And now to idaho where republican Governor Brad Little discusses infrastructure in his state of the state address in Capitol Building in boise. Brad little has been serving as governor since 2019 and before that as lieutenant governor. Please bee seated. The constitution of the great state of idaho requires me to atreport to you our legislaturen the condition of our stay. This is my sixth opportunity to address you and im struck how much it has changed in the six years. Im not talking about how much grayer my area is. Even speaker had more hair. [laughter] but for all the change i can confidently stand before you for the sixth Straight Year and say the state of the state is strong, stronger than ever before. [applause] what we are doing is working. Over the past year i traveled 25,000 miles throughout the state of idaho. At times with your first lady theresa. Theresa, thank you very much for your love and support. [applause] one of the best and most important part of my job is visiting with parents, veterans, seniors, teachers, Law Enforcement officers, business leaders, faith leaders, farmers and, of course, our young people. Idaho is diverse but one quality about idahos people is consistent. They continue to fight to keep our great state a special place for this generation and theou next. Thats always been my goal also. Never settle and keep improving even though we are leading the country in so many ways we can always do better. Because we want idaho to be the place where we all can have the opportunity to thrive, where our children and grandchildren choose to stay and for the ones that have left to choose to return. [applause] you the leaders of the state have helped idaho surge ahead of the competition. Of course, of note we are the least regulated state. We are one of the safest states in the union, we rank first for income growth. Idaho is one of the most physically responsible states and recognized for ability to withstand any economic downturn. We are number one for economic momentum, we are top 10 state for the best economy rivalling florida and texas. Florida, texas and idaho are the 3 best states for small business. [applause] and on issues where its important to takehe a stand, ido has led the charge. We are the first state to ban Critical Race Theory in our schools. We are taking a stand and we should not divide our children. We introduced a new history curriculum for idaho schools wasnt that teaches students to appreciate and respect our country. To get more bang for our buck is number one state, we offer to support childrens education outside of the classroom. I will continue to support a fair responsible, transparent and accountable approach to expanding School Choice in idaho, one that doesnt draw any resources away from our Public Schools. Our Academic Freedom protect free supreme in campus while barring dangerous threats against jewish people and we are pushing back on china. I p banned tiktok in State Government to protect our information from the chinese governments sinister motives and idaho land cannot be sold to foreign governments that want to do us harm. We have successfully ended and illegal encampment on public property right across the street from the peoples house seen where drug p use, sexual assaul, violence and destruction of property took place. We are showing left coast states that take advantage of homeless and vulnerable. I was also the first to sign defending integrity in women sports and we will keep up the fight. [applause] [applause] all of the steps have been a collective effort between the executive and legislative branch. Im proud to be a part of it. Folks, what we are doing in idaho ask working. You heard me say it before and i will say it again and again. We are on a tremendous path, powerful trajectory and we need to keep it going. We must continue to lead the nation in fiscal responsibility, tags tax relief and Strategic Investments to keep up with record growth. Well, now that half of oregon wants to be part of idaho im not sure where we would build wthe wall. [laughter] idahos record population growth comes with both opportunities and challenges. But in all seriousenings, i get why people are flocking here from other places. In fact, i can think of 3. 7 billion reasons why people are coming here. E. We are on pace to deliver 3. 7 billion in tax relief and we are not done yet. People are coming here because what we are doing is working. Let me show you some of what weve gotten done together. One of the basic rules of government is s to ensure safety of roads and bridges, continued prosperity of our businesses, including our farmers, ranchers and loggers in real idaho depends on their l ability to gt their products to market. Unwilling to put the time and safety of idahoans and the maintenance of our states roads and bridges in idaho we have taken control of transportation. Providing longterm funding for long term needs. This means we are tackling projects that have been on the wait list for years. Im here to attest to historic investment that the legislature has provided for local and state system. Transportation projects are needs not merely wants working with governor little idt and each of you as members of the legislature we have metrs most f these needs without raising taxes. Lets continue our good work while protecting our loved ones and helping idahos economy to grow. Idaho is working together. Water is foundation of public health. Economic prosperity, outdoor recreation, strong Agricultural Sector and idahoans quality of life. Idaho must maintain water sovereignty. So idahoans have safe water to drink and use. We put the other half of 1 billion to modernize Water Infrastructure statewide much of which is a century old in dire need of replacement or repair. Remade a lot of progress but