Governor Rod R. Blagojevich delivered his 2006 State of the State Address, outlining the significant progress made over the last three years to help working families. The Governor proposed several major new initiatives to create even more jobs, improve education, increase access to healthcare and continue to lower the crime rate. In his State of the State address, the Governor highlighted what Illinois has accomplished in the last three years, including how Illinois: Is the only state that guarantees access to affordable, comprehensive health care for all children; leads the nation in making health care accessible for working men and women; has the most generous response of any state to help seniors fill in the holes in the federal prescription drug plan; invested more money in schools in the last three years than any other Midwestern state; raised graduation standards to better prepare students for college; dramatically expanded access to preschool, putting Illinois among the top three in the nation; and led 44 other states in job creation last year. During his address, the Governor outlined new initiatives to move Illinois forward, specifically Governor Blagojevich proposed: a new capital construction plan to create 230,000 jobs and build critical roads, schools and improve mass transit; a $1,000 tax credit for every student who attends a college in Illinois – private or public; a new program providing veterans access to affordable and comprehensive health care; new state standards to reduce toxic emissions from power plants; a $500 tax rebate on the purchase of fuel-efficient cars; and creation of a specialized prison and treatment facility for meth addicts. The Governor also renewed his call to lawmakers to pass a ban on assault weapons and .50 caliber rifles.