In a State of the State Address, as in life, it’s important to assess where we are, remember how we got here, decide where we want to go, and then determine how best to get there.

Comparing the state of our state today with conditions, when I took office two years ago, we have made important progress. We have much more work still ahead of us; however, we are on the way to a better Minnesota.

TONIGHT: Governor Dayton will deliver his third State of the State address to a joint session of the State House and Senate at 7:00p.m.

The State of the State address will be broadcast on local television and radio and can be followed online.

Broadcasts: TPT-TV, MN Channel, Minnesota Public Radio.

Online: Watch from your computer at http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/liveweb.htm

Social: Stay tuned on Facebook & Twitter for live social media coverage from the Office of Gov. Dayton. Use the Twitter hashtag #BetterMN to discuss the address.

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Building a better Minnesota starts with our kids. That is why Governor Dayton’s budget invests $139 million in proven programs that will help Minnesota’s children thrive today and in the future.

Minnesota can help our youngest children thrive by investing in better early education to help narrow the state’s troubling achievement gap, and prepare children for success in school. In Governor Dayton's budget proposal, Early Childhood Education scholarships will help an additional 11,000 Minnesota children from low-income families afford high quality childcare and preschool. The proposed budget also allows for investments in optional All Day Kindergarten, providing access for 85% of Minnesota families—or nearly 54,000 children.

In addition to providing quality early childhood education, it is important to support strong and healthy Minnesota families. Governor Dayton’s budget provides for increased rental assistance to low-income families, ensuring children don’t have to endure a potentially disruptive move during the school year. The Governor’s budget also increases funding for high quality childcare for children with special needs, and streamlines the adoption process to ensure it best serves the interests of Minnesota children.

ST. PAUL, MN – Governor Mark Dayton announced today a new reform initiative that will provide better health care for 100,000 Minnesotans and lower costs for taxpayers. In an effort to further improve the state’s Medicaid program, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is partnering with six health care providers to test a new payment model that prioritizes quality, preventive care and rewards providers for achieving mutually-agreed upon health goals.