we still have work to do. And i appreciate all of the partners who continually demonstrate that idaho not the feds can best determine the fateof our water. Theres perhaps no greater responsibility of the state of idaho than providing a strong system of Public Schools forah idaho families. Why . Because one of the duties most plainly written into the Idaho Constitution as elected leaders its not just our constitutional obligation but our moral obligation as well to prioritize and strengthen Public Schools. In 2018i assembled a task force to provide recommendations on what the state of idaho can do better to meet the needs of our Public Schools. In just 5 years, we have delivered. We increased funding forac literacy 500 because theres no better investment in a child than establishing early on the fundamentals of reading. We also provided a record level of flexible funds so local schools can meet local needs and we made teaching professions more competitive by increasing starting teacher pay. We brought idaho up in the bottom ten nationally five years ago toda now the top 10 for starting teacher pay. As state leaders we cannot ignore this fact. Beyond k through 12 education we are taking unprecedented steps to prepare our young people for a lifetime of prosperity. These are goodpaying jobs. That requires specialize training. Our new launch grants cover 80 of the cost. 8,000 to enroll in education or Training Program after high school that aligns with an indemand career. There are hundreds of career paths to choose from. We can train our own kids right lyhere at home. Wesi would never have considered going onto Training Program going after high school. Lets hear from a few of them. I plan to use my idaho launch grant to study welding at college of western idaho. My name is andrew from Timberlake High School and planning to use fund to go to the university of idaho for business and administration. Im so darn proud of all of these kids for taking the initiative to fly for launch. It is a real gamechanger for so many young idahoans. Its how we manage budget. We often talk about kitchentable economics. What does that mean . We live within our means just like any idaho family must. We maintain a structurally balance budget. There arent costs in our budget that we cannot sustain and we pass budgets on time, not the 11th hour Like Congress creating certainty not instability. We have ample money in reserve so that we can weather any economic uncertainty. We make investments where they count and we give back whatever we can to the taxpayers to keep families and businesses thriving. Critical work gets delayed leading to 11th hour bills passed with unrelated policies. Its not the way to do business and i will continue to fight to change that. Practice. Thats just one of many ways that washington, d. C. Needs to be more like idaho. And here is another, the United States carries nearly ce34 trillion in debt and has no meaningful monetary reserves. But thanks to you all, idaho balances its budget annually with responsible levels of reserves in the event of economic downturn. Federal spend asking crippling American Families with high inflation and Unsustainable Energy prices but in idaho leaders are looking for and delivering tax relief while sustaining needs of a growing state. For these and other reasons, many of my congressional colleagues, i am so proud to represent the state and appreciate our common sense approach to budget and governance. Washington, d. C. Can learn from whats right in idaho. Idaho is winning. Russ is right, idaho is r setting the example not just for washington, d. C. But every other state. The Idaho Legislature year after year has stepped up to provide meaningful tax relief. This is not our money. Its yours. We need to understand that, remember it and its because of this and other reasons such as our historic investment in education and roads many people continue to move to idaho who live the kind of life that they are used to be able to live in other parts of the country. What we are doing in idaho is working and we want your help to keep it that way. We are on pace to deploy a total of 3. 7 billion in tax relief. What idaho is doing is working and we are just getting started. [applause] without popcorn. Before we get too far i would like to congratulate the more than 12,500 students who25 appld for launch. Lieutenant governor traveled the state extensively over the past year to visit with many of the students. The entrance in launch far exceeded everyones expectations and we are excited for these young idahoans. To keep that excitement going, every legislature has received in an email right now with information on the students and their districts who applied for launch. Looking ahead go ahead. [applause] looking ahead we have a plan to keep idaho strong. Its called idaho works. What we are doing is working and the results speak for esthemselves. We must never get complacent. Idaho works is about taking and we know what is contributing to tremendous success but not prioritizing but ramping up efforts. We must do so responsibly. We have all seen the trend. The economy is returning to normal and idaho has seen Revenue Growth at prepandemic levels. That means you cant doel it al. This session should be about priorities. We must invest in those matters that are most pressing for idahoans and keep up with the Transportation Needs of a growing state are among the most pressing for our people. Our state, other states think their transportation infrastructure has been solved by onetime federal funds. Idahoans f know, however that we must take control of our own c Transportation Needs. We cannot put the federal government in the drivers seat and we will not raise taxes or fees to clear out our transportation backlog building looff what we have