Arizona faces many challenges ahead. None is more important or more pressing than passing a new state budget.

Arizona is a national leader in school choice with both charter schools and tuition tax credits giving parents and their children more school choices than ever before.

During the last regular session and the most recent special session, measures that I see as little more than Band-Aids were applied to three health programs in the state.

I also want to thank Arizona citizens for their efforts at conserving energy last summer.

Arizona now has one of the most innovative systems of financing school construction in the nation.

Today, Arizona's sons and daughters, mothers and fathers are proudly serving their country.