Well good morning, and thanks for being here before I begin I want to recognize the anniversary of the D-Day invasion in Normandy As some of you know my dad was severely injured shortly after the D-Day invasion in St. Lo and Seeing some of the events on TV and reading some of it the events that are happening this week Brings that all back, and I and I really do wonder what some were thinking that day and in the 10,000 aircraft that were in the air and the tens of thousands of Boats in the water and all the men we lost that day over 2,000 is Significant so I want to thank not only the greatest generation for who served in World War two But also those who serve every day to protect our freedoms and It's it's heartwarming to see all of our leaders come together on this occasion this week, so With that the day I became governor the day after I became governor I was faced with the daunting task of building my team to oversee state government It was it was literally Having to hire the entire administration put my team together and as I've thought about that You know, I've expressed how I did that. I used the four C's The first is making sure they had character and integrity the first C which is important Competence in the area that I'm asking them to serve As well as the the commitment to the top road ahead. It's not a nine-to-five job. It's fairly very in depth and in 24-7 as well as having the chemistry to work with the team to put yourself in the in the in the realm of the team and And not not putting yourself ahead of that So it was it was daunting. It took us a while and it was a tight compressed time frame and I'm very blessed with having a great team who surrounds me and And is committed and has all the integrity in the world and so I I'm pleased to have a couple here today, but secretary good a is here with me Today and it's bittersweet in many respects because today we're announcing that after nearly a decade of public service Al is returning to private life and we'll be stepping down as human services secretary So over the last two and a half years hell has been a great asset Leaving our largest agency a valued member of my cabinet in someone I've relied on for advice good advice over the last two and a half years As many of you know how has a wide range of skills and experiences that will be tough to replace He may tell you something differently and that he's just someone who sells creamies But don't let him fool you because you couldn't do that what he's been able to do in state government without being talented Serving as a secretary of human services forces You to become very knowledgeable in a lot of different areas But I think Al's legacy will be in the improved management systems of the agency as well as his leadership on health care reform As some of you may recall when I took office We had just gone through several years of health care turmoil the health care exchange Was failing and frankly it felt like a lot of our monitors had lost faith in the state government's ability to get things done However, the reality was and remains that we needed to make the exchange work Because health care costs were and are growing too fast and not having a plan to address both was unacceptable to me So we had to land on a strategy that would make the exchange work But also working to improve the quality and get a handle on the cost as a previous administration Legislatures learn the hard way. This is all easily said, but not as is easily done Given this backdrop I along with many were skeptical of big new initiatives that overpromise and under deliver So whatever we landed on I knew we were going to have to improve to prove that it worked every step of the way This approach doesn't offer the easy political talking points others have used The keeping this work out of the political parade may be why we've been able to make such progress Proving we can implement payment reforms across the health care system Allen is team at HS and the Department of Health access in particular diva Implemented the first pilot phase of our all-pair model with Medicaid patients Knowing any missteps around what it costs or managing claims could cause for monitors to lose confidence in state government again Today, and I'm sure many health care providers would attest to Medicaid is the most reliable pair within the model Which is a testament to Al's leadership and ability to put ideas into practice It's also been a big reason the model continues to gain momentum two and a half years later Because someone proved it could work In fact, Al and I even traveled to Washington to meet with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services CMS and learned our payment reform innovations in our accountable care organization Was the only model demonstrating savings across the country The other major challenges a challenge I asked Al to tackle was to balance the goals of making the Vermont of making Vermont more affordable and protect the most vulnerable in Then any In any year balancing the HS budget is difficult But for the first two years Al had to do this without the option of raising a tax or fee When you consider the factors outside of a HS such as increasing payments on our debt obligation Salary and benefit increases and slow natural revenue growth to meet these obligations You know Al and the talented team at a HS had to do a lot of hard work to get us across the finish line especially in those first two budget cycles This was only possible through good management and good management is a result of effective leadership Here's an interesting fact put this in perspective Through operational improvements good case management and a strong economy Last fiscal year. We saw a HS spent 70 million dollars less across all funds Then in the final year of the previous administration In addition to these specific achievements The agency continues to be on the front line of my administration school to protect the most vulnerable tackling some of the state's most heartbreaking and complex challenges including the opioid epidemic and mental health These are areas where there's always a need to do more But working closely with the legislature and other state agencies We're strengthening our