done in recet years so lets go big. Our idaho work plan with 50 million ongoing for additional 800 million in new infrastructure and we can save idahoans their precious time on the road. We will put thele 800 million towards the highest priority that have been in the cue for way too long. Idaho work plan call for repair or placement for last onethird of dilapidated bridges throughout the state. T 900 bridges in idaho are ready to poor or predate the moon landing. We have put 400 million into this effort in the past few years and it is time to buckle up and finish the job. Lets continue to facilitate commerce with added transportation investments especially in rural idaho and remember this is Property Tax Relief too. Lets prior advertise transportation project that will benefit generations of idahoans so we can keep idahoans safe and enjoy more of what we love. [applause] speaking of infrastructure, we put a billion dollars to i improve Water Quality and quantity in recent years and idahos work plan also calls for continued expansion of Water Infrastructure so we can ensure aa stable water supply both during the good water years and the bad ones. This is especially important now we have been blessed with good water years but we may be headed into a prolonged drought again and prudence dictates we prepare. We had quite a scare this year when we discovered in the snake river. Deliver water forlo drinking, energy, agriculture and recreation and costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars annually. The team at the state department of agriculture put 15 years of preparation into action. They deploy treatment plan quickly and effectively to protect our water. Idaho got done in 6 weeks what took other states six months to get done. Thanks, chanel. [applause] we must finish the pipe. Idaho plans to continue states response. We all agree the safety and protection of our children is paramount. Protecting our youth and communities from harm is all our responsibility especially when it comes to the scourge of fentanyl. In the past year idaho began a successful Public Education campaign to reach people in idahos 60 million times inn a few short months and now teens and young adults are more aware of fentanyl, they are more concerned about their peers using it than ever before and importantly theyre talking about it with their friends. [applause] as we march on, weve taken many steps to reduce the supply and distribution of drugs on our streets. Much of our fentanyl battle grew and crimefighting crew that has helped us stay laser focus on strategies to combat the deadly drug and now it is time to expand its focus. In the i coming weeks i will establish the executive order to formally establish operation and im adding another directive for the group to assess the threat of Human Trafficking and our open border. We will work even harder to address the open border and its impact because the failure of the Bidenharris Administration dmto admit its even a problem. Human trafficking is modernday slavery and cartel and other bad actors are taking advantage of our openborder to manipulate and abuse the most vulnerable including children. To help curve Human Trafficking my idaho work plan calls for sending two more teams of state troopers to train and act as force multiplier at lawless southern border as we did with fentanyl twice before. They will come back to idaho with better knowledge to stop perpetrators and as they did before, our troopers will debrief and train Law Enforcement callings all around the state when they return. [applause] our children need our protection in all aspects of life including their personal lives. We know young people today face greater levels of distress and isolation than any other generation before them. To help keep our children well, idaho doubles the funding for school advisers. These are the professionals on the front lines in talking to students about their future as well as their current personal struggles. Idaho works also proposes a new statewide Student Behavioral Health initiative for additional suicide prevention. [applause] we know prevention measures work. Here is an example from juvenile corrections. Over the past five years, even with the growing population the number of juveniles in state custody has dropped by half. This goes to show when we invest in prevention and intervention efforts to support every kids success we improve lives. [applause] and theres more we can do to protect our kids online. Theec dominance of social median the past decade is an obvious reason for the decline in youth mental health. Social media is addict and creates forum for Cyber Bullying and replaces quality with kids friends and loved ones and makes them compare themselves to impossible artificial standards for looks and lifestyles. To that end, im asking my partners in the legislature to pass meaningful reforms this session like legislative bodies in arkansas and utah and other states have done to better protect our children from the harms of social media. And, of course, one subject that has taken the largest share of our attention, Public Education. Together weve improved teachery takehome pay and the improvements are making a difference but we are far from meeting our obligation to maintain a general uniform and thorough system of public free Common Schools as required by the Idaho Constitution. One area in particular needs work and thats School Facilities. Weve all seen the pictures and the videos of some idaho schools neglected, crumbling, leaking, falling apart and in one school i visited raw sewage seeping into a space turned cafeteria. Folks, we can do better. The can we are kicking is getting heavier and we are running out of road. Lets make this priority number one. My idaho work plan proposes proposes the largest investment ever in School Facility construction and maintenance match 2 billion. [applause] not only will we make improvements but get a twofer. 