MORE: Text, highlights and video of every governor's annual address.
Here’s a look at the key points of his address.
Transportation: The governor declared a “need does exist” for more transportation funding, but did not indicate a preference for how to raise the minimum of $1 billion in new revenue that a state report said is required to maintain the road and rail network. He cast it as essential to spur more job growth and wean Georgia off federal dollars.
“If we do nothing, we would continue to have to depend on the federal government, whose transportation funds are also dwindling,” he said. “If we should choose not to maintain and improve our infrastructure, economic development would stall, companies would be unable to conduct their business efficiently, commuters would waste more time and gas sitting in traffic, and no one would be satisfied.”
K-12 Education: The governor told lawmakers he wants to give the state broad new powers to take over failing schools, embarking on a stark shift away from current policy that largely leaves the challenge of reviving Georgia’s worst schools to local districts. He wants lawmakers this year to pass the constitutional amendment, which would require a two-thirds vote, so it can be on the ballot in 2016. He will appoint an Education Review Commission to study the education funding formula, putting off the debate on that overhaul until next year.
