Tonight during her first State of the State address, Gov. Olene Walker asked legislators and Utah citizens to focus on basic principles to ensure a sound future. Basics such as a conservative, realistic budget; strong initiatives focusing on basic citizen needs; and an innovative yet basic vision for tomorrow outlined the governor’s speech.

Walker reinforced her commitment to three priorities for the state’s budget: maintain the Triple A bond rating; implement a modest 2 percent raise for state and education employees; and fund and maintain quality education.

"Education is the basis for our future prosperity, and it is a key to individual success," said Walker. "I challenge the public, educators and business leaders to become an active part of the solution."

Walker specifically asked legislators to put $30 million into a Performance Plus reading program, which supports her "Read with a Child" initiative to have every student reading at grade level by the end of the third grade.

"Can we achieve that aim in Utah?" asked Walker. "You bet we can!"

Under the Walker Work Plan, the governor’s initiatives are seeing success and gaining momentum. Initiatives include a program to help foster children transition to adulthood; an assistance-related Web site; a statewide, wireless communication network; a watershed clean-up program; the resolution of public lands issues; and tax reform.

Walker noted, "Just thinking about the complexity of our tax system and volatility of our revenues keeps me awake at night. Our tax reform efforts must make Utah business-friendly. A 21st century government needs a 21st century tax system. Utah needs tax reform."

Looking to the future, Walker emphasized her vision to help strengthen Utah’s economy and to increase job growth.

"I want to be very clear that together, no one or no state will out-work us, out-smart us, or out-hustle us when it comes to increasing the number of good jobs in our state," promised Walker.

The governor also announced Utah’s number-one economic priority must be to save Hill Air Force Base from another military base downsizing. "We will work with our congressional delegation to be the most aggressive state in protecting the jobs of the hard-working military personnel and civilians who work there."

Acknowledging a Delta mother of 10 children, whose husband recently left for military service in Iraq, Walker thanked Utah’s service men and women and asked communities to support their families.

Encouraging Utah’s leaders to make thoughtful decisions, the governor read the half-century-old prayer from U.S. Senate Chaplain, Dr. Peter Marshall, "…Save us from hotheads that would lead us to act foolishly, and from cold feet that would keep us from acting at all."

"What better time than now to embark on these issues?" asked Walker. "As citizens and leaders of this state, we have a remarkable opportunity to shape Utah for a productive, prosperous and positive future. It begins with us. It begins with the basics. It begins now."

The entire text of the State of the State Address can be viewed at www.utah.gov/governor

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