Governor lays out plan for strengthening Delaware’s economy, improving public schools and investing in state’s workforce

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney delivered his 2018 State of the State Address on Thursday in the House Chamber at Legislative Hall in Dover, outlining his priorities for strengthening Delaware’s economy, improving Delaware’s public schools, lowering healthcare costs for Delaware businesses and families, improving public safety, and investing in Delaware’s state workforce.

Full text of the speech, as prepared for delivery, is available here.

“We won’t always agree on the solutions, but we can all agree on the goals,” said Governor Carney. “To make our economy stronger. Our healthcare system more effective. Our communities safer. Our state workforce strong and stable. Our children more ready to compete for the future. Working hard and working together, we can and we will get this done.”

Below are highlights from the Governor’s address:

ON EDUCATION:

“Working with you last year, we created the Opportunity Grants program to provide new resources to students who need it most. We reached thousands of students across 13 schools last year. Next week, we will be proposing additional funding for Opportunity Grants that will more than triple the number of schools receiving this support. Schools could use this funding for things like after school programs, reading interventions, or other resources to help students and teachers be successful.”

ON THE BUDGET:

“The budget smoothing task force is considering several good ideas to bring more fiscal discipline to our spending patterns. For the long-term, we need structural spending reform, just as we need structural revenue changes. I want to continue working with the General Assembly – Democrats and Republicans – to do both. And, this is important, we cannot build new ongoing spending on top of one-time revenues. It’s just not responsible, and we can’t allow it, no matter how compelling the cause.”

ON HEALTHCARE:

“Here’s the bottom line. We’re spending too much money on healthcare, and not getting the best results. We all need to come to the table – state government and hospitals most of all – and be part of the solution. The hospitals and other providers have been laying the groundwork for this effort for years. Now it’s time to make the hard decisions, and change the way we deliver healthcare.”

ON THE CITY OF WILMINGTON:

“I firmly believe that the strength of our state lies in the strength of our largest city. But as everyone here knows, we continue to face significant challenges in Wilmington that pose a threat to its long-term success. I’ve called Wilmington home for three decades. Tracey and I raised a family there. And I care deeply about its success. But we all have a stake in helping our city succeed. Its success is closely linked to the success of our state. That’s why, over the past year, Delawareans have seen this administration work with Mayor Purzycki and members of Wilmington City Council to devote unprecedented time and attention to making Wilmington strong again.”

ON WORKPLACE CONDITIONS:

“As part of our focus on improving workplace conditions for state employees, I directed Secretary Johnson to analyze our state’s current sexual harassment policy and training, and to recommend ways to improve it. In the coming weeks we will announce a series of changes to ensure that no state employee is made to feel uncomfortable or threatened at work.”

ON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION:

“We have been working every day since February 2nd to make our prisons safer, and to address the conditions that contributed to that terrible tragedy. Based on the Independent Review Team’s recommendations, we reached an agreement to increase salaries for Delaware’s correctional officers. We have implemented significant investments in equipment, recruitment, technology and training at the Department of Correction. And we’re installing cameras at James T. Vaughn and other correctional facilities as we speak. I made a commitment that the Independent Review report will not collect dust on a shelf. It has not. And it will not.”

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Full text of the speech, as prepared for delivery, is available here.

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