Governors

Nov. 6, 2009 -- Calling for shared sacrifice, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter today submitted a $7.1 billion FY10-11 General Fund budget proposal to the legislature's Joint Budget Committee, closing a $1 billion shortfall that holds down spending to reflect weak revenue.

"While we've already closed unprecedented shortfalls, the budget I'm submitting today is our most challenging yet," Gov. Ritter said. "I'm continuing to make tough choices from very limited options -- even while the demand for many services is skyrocketing.    » read more »

11/06/2009 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement regarding the Fort Hood Shootings:

“Maria and I were deeply saddened to learn of this absolutely senseless tragedy. On behalf of all Californians, we join the nation in sending our thoughts and prayers to all of the Fort Hood shooting victims and their loved ones.”

In accordance with the President’s order, Governor Schwarzenegger has ordered the flags at all state buildings to be flown at half-staff in remembrance of the victims of the Fort Hood shootings until Veterans Day.

Source: California Governor

Nov 9, 2009 -- LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe has declared Arkansas, Boone, Bradley, Calhoun, Carroll, Chicot, Cleburne, Cleveland, Columbia, Conway, Cross, Dallas, Drew, Faulkner, Franklin, Fulton, Grant, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Logan, Lonoke, Marion, Miller, Monroe, Nevada, Newton, Ouachita, Poinsett, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Scott, Sharp, St. Francis, Union, Van Buren, White and Woodruff Counties state disaster areas due to the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding of October 29.    » read more »

Executive Order gives public health director clear authority to respond as needed

Nov. 5, 2009 -- (Salem) - Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski today issued Executive Order 09-17 to grant the state’s public health director, Dr. Mel Kohn, additional authority to respond proactively to pandemic H1N1 influenza. By issuing the order now, Governor Kulongoski has provided Dr. Kohn with the ability to implement quickly public health protections provided by state law.

“In order to do all we can to protect the public, I have provided Dr. Kohn with the ability to take additional steps to protect the health of Oregonians,” said Governor Kulongoski. “These measures are not needed now, but should that change, Dr. Kohn can take action without delay.”    » read more »

Nov. 5, 2009 -- (Salem) - “Today Congress stood by those hit hardest by the recession, including the 12,000 Oregonians who would otherwise be out of benefits come January. It is a much-needed addition to the extension of state benefits that took effect last month.

“For these Oregonians, the continued benefit brings some peace of mind and can mean the difference between keeping a home and putting food on the table.

“As Governor my focus remains on ensuring Oregon is well-positioned for the long term and working across public and private sector lines to accelerate a recovery that generates jobs and puts people back to work.”

Source: Oregon Governor

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, Ohio Department of Development Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel, Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric Fingerhut, and regional and local leaders today joined GE Aviation President and CEO David Joyce for an announcement of a $161 million investment at the company’s global headquarters in Evendale near Cincinnati.

The project will revitalize the headquarters and is expected to retain more than 5,000 Ohio jobs.    » read more »

RacetotheTop.nc.gov will seek input on educational innovation and reform

11/5/2009 -- Raleigh -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue today launched racetothetop.nc.gov and called upon North Carolinians to participate in the federal “Race to the Top” initiative. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Race to the Top is a federal $4.5 billion competitive grant fund that rewards states for educational innovation and achieving significant improvements in how students perform.

In addition to providing information about North Carolina’s Race to the Top efforts, the new website seeks ideas and suggestions from the public regarding new education innovations and reforms.    » read more »

November 5, 2009 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today issued the following statement regarding the Congressional vote to approve the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2009 which extends unemployment benefits for an additional 14 weeks in every state and by 20 weeks in states with unemployment rates of 8.5 percent or higher. The Governor recently sent a letter to the Congress urging extension of unemployment benefits for those who have or are about to exhaust their unemployment assistance:    » read more »

Calls For No New Spending in Lame Duck

November 5, 2009 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today outlined several measures needed to maintain balance in the FY 2010 budget and fulfill his commitment to maintain a balanced budget through his remaining two months in office.

"My administration will continue to live up to our responsibility to maintain a fiscally balanced budget during the next two months," Governor Corzine said. "These cuts will be tough but necessary choices that need to be addressed now. Ignoring these issues over the next two months will not make them go away and will only hurt the people of New Jersey. I will not allow politics to stand in the way of doing what is right."    » read more »

Part of continuing strategy to grow economy, create jobs

November 4, 2009 -- LANSING - Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said Michigan is working to become a world center for wind and clean-energy manufacturing, which is part of her strategy to grow the state's economy and create jobs. The governor's remarks came during her address to the American Wind Energy Association's Small and Community Wind Conference & Exhibition in Detroit.

"Michigan is home to one of the world's greatest 20th century manufacturing industries," Granholm said, alluding to the automobile industry. "But our goal is to also become the home of one of the world's greatest 21st century manufacturing industries: wind and clean-energy manufacturing."    » read more »

Moody’s, Fitch, S&P affirm Commonwealth’s ‘AA’ credit rating with stable outlook following Governor’s FY10 budget solutions

BOSTON – Thursday, November 05, 2009 – Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today announced that the Commonwealth's bond ratings have been affirmed by the three major rating agencies, all of whom cited the Governor’s responsible and proactive stewardship of the Commonwealth’s finances during the current economic downturn as a leading credit strength.

Fitch Ratings, Moody's Investor Services and Standard & Poor's all affirmed the Commonwealth's credit ratings at AA, Aa2, and AA with a stable outlook.    » read more »

November 5, 2009 -- SOUTH PORTLAND – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today joined Gil Sperling, head of the Office of Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program at the U.S. Department of Energy, to talk about Maine’s successful weatherization efforts and ways to collaborate with other public and private partners to expand the State’s energy efficiency goals.    » read more »

November 5, 2009 -- NEWARK – Delaware’s one-time tax amnesty program is anticipated to net more than $22 million for the state, Delaware Governor Jack Markell announced Thursday.

The two-month long partnership between the Delaware Division of Revenue and the General Revenue Corporation, a subsidiary of Sallie Mae Corporation, is expected to clear more than 14,000 delinquent accounts. When the program was authorized this summer, estimates called for $10 million to be collected.

“During these challenging times, it is certainly good news that Delaware will have additional funds to help government meet its core commitments, like teachers in the classroom, police on the street and care for our most vulnerable citizens,” Markell said.    » read more »

3,000 Bottles of Pediatric Anti-Viral Arrive Today

November 5, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that the state has received 3,000 bottles of pediatric Tamiflu from the federal government to help medical personnel at hospitals and clinics treat the growing cases of H1N1 influenza among children.

“We continue to see a marked increase in the number of confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in both children and adults,” Governor Rell said. “But any parent who has ever stayed up all night with a sick child knows how difficult and heartbreaking it can be. It is important to treat the symptoms as soon as possible and so we must ensure that the medication is available.”    » read more »

Nov. 3, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter today congratulated four winning teams in the 2009 Rocky Mountain Cleantech Open in Denver, an event designed to find promising early-stage start-up companies that address today's most urgent energy and environmental challenges.

The winners moving to the next round of competition are: New Sky Energy (Boulder), Rivertop Renewables (Missoula, Mont.) and SunTrac Solar (Golden). A fourth company, Cool Energy of Boulder, won the regional sustainability award.    » read more »