DOVER, Del. (AP/DPR) - Delaware Gov. John Carney says his first months in office have brought into sharp focus the struggles the state must deal with.
Carney, a Democrat, says the General Assembly has been dealing with a nearly $400 million budget deficit.
"If we're going to tackle the tough issues that confront us, we need to get our financial house in order. We need a budget reset, a new plan to set us on a stronger financial footing and make our state more competitive."
He also urged legislators not to lose sight of other issues, including jobs, education and agriculture.
Turing to opioid abuse he tauted efforts to crackdown on doctors who are over prescribing drugs. But he said that was not enough. "But we also need an all hands on deck approach to save the lives of those battling opioid and heroin addiction." He said there must be an emphasis on treatment as well.
Carney, who took office in January, made the remarks Thursday in an address to the General Assembly.
Fifteen days after Carney took office, a correctional officer, Lt. Steven Floyd, was killed, and three other correctional employees were taken hostage during a prison uprising.
The governor says he will act quickly when an independent review of the incident is completed by June.
He then turned to Joshua Wilkenson, one of the guard who was held hostage, who was in the audience yesterday.
"Officer Wilkenson, I pledged to you we will make real improvements and we will make them as quickly as possible."
Wrapping up his remarks, he said that solving the problems of the state will not be easy. "But," he said, "we have a responsibility that is more important than any temporary political pain. It is our responsibility to keep this a great state to live, work and raise a family -- a state ready to compete in the twenty-first century."
