Ernie Fletcher Quotations

I would like this to be a new day. I would hope now that we can focus on doing the people's business.

Education is our greatest opportunity to give an irrevocable gift to the next generation.

My vision for Kentucky is a Commonwealth where there is so much economic opportunity, and our quality of life is so high, that people who are born here can stay here, and people who aren't fortunate enough to be born in Kentucky, can look forward to locating here.

State government has too often been used to look out for the insiders and not the citizens. This has insulated poverty from progress, and need from remedy.

Government cannot do everything, so we need to first decide what government ought to be doing, then figure out what it's capable of doing, and then follow the jobs we choose to completion.

We will attract more people to Kentucky by lowering our income tax rate. In fact, lowering the income tax rate is the single most important thing we can do to create opportunity.

A government of, for and by the people, requires much from the people.

I cannot allow state government to continue to be consumed by this game of political 'gotcha.'

Whenever I am among my fellow Governors, I am struck by how many face the same education improvement issues.

This foundational principle - that human beings derive their rights from God, rather than from the State, or any other source - is what made America different.

I don't expect the lieutenant governor and I to agree on everything, ... If two people agree on everything then there's no need for one of them.

I have a clear conscience, I have not knowingly done anything wrong and I have no intention of pardoning myself,

I feel strongly the state senators and representatives will see the benefit of this arena,

What makes my job easier is a unified focus, ... Regardless of the resources we have, they're always limited. What vision you have for your community can make the difference in you getting money or some other county getting it.

It is now clear to me that there were mistakes made by staff members.

Over the next couple of years we will work very hard to serve the people. And then I'll leave the future in their hands,

outside of the students and the preparation that you had before you arrived at school, there is no question that the quality of the teacher is the single most important factor in how much a student learns.

I thought I gave you a challenge you wouldn't do, ... but you did it, very quickly.

That's tough, but I think that's what a leader is called to do.

We've made some tough decisions, and I don't expect you to understand that,

We're evaluating the possibility of that, ... If that would be necessary, we need to see what effect that would have on our ability to fund particular projects and meet our bond requirements.

wanted to wait to get all the information I could.

We want this issue to be resolved quickly, ... It is important to get a decision. She has to look at the legal aspects and make the right legal decision. She knows where I stand on the issue.

To the people who may have been hurt by our mistakes, I apologize.

Film making is another very effective form of economic development for Kentucky, ... A positive picture of Kentucky projected by the film and television industry has a direct effect on our image as a state. People like what they see, so they'll want to visit or live here, which, in turn creates more jobs ... and more opportunity for our people.

This type of redundancy in disseminating information is important if we are to rescue abducted children quickly,

What can we do to make your experience better? And why are you here? What makes this class so exciting for you and something special?

We have to consider the bond requirements to make sure we can meet that,

Ben talks about change, ... The biggest change he wants is to move his desk 100 feet.

And we're looking at some education reform. We're going to be looking at some very aggressive agendas for this next session,

Five years from now Medicaid will consume 20 percent of the state's budget if we don't make changes,

I stand behind that recommendation. It was made to move Kentucky forward.

is one snapshot in time. It probably doesn't mean anything in the long run.

I urge all citizens to visit assisted living communities in the Commonwealth to learn how senior adults can age in a nurturing, home-like environment with choice, security and a true quality of life,

the single most disturbing thing about this whole investigation.

Of course we made mistakes, ... (But) we've had an investigation that I think has been very political ... and pettiness has taken its toll on the state.

The National Guard of Kentucky has always answered the call,

This is the best Christmas present they could receive. It's a good way for the commonwealth to thank our soldiers for their service.

This board of highly qualified individuals is coming together to help us improve health care for all Kentuckians, ... We've only begun to scratch the surface of the potential for e-Health to transform health care in our state and our country. Technology can make health care safer, faster and more efficient.

Atherton is a high school that shows what can happen when everyone can come together,

It's going to be some time before the city is back up and operating normally,

Taxing tobacco products according to relative risks is a rational tax policy and may well serve the public health goal of reducing smoking-related mortality and morbidity and lowering health care costs associated with tobacco-related disease,

It looked like there was so much bipartisan support for the COLA, I didn't think anybody wanted to make it a major, controversial issue.

It won't be perfect, and it will receive criticism, and rightly so, but if we don't address it, we won't be able to provide the education we need, ... We can't tax our way out of it.

I never dreamed we would win by the margin we won by. That's something else, ... It's a new era in Kentucky.

I had a very successful fundraiser here in Louisville. We raised about $150,000,

Certain mistakes were made, but it's part of a political battle, ... But we'll continue to move forward.

GEAR UP has been making a difference in the lives of Kentucky's children, ... If we can improve individuals' lives, we can improve the lives of all Kentuckians.

I don't take it personally, ... I've learned in this business not to take these sorts of things personally. If I did, it wouldn't allow me to do my job effectively.

The geography of Kentucky is drawn not only on the map but also on the culture. Everyone here, regardless of age, lives as part of a generation that has yet to know the full power of true unity as Kentuckians, one and all.