Haley Barbour in 2011 Governor's State of the State speeches


On Abortion: We made MS the safest state for an unborn child

I am proud of Mississippi [on abortion issues]: in 2004, my first year, after we worked together to enact comprehensive pro-life legislation, Americans United for Life, a national right-to-life organization, named Mississippi "the safest state in America for an unborn child."
Source: 2011 Mississippi State of the State Address Jan 11, 2011

On Civil Rights: Proud of MS's highest vote in US for traditional marriage

I am proud that Mississippi cast the highest percentage of its vote of any state in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act, defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman;
Source: 2011 Mississippi State of the State Address Jan 11, 2011

On Crime: $7.3M for state trooper school

To keep law enforcement where we want it, I'm announcing tonight that I will dedicate $7.3 million of the governor's discretionary funds to hold a troopers' school this calendar year. If you will join me in moving motor carrier enforcement from MDOT to the Department of Public Safety, freeing up 40 current highway patrolmen, that would mean nearly 100 more state troopers on the road.
Source: 2011 Mississippi State of the State Address Jan 11, 2011

On Drugs: Fight the scourge of illegal narcotics with a vengeance

In law enforcement, we have fought the scourge of illegal narcotics with a vengeance. In 2005 you passed laws to reduce the production and use of crystal methamphetamine. When the criminals learned how to get around those laws, you made the necessary changes, and they are working. In the first six months of this fiscal year--July 1 to December 31, 2010--68 percent fewer meth labs have been reported; meth arrests are down 62 percent; the number of drug-endangered children has fallen 76 percent.
Source: 2011 Mississippi State of the State Address Jan 11, 2011

On Education: Expand charter schools; expand dual enrollment

Eighty-nine percent of our state's kids go to public schools. To have the kind of workforce to succeed in the 21st century, we start in K-12. Our schools are getting better. Our last NAEP scores were up more than the national average, and the dropout rate is going down. But that improvement is not enough. We need to make dual enrollment easier and more common. The students can learn more, and their parents will save money as college credits are earned while in high school. In constrained budget times we must put more resources into the classroom and reduce what is spent on administration. We must continue to focus on improving the quality of teachers coming out of our colleges of education, while simultaneously using technology more in teaching our kids. Finally, because competition is good in every sphere, I urge you to reform Charter School law so more children can benefit.
Source: 2011 Mississippi State of the State Address Jan 11, 2011

On Tax Reform: Cut budget by $700M, instead of raising taxes

As Governor I have cut the budget by a total of about $700 million in just the last two years. Just as our constituents have cut back, they expect state government to cut back. They know the alternative is raising taxes, because government has no money except what it takes from taxpayers. The people of Mississippi deserve to keep more of what they earn, and we owe it to the people of Mississippi not to raise taxes and to control spending.

Not only do I urge you not to consider tax increases this year I implore you to keep spending at a level this year that protects more of our reserves for next year. That is the way to stop any tax increases in 2012. Remember, what we have accomplished in controlling spending over seven years can be lost in only one year. Our first year you passed and I signed the most comprehensive tort reform law in the country, and it worked.

Source: 2011 Mississippi State of the State Address Jan 11, 2011

The above quotations are from 2011 Governor's State of the State speeches.
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Page last updated: Dec 04, 2018