Tech Talkin' Govs 2005, Part Six

The latest in SSTI's annual "Tech Talkin' Govs" series. Five earlier installments of this 2005 review of governors' legislative priorities concerning tech-based economic development are available through the Digest online: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/digest.htm

Michigan

Gov. Jennifer Granholm, State-of-the-State Address, Feb. 8, 2005

"This Jobs Today, Jobs Tomorrow plan takes dead aim at the challenge we now face...It begins with an unprecedented investment in the future of Michigan – an investment to create 72,000 new jobs by making our state a world-wide center of research and innovation. This year, I will ask Michigan voters to support the 21st Century Jobs Initiative by amending the state Constitution to allow the state to invest $2 billion in bond money to create 21st century jobs – without raising taxes.

"...This investment in Michigan’s future will allow us to transform the state that put the nation on wheels into the state that makes those wheels run on pollution-free fuel cells or bio-diesel technology; the state where the research into alternative energies is done; the state where the clean technology is developed, and where the clean cars, products, and businesses are built.

"And, Michigan, the Great Lakes State, could be the state that finally makes these United States independent of foreign oil. We will build the best laboratories and bring and grow the best scientists and researchers in Michigan.

"We’ll create new sources of start-up funding to make sure the new businesses and entrepreneurs of tomorrow take root in Michigan today. We’ll give our universities and research and development companies the ability to unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research funds. And, we’ll turn those ground-breaking ideas into world-beating products, spinning off jobs from sales to construction, from engineering to transportation, workers wearing everything from blue collars to lab coats to white collars and suit coats.

"I am asking the Michigan Legislature to put this 21st Century Jobs Initiative before the voters this fall. Michigan’s future cannot wait.

"Tonight, I am announcing a new MERIT scholarship that will ensure that every child in Michigan will have the opportunity to attend at least two years of study beyond high school.

"We are – in essence – extending the promise of public education in Michigan...With this new MERIT scholarship, we are extending that promise into the college years. Beginning with the class of 2007 – today’s high school sophomores – Michigan will ensure $4,000 for every student who completes two years of college – whether they earn an associate degree from a community college, achieve junior status at a four-year institution, or complete a technical program off-campus."

New Hampshire

Gov. John Lynch, Budget Address, Feb. 15, 2005

"We know that business, not state government, creates jobs. But we also know that when the state partners wisely with the private sector we can grow our economy and attract good-paying jobs for our citizens...This budget continues support for the Small Business Development Centers and the Industrial Research Center.

"...And later this week, I will be announcing a new public-private partnership to help attract and create new jobs in New Hampshire."

Ohio

Gov. Bob Taft, State-of-the-State Address, Feb. 8, 2005

"If we are to create tomorrow’s jobs, we can’t remain frozen in time in yesterday’s tax system. Unless we change it, our progress will be slow, our people will suffer, and Ohio will not grow...To bring Ohio in line with the rest of the nation and help small companies grow and create more jobs, we’ll slash personal income tax rates by 21 percent across the board.

"...But there are two more things we need to do to create a better future for Ohioans: promote emerging sectors of our economy and educate all our children for success in a high skills world. We must invest to create more good jobs through applied research, product development and innovation. Our Third Frontier Project is already getting results...So I ask for your support to go to the ballot in November to accelerate our progress under the Third Frontier Project.

"With college costs rising and the state budget under pressure, we must act to make sure no Ohioan is denied a college education because they cannot afford it. To increase enrollment by 30 percent in the next 10 years, we’ll expand the Ohio College Access Network so that more young people and their families have access to college information and financing options...And today, we’re launching a new program to provide more than $100 million in low-interest student loans to Ohio students."

Pennsylvania

Gov. Edward Rendell, Executive Budget Address, Feb. 9, 2005

"...This budget includes $100 million in new funds (to launch) Job Ready Pennsylvania, and we intend to use it to improve the effectiveness of the more than $2 billion in state and federal workforce, high school and vocational education funds that we currently invest in Pennsylvania’s workers. The goal of Job Ready Pennsylvania is nothing less than re-making Pennsylvania’s workforce as the best in the nation – educated, trained and ready for the challenges of the 21st Century economy.

"...Today, I propose to invest in our adult workforce. This budget includes an additional $15 million on top of the $36 million that we currently spend for our customized job training and other programs targeted to increase the skills of those currently employed. These funds will be allocated by the Department of Labor and Industry to partnerships of employers who have common training needs for their current workers. Through strategic use of these funds we expect that thousands of currently employed workers will upgrade their skills and in turn improve the competitiveness of Pennsylvania companies.

"Pennsylvania’s economic growth is hampered by a shortage of skilled workers in fields ranging from nursing to high-tech research and development. In this budget, I propose two strategies to fill the demand for these jobs – jobs that will help thousands of our fellow citizens reach new levels of economic success.

"First, this budget includes the largest increase in community college funding in 15 years. It includes a $21 million increase in the state share of tuition costs and targets these funds to courses that make a real difference in the workforce. We also have included almost $2 million to support the debt service on $20 million in capital funding to augment our current support of community college capital needs. Second, Pennsylvania will make an historic increase in funding for student grants."

West Virginia

Gov. Joe Manchin III, State-of-the-State Address, Feb. 9, 2005

"I propose to remove the shackles from higher education and give them the flexibility to compete and succeed. We cannot stifle productivity and efficiency and then expect our colleges and universities to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Working with the Legislature, I want to give higher education the capacity to meet these challenges.

"Our two largest universities, Marshall and West Virginia University, are keys to this competitiveness. Alone, each can accomplish much. Together, they can accomplish much more. At my direction, West Virginia University and Marshall University will be working in a new spirit of collaboration to promote the state’s economic interests.

"I want my legacy as Governor to include making West Virginia the No. 1 state for small business growth. Therefore, I will require our new Secretary of Commerce to devise an action plan specifically for growing our small business community, complete with defined outcomes that can easily be measured and tracked to show how the state will use all of its resources to save our existing small businesses and promote the creation of new ones."