Sam Brownback in 2017 Governor's State of the State speeches

On Budget & Economy: The days of "tax first, cut never" have come to an end

• Balanced in that it reconciles spending with available revenue.
• Balanced in that it adequately supports the core functions of state government, while finding necessary efficiencies.
• Balanced in that it addresses both sides of the ledger, revenue and expenditure.

On Education: TeachersKan: scholarship program for Kansas college students

Across the nation there is a growing demand for teachers. We must recruit talented educators to come to Kansas, but outdated regulations sometimes prevent this. Simple reforms in the teacher certification system can create a pathway bringing more teachers to Kansas.

We also have a responsibility to build up the next generation of educators. College costs can make this difficult. That is why I've announced the launch of TeachersKan, a new scholarship program for Kansas college students. If you are a successful Kansas student and commit to teaching in a hard to fill discipline or underserved community, we will help equip you to become a teacher of tomorrow.

On Health Care: Refusing ObamaCare like declining a discount on the Titanic

Of the 23 state exchanges established under ObamaCare, a majority have failed, at a cost of billions including significant hits to state budgets. As major insurers abandon the few remaining state exchanges, the decision to refuse early adoption looks increasingly like declining a discount ticket on the Titanic.

The same holds true for the policy choice not to take the bait on Medicaid expansion. You've heard the promise--hundreds of thousands more beneficiaries at zero cost to the state--all paid for with 'free' federal money. It would be foolish to endorse the ObamaCare expansion of Medicaid now--akin to airlifting on to the Titanic. Kansas was right. Kansas should stay the course.