Bill Walker in 2017 Governor's State of the State speeches

On Budget & Economy: With oil prices low, we have made cuts & must cut more

State revenues are down more than 80% from four years ago. During that period, we've cut the budget 44%. But we still face a $3 billion fiscal gap. Oil prices hover around $50 per barrel. It would take a price of over $100 a barrel for a long period of time to solve our fiscal problem. Or it would require tripling the flow of oil in the pipeline. Neither is expected anytime soon.

Alaska is in the midst of the gravest fiscal crisis in state history. Alaskans made clear that before accepting new revenues, major budget cuts need to be made. My message to Alaskans is this: We heard you, and we have acted. During my tenure, we have cut more than $1.7 billion in unrestricted general fund spending. We have reduced the capital budget by 80%. We are shrinking the footprint of government through shared administrative services, improved technology, and efficiencies.

Source: 2017 State of the State address to Alaska Legislature Jan 18, 2017

On Principles & Values: Cancer survivor after routine prostrate cancer screening

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all who reached out to me following my cancer diagnosis. In October, I received a phone call from my urologist informing me that I had prostate cancer. Following my surgery, I feel incredibly blessed to be a cancer survivor. We've been deeply moved by well wishes and prayers from across the state. I am fortunate that the cancer was diagnosed early through routine screening. I encourage all Alaskans: Please, get recommended screenings. Source: 2017 State of the State address to Alaska Legislature Jan 18, 2017

The above quotations are from 2017 Governor's State of the State speeches. Click here for other excerpts from 2017 Governor's State of the State speeches. Click here for other excerpts by Bill Walker. Click here for other excerpts by other Governors.
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Page last updated: Dec 10, 2018