April 28, 2009

Markell Unveils Plan to Restore State’s CORE Prosperity During First Joint Address to the General Assembly

Speech Details Economic Recovery Agenda; Link Between Environment and Economy; Government Reform Efforts; Improvements in Education and the Critical Need to Balance the Budget

DOVER – In his first Joint Address to the Delaware General Assembly, Governor Jack Markell today unveiled an agenda focused on solving the state’s historic shortfall and getting Delawareans back to work to ensure the state’s long-term prosperity.

“I understand how significant the tasks before us may seem. It’s as if our ship of state is stuck in the middle of a financial storm and it seems the only option available is to keep busy bailing us out.  But bailing out without sailing ahead is not a long-term solution.  It is not our solution,” Markell said. The Governor used the speech to outline answers to several critical issues facing the state, including:

• A stronger economy – Markell unveiled his Creation of Real Economic (CORE) Prosperity agenda, which includes

o Career Readiness

o Quick Start / Rapid Response Training Program
Small Business LIFT

o Statewide Business License

o The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act of 2009

• Getting the state’s fiscal house in order. The first step is to balance the state’s budget by June 30th, including the passage of the Sports Lottery package, which would bring in $55M in new revenue towards the state’s $780M shortfall.

o Making government more efficient, effective and accountable.

o Prioritizing community and home-based care for Delaware’s growing number of senior citizens instead of making institutional care the first choice.

o Cutting administrative costs in education, consolidating administrative services across districts to move dollars from the back room to the classroom.

o Reforming Delaware’s education system to ensure students learn to the best of their ability.

“By taking decisive action in the coming years, we will look back at this as the time when we laid the foundation for decades of economic growth and a clean environment,” Markell said.  “We will be able to look ahead with pride and know that our collective efforts have paid dividends for our children and grandchildren and will continue to do so for generations to come.”

The complete text of the Governor’s first joint address to the General Assembly is available at Let's Get to Work: An Agenda for Economic Recovery, Government Reform, Improvements in Education Excellence & A Balanced Budget