This Is Our Moment. This Is Our Time.

The Associated Press reports that just nine days after undergoing breast cancer surgery, Republican Governor Jodi Rell called for unity in her first State of the State address. The theme of the Governor's speech was "This Is Our Moment. This Is Our Time:"

Rell, 58, a former member of the state House of Representatives, was greeted with a loud chorus of cheers and a lengthy standing ovation. Many of the lawmakers who filled the Hall of the House wore pink ribbons, signifying their support for breast cancer research.

"You know I get embarrassed," Rell said smiling, pleading with the crowd to stop the applause.

According to the AP, Rell spoke about the difficult decisions that have faced her personally and the state. She mentioned the funerals of dead Connecticut soldiers she has attended and the decision not to grant a reprieve to convicted serial killer Michael Ross, who faces execution on Jan 26 - the first in Connecticut since 1960.

Courtesy of the Associated Press, the text of Governor Rell's speech is available here.

The Governor talked about how the State has been tested during the last year:

We witnessed countless revelations of corruption and breach of the public trust. We undertook an historic impeachment inquiry. We saw indictments handed out and plea bargains reached.

We saw the smooth transition of power from one administration to the next, devoid of pomp and circumstance, yet replete with the symbolism of renewal and restoration of faith and integrity in government.

We sent our sons and daughters off to war, and welcomed far too many of them home with tears after they had paid the ultimate price for protecting our freedoms.

We saw too many needs go unmet, from children born into circumstances where they do not receive even the most basic care to our seniors who had to stand in line for hours, often in vain, to receive life-protecting flu shots.

We saw a hero, a husband and a father, Master Officer Peter Lavery, cruelly shot and killed in the line of duty.

Yes, it has been a difficult year for Connecticut, in so many ways. We have been tested and we have been tried, but we have prevailed.

And we will continue to prevail, if we work together, with steadfastness of purpose and without the self-imposed shackles of convention and partisan politics.

For this is our moment. This is our time.

Governor Rell also talked about her personal challenges and how those changed her outlook:

I have struggled through sleepless nights and heard the anguish of shattered families as I considered the case of Michael Ross.

I have been unexpectedly confronted with my own mortality as I was told that I had cancer.

Yes, I am looking through different eyes now. Eyes more focused on what is truly important, what is truly necessary.

Partisan posturing and political sniping are not. What is important and is necessary is to solve long-standing social, economic and educational problems.

She mentioned budgetary problems:

Our state budget for the next fiscal year exceeds the spending cap by $800 million. And it has a projected gap of $1.3 billion.

[. . .]

The needs are almost limitless, but the resources of our taxpayers are not.

The budget I will present to you in a month's time will contain very difficult choices. Choices that none of us wish to make, but which must be made.

Governor Rell called for reform in medical malpractice, ethics and elections:

We've been talking about reform for months - now is the time to do it!

[. . .]

That will be true no matter what issue, what challenge we face. The people of Connecticut expect much from us, and we should expect much from ourselves.

Join me in making Connecticut stronger. Join me in being bold. Join me in seeing things through different eyes. For this is our moment. This is our time.

The Governor also took note of the issues of stem cell research, education funding, health care affordability, and my personal pet peeve - traffic congestion.

It's a very full plate the Governor set before us. We will see how long the good will lasts and how long "partisan posturing and political sniping" remain unimportant. I'm sure not long enough.