January 24, 2008 Mass. State of the State: Uncut, pt.3 Play video

(NECN) - Mass. Governor Deval Patrick delivers his first State of the State address Thursday night. Patrick says the key to reviving the state's economy is strengthening education, creating more jobs and inspiring the public to become more engaged in civic life.

Let's be both tough and smart on crime: • Tough by limiting illegal access to firearms and keeping high-threat gun offenders off the streets; • Smart by supervising and supporting the 97% of inmates who eventually return to society, and by using CORI information wisely instead of haphazardly.

Let's work together to pass an effective Anti-Crime Package this spring. And finally, let's give cities and towns the tools they need to keep property taxes down and to provide the services our neighbors want by passing the Municipal Partnership Act in full.

For all of our communities, let's make the American Story their story, too. Rest assured: We can afford everything we have proposed. Between the savings and spending limits we have imposed, the revenue from closing a few gaps in our tax code, a responsible portion of new casino licensing fees, and some restraint in the use of earmarks, we can afford the high-impact investments we have outlined - as well as a 13 percent cut in the corporate tax rate and property tax relief for nearly half a million households. Even with these investments, our budget holds total spending growth to 3.5 percent, less than the growth in consensus revenues.

Our economic

fortunes are linked, of course, to national and international economic trends and events. In order to assure that we have the benefit of the best economic perspectives, I am announcing tonight the formation of the nonpartisan Governor's Council of Economic Advisors, to be chaired by former President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Cathy Minehan, and consisting of prominent economists and other leaders from local, national and international commerce. They will help us assure that the American Story thrives in Massachusetts.

But invest we must -- to keep Massachusetts on the move. That's the most effective hedge against economic stagnation. With fears of recession looming, how can any of us sit idly by and fail to act? With the future of the American Story at stake, how can any of us refuse to sacrifice?

SERVICE AND SACRIFICE For a year now, I have attended the funerals of Massachusetts servicemen and - women killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Each occasion is profoundly moving. Most of the time the lost soldier, sailor or marine is young. In some cases there is a girlfriend; or a young widow, on one or two occasions with a baby the fallen soldier has never even held. You cannot escape the youth: the disbelief of childhood buddies that their friend could be gone so soon; the utter tragedy of parents having to bury a child just entering his or her prime. Still, there is a remarkable lack of bitterness among the families. Only loss and grief and an understanding that service and sacrifice is sometimes necessary. We cannot ask these exceptional young people to give what Lincoln called "the last full measure of devotion" to strengthen our community and secure the American Story for our future, and yet balk at making a far less profound sacrifice ourselves to achieve the same ends.

I know that the willingness to serve and to sacrifice is out there. I see it in the new leadership of Commonwealth Corps, our initiative to enlist a broad army of citizens - young, old and in-between - offering to give back to their communities.

I see it in the Readi Reps, the nearly one thousand grassroots organizers committed to advancing the Readiness Project, our next chapter in education reform.

I see it in the willingness of private funders to support crime prevention in urban hot spots or in the young people who are helping me form a Statewide Youth Council, so that their voices can be heard in developing policies that affect their lives.

Everyone must do his or her part -- because everyone has a stake.

We must do our part as elected officials by managing government responsibly. That includes being willing to curb spending in other areas. Last year I cut some $500 million from state spending, and held spending increases to the lowest level in three years. This year my budget offers another $475 million in cuts. And later this year, through a concept we call MassTrans, I will ask for your support in streamlining our transportation bureaucracy, which will yield further significant savings.

State employees, whose public service I honor and appreciate, must help by sharing a greater burden of their health insurance benefits. Large, multi-state companies, who create opportunity for so many, must help by learning to live in Massachusetts by the same tax rules they live by in other states. Even the telephone company must help by paying its fair share of local property taxes so that communities can ease the property tax burden on seniors and others on limited incomes.

THE COST OF INACTION And as you consider our proposals, and how to support this agenda for schools, jobs and civic engagement, consider also the cost of inaction.

A poor child in high-quality early ed is 40% less likely to need special ed services or to be held back a grade, 30% more likely to graduate high school, and twice as likely to go to college. The cost of inaction is too high.