response to these and other issues with a number of new initiatives This includes testing for lead in our schools and childcare centers Three bills that aim to decrease the use of tobacco and bait products by our kids and Increase investments in family services mental health facilities and weatherization There's clearly a lot of to be proud of over the last few years And I can't think of a better person to have led this mission and now We're fortunate that together we built a strong team at HS Though he will be sorely missed by them and by my me personally by the way as a loyal friend in Compton Al I wish you the very best as you go back to your businesses and step away from public service At least for right now. I don't think we've seen the last of you Thank you for your commitment to Vermont and Vermonters to the agency the cabinet and to me And I'm very proud to have had you a member of my team with that Anything you want to say? I Don't even know what to say after that. I mean my the first thing I think is that D-day is a tough day to talk about yourself or have someone talk about you. So as a former officer in the United States Army That's something that sits with me I'll be brief that It's not often you get to work With a friend who's the governor? I Spent a lot of time Trying to help Phil get elected as lieutenant governor and when he was lieutenant governor is someone who was on the Greenmont care board and became chair He was just a tremendous friend and confidant while I tried to actually do that job and then I'm not sure why you decide to run for governor, but you did and so Congratulations We've been able to work together for all these years and it's just been an incredible joy to watch you Serve and to be a part of your team. I think a lot of people will say, you know or ask me, you know, why I think in these jobs, we all have an internal clock that we know about No one else can see it and you know, you know when It's time for you. It's a personal thing and I feel this is the right time for me You know, I will say that the team at HHS is just unbelievably talented. I am so grateful to them Deputy Secretary Martha Maxim's here today It's just been a privilege and an honor to work with people You know what I've said to them is they've actually made me a better human being by teaching me about some of my own weaknesses Also to all the folks in the room folks of the cabinet You know, it these are tough jobs, but you are amazing people you work so hard You deserve a lot of you. No one knows all the hard work you do. You deserve an incredible amount of credit Last person I'll mention is Candace Morgan. Who's the future of all state government? No one should try to watch what she does with her life because there's just no one that I have more respect for that I've met along the way at HHS And that's other than I can't believe all the nice things you said about me boss. I Thank you With that be happy to answer her try to answer any questions you might have Was there anything in particular that made this the right time? So timing is you know, it's interesting. I'd say that there's no good time to leave ever But when we talked about it when I thought about it, it's not good to leave during the election year It's not good to leave during the legislative session. It's not good to leave once you put your budget together It sort of leaves like June and July and so This is June And so, you know, that's sort of the logic I'm not saying my logic is right, but that was sort of my thinking Never against him You know, I think that I've really enjoyed my time in public service You know, I think I'm gonna go when you know, he joke but make creamies and wash dishes and you know, we'll figure it out So it's a desire to return to your businesses that Well, it would be my wife's desire that I return to this but I mean, I think You know, a lot of people in this room work in state government, but you know eight years in these jobs is a it's almost eight It's it's a it's a lot of work and you just know when it's time I think you know when it's time and so that's that's how I made this decision What do you think is your accomplishment as The team I put together. I mean the people that That have that have come to work at Hs and the jobs they've they've taken on and I don't mean commissioners I mean, I think you got a look below deputy commissioner even and into some of the other places. There's just people You know, there's people doing amazing work They don't ever get mentioned You know, you don't ever hear from them, but if they don't do their jobs, right? There's a there's a report There's a there's something in the media and they're just they're just talented people and I'm just really proud of I Think that's something that both Al and I have recognized maybe coming from the private sector And into state government the more I get into state government the more I visit the different agencies and departments The more I find such talented people that could be doing other things in life But they've chosen to work in public service in many respects and they and they could be doing better Financially better and maybe other states and other areas, but they they choose to help us And and I appreciate that talent and the expertise that they bring to the table And I think that Al has recognized that throughout Hs Advice for your successor don't try to manage the place. It's really big try to lead it and Trust your people. They're good people. What is that? Where is the process at in terms of finding success? Well, I don't know if deputy secretary of maximum knows this but Interim while we look and search for area of replacement if that's a good term to use for Al and So we'll we'll take that We'll take that one step at a time, but we're in good hands right now Martha is that doesn't does a tremendous job as When when did you make this decision? So Full transparency, I've tried to be really transparent here When I went to meet with the governor after he got elected I was actually gonna tell him Hey, I think I should probably head home You know and he said hey, I Before you open up that file and tell me about the Greenmont care board. There's a few things I want to talk to you about