Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr. stopped short of predicting Gov. Bob Riley can persuade legislators to go along with all of the programs he outlined in his State of the State address Tuesday night, but he said the governor did a good job of touching on most of the key issues.
"The governor has some good programs he's putting forth," Folsom told WSFA in an interview after Riley's address. "I'm not saying every one of the governor's proposals will be enacted."
Folsom likes the governor's proposed tax cut, but has doubts it's affordable.
Riley's proposed seven percent pay raise for teachers should meet little resistance in either house, Folsom said. It's been the Legislature's goal for several years to get teachers' pay up to the national average.
"It should have broad, almost unanimous, support," the lieutenant governor said. "It's a good time to try to enact progressive programs."
While Riley touched on most of the top issues, Folsom pointed out that little was said about highways, prisons or ethics reform.