November 19, 2007 |
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Let me begin by saying something profound, which is something I usually am not capable of, don't wind up saying. But this is the seventh Governor that I've served with, the seventh, beginning with Governor Marvin Mandel, Governor Marvin Mandel, and this is the boldest move really, the boldest action on the part of any Governor that I have served with at any time. And that means an awful lot, it says an awful lot.
There are Governors that have accomplished a lot over a period of time, but in such a short period of time to make such a bold move and to be a hundred percent in completing the goals that he set forth is truly amazing.
And to bring forth the people that came forward to accomplish those goals; first year freshmen delegates stepping up to the plate, members of the other party, you know, veterans are coming together as one group to rally around this Governor's cause because they knew it was right. Even members of the other party, they were determined, but they weren't angry, because they knew in their heart of hearts that what this Governor proposed was the best, was best for the State.
So, in a sense, the three weeks we spent here were relatively cordial in dealing with members of the other party, because in their own silent way they saluted what this Governor and what these members were not just attempting to do, but were successful in accomplishing. And it wasn't just the legislators, it was -- you know, such as Senator Curry and his committee on budget and taxes and Senator Middleton and the finance committee, Delegate Pete Hammen and the House coming together with the health package.
There weren't losers here, there were winners. Students with guaranteed access to education, people without health care guaranteed access to health care. People, my children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, are going to have a clean Chesapeake Bay.
This is a win-win-win for everybody and I'm just proud to be part of it.
Let me just close by saying I want to thank everyone who made this session such a success, it was an overwhelming success. It's like Theodore Roosevelt's, The Person In the Arena. The Governor got in the arena and he could have failed, but if he had failed, he would have failed greatly, instead he achieved and he achieved greatly. And for that we are extremely proud and extremely grateful.
Thank you. (Applause.)