including con cast -- comcast. republican mike person has been governor of missouri since 2018. back in january he gave his final state of the state address before a joint session of the legislature in jefferson city. the governor who is in the final year of his last term highlighted policy achievements and shared his vision for the he touches on several issues including work development, education, infrastructure and the functional crisis. [applause]

[applause]

[applause] if. >> governor, welcome. ladies and gentlemen, help me welcome the 57th governor of the state of missouri, michael l. parson, to the dais. [applause] >> governor, welcome. >> ladies and gentlemen, help me welcome the 57th governor of the state of missouri, michael l parson to the dais. [applause] >> i thought maybe the speaker was going to do this.

all right. first of all, thank you, lieutenant governor, mr. speaker, statewide officials, members of the general assembly, esteemed guests, and it is my honor to welcome for the first time in our state's history, judges of the first-ever female majority supreme court of missouri. [applause] there's another person i want to recognize today that i normally don't do, but i'm going to do it very quickly. it is a gentleman that has been doing this job for 20 years there is a another person i want to recognize today that i normally don't do but i will do very quickly. it is a gentleman that has been doing this job for 20 years making sure these teleprompters worked correctly.

todd mayfield is doing his 20th session here in the state of missouri. todd, thank you. [applause] well, to say the least it is an honor to be joined by the first lady as i welcome to the dais for the final time as the 57th governor of the great state of missouri. during our time as governor, we have accomplished more than any of us probably thought was possible. i would not be standing here today without my support system, my family. that is where i want to start today. first and foremost, the first lady. teresa has been by my side every step of the way. after 38 years of marriage, i

would not be the husband, father, gramps, or governor i am today without her. thank you for serving in a role you never asked for but do it each and every day with grace, passion, commitment to best serve the people of missouri. ladies and gentlemen, the first lady of the state of missouri. [applause] blessed people in the world to have the family i there is another group of h people with me today. it is my family. i am one of the most blessed people in the world to have the family i have and for all of them to be here. it really started with my son and daughter years ago. it really made me a better

person having them come into my life. they are both here today with us . naturally they are the ones that have all my grandkids. i just cannot say enough how much my children of men to me in my life and my grandkids. most of them are here today but i have what i want to give a shout out to. it is his first public event at the ripe age of six months. he is with us here today for the first time and also i have another great-grandchild on the way that is here. brothers are here. i have nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers. my family are here but i tell you, there are two things i know in life that are important. that is god almighty and my family. if you are here today would you please recognize my family and show them your appreciation. please rise. [applause] and and missourianss

this state, my faith, family and the next generations are the driving force behind the like the legislators in this room and missourians across the state, my faith, family and the next generations are the driving force behind the change we have made a missouri. last year when i stood before you i highlighted many of our historic achievements we have accomplished together. as we laid out bold and historic proposals i declared that this governor, this dad, this gramps, is not done yet. i tell you, we are not done yet. well that is still true, i am here to tell you we are getting

close. after serving six sessions in the house, six sessions in the senate, two sessions as lieutenant governor and now my sixth and final session as your 57th governor, i am expected to say this is a bittersweet moment. while the view from this dais facing all of you is a fine sight to see, but it is no comparison to the view of that polk county farm in the windshield of my john deere tractor her. [applause] but look, i promise i will think of all of you occasionally . in all seriousness, i will be leaving here with my head held high. because like many of you

who came here for the right reasons, we never wavered from those wise words on our capitol and inscribed on the state seal let these people be the supreme law. in every decision we make and the ability for them to achieve their american dream. in every decision we must put people first. easy said, hard to do. it is a simple idea that has been our guiding principle since the very beginning. that is our final commitment to you. until our final day we will continue to put people first. [applause]

when i became governor missouri was tired of the turmoil, political and fidelity and self- involved personalities. when i first stepped into the governor's office amidst the thousands of camera clicks hundreds of shouting questions and countless state, local, and national media we closed the chatter on scandal and began a new direction because there was no turning back. we declared a fresh start. we committed to ensure the next generations have their opportunity. we promise the return of integrity to state government. above all, we promise to return people first mentality. today, i firmly believe we have

done just that. [applause] every year we have approved balance budgets. we have maintained our aaa credit rating and we have always left funds on the bottom line. actually with the budget we outlined today, we will leave office with over $1.5 billion on the bottom line which has never been done before in our state's history. we are also pleased to report that we have paid down missouri debt by over $600 million.

