Governor Touts Job Creation, Education

Governor Steve Beshear just issued this press release:

FRANKFORT, Ky. – In his third State of the Commonwealth address, Gov. Steve Beshear reminded legislators of their bipartisan successes in job creation, education and budget balancing -- despite a plodding economy and dismal budget outlook. He asked legislators to come together again to solve the state’s worst budget forecast in generations.

“With a mindset of cooperation, we’ve made government work again for the people,” said Gov. Beshear. “I pledge to Kentuckians from west to east that I will continue to operate with this spirit of cooperation.”

Gov. Beshear pointed to the successful overhaul of the economic incentives program, changes to the pension system, and the protection of the main K-12 education funding formula (SEEK) as examples of what state government can accomplish when leaders set aside political differences.

“In these troubled times, Kentuckians need hope, and they need help,” Gov. Beshear said. “I refuse to use this recession as an excuse not to move forward.”

The governor outlined four goals to help the state survive the recession and position it for future success: creating and maintaining jobs, supporting families through the recession, attacking systemic problems hindering state progress, and making state government more efficient and transparent.

• Create and maintain jobs
  Gov. Beshear touted the success of the bipartisan overhaul of the state’s tax incentive programs, which streamlined and modernized business development incentives. The new program, Incentives for a New Kentucky, allows existing businesses to take advantage of tax incentives to reinvest and create new jobs. In November alone, businesses applied for incentives that would create 1,100 jobs and maintain another 1,400. Strategic application of federal stimulus dollars saved another 4,200 jobs in the state.


• Support families through recession
  Gov. Beshear worked to secure expanded unemployment insurance benefits for those out of work, used federal stimulus funds to fully fund healthcare benefits for the most vulnerable in the Medicaid program and began a $2.9 million overhaul of the food stamp program to get aid to families more quickly. An initiative to register more children for health insurance led to health coverage for 36,000 children through the Kentucky’s Children Health Insurance Program (KCHIP). And he helped needy Kentuckians secure $17 million worth of prescription drugs by improving access to low-cost or free drug programs.


• Attack systemic problems hindering state progress
  The Governor said that protecting the SEEK formula, the main funding mechanism for K-12 education, has been one of his proudest achievements to date. Gov. Beshear said he plans to do “everything humanly possible” to protect education funding. He also outlined several legislative priorities to attack systemic long-term problems facing Kentucky, including:
  
  • raising the allowable high school dropout age;
  • simplifying the transfer of credits among community colleges and four-year institutions;
  • increasing funds for smoking cessation; and
  • increasing accessibility to KCHIP, the health insurance program for children.


• Make government lean, efficient and open
  Gov. Beshear thanked legislators for their assistance in continuing to balance the state budget while preserving key areas of education, health care and public safety. Since taking office, Gov. Beshear has cut the budget six times, reducing spending by approximately $900 million and shrinking the executive branch to its smallest size in two decades. Next week, the Governor will unveil a new series of efficiency measures designed to continue ensuring every tax dollar is wisely spent.

“We are living in historic times, and this recession has shaken the confidence of many,” Gov. Beshear said. “But out of adversity can come opportunity, and that opportunity is ours to seize.”