50 years. We have put 370 million back into the pockets of struggling maryland families and Small Businesses and back into our growing economy. Lowered the tolls and i saw a change in maryland instantly. I know 25 doesnt seem like a lot but to a single mom it is. Our most important Natural Resource is chesapeake by a. Its a national treasure. Pollution doesnt respect political boundaries and addition to a strong investment in the environmental truck, the governor wasted no time in helping to broker a historic agreement between the Environmental Community and the agriculture community. The by a is now the cleanest its been in recorded history. 100 years from now i want marylanders to say that this was when marylands renaissance began. Rebuilding americas infrastructure, a critical issue. Were not only for our states but for the entire country. The unique role of being the governor of the state, we have to governor every day and get things turn and make things happen in our state. Our goal, wow ore rebuilding americas infrastructure initiative, is to get all the best ideas from all of or governors and get washington onboard and make some real progress. [applause] please welcome back to stage the new chair of the National Governors association, Maryland Governor larry hogan. I just want to sincerely thank all of my fellow governors for electing me as the chairman of the nga. Im so honored to have this opportunity to lead the nations governors over the next year. I can remember going to my very first seminar for new governors, or as steve and i like to call it the baby governors school. Back in 2014, after i was first elected and i didnt know any of the governors and i can tell you it was hard for me to tell the democratses from the republicans and i realized right then how special and how unique this organization is. And nga is not just about representing americas governors. Its also about what americas governors represent. While partisanship and dysfunction have consumed washington, instates all across the country, governors are working together n a bipartisan way showing real leadership, making real progress, and finding Real Solutions to the Serious Problems that face us. Our nations governors on both sides of the aisle are finding new ways to innovate, to reform, and to drive the debate. Four years ago in maryland i committed to usher in gnaw era of partisan truss and cooperation, where the best idea does rise to the top regardless of which side of the aisle they come from. I pledge to governor with civility and mod racing, and to mod racing and avoid the attempts to drive us to the extremes of either Political Party that common sense practice pragmatism has driven us forward. Have sought out Common Sense Solutions and gotten things done. One of the things that makes americans so special, so exceptional, is that when we see something thats broken, we fix it. Or at least we try to. And like so many of you, im fed up with the angry and divisive politics that is literally tearing our country apart in Washington People in both parties seem to be moving away from Common Ground and away from progress. Over the next year, the nations governors have an opportunity to prove that there is a better way to governor. In the states, there are leaders who are willing to Work Together across party lines to take on the big problems, and lets begin with something that is fundame