leaving the state with 53% less debt than when we started. that is quite the contrast compared to what we see happening in washington, d.c.. in missouri, we do not leave future generations to pick up the tab. we pay our bills and put people first. working with all of you, balanced and conservative budgets have always been the norm, never the exception. we have always been more interested in giving back your hard-earned dollars rather than spending. in turn, that creates jobs, business growth, and increased revenue to the state. in fact, state revenue has increased 40% since 2018. with a significant growth

coming from sales revenue. not income tax, not corporate tax, and not fuel taxes but from revenue created by missourians spending their own money not government brokers. one of the huge factors is that three separate tax cuts we approved including the largest in our state history. we have decreased missouri and tax burdens by over 20% unleashing powerhouse in the state of missouri. [ applause ] when i became governor, we were ranked 42nd for gdp growth and last among our midwest neighbors. today we are ranked 23rd in the nation and top-five in the

midwest for gdp growth. that is a real reckoning here in jeff city. that is not all talk and hot air, that is a true reckoning of growth of this administration and state government. [ applause ] that is their leadership creating a real formula for success. that is something all of us should celebrate in this chamber. overall, missouri now has the 13th the lowest tax burden of any state in the nation. under our administration, our unemployment rate fell to 2.1%, the lowest rate ever recorded in state history. actually, it has been so low that our problem is not

creating jobs, but filling jobs. since becoming governor, we have added more than 110,000 jobs to our economy and closed out the year ranked 15th nationally for job creations. today as i stand before you for the final time, as the 57th governor, i declare that the state of our state is stronger than it has ever been. [ applause ] we have done it all by putting people first. that started with state government. nothing we do in this room is possible without the dedicated public servants across the state to implement these ideas. when i became governor, state

government was quickly becoming underappreciated, understaffed, and underpaid. that is why we approved three historic pay increases to a recruit and retain quality talent across state government, raising team member pay by over 20% since 2018. let me just say, the investment in our state employees has been worth every penny. [ applause ] and that's why this year we are proposing an additional 3.2% cost of living increase for all of our state employees. if. that is why this year we are proposing an additional 3.2% cost-of-living increase for all of our state employees. [ applause ]

and representing our more than 47,000 state team members here today is my cabinet. through every crisis i tur representing are more than 47,000 state team members here today is my cabinet. through every crisis i turned to my cabinet and their teams, not the federal government, and i have always maintained that the answers to our problems are in this state and among the people. if we just allow ourselves to put egos and self-importance to the side and just listen, and while they may have already been recognized, i want to ask my cabinet to stand with me for one last time. i always say that being a good leader is not about being the best, but it is making those

around you better. today i thank you and your team for proving that to be true. [ applause ] putting people first is something we implemented across state government. we set the example from the governor's office. from the start, we got straight to work. we completed the largest deregulation effort in state history, eliminating nearly one out of every five state regulations. entering covid-19 we waived over 600 more regulations. by working with the general assembly, we have made many of

these changes permanent in statute and approved the regulatory environment in missouri. to be honest with you, many of these rules and laws should have never existed in the first place. [ applause ] when i became governor, we also inherited nearly 4,000 pending clemency applications. when i i became governor, we al inherited nearly 4000 pending clemency applications. i am a law and order governor. 4000 people in limbo waiting for an answer is not how we do good business. whether we approve or deny, we should provide answers. today i

am proud to announce that the clemency backlog we inherited has been totally cleared for the first time in decades. [ applause ] but as a former sheriff, this reform did not mean we were letting people out of prison or forgiving violent criminals. we pardons people who deserved it. people who had truly turned their lives around. people like kenny batson, who joins us here today. in his youth, kenny was drinking, getting in fights, and found himself on the wrong side of the law. but today he has turned his life completely around. kenny is a proud husband and father of three kids. he earned

