Tech Talkin' Govs 2006, Part Four

The first three installments of SSTI's four-part look at how TBED will play in the 2006 legislative priorities of the governors can be found in the Digest archives at: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/digest.htm

Oklahoma

Gov. Brad Henry, State-of-the-State Address, Feb. 6, 2006

"While the energy and agriculture industries will always be vital to Oklahoma and its economy, we must be prepared for the demands and innovations of the marketplace of the future.

"This session I am sending you a comprehensive package to meet the challenges ahead. Our 'Invest in the Future' initiative will build on the research endowment we created last year. We will fund cutting-edge research and projects that promise the greatest potential for economic opportunity and job creation.

"Establishing an Opportunity Fund will help close the economic development gap, making Oklahoma more competitive and better able to attract and retain good jobs. ...

"... Leveraged by a $180 million bond issue, we will stimulate cutting-edge research. We will invest in sensor technology at Oklahoma State University. We will invest in cancer and diabetes research at the University of Oklahoma. And, we will support private-sector research throughout the state. It is critical we equip ourselves with every tool needed to develop a research infrastructure that will fuel our long-term prosperity."

Wyoming

Gov. Dave Freudenthal, State-of-the-State Address, Feb. 13, 2006

"Last year you passed and I signed the Higher Education Endowment package. That legislation helped meet our commitment to provide Wyoming citizens with a college education as nearly free as possible and to continue the improvements at the university and in our community colleges. Implementing legislation will be presented this session to jump start and fully fund by the end of the biennium the endowed shares of the Hathaway Student Scholarship Fund (see the March 14, 2005 issue of the Digest). ...

"... I encourage your support of the statutory and budget proposals to move our clean coal and enhanced oil recovery efforts. In this connection I would draw special attention to the proposed Energy School at the University of Wyoming. We have worked for many years to move this idea to reality. I ask you to pass this legislation with a restriction limiting the university's ability to spend funds pending development by the advisory committee of a Strategy for Excellence to guide the development of the school."