PROVIDENCE, RI - Governor Gina M. Raimondo will deliver her annual State of the State address tonight at 7:00 p.m. The primary focus of her speech will be on Rhode Island's future, and she will present a long-term view for our schools and our economy. In advance of the speech, the Governor Communications Office is releasing these excerpts from the prepared text.
The complete text of the Governor's speech -- as prepared for delivery -- will be released at 7:01pm this evening.
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"When we began our work together four years ago, Rhode Island was stuck -- and everybody knew it. Our unemployment rate was among the nation's highest, schools were crumbling, and our roads were ranked the worst in the country. Rhode Island is a small and connected state so we all knew someone who was out of work. The struggle was everywhere you looked. "After spending so much time talking with so many people who had been out of work, some for over a year, I vowed to be the Governor who would get Rhode Island back to work. Rhode Island is a place where people have always taken pride in our work and we're proud to call Rhode Island home. So together, we shook up the old ways of doing things, and brought the change needed to get back on our feet again -- and to create jobs and build a bright future for our children."
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"Cynicism has long been one of our worst enemies, and I'm proud that we've stood strong against cynicism. I'm even prouder of the results."
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"To ensure every child is set up for success, we need to start before they get to kindergarten. Kids who go to high-quality preschool are more likely to graduate high school, more likely to get a good job and keep a good job, and less likely to commit a crime. Investments in Pre-K can save us money in the long-run because more Rhode Islanders will enjoy the economic benefits of a fulfilling life with a good job. In my first term, we tripled the number of Pre-K classes and expanded all-day kindergarten to every district in the state, giving thousands of our littlest learners the right start in life. It's time to do more."
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"No one who works full time should live in poverty. Work should have dignity, it should provide stability, it should give purpose."
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"There is nothing more important to the future of Rhode Island -- to the economic security of our friends and our family -- than making sure that everybody has the credential or degree they need to get a good job in today's economy. The most important factor businesses today look at when they expand is the education and talent level of the local workforce."
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"Tuition-free community college is one of the lowest-cost, highest-impact investments the State of Rhode Island has ever made."
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"If we fail to protect health care, our economic recovery will be on life support."
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