both a bachelors degree and masters degree, and he has been a pastor for more than 20 years, including service as a hospice chaplain. he and others like him may have made mistakes when they were young, but he earned a second chance. please join me in recognizing kenny batson. [ applause ] another way our office has been able to capitalize on historic opportunity is appointing over 155 missouri judges and 3 supreme court another way our office has been able to capitalize on historic opportunities is appointing over 155 missouri judges and three supreme court judges. that means more than 40% of the judiciary has been appointed by

our administration. that is more appointments than any governor in state history. by focusing on core conservative values, we have truly reshaped judiciary for generations to come and guaranteed a judiciary that upholds the law and not the politics of the moment. [ applause ] additionally, but in the people of missouri first, our office put politics aside and appointed five strong statewide officeholders, which has never happened before in our state's history. lieutenant governor kehoe, attorney general bailey, auditor fitzpatrick, treasurer vivek malek, and senator smith.

i think all of you -- thank all of you for answering the call to serve missourians. i trust you will never quit on the people of the great state of missouri. [ applause ] today i want to highlight another one of our quality appointments circuit attorney gave. we did not pick him because of his politics. as a matter of fact, we never even asked. it was because he clearly cared for the people of st. louis. he valued strong communities, fighting crime, returning law and order, and putting people first. the level of

professionalism between the circuit attorney's office, the metro police, the courts, the attorney general's office and our office is greater that -- than i have ever experienced. please join me in recognizing st. louis circuit attorney gave core. [ applause ] missouri's 57th governor, i hope it's our work force development infrastructure accomplishments that stand when the history books tell the story of missouri's 57th governor, i hope our workforce development accomplishments stand out. this year, as we propose our final priorities as governor, there is no turning back. we know that guaranteeing missouri app a strong foundation starts with a

quality education in our children. this year we will once again fully fund the k-12 foundation formula with an additional $121 million over last year's letter level, and we will also fully fund transportation across the state of missouri. [ applause ] in total, our administration has increased funding for k-12 education by $700 million since in total our administration has increased funding for k-12 education by $700 million since 2018. i will note that is all state funding, not the federal government, and that at the same time our administration and this general assembly took the first step towards school

choice for more missouri families through our education savings account program, and whether it is public, private, charter or christian, we don't care where missourians are getting a quality education as long as they get one. [ applause ] this year to do our part on teacher pay we're including funding to increase teacher pay baseline, increase teacher this year, to do our part on teacher pay, we are including funding to increase teacher pay baseline, increase baseline pay, to $40,000 per year. this represents a $15,000 increase for teacher pay during our administration. we are also recommending $6

millio [ applause ] we are also recommending $6 million for career ladder. together these programs have benefited tens of thousands of teachers in every corner across our state. we have also made historic investments in missouri's higher education. we have increased higher education funding by 24%. we have invested over $1 billion in state-of-the-art capital improvements and upgrades on our college campuses. the budget this year included another 3% core increase for our four-year institutions and community colleges. and $54 million for the workforce training program on our college campuses. [ applause ]

when i graduated high school, i went straight into the work force and joined the united states army. and for me, there was no turning when i graduated high school, i went straight into the workforce and joined the united states army. for me, there was no turning back. my path is similar to many missourians. nearly 60% of our workforce don't have college degrees. that is okay, because we all know it doesn't take a college education to be successful. since 2018 we have helped establish, upgrade and transform 57 career and technical educations and institutions across our state. more of our young people are earning a quality skill, a certificate or credential that will help secure them a good paying job

without a college degree. [ applause ] them secure the skills they need to succeed. since its upgrade in we are also up skilling the current workforce and helping them secure the skills they need to succeed. since its upgrade in 2019, missouri one start has helped trained -- tray more than 173,000 workers. additionally, since its creation, our fast track program has benefited over 1700 students with more than 55% going into healthcare. ladies, listen up. more than two thirds of that being women. [ applause ]

we have also made tremendous progress by prioritizing apprenticeships in the state for joining us today are some of the individuals who have benefited from our historic support. in the upper gallery we have isaac level from four rivers career center. kayla putnam, a partnership an army reservist from springfield, and ricky, a trucking apprenticeship from pleasant hill. i firmly believe that with hard work, determination and a skill of some kind, anyone can achieve the american dream. these individuals are proving it . please join me in recognizing these hard-working folks and others like them across the state. [ applause ] this group, represents just a sample of the more than 57000

