Bryant’s address focused on familiar themes from recent and years’-past speeches and on goals he outlined in his recent budget proposal to the Legislature. The governor touted education-reform and economic development successes and chided “self-appointed education advocates” and creators of “fake news” who say public education or state finances are in the dumps.
In his address before a joint assembly of the House and Senate and other state leaders, Bryant quoted President-Elect Donald Trump – “drain the swamp”; William Faulkner – Mississippi “did more than just endure, we prevailed”; the Old Testament – “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves ….” and the Rolling Stones – “You can’t always get what you want, but you get what you need.” He called on lawmakers to stash more money away for rainy days, and for naysayers to quit nay-saying and making fake news about the state budget.