The fight for reform comes down to a simple goal: giving our citizens the confidence that government serves the people first and the people only.

The opponents of my budget propose taking $200 million out of our classrooms and instead spending it on a larger school employee pay raise. Our focus should be on making sure our children come first.

Change makes us confront the great unknown. It introduces different things into our lives. Different places. Different ideas. Different people. It's all hard to accept at times, and change can often be a little scary. But if there's one fact that I've learned from raising a family, from running several businesses, from serving in Congress and now as Governor, it's that nothing has ever grown without changing.

For too long, we have focused on our differences - in our politics and backgrounds, in our race and beliefs - rather than cherishing the unity and pride that binds us together.

The success of our economy shouldn't determine the success of our schools

I have long believed that sacrifice is the pinnacle of patriotism.

Drugs are the enemies of ambition and hope - and when we fight against drugs we are fighting for the future.