new apprenticeships we have added since becoming governor. under our administration nearly apprenticeship activity in missouri has grown by one this group represents just a sample of the more than 57,000 new apprenticeships we have added since becoming governor. under our administration, yearly apprenticeship activity in missouri has grown by 100%. that is why this year we are including another $3 million investment to support even more youth apprenticeship opportunities. as you can see, these targeted investments truly make a difference in the lives of missourians. thanks to our past efforts, i am proud to report that missouri is ranked second in the united states of america for apprenticeship, and that is something we should all be proud of. [ applause ] like any child in this state we

rise to it. we do not hide from it. this year we are investing another $10 million like any challenge in this state, we rise to it. we don't hide from it. this year we're also investing another $10 million for advanced semiconductor research , development and skills training, as well as nearly $7 million to support critical mineral development in missouri. missouri ranks fourth in the nation for new manufacturing when it comes to semiconductors and critical minerals. we can lead, and we will lead, to ensure we never have to rely on nations like china again. [ applause ] another focus in the workforce development arena that the first lady and i are especially proud

of his another focus in the workforce development arena that the first lady and i are especially proud of is jagged missouri. include students who may be struggling academically and may have found themselves in some trouble or are high risk. when we first began jag initiative back in the lieutenant governor days, jag was supporting just six programs and serving 225 students. today jag missouri supports 112 programs and serves more than 4000 missouri students with a high school graduation rate of 98%. [ applause ] [applause] and that is thanks in large part to the first lady for taking

this program under her wing. in the upper gallery we have current and former jagged students joining us today that is thanks, in large part, to the first lady for taking this program under her wing. in the upper gallery we have current and former jag students joining us today. thanks to jag, the students are well on their way , whether that is college, the military or straight into the workforce. with your help, we can support this life-changing program with an investment of $3.8 million, but if you choose not to stand by the students in the upper gallery of the thousands like them across the state, it won't be me you have to answer to, but the first later herself. please join me in giving these students a specialist here today around of applause. [ applause ]

[applause] when it comes to preparing missourians for the workforce we know we are on solid ground. the biggest thing is we can when it comes to preparing missourians for the workforce, we know we are on solid ground . the biggest thing we can do is simply continue, but today our state is in critical need of quality early learning programs. business leaders estimate that the lack of early learning programs is costing our state over $1 billion annually and over 85% of missourians believe early childhood learning supports a child's success, parent's success and business success. but today we only have the capacity to serve just 39% of missouri's children in licensed

facilities. it is time for change. this year, along with senator arthur and representative shields, we are again proposing three new childcare tax credit programs. these programs will help improve access and affordability for families seeking childcare across the state of missouri. additionally, we are continuing funding for the expansion of prekindergarten programs. these are commonsense measures that are good for business, great for families and best for our missouri children. joining us today, catherine and her child theo, utilize the missouri childcare subsidies. catherine still finds it difficult to find quality childcare. catherine is a full-time nursing student that uses area colleges early learning

programs. without help, she's not sure she can afford or find care for theo. catherine only wants the best possible education for theo. something i think we can all agree on. that should be the minimum for every child in missouri. that is why this year we are proposing a $52 million investment in missouri's childcare subsidy program to make sure infants, toddlers and children like theo can receive the quality care they need and deserve. please join me in welcoming catherine, theo and the program director. [ applause ] another issue affecting missouri children is a fentanyl crisis. drugs pouring into our

another issue affecting missouri children is a sentinel crisis. drugs pouring into our country through the southern border is devastating missouri families. last year dozens of missouri children were lost due to fentanyl exposure. i will say that one more time. they were lost to fentanyl exposure. they did not use it or do anything, they were just exposed to it and lost their lives. this year, alongside senator thompson and representative parker, we are proposing legislation that guarantees stricter punishments for exposing children and minors to fentanyl. the sentinel crisis is here and tearing families and communities apart. children dying from fentanyl is 100% preventable. wall president biden in the federal government fail to do

their jobs by securing our southern border, missouri will act. [ applause ] are also protecting missouri children and our note most vulnerable a we enare also protecting missou children and are most vulnerable by supporting attorney general andrew bailey 's to find, prosecute and prosecute and punish human traffickers in the state of missouri. together these initiatives are not only pro-children and profamily, but pro-life as well. [ applause ] speaking of pro-life, i want to

take this opportunity to highlight this historic success speaking of pro-life, i want t take this opportunity to highlight our historic success in missouri's fight for life. when i came to jefferson city, nearly 8000 elective abortions were performed annually in missouri. as i stand before you today, i am proud to report that number is zero. [ applause ] . [applause] . [applause]

