In her State of the State address to the Maine legislature Thursday night, Maine Gov. Janet Mills described what she sees as progress and perseverance after enduring two years of the coronavirus pandemic. “The state of our state is strong and getting stronger,” Mills said in her first in-person speech to all legislators at the State House since January 2020."It's good to be back!” Mills said.Reviewing the pandemic emergency, she extolled the state's high vaccination rate and relatively low death rate."Our goal has been to save lives, and we have succeeded better than nearly every other state," Mills said.She noted the state's unemployment rate has fallen in half from a pandemic high of 9.1% to 4.7%.Mills said, "Maine's economy, like that of the rest of the nation, is making a comeback."The state's “rainy day fund” has more than doubled during her administration to nearly $500 million."Half a billion dollars – the highest it has ever been!" Mills said.For the state's projected $822 million budget surplus, the Democratic governor proposed an idea with particular appeal to Republicans — rebating half, $411 million, around $500 per person to 800,000 taxpayers.Sen. Matt Pouliot, the assistant Republican leader, said in an interview he'd like to go further and reduce income tax rates.Pouliot said, "We need to right-size the state budget and then reduce our tax rates to be more competitive nationally. the governor did not talk about any of that this evening."Mills also embraced another Republican idea — one pushed by Pouliot — for a Maine Opportunity Tax Credit to reduce student loan debt.Pouliot said, “As long as their gainfully employed working here in the state of Maine they are eligible for up to $2,500 a year in an income tax credit to help pay off debt.” Mills also proposed making two years of community college free for Maine kids."So, to the high school classes of 2020 through 2023 – if you enroll full-time in a Maine community college this fall or next, the state of Maine will cover every last dollar of your tuition," Mills said.Another big promise was broadband for all — and quickly.Mills said, "I pledge to you tonight that every person in Maine who wants to connect to high-speed internet will be able to do so by 2024 – just two short years from now." The governor announced that her supplemental budget, to be submitted next week, would propose new funds for education, childcare, and health care.It would include $12 million to supplement child care worker salaries and $50 million in federal and state funds for hospitals and nursing homes.While the state is still suffering a workforce shortage, it is also experiencing an influx of new residents.Mills said, “Our population is growing at the second-highest rate in New England, and we have the seventh-highest rate of net migration in the nation. Well, there’s a change for ya!”Mills, 74, the state’s first female governor, faces a challenge from her Republican predecessor in November, Paul LePage.In a written statement, LePage said, “Tonight, Janet Mills gave her re-election campaign speech in a building full of political insiders. It is fitting for someone born and raised in politics. Instead of working to fully eliminate Maine’s income tax like I have proposed, Janet Mills is promising more and more spending, propped up with funny money from deficit spending out of Washington, D.C.”