so that's when I that was the first time I thought about it and then Governor and I over the last few weeks have had conversations and you know, that's sort of the way it kind of blossomed but Al is right. There really isn't any good time and I respect his decision and I know that this is tough work So I appreciate all everything he's done and in the ways handled himself and the way we handle this as well You now have age 57 and that's 169 have you looked through them read them over I've been briefed on them and as if you're thinking on those bills. Yeah, I have I've started doing some some research on the and reading Each one's 69. I think it's HRS S169 at this point And we received age 57 yesterday. So No, I have not made any decisions at this point and I'm still going to go through them and Receive as much feedback as I possibly can over the next few days come to a decision By Monday or Tuesday, what is the deadline for each of those? Monday and Tuesday So you're reading through 169 anything stand out to you as No, I'm really trying to get as much data as I can That's available and some of it I've read through vpr as a matter of fact, but as well There was a story in vpr that I've read through as I'm reaching out to the art reached out to the commissioner of Health to try and find out if there's any other information that's pertinent to this What about the medical monitoring bills? I have not received that yet. I believe it may be Maybe you're ready or close to being ready, but I have not received that at this point There's There at this point time, I think we have Trying to determine how many bills we have actually there Yeah So this this always the ability, you know, I have three choices sign Let go into law without my signature and veto I would say that there are fewer Bills being considered for vetoes as the previous two years. So that's good news But but there are some areas that I have concerns Well, I would say you you brought up medical monitoring I want to figure out read through that when we receive it How much has changed since I vetoed that last year? plastics Yeah, the same same answer that I think I've We've talked about in press conferences before It seems as though the retailers have no problem with us this bill and Has some support? We'll go through it to make sure that it technically works and But I have no reason to believe that there'll be any veto on the table for that one The budget again, isn't exactly as I would have hoped but it never is And I think it's within the realm of Being a good bill for us in a lot of different respects it includes a lot of Initiatives that I had forwarded So again, well when we receive that we haven't received that one either But when we receive that we'll go through it to make sure it's technically correct But I see no reason for a veto there either. I'll keep your street I'm sorry keep your street called. Yes Well, it'd be nice to be able to sign one sometimes You got some folks looking at replacing you in 2020 Have you made a determination on what your plan is for 2020 and we think a T.J. Donovan. Jesus You know Looking it's five months ago. I think almost to the day that I was sworn in It's never too early Sometimes it's too late. Yeah, maybe sometime And maybe that's why we should have a four-year cycle, but I don't know what you'd have to do Do you do it in that time in between? We'd ask about 2022 Obviously, you know, I'm focusing on the work at hand. We're just getting off this legislative session Looking that we're just in half time. We'll be moving on. We'll be building our budgets Working to get around the state to make sure that we're we're forwarding the goals of my administration to Grow the economy make for more affordable protect the most vulnerable and will continue to do so. So my focus is on that and and I Under no misconception that there will be Many who would like to oppose me if I choose to run in the next election Should republicans be nervous if they're going to have to scramble for a candidate? Um Well, they may be doing so as we speak. I you know, I don't know But you can't assure them that you're in it um You know again, I don't think uh, uh, it's appropriate at this point in time for me to announce my intentions We have a job to do and we're going to do it I'm racing this year. I've already raised once Last week the week before and uh, I hope to I hope to raise a few more times Any concerns about the the story that digger published a few days ago about the Public service public safety department and um, it's internal communications It seemed to be more aimed at slamming digger than it actually like fighting out the truth and informing people Um, obviously always have a concern about communications and transparency and so forth Um, I've uh, I've asked our public safety I would like to know exactly what happened if we can get that information together There's some HIPAA concerns as well with uh, with the trooper who was affected Um, so I'm hoping to get to the bottom of that I'd also like to to be able to to say with some certainty the dangers of of contact with fentanyl And and provide for that that information So I've asked them to to put some information together for me to review I it appears again from from my perspective and and I don't have anything to base this on but it appears they May have gotten ahead of themselves in terms of coming to a conclusion That may not have been real, but Could have been real, so We'll uh, we'll move beyond this uh, learning from this experience and uh, and hopefully not replicate it I may have missed this but secretary go back when is your last day? It's not today, right So we're basically we're basically saying june, I guess some stuff we're working on that we want to get accomplished in That's right 19 2019 governor 19 or 20 might always 18, you know Do you plan on taking any action on the gun bill? Um, I'm I'm still working my way through that I'll have until until monday to decide what to do Whether to sign or Let go without signature or veto one of the three but All three are on the table at this point Is it? Easy. Yeah easy week for you. Yeah. Thank you very much. We ought to do this more often Appreciate you coming in. Thank you