“Yes, we can.”

With those three words, President-elect Obama rallied his supporters to victory in November. We as a nation will need those words to rally all Americans, as we confront the economic challenges ahead.

Yes, we can work together to make our nation stronger. Along with Governor Douglas, I pledge to work with our new President and his administration to unify and strengthen our nation and our state.

Each of us has the capacity to reach out and help a fellow Vermonter.

We in the legislature will have the opportunity when we convene in January to pass a much-needed Economic Growth Plan proposed by Governor Douglas.

This Economic Growth Plan will expand on previous initiatives to give new life to Vermont's economy. It will better equip Vermonters and Vermont companies to succeed in the global economy.

Designed to help Vermont confront the effects of the current national recession, this package contains measures to keep costs down, inspire innovation and grow good jobs for Vermonters. They are long-term solutions that, when implemented, will help get Vermont’s economy moving again and keep it moving.

We must emerge stronger from this economic downturn. These reforms will encourage emerging industries and businesses to make Vermont their home, and provide opportunities for our young people.

How can we encourage innovative businesses and entrepreneurs to hire and thrive? Those employers themselves tell us that making common sense reforms to our permitting process will help. We can also use existing infrastructure to help businesses expand or relocate in Vermont, and encourage the construction of more affordably-priced homes, promote greater energy efficiency, and work to create more clean tech industries.

The legislature will study the Governor’s proposals. It will improve on them and pass them. Yes, we can work together to renew a vision of prosperity for our state and our people. Yes, we can.

It will take teamwork to craft a state budget that the people of our state can afford. It must be a compassionate budget that invests in the people and infrastructure that will make our state stronger. It is hard work to agree on what our priorities are, when Vermonters have fewer resources to support state government. We must base our budget on our shared priorities. Yes, we can.

State government must provide basic services. Among the most critical at this time are public safety, corrections, and heath care. But we need your help.

We need our churches and faith communities to do the Lord’s work, helping Vermonters who have lost a job or lost hope. We need our service clubs and community groups. We need families to pull together. We need communities to pull together. Yes, together we can.

This year, the people of our state have also called upon us to strengthen laws to better protect our children. Senator Sears, Senator Mullin and their committee have crafted a good package of reforms. The legislature should pass these laws to better protect our children. Yes, we must. Yes, we can.

We have the opportunity to serve one another. This challenging economic time is an invitation to us all to reach out and help those in need. Seek out ways to volunteer, donate, and mentor. We all can make a difference. Yes, we can.

Those are three powerful words.

Three other words, dear to Vermonters, were first used as the motto of the Vermont Republic by Ira Allen in 1788: Freedom and Unity.

Nine years later, our first governor, Thomas Chittenden, echoed those words in his own epitaph: "Out of storm and manifold perils rose an enduring state, the home of freedom and unity."

Vermonters will weather the current storm together, and emerge a freer, stronger, more caring and more unified state. Yes, we can.

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