2 billion in longterm property taxx relief. Let me say that again, lets pass 2 billion in longterm Property Tax Relief. [applause] thank you. While other states are digging themselves into record deficits and grabbing another shovel we can invest 2 billion to modernize and improve School Facilities in every district in every corner of the state while delivering, did i mention 2 billion . While delivering another 2 billion in Property Tax Relief to idaho citizens but we must do it right. We must provide Facility Construction and maintenance needs of existing facilities. We should not punish those who have stepped up and invested in their facilities locally nor should we disproportionately reward those communities whoul have chosen not to upkeep their school buildings. We cant wait years or decades. The cost of construction skyrocketing and defer maintenance backlog grows daily. Lets also ensure that we include all Public Schools. My proposal includes record funding for our charter School Facilities also. Lets dedicate the 2 billion in School Facilities now to modernize School Infrastructure and address unmet critical maintenance. [applause] in my speech before you last year i mentioned what one of my friends told me, i used the word historic, its true, when you look back at what we have done over the past sixru years, i cat believe it was ever possible. We made decisions that position our state to propel ahead in our Economic Performance which strategically and thoughtfully deploy relief funds. We balanced the needs of our growing state with returning more money back to the people of idaho than ever before and we did it all while passing a balanced budget every year. [applause] as revenue normalizes from pandemic highs our idaho work plan continues fiscal prudence so that we are ready for any Economic Conditions that might come our way. Idaho work outline it is most fiscally conservative budget since the great depression. It bolsters rainy day funds to the max. It leaves a surplus in both budgeted years for added cushion in case the economy slows. More importantly we are proposing to spend this year than last about 200 million to be exact. Let me repeat that. My idaho budget proposes spending 200 million less this year than last year. [applause] and as i said earlier we are on track to deliver even more property taxe relief this year. Up to 150 million plus 2 million in School Facilities over the next decade. If idaho can do it, washington, d. C. Should do it. To that end, im signing on as a member of the governors debt counsel for budget to the u. S. Constitution. The run away Freight Train for federal spending has got to pestop. Its not right. Its not what thehe founders envisioned for our great country. The u. S. Constitution gives the states the power to propose a balanced Budget Amendment and in the coming weeks i will announce the next steps we will take to force congress to live within the peoples means. [applause] folks, what idaho is doing is working. Theres no need to change course but we must raise the bar and never rest on our laurels. History may not remember our names and faces but we have an opportunity while we are here to create a Lasting Legacy of good government. Id like to end by quoting one of my mentors perhaps not known patience he recounted first week as legislator in this changer and which he reportedly stood and said, mr. Speaker, lets get this show on the road. That, of course, was governor phil, wers lost phil this year, last year. He was the epitome of a public service. His legacy is distinguished by his unrelenting human rights leadership determined fiscal conservatism and enduring love forns idaho. So let me close with an oath to governor and say emphatically lets get the show on the road. Lets get to work for the people of idaho, lets focus on the bia thing and lets all aspire to lead a legacy like governor, a legacy that will outlive us all. God bless idaho. [applause] cspans washington journal live forum involving you discuss the latest issues in government, politics and public policy. From washington, d. C. And across the country coming up thursday morning. Axios political reporter discusses Mitch Mcconnells plan to step down as republican leader. Cspans washington journal join in the conversation live at 7 0n cspan, cspan now, our free mobile app or online at cspan. Org. Thursday on cspan, the u. S. Hoe is back at 10 00 a. M. Eastern for general speeches followed by legislativeusiness at noon eastern. Members are considering legislation to extend government ndg in two stages until march 8th and 22nd to avoid a partial shutdown this coming friday at midnight. Members will also vote to expand faa and will ve on coirmation marjorie rawlins, and on cspan 3 at 10 a. M. Eastn,. S. Defense secretary lloyd austin testifies before the Armed Services committee about failure to alert top officials including President Biden aboutis hospitalization in juary. You can also watch our live coverage on the free cspan video app or online at cspan. Org. Healthy democracy doesnt just look like this, it looks like this where americans can see democracy at work, where citizens are truly informed, a republic thrives, get informed straight from the source on cspan, unfiltered, unbiased word for word from the nations capitol to wherever you because the opinion that matter it is most is this, this is what democracy looks like, cspan powered by cable. And now to oklahoma where republican governor kevin touted his Administration Working making the state, quote, the strongest its ever been. This was the sixth state of state address. This is 45
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