[applause] now, another priority for this administration roads, bridges and missouri's infrastructure another priority of this administration, roads, bridges and the missouri infrastructure. wall roads and bridge repair might not be the most exciting topic, it is the one that impacts all missourians the most. infrastructure was one of the first major initiatives we took on. 5 1/2 years ago working with all of you we set out to repair and replace 200 50 -- 250 bridges. for the first time in our state

history we leverage general revenue and bonding authority to fund our focus on bridges program. the way in which we created this program allowed us to pull down additional funds to not only repair 250 overlooked and crumbling missouri bridges, but it freed up additional resources for major projects like the buck o'neil bridge, the 270 north and the new bridge. many doubted it would ever happen, but as i stand before you today, i say, mission accomplished. focus on bridges is complete. finish. by this time next year, we fully expect the bridges to be completed as promised. [ applause ] [applause] we truly believe our focus on the bridge program will be our model moving forward. although focus was in the name

does not mean eve we truly believe that our focus on bridge program will be the model moving forward because, although the focus was in the name, it doesn't mean everything else stopped. in total, under our administration, we have repaired or replaced over 1000 bridges across our state. we have repaired nearly 17,000 miles of missouri roadway in five short years. that is about 50% of all of missouri's entire highway system that his been replaced or repaired. i will remind you that we have the seventh-largest system in the nation. ask for rural missouri, with an unprecedented funding of $200 million, nearly 2000 miles of roads have been completed. [ applause ]

when i became governor, our statewide transit rotation across the entire state but it $2.5 billion. today we are when i became governor our statewide transportation improvement program for infrastructure projects across the entire state stood at $2.5 million. today it is funded at nearly $14 billion. joining us today in the upper gallery are the men and women who are making it all happen. each of these eight men and women represent over 130 years of experience, and the more the 4600 d.o.t. employees across our state. under our administration, we have kept this group busy. please join me in recognizing their contributions to our state. [ applause ]

the expansion of i-70 has been that talked about in this building for decades. decades of hot air. decades of passing the buck. the expansion of i-somebody has been talked about in this building for decades. decades of hot air, decades of passing the buck. under our administration and this general assembly and the leadership of lincoln huff, decades of inaction has turned into action, and this summer construction on i-70 is set to begin in columbia, and from there, let's just say there is no turning back. [ applause ] it is the strategic way we chose to fund i-70 that i bring up the project today.

with the smart use of our resources efficient and it is the strategic way and how we chose to fund i-70 that i bring up the project today. with the smart use of our resources and efficient and effective work, we are projecting completion not only on time, but with savings too. two days ago we received more great news from congressman graves that we will be receiving over $90 million in additional funds to put towards projects on i-70. [ applause ] [applause] with those of savings in these additional funds today we are seeing our recom with those savings and these additional funds today we are announcing our recommendation

to establish the i-44 improvement fund. this fund will build on the nearly 1 of the $50 million already included. that's right, we are is just laying the foundation to expand one interstate, but two interstates. [ applause ] that all sounds good that i have more. today we are also ranked second in the united states that all sounds good, but i have more. today we're also ranked second in the united states for capital and bridge projects. ninth for improving rural roads and 11th for the cost- effectiveness and conditions of our roadways. another important piece of infrastructure is broadband.

