Kemp highlights economic growth, crime crackdowns in State of the State speech
Governor delivers annual speech as approval rating soars
Republican Gov. Brian Kemp delivered his 2023 State of the State address on Wednesday before state lawmakers. He used the annual speech to highlight economic growth, crime crackdowns and other priorities for the legislative session. Parts of his speech even earned praise from across the aisle.
With a landslide re-election under his belt and his approval rating soaring, the governor enters 2023 with a solid mandate — one that could not claim after his narrow 2018 victory. He asked lawmakers to help him set Georgia “on a path of greatness for generations to come.”
He didn’t seem to express much of an appetite for social issues, such as more abortion restrictions or expanding gun rights. Rather, he highlighted an agenda that includes pay raises for state employees and expanding a popular scholarship program. He also plans to send out another round of rebates to taxpayers and property owners.
The HOPE scholarship, which was created in the 1990s, has faced significant cuts under previous Republican administrations. Kemp says that he plans to restore the program to 100% tuition coverage for all of Georgia’s public colleges and universities, a plan that was praised by some Democrats. “Hallelujah,” one exclaimed.
He also detailed a plan to expand Medicaid and family benefits for pregnant mothers, a move aimed at decreasing the state’s maternal mortality rate. State Sen. Jason Esteves, a Democrat from Atlanta, said that he was “grateful” for Kemp’s proposal. But he also said that it is time for the state to fully expand Medicaid, rather than doing so in small pieces. “It’s the right thing to do,” Esteves tweeted.
He spent a great deal of his speech discussing pay raises for teachers. He thanked lawmakers for helping him deliver on a $5,000 teacher pay raise during his first term and said that he plans to propose an additional $2,000 raise for teachers and other state employees.
"In total, we will have given hardworking educators a $7,000 pay raise in just five years. No other General Assembly or governor will have raised teacher pay by so much, so quickly, in state history," Kemp said. "With the passage of this budget, the average teacher salary in Georgia will also now be over $7,000 higher than the Southeast regional average."
Crime and affordable housing were some of the other topics covered in the speech. He said that he is working with Attorney General Chris Carr to increase penalties for those seeking to recruit children into gangs.
“Let me be clear: come after our children, and we will come after you,” Kemp warned.
On affordable housing, Kemp said that he plans to create what he calls a Rural Workforce Housing Fund, which will allow the state to work with local governments to develop workforce housing sites across the state.
State Sen. Elena Parent, a Democrat from Atlanta, plans to give the Democratic response to Kemp’s address.
You can click here to watch Kemp’s State of the State address in its entirety.