Our state has seen this cycle repeated decade after decade. We make great progress, only to see it erode. Friends, we've come too far this time. We have too much invested and too much left to do. What took decades to build will be lost overnight if we fail to make critical investments in our people.
Any state can make progress in good times.
It's the great states that make progress in the tough times. It's the darkest hours that draw out our brightest stars. And now is the time for North Carolina to shine. For again, as we move from one decade to another, we face another budget shortfall. Again, we face the challenge.