Gov. Kay Ivey calls for employee pay raises, rural investments in State of State
Using a phrase deployed frequently over the past nine months, Ivey reviewed her work of "righting the ship of state" following the departure of former Gov.
"Despite our differences, despite our varying viewpoints, despite party labels, I sincerely believe we all have one common goal -- to each play our part in making
The speech -- notably nonpartisan and noncontroversial -- reflected what analysts say will be one of the best budget pictures in recent state history and a desire from state legislators to avoid controversy after a wrenching series of leadership scandals over the past four years.
"That would be my plan," said House Speaker
Like her predecessors, Ivey tended to shy away from details of her policy proposals. The governor did not, for instance, provide a specific number on the size of the pay raises she sought, though a budget presentation earlier on Tuesday suggested she would seek about a two percent raise for teachers, and about a three percent raise for state employees.
But unlike recent years, the speech was devoid of fist-shaking at the federal government or the Affordable Care Act, a common target for Bentley in his State of the State addresses. And in what might be a first for a State of the State in
"From the moment our country declared its independence, we embraced the truth that to be an American is to seek the impossible, to dare to dream despite opposition," she said. "Together, let us dream of a brighter
The speech did allude to one major problem facing the state: A federal ruling that mental health care in
"I will present to the people a workable solution to this generational problem," she said. "I am committed to meeting this challenge head-on."
The governor did not allude to the other major problem confronting the state budgets.
The
The governor did not specify the size of the raise she sought. A budget presentation from the
Ivey's first State of the State speech came as elected officials of all stripes prepare for the elections in November. The governor faces a number of opponents on the Republican side, including
The speech tended to focus on noncontroversial items, such as increased funding for the state's pre-kindergarten program; incentives to bring health care providers to rural areas and tax breaks to encourage businesses to hire veterans. In some ways, it mirrored legislators' hopes for the 2018 session as one that will steer away from controversy after four years of nothing but, including the conviction of a former House speaker on ethics charges and Bentley's resignation amid a sex scandal.
Ivey loaded the front of her speech with examples of her breaks with the past, including a more cooperative relationship with legislative leadership and her firings of several former Bentley cabinet members.
"My cabinet and staff are capable, honest and dedicated," she said. "They take their charge to serve the people of
Elections traditionally make state legislators open to pay raises, and legislators Tuesday sounded cautiously optimistic that they could make them happen -- if
"There's an attitude that we think it's doable because of revenue," said
"As a consequence of actions taken in previous years, I think we're getting back to purchasing power, pre-2010," he said.
Raises have broad, bipartisan support.
"It's about time," said Rep.
Ivey tried to strike a nonpartisan tone throughout the speech, generally encouraging cooperation between legislators and looking toward the future.
"The ship of state has been steadied," she said. "Together, let's move it in a new direction toward progress and sustainability."
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