RUTH ANN MINNER

Another challenging issue facing our correctional system is the delivery of adequate health care services. As you know, the inmate population is very difficult to serve. Often people who arrive at our institutions have high health risk factors and have long neglected medical conditions.

Benjamin Franklin said there were only two things certain in life: death and taxes. But I'd like to add a third certainty: trash. And while some in this room might want to discuss reducing taxes, I want to talk about reducing trash.

So I promise you that this State of the State, like a good pizza, will be delivered in 25 minutes or less.

Our promise to our children should be this: if you do well in school, we will pay for you to obtain a college degree.

Our world and our state have been transformed, but, in contrast, we as people have not been.

Increasing recycling in Delaware is an idea whose time has come and, if put off, may not come again.

Our financial services and insurance cluster is one of Delaware's key economic drivers in the state.

This independent report clearly indicates that while we may differ among ourselves in government about what to spend money on, we have one of the most reliable and non-political processes for agreeing on how much money there is. We don't play games with the numbers.

Medicaid provides health care to our neediest citizens. While other states have had to cut Medicaid rolls and benefits already, Delaware has not. But the President's proposed budget would shift tens of millions of dollars of cost to the states, raising the real possibility of program cuts.

I have said it often and I will say it again: I believe you learn to read when you are young, then read to learn for the rest of your life.

Our world and our state have been transformed, but, in contrast, we as people have not been.

Increasing recycling in Delaware is an idea whose time has come and, if put off, may not come again.

So I promise you that this State of the State, like a good pizza, will be delivered in 25 minutes or less.

Our promise to our children should be this: if you do well in school, we will pay for you to obtain a college degree.

I have said it often and I will say it again: I believe you learn to read when you are young, then read to learn for the rest of your life.

Benjamin Franklin said there were only two things certain in life: death and taxes. But I'd like to add a third certainty: trash. And while some in this room might want to discuss reducing taxes, I want to talk about reducing trash.

This independent report clearly indicates that while we may differ among ourselves in government about what to spend money on, we have one of the most reliable and non-political processes for agreeing on how much money there is. We don't play games with the numbers.

Our financial services and insurance cluster is one of Delaware's key economic drivers in the state.

Another challenging issue facing our correctional system is the delivery of adequate health care services. As you know, the inmate population is very difficult to serve. Often people who arrive at our institutions have high health risk factors and have long neglected medical conditions.

Medicaid provides health care to our neediest citizens. While other states have had to cut Medicaid rolls and benefits already, Delaware has not. But the President's proposed budget would shift tens of millions of dollars of cost to the states, raising the real possibility of program cuts.