working with you, our administration has invested over $400 million towards broadband expansion, making tens of thousands of homes, businesses and farm connections across the state. thanks to these efforts, and now another one $.7 million, to our state or federal funds the former senator blunt help to secure, we believe that in the next five years the digital divide in missouri will be closed once and for all. [ applause ] in less than six

years we have accomplished more than most governors are in eight years. i will remind you we did it all while challenge with some of the most unprecedented events in our state's history. whether it was the duck boat crisis, floods, droughts, tornadoes, civil unrest, train derailments, or in 2020, when a global pandemic came knocking at our doors, a crisis that came with no roadmap or playbook , we never backed down or pass the buck. were there critics? sure. but critics are a dime a dozen. one thing i have learned in life , you will never be criticized by someone doing more than you. it is always the person doing less who makes the most noise. [ applause ] ever stubborn for te of missouri.ever stubborn for te

and for all of my like-minded colleagues who stood with me, draw the criticism, we never on stopped working for the people of missouri. for all my like-minded colleagues who stood with me, fought alongside me, and you came here to be good public servants and put people first, i want you to listen closely, because these are your wins too. together we have reshaped our supreme court and judiciary as a whole. we have protected the second amendment rights of a focus on law and order and safeguarded the landmark doctrine. mufasa fight for life and reduce the number of abortions in our state from 8000 annually to zero. we have streamlined state agencies, supported our team

members, and reduce the size of state government. we built over 1000 bridges, repaired 50% of our entire highway system and crafted lasting partnerships. we have cut through nearly 20% of the regulations on the books and made state government more efficient and effective while unleashing an economic development. we have maintained our aaa credit rating and achieve the lowest unemployment ever recorded in state history. we have paid our bills. we have left the state of missouri with 50% less debt than we started. we left over $1 billion on the bottom line. we have created over 110,000 jobs and brought 14.$5 billion in new business investments. we have cut taxes three times and reduced income tax burdens by over 20% with the largest

income tax cut in our state's history. no one, i mean no one, has gone to bat for the people of missouri like this administration and you, and today we have won. [ applause ] [applause] as i begin to wrap up here. i want to recognize of the group of special people who helped us make it all as i begin to wrap up here, i want to recognize another group of special people who helped us make it all happen. these individuals are truly the best of the best. i could not have asked for better people to serve with in the office of governor. with 6 million missourians across our state . they are often overlooked and overworked

, but their impact on the state is beyond measure. we have taken on challenges that no one could ever imagine. they never complained, they never gave up, and above all, they believed. they believed in the mission. they believed in our people. and they believed in the extraordinary capabilities of missourians to achieve an even better tomorrow. i am filled with pride that we have public servants of such caliber serving our great state. as the sun begins to set on my public service career, i know their talents will continue benefiting missourians today, tomorrow and years to come. to the most loyal and hard- working people i have ever had the honor of working alongside, from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of this entire state,

i say thank you with the members of my staff, both past and present, please stand to be recognized. [ applause ] >> is a final message to this body i'm reminded of an old saying. society grows great when old m as a final message to this body, i am reminded of an old saying, a society grows great when men and women plant trees. the shade of which they know they will never sit in. to summarize, it is all about putting people first. ladies and gentlemen, that has been the focus of this administration. we are planted the seeds today for better missouri tomorrow.

the first lady and i may never be able to fully realize the work we have done here alongside of all of you. but that was never the purpose in the first place. the point is that all of our kids and grandkids across the state will. with faith, family and freedom at the forefront, honoring the constitution and leading with the ideas of the declaration of independence, putting people first, that is what leadership has been to us. in missouri our economy is strong. our democracy is strong. our people are strong. we can keep it that way if we continue to put people first. [ applause ] me and place their confidence in me. my team put missourians took a chance onme

and placed their confidence in me, and my team, to put the people of the state first. you gave me the largest victory margin of any republican governor in modern history. i will forever be grateful. when i got the call to become governor, my big brother told me , little brother, you come back home the same way you are leaving here today with her head held high. i will be keeping that promise, the first lady and i will return to the farm with our heads held high. if we are honored enough to be considered by missourians as a pretty good governor, a decent guy, someone who never forgot where he came from, then it will all be worth it.

words cannot express the sincere appreciation i have for this state and our people. for one final time before this chamber today i simply say to the more than 6 million missourians who i've had the absolute privilege of serving, it has truly been the honor of my life to be your 57th governor of the great state of missouri. god bless you, god bless missouri, and god bless the united states of america. thank you. [ applause ] [applause] [applause]

you say i'm over the hill --