Benjamin Franklin said there were only two things certain in life: death and taxes. But I'd like to add a third certainty: trash. And while some in this room might want to discuss reducing taxes, I want to talk about reducing trash.

I have said it often and I will say it again: I believe you learn to read when you are young, then read to learn for the rest of your life.

Increasing recycling in Delaware is an idea whose time has come and, if put off, may not come again.

Our financial services and insurance cluster is one of Delaware's key economic drivers in the state.

Our promise to our children should be this: if you do well in school, we will pay for you to obtain a college degree.

Our world and our state have been transformed, but, in contrast, we as people have not been.

So I promise you that this State of the State, like a good pizza, will be delivered in 25 minutes or less.

This independent report clearly indicates that while we may differ among ourselves in government about what to spend money on, we have one of the most reliable and non-political processes for agreeing on how much money there is. We don't play games with the numbers.