<p>__________________</p><p>On government's role:</p><p>"Georgia is a state of opportunity. Our job is to make sure it remains so. And the best way for those of us in public office to do that is to remember that government doesn't create jobs, growth and prosperity. Our people do."</p><p>___________________</p><p>On state's growing population, which is fast approaching 10 million:</p><p>"A growing population is good, but more Georgians means more kids in our schools, more drivers on our roads, more patients in health care system. These are the unavoidable obligations that come with growth, just like the arrival of a new baby at home. Meeting those obligations will consume much of our new revenue. But not all of it."</p><p>"People keep coming to our state because Georgia is a great place to live, to get an education, to work and to raise a family."</p><p>____________________</p><p>On teacher pay raise and Classroom Gift Card:</p><p>"Of course, showing respect for teachers means not just rewarding their hard work, but understanding that they are the ones on the front lines and who deserve a listening ear for their ideas."</p><p>____________________</p><p>On education spending:</p><p>"Overall, my budget devotes over 72 percent of our new revenues to education. They say the best time to plant an oak tree is 100 years ago. But the second best time to plant an oak tree is today. My friends, with this budget we are planting a forest of oaks for Georgia's children and their future."</p><p>_____________________</p><p>On keeping state spending under control:</p><p>"We will continue to ask the tough questions and scrutinize every program and every line item. We will continue investing in Georgia families and their kitchen table issues, like education, jobs, and safe communities."</p><p>"But one thing we won't do is go back to the bad spending habits of the past."</p><p>______________________</p><p>On the state's economic recovery:</p><p>"Today I'm happy to say that our progress has continued over the last twelve months. Our job growth has surged. Our communities and our state grow stronger each day. We're putting the dark clouds behind us. And we have many more sunny days ahead."</p><p>"Georgia's economic comeback is, above all, a tribute to our strengths as a state and to the optimism and enterprise of our citizens."</p><p>_______________________</p><p>On Georgia's soldiers in Iraq:</p><p>"Our citizen soldiers are performing heroic, world-changing work. Not only by fighting bravely, but through the small, day-to-day human victories. In this war against an inhumane creed of terrorism, our innate compassion and humanity are the most effective -- and gentlest -- weapon."</p><p>"As a father of three young daughters, Shane Parham's love of children has given him a special insight into the significance of the work he and his comrades in the 48th are doing. When he got back from Iraq, he had this to say: "If we can get these Iraqi children to like us, our children will not have to fight theirs. That may be the wisest comment I have heard on the conflict in Iraq. Differences of religion, politics and culture aside, Iraqis love their children too, just like we do in Georgia."</p><p>________________________</p><p>On his wife, Mary Perdue:</p><p>"That's only a fraction of Mary's many efforts to improve the lives of Georgia's children. I'm not bragging when I say I work hard as your Gov.. But I want you to know that your First Lady works just as hard for this cause so close to her heart. And, Mary, I want you to know how proud I am of you and the example you set of caring for all of Georgia's children."</p>
