FRANKFORT (Kentucky Today) – During his annual State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday evening, Gov. Andy Beshear reported, “The state of the Commonwealth remains strong; but our people, our commonwealth and our country are facing serious new challenges, and it’s our job to meet this moment.”
He noted that for the first time in his lifetime, a large portion of the American public is questioning one of the most important foundations of our country: the American Dream.
“As leaders,” he said, “we have a responsibility to reignite and refuel the American Dream. For the sake of future generations, it must burn bright in the minds of our people.”
Beshear stated that the American Dream begins with a job – and that no administration has created more. In the last six years, Beshear said his administration has more than doubled Kentucky’s previous investment record with more than $45 billion in new investment, marking the first-, second-, third- and fifth-biggest years for economic development on record. Team Kentucky has also broken job-creation records, with 68,000 new jobs at the highest three-year average for new wages in our history.
The speech also doubled as his budget address, and Beshear said that to ensure this success continues, the governor’s proposed budget would reinvest in job creation with $70 million for site development, $100 million for infrastructure to support large projects, and $25 million for a rural economic development fund to bring jobs to every part of the state.
He is also proposing a $150 million investment in Kentucky’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Combined with private funding, it will create $1 billion in new housing for Kentuckians across the state.
Beshear also took issue with policies in Washington.
“The impact of the President’s ‘big, ugly bill’ is going to hit Kentucky the hardest. It could close 35 rural hospitals, fire 20,000 health-care workers, and eliminate coverage for 200,000 Kentuckians. That ugly bill? It also cuts nursing scholarships at a time where a shortage threatens the quality of care our families receive. The combination of these federal failures threatens the American Dream with lost jobs, higher costs, shorter lives and longer drives just to see the same doctor. That’s why my budget pushes back, investing in our people and our health care. My budget fully funds Medicaid, even with the increasing cost.”
He also touted his “Pre-K for All” proposal. “Right now, more than half of Kentucky’s kids are showing up to kindergarten already behind. They come to school with fewer vocabulary words. Some don’t know their colors. Others aren’t even potty-trained. Most Kentucky parents can’t afford pre-K. So many of our neighbors want to work but simply can’t find or afford childcare. At a time when things cost too much, pre-K saves parents thousands of dollars every year. And one study shows it boosts parents’ earnings by nearly $9,000 per year for at least six years.”
