2009 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Families & Children

Brad Henry: Family anchors us and reminds us of what is truly important

We shoulder tremendous responsibilities: to build a first-class education system; to cultivate economic opportunity; to ensure affordable, accessible health care; to nurture a society in which families and individuals can live in safety, peace and prosperity.

The journey toward these goals requires a compass to keep us on a steady course. I am grateful for my own compass: my faithful family. Family anchors us and reminds us of what is truly important and why we chose a path of public service.

Sarah Palin: Caring for special needs kids is part of culture of life

Bobby Jindal: Increase scrutiny & penalties for school child abuse

We will increase penalties for school employees who abuse or neglect special education students--including our deaf and blind students. We must take extra initiative to protect our children--especially when they are entrusted to the care of education professionals when their parents send them to school.

I will support legislation to increase penalties and background checks to make sure predators stay away from our kids--especially in our schools.

Next session, we will also work to take the next step in our involuntary civil commitment pilot program legislation passed last session. We will also work to impose additional penalties when sex offenders fail to submit to electronic monitoring as required by law.