Tech Talkin' Govs 2005, Part Three

The first two installments of SSTI's annual look at how TBED will play in the 2005 legislative priorities of the governors can be found in the Digest archives on our website: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/digest.htm

Indiana

Gov. Mitch Daniels, State of the State Address, Jan. 18, 2005

"I ask you, in particular, to provide a Small Business Investment Incentive, giving modest relief...to small firms that take the risk to add jobs. To stimulate the formation of new small businesses, I propose that existing local economic development funds be freed to establish new venture capital funds in each region of our state.

"To help towns hit hard by the retreat of traditional manufacturing, I ask for the passage of brownfields legislation to encourage new investment in abandoned sites, and for new pre-permitting authority to speed the time for new investor interest to turn into new jobs. Meanwhile, we must modernize our tax laws and build out our broadband infrastructure, so that we become as hospitable to the jobs of the knowledge economy and motorsports as we are to manufacturing."

Minnesota

Gov. Tim Pawlenty, State of the State Address, Jan. 18, 2005

"[T]oday I'm announcing a proposal for the Rochester area to take greater control over its own higher education destiny. Today, I propose that we create a university here in Rochester. The first step in this process will be to create a legal and governing entity that will be responsible for all current operations at the University Center...My budget announcement next week will include more than three million dollars to get this new University leadership structure started.

"...The partnership I announced two years ago had two key components. The first is construction of a new Mayo-U Genomics Lab here in Rochester. It was in my bonding bill proposal last year, and it's in my bonding bill proposal this year...The second part of my partnership plan is operating funds for research...Today we're making the next installment payment and committing 20 million dollars more in funding for research. Fifteen million dollars will come from the State."

New Mexico

Gov. Bill Richardson, State of the State Speech, Jan. 18, 2005

"We must never forget that it is the private sector­not government­that is the engine of economic opportunity. Businesses, particularly small businesses, flourish and can provide good jobs when government acts as a productive partner. We can spark even greater economic growth by giving a three-year tax cut for high-tech start-up companies, and a five percent personal income tax credit for people making qualified investments in New Mexico corporations.

"We want to provide tax exemptions for our promising aviation industry, and create the New Mexico Spaceport Authority to develop this important and innovative opportunity. We have the chance to turn research and development into new investment and new jobs."

Rhode Island

Gov. Donald Carcieri, State of the State Address, Jan. 18, 2005

"This year, I will introduce to this General Assembly a bold plan called the Jobs Partnership Act. This plan will focus on both the small businesses that are the backbone of our jobs base, and the cutting-edge technologies, that will create the high-wage jobs of tomorrow. We will look not solely to tax breaks to lure new jobs, but to creative solutions to the problems that entrepreneurs face.

"We must provide small businesses access to capital so they can grow. We must develop quality sites for emerging technology industries. We must capitalize on our strengths in the marine and bio sciences by promoting research and facilitating innovation."