Hassan Delivers State of the State Address: Full Text, GOP Response & More

Gov. Maggie Hassan delivered her final State of the State address Thursday at the State House.

Scroll down for a live blog of the speech, links to background articles on the issues Hassan discusses, the Republican response by N.H. Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, and full text and audio of Hassan's speech.

1:30 PM:

Hassan acknowledges public sector employees, touts "fiscally responsible, bipartisan budgets."

Credit Allegra Boverman for NHPR

  1:35 PM:

Hassan on Opioid crisis: "We all know that the heroin and opioid crisis remains the most pressing public health and public safety issue facing our state. "

1:40 PM:

Hassan on increasing funding for opioid crisis: "While some may say that we can’t afford to take steps that require additional funding, I believe that we can’t afford not to."

1:42 PM:

Hassan praises Manchester law enforcement's handling of opoid crisis. "But Manchester is not alone in facing these challenges. We need to expand this effort to support local law enforcement across the entire state. While we must continue supporting law enforcement on the front lines, every police chief I have spoken with makes it clear that we can’t arrest our way out of this problem. Strengthening our prevention, treatment and recovery efforts and removing the stigma of addiction remain critical parts of a comprehensive approach. "

1:43 PM: 

Hassan calls for tightening of prescribing rules around opioids. Click here for our earlier reporting on this issue. 

Credit Sara Plourde for NHPR

1:45 PM:

On opioid crisis, Hassan calls for expansion and creation of drug courts. Click here for more on that issue. 

1:47 PM:

Hassan on Medicaid expansion reauthorization: "It’s clear that the New Hampshire Health Protection Program is making a real difference for our people and boosting our economy, and we must re-authorize it now."  

Click here for a primer on Medicaid Expansion in New Hampshire. 

1:48 PM:

Hassan on public safety in New Hampshire:

"In preparation for an independent, expert review of New Hampshire’s child protective services at the Division of Children Youth and Families, the Department of Justice is partnering with DCYF to provide training so that case workers can better identify potential crimes when evaluating cases of abuse and neglect. In addition, the Legislative Commission to Review Child Abuse Fatalities has recommended legislation to strengthen child abuse investigations – legislation that I stand ready to sign."

1:51 PM:

Hassan touts tuition freezes for in-state students at New Hampshire's university system, announces a partnership to work toward a new "65 by 25"goal:

"...ensuring that 65 percent of New Hampshire’s population holds a postsecondary credential or degree by 2025.

1:54 PM:

Hassan touts state's K-12 education accomplishments, outlines plans to expand work of STEM Task Force, and calls for "fully funding adequacy this year."

1:57 PM:

Hassan announces "Gateway to Work," a plan she saus will "help develop and expand our workforce as our economy continues to strengthen, while at the same time closing the opportunity gap for our families."

2:00 PM:

Hassan: "Through Gateway to Work, we can provide more of the workers our businesses need to thrive. And we can help give more of our families the opportunity to work their way to self-sufficiency and into the middle class."

2:01 PM:

Hassan calls for an increase in the minimum wage in New Hampshire.

2:02 PM:

Hassan pivots to infrastructure, referring to a ten-year plan that " advances critical transportation goals while maintaining fiscal responsibility and living within our projected revenues," explains that it is a plan to fix bridges and roads.

Hassan receives loud applause with this: "And it leverages federal funds for the environmental and engineering work necessary to move forward with commuter rail from Boston to Nashua and Manchester."

  2:05 PM:

On energy, Hassan says New Hampshire must "continue to be a leader in promoting clean air and combating climate change, which threatens our economic future and the health of our citizens. Throughout our efforts, we must never take our eyes off the imperative of building a cleaner and more sustainable energy future."

Hassan says she supports efforts to raise the cap on net metering.

Related: What is "Net-Metering" And Why Are People Fighting About It?

2:10 PM

Hassan: "We’ve come a long way from the depths of the recession – working together to address the priorities that are critical to supporting our vibrant communities, encouraging a thriving economy with a strong middle class, and maintaining the high quality of life that we are known for in New Hampshire. "

Listen to audio of Hassan's address (note - it picks up in the first sentence of the speech):

Listen to post-speech analysis and the Republican response to Hassan's address in an interview with State Sen. Jeb Bradley:

Full Text of Hassan's 2016 State of the State Address:

http://mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/nhpr/files/nhpr